Telling It Like It Is

THE ENTERPRISE—CLEARING UP THE UNCERTAINTIES—EXCEPT WHEN LIFE WILL GO ON...IN A VERY DIFFERENT, "NEW NORMAL”

 

WHY DO S. KOREA, VIETNAM, TAIWAN & SINGAPORE HAVE SO FEW COVID-19 CASES AND EVEN FEWER DEATHS?

Because they were prepared and went into action instantly (in Dec. when the first info on this “Novel Coronavirus” started leaking out.) Asian nations: South Korea, Taiwan, Vietnam and Singapore, suffered terribly from the past years MERS & SARs virus outbreaks. It taught them a brutal and yet vitally important lesson about being ready, and taking immediate action on new virus outbreaks.  FYI: Taiwan tried to sound the alarm in Dec. about a new “pneumonia-like” virus originating in Wuhan, China, but its voice was drowned out by China’s false denials. This article from The Week explains it quite well…I urge you to read it carefully... and share it.

 

Download South Korea’s coronavirus success

 

TRUMP’S DEFENSIVENESS ABOUT HOW FAST AND DECISIVELY HE ACTED IS ROOTED IN TWO FACTS

1) He explains, over and over, that in late Jan. the US had not yet seen the virus cases, and the death, that came rapidly in the past 60 days. It was misled by China’s lies and deception.

2) The American democracy with its divisions of government power, and liberal media bias, plus the USA’s emphasis on individual and states’ rights, inhibits taking rapid, and Draconian actions.

When Trump realized the mess he was facing, he did take Draconian actions faster than most Presidents would have dared.

 

TRUMP’S  CORONAVIRUS TASK FORCE IS DOING IT’S JOB (and without his gratuitous self-compliments.)

These “experts” Fauci, Birx, et. al., deserve a lot of credit. If you have watched the Briefings (daily) several things most viewers conclude—President Trump needs to quit patting himself on the back, over and over. What the US has done really is amazing—albeit sooner would have been better. Trump also needs to quit making excuses for why his rapid, decisive actions—which were a very good idea—were not started sooner.  He started taking dramatic action, but due to America’s political polarization and biased anti-Trump media, and our powerful “individual/states rights,” the USA didn’t—and couldn’t—move as fast, or definitively as necessary. (Or as Asian countries who had felt the pain of such outbreaks, and were prepared to act.)

 

AS I WRITE THIS, WE ARE APPROACHING A VERY TOUGH, POSSIBLY “LOSE-LOSE” DECISION POINT

Victor Davis Hansen is a very bright fellow. He outlines the decision our country is facing, and how tenuous it will be for President Trump, the Medical Team, and the Governors who face the daunting task of translating broad generalities into concrete action steps—when life and death consequences can result.  There is no right or wrong decision. Just a tradeoff of risk vs. reward, and uncertainty (virus continues or worsens) and certainty (economy can’t stay as is, but how to “restart” it locale by locale, slowly, carefully). A scary new side effect of Covid-19 seems to be neurological damage, and it’s uncertain whether this is temporary or longer lasting.

 

Download We are approaching COVID-19 gut-check time - Opinion - The Columbus Dispatch - Columbus OH

 

MOVING THE SHUTDOWN/RESTART GOAL POSTS AND POLITICIZING ANY OUTCOME?

Donald Trump is benefiting (somewhat) from his front and center prominence (too much of it, typical Trumpian bluster), but for decisive leadership on blocking entry to the US (from China & Europe), and for actually listening to Dr. Fauci, Dr. Birx and others. No matter what happens with the “reopening” you can expect some additional virus cases and deaths. Americans are not good at following rules they don’t like, or agree with—even if it makes them sick or kills them!

 

THE BLAME GAME—THE DEMOCRATS' SPECIALTY

You can bet that the unconscionable Pelosi/Schumer duo will try to blame Trump for any and all of this—and also blame him if he doesn’t get the country reopened too. It will be either too soon or too late, and cause additional virus outbreaks and deaths. Those will all be his fault—even though his actions save many, many more Americans. Perfect doesn’t exist. Lose-lose is the way the Dems will play it because he’s IN and they are OUT. This will be one more way to get Trump out of office—blaming him for everything that doesn’t work out “perfectly.”  Sad but true. The Democrats led by Pelosi and Schumer are irresponsible, relentless, malevolent, and have the “advantage” of having no better ideas except to vilify Trump and the Republicans for anything and everything that happens. 

 

IS “SLEEPY JOE” JUST SUFFERING THE EFFECTS OF AGING?

Bernie Sanders came across as sharper, and quicker thinking that BidenThe real tragedy is that Joe Biden is now the likely nominee, and he is even more ill-prepared to lead America than ever. Trump is the youngest of the three septuagenarians, and is also quick, but prone to his own unique kind of misspeaking—or filibustering on issues. Of the three, Biden most often looks like “a deer caught in the headlights” and “at a loss for words—or at least the right words. Is this who we really want leading the country? Never Trumpers will say he’s not suitable either, but amidst his bluster, he usually gets to a better outcome/policy, after a few iterations.

 

🤪GO SEE THIS LINK (Disclaimer—It’s someone’s try at an anti-Biden campaign ad!)  https://files.catbox.moe/o57xxa.mp4

 

I’ve tried to find “evaluations" of this video/ad on Snopes, TruthorFiction, and FactCheck.org to no avail. It’s hard to believe (and scary) IF it is all authentic. Yes, Trump may go on and on, but this is frightening...

 

DEFINE SUCCESS FIRST, PREEMPTIVELY...

The only solution for Trump, et. al. is to “define success” so firmly, clearly and rationally, that it is measured fairly and objectively, if achieved. Of course no politician (least of all Trump) wants to be pinned down to such hard measures—but those are his only “out’ on this one. Will he realize that? And do it? Time, and his future as president, will tell. 

 

ULTIMATELY...

The key to opening up America is to find a vaccine, and a range of treatments, then follow the discipline to keep workers healthy while on the job!

 

Download How to Keep Workers Healthy on the Job - WSJ

 

THE RACE FOR A VACCINE FOR COVID-19 IS UNDERWAY, IN THE ENTIRE USA AND GLOBAL SCIENTIFIC COMMUNITY

The likelihood of finding one, making sure it works, and eliminating the risk of deadly side effects takes time, and tests…on real people. Innovio, a San Diego based company, is starting human tests this week, but that is simply the first of multiple steps to find one that works and doesn’t do more harm than good. (FYI—Flu shots used widely now are often only 60-70% effective, depending on which strain of the Flu virus they are targeting). Read more from The Week.com:

 

Download The race for a vaccine

 

VOTING MY MAIL AND OTHER EASY TO DE-FRAUD METHODS

Years ago, when the Democrats ruled Illinois and Chicago where I was growing up, the motto was “Vote early and vote often!” Voter fraud was rampant. People literally rose from the dead to vote, more than once. Because no one in America has the wisdom and guts to insist on Secure Photo ID’s to record votes (because the poor minorities will be disenfranchised—although they figure out how to get their SNAP-Food Stamps and Welfare debit cards just fine!)  

 

THE CASE FOR VOTING PHOTO ID'S

In America you need a photo ID to drive, open accounts, check into hotels, board airplanes, see doctors, and countless other essentials of life—but not to Vote? Really? That’s just insane. One byproduct of this Pandemic is likely to be doing a lot more things digitally…so why not voting…or at least requiring an ID. If one was needed to get the huge coronavirus checks being issued, you can bet those poor, disenfranchised folks would figure out how to get a photo ID. (Obama gave most of them free cell phones already.)  Voting by mail should be easy and secure—but it’s too easy to get someone else to fill out your ballot application, and then fill it in with whoever they are "rewarded for choosing." (Democrats—always.) 

 

SPEAKING OF OBAMA—HE’S BAAACK…HERE’S ONE TO WORRY ABOUT—THE VP CHOICE

Don’t be surprised if the final choice is actually a “dark horse” (pun intended), and a female, because there are several from which to choose.  The scariest prospect is if old sleepy Joe Biden, who is clearly "not quite all there” makes the most dramatic choice to beat Trump and reclaim the White House for another 8 years: Michelle Obama! Scary? You bet. Possible? Why not? Biden recently joked about it! If Biden were to be elected, and followed his Obama-lite platform, America’s recovery will be as slow and stunted as the one following the financial “Depression” was. It took Trump’s action to get America growing again!

 

NOT RACISM: WHY ARE BLACKS HIT SO MUCH HARDER BY COVID-19? (CLUE, IT’S NOT TRUMP’S FAULT!)

Vitamin D is one of these lesser known vitamins that we get largely from sunlight.Many Americans are low in Vitamin D in northern climates because we get less direct rays of the sun. (I take a supplement on Dr. advice.) It turns out that darker skinned people have more melatonin which inhibits vitamin D production from sunlight, leaving a D-deficiency. There are other consequences, which you can read about in more detail here: 

 

Download Vitamin D and Coronavirus Disparities - WSJ

 

YES, THE WHO (World Health Organization) IS CROOKED. SO IS CHINA’S STATUS IN THE WTO (World Trade Organization) AS A “DEVELOPING COUNTRY” (compared to the USA)

Cutting funds to the WHO (USA’s $400MM vs. China’s paltry $44MM), hold the WTO’s feet to the fire about it’s misclassification of China’s for Most Favored Nation trade status with the USA, and cut discretionary funding ($7+B of the $20B the US puts into the UN ("Useless Nations?"). Its Human Rights Committee alone is a travesty. (Google who the members are.) 

It’s time for China to suffer the consequences of its selfish, foolish and ill-advised actions.

 

HERE NOW, COMING UP NEXT

—Oil prices are negative. There’s nowhere to store it or use it do instead of paying to by oil, oil producers must pay people to take it! Wow. Negative prices!

 

—Bankruptcies are coming…starting with retailers who have been limping along—large and small—but are unlikely to survive being shutdown. Some may make it, but again—in a very different, smaller form: JCPenney is top of the list to falter. Macy’s is in trouble, as are Neiman-Marcus, and maybe even Nordstrom. The list is much longer…and the uncertainties discussed above…will influence who makes it and who doesn’t.

 

—Tragic that big banks gave too much of the $300B+ PPP (payroll protection) money to their large clients who didn’t need it nearly as bad and the thousands of small businesses. Hopefully, the flagrantly bad decisions are coming to light and the money will be reallocated, along with the next tranche of $500B.

 

—How do Scandinavian countries pay for their generous government funded benefits that Bernie Sanders used as examples of what the USA should have—and what Biden is now choosing to support large parts. They, like most European countries levy a VAT (Value Added Tax). If you’ve travelled and shopped abroad, this is the big tax which you pay and then can save receipts and request refunds. Typical European VATs are 25%+/-…yes, that is 25% on top of the other taxes. The top total tax rates in such countries runs about 50-60%!  Welcome to Socialism-Lite.

 

—Finally…how do Restaurants and other similar US businesses get back into business? They had to lay off almost all of their workers, and some are staying alive on takeout and delivery…BUT…a big source of revenue and profit in such places are cocktails, wine and beer, and desserts…few of which are part of a typical takeout or delivery order.

 

OK…that’s it for now.

Wash your hands often. Wear your mask when you are out and about. And wonder, with me, how,  or if, or when we’ll ever see 100,000 people in a football stadium, or 20,000 at a concert or a hockey or basketball game or 40,000 in a baseball stadium. 

 

Answer: when a Coronavirus vaccine and a Covid-19 treatment are found with a means to distribute tens of millions of doses, really fast! And hope they last and work. Otherwise, the “new normal” wont’ be as much fun as we might hope.

 

Meanwhile, stay well, enjoy your family, find things to smile and feel good about, and above all, be kind to each other.

JOHN

 

 

IF you are emailing me on [email protected], I will be terminating that email 

Please email me on [email protected]

--------------------------

Have you read ROCKETSHIPS & PARACHUTES ? 
It can change your life, and the lives of everyone you share it with.  https://tinyurl.com/mariottiR-P

 

THE ENTERPRISE--A TIME LIKE NO OTHER--AND HOW WE CAN SURVIVE AND SUCCEED

 

FIRST A PREVIEW: I DON’T KNOW ANY MORE ABOUT THIS NEW VIRUS COVID19 THAN YOU CAN KNOW

The news coverage is everywhere. I have a simple way to sort out what to watch, read or listen to.  I simply tune out the “blamers” and political messages. The people who do this are not helping. They are trying to somehow capitalize on a time of tragedy, for ulterior motives. TUNE THEM OUT!

Download K. Strassel--Pols Face a Coronavirus Test - WSJ

IN A TIME LIKE THIS, I SUGGEST WE TURN TO PRAYER AND ASK FOR GOD’S DIVINE HELP…

TO GUIDE US, OUR FELLOW AMERICANS, OUR LEADERS… AND PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD. 

 

Here’s a link to help you: https://live.life.church. TUNE THIS IN!

 

As a lifelong Catholics, my wife and I became disillusioned, as more and more Catholic priests/clergy were revealed as behaving terribly. We actually “stumbled upon” another “Church”—Life Church — a non-denominational church, daughter Lisa found after she moved to Oklahoma (where Life Church began). It was started by pastor Craig Groeschel and his wife Amy 20 years ago. Life Church and Pastor Craig's weekly messages are very relevant and inspiring (and yes, based on passages from the Bible). Life Church reaches thousands in its (now) 34 campuses, (in the south central US) and streamed on line globally at https://live.life.church, to countless others with its streaming messages. His words, messages and delivery have increased my faith, given me valuable new perspectives on all aspects of life, and been memorable for the clarity with which he delivers them. He comes across like “Mr. Everyman,”—one of us, but reminding us of God’s power and goodness in easily understood and accepted messages—and that is something we all need—especially NOW!

 

Two revealing facts: 1) Life Church’s growth & campuses have grown "self-financed," and 2) Life Church welcomes everyone, in person or on-line. 

Life Church gives away its materials to any church that wants to use them. It has created an on-line Bible App, that has now been downloaded over 300 million times. It had about 3000 churches using its materials, when the COVID19 struck. It has invested to increase it’s available “reach” and now 20,000 churches are using Life Church resources. In a refreshing practice, Pastor Craig tells attendees, when the collection basket is passed around, if your need is desperate—take money out of it, instead of putting money into it.

 

A final point: I would never have believed I’d be sending this kind of message—but I am—because it is that important. I now understand from Life Church and Craig that “church” is not a building—it is in the hearts and minds of the people who believe in God’s power and goodness. 

That’s what we all need right now!

 

AT A FRIEND’S REQUEST IN MID-MARCH FOR A WRITTEN PIECE ON "GLOBAL SCENARIOS," ON BEHAVIOR IN THE CLUTCH OF FEAR, I WROTE THE FOLLOWING: THOUGHTS ON LIFE AS WE KNEW IT, and AS THE CORONAVIRUS CHANGES EVERYTHING

We are experiencing the Stages of Grief (re: Kubler-Ross) in this situation: shock & denial, pain & guilt, anger and bargaining, depression, reflection & loneliness as we await an upward turn.

Theologically, one could imagine God’s hand in sending the people of the world and certainly of the USA, a message: What’ really important?  Unite to work together against a common foe—instead of working at odds with each other over everything. Have faith and hope. Realize that prayer has a healing effect whether you believe it works or not. The penalty for failure is widespread illness, suffering and death.

Those of a more Darwinian mindset may view this a nature’s way of “thinning the herd,” where the oldest, weakest and least prepared—become ill and die. Natural selection does this in species of animals, plants, anything in a given ecosystem, to remove the weak, so the strongest can survive.

Socially, unity against a terrible foe is a powerful influence; unity of purpose, to stop the polarization and infighting, find consensus on directions, cooperation on actions, to a win-win outcome. Contain the spread; allow those who can recover to do so; treat the most seriously ill, realizing that most deaths come from other pre-existing or underlying weaknesses or conditions, (not the virus itself) rather its impact on the more fragile bodies—the old and infirm. Two steps are essential: mitigate the panic that inevitably occurs, but retain the intense concern (fear) needed to take urgent, Draconian actions.

Find and follow the Leadership of those who were selected and allied with those who know the most, and have the best ideas & plans. Use the vast intellectual resources in the USA, and pay attention to discoveries from abroad. In fact, many prior breakthroughs came by accident: Salk’s polio vaccine, the discovery of antibiotics like penicillin while researching agriculture, and many near misses that were refined to be hits.  Speed is essential. Leaders must have a plan, communicate it, take action to execute, measure progress, course correct, overcome obstacles, and gain consensus acceptance.

Recovery can come only when a cure and/or preventative vaccine has been found, and administered widely. Like weeds in a garden, caution must be exercised in the event of recurrences. The damage to the economies (USA, et. al.) can be irreversible if not given the right priority. Cancer chemotherapy offers a good metaphor: the drug intended to kill the cancer—the body’s cells gone wild—must be administered in carefully managed doses. Too much and the body (the economy) dies; too little and the remission doesn’t happen. The balancing act between stopping the spread of the disease (distancing, quarantines, shutdowns) without stopping too many life affirming activities (business, social gatherings, etc.) for too long is a huge challenge.

Only when people in societies believe that an effective remedy and/or prevention are accessible to all, will enough confidence and certainty exist for society and economies to recover and rebound. The largest challenge globally is the enormous differences between cultural, social and technical ability and countries’ will to work together against a virulent enemy. Most countries in the world are “less-developed” than the USA, Europe, and certain Asian countries (Japan, S. Korea, Singapore, etc.) Some are “Third World” countries who might, by their inaction, negligence and lack of resources—financial, technical and intellectual—sustain the virus inadvertently. This is a gigantic challenge, and will require aggressive help from government leaders and World Health Organizations to resolve.

One certainty: this Pandemic will create a “new normal,” nothing like what existed before. And, this is not the only such threat in existence. More are lurking out there. It is just the new one born of [the Chinese'] crude, ignorant practices, and lies about what was, what is, and what’s being done about it. We must learn that lesson, or this lesson will be repeated, painfully again and again.

Now let’s see if humanity can rise to this new challenge and work together, instead of at odds with each other, to save ourselves.

 

SHORT TAKES ON WHAT THIS ALL MEANS OR MIGHT MEAN

First: Two excellent columns that everyone must read:

Download KISSINGER-The Coronavirus Pandemic Will Forever Alter the World Order - WSJ

Download JIM SIMON Column: Time will reveal the legacy of COVID-19 - Opinion - The Columbus Dispatch - Columbus OH

Second: Testing is vitally important but we are still learning what the tests mean, and how reliable they are. For a return to any kind of “normalcy,” even if far different than in our past, several things must be accomplished:

1) a set of quick, easily administered tests with proven accuracy—both positive (have been accurate) and negative (Negative tests seem to have only been accurate 70%+/- of the time!)

2) a vaccine that stops the virus a substantial part of the time (realizing that current annual flu shots are typically only 60%-80% effective, depending on which mutation of the flu they were designed to stop)

3) several treatment regimens and drugs to help seriously ill patients survive and recover (true anti-viral and “found drugs” like anti-malaria and anti-lupus)

4) a learning process about recurrence potential, seasonal variation, and potentially fatal COVID-19 sensitivity to worsening other pre-existing illnesses (pneumonia, diabetes, other heart & lung conditions).

AT TIMES THE BEST ADVICE COMES FROM SOMEONE YOU KNOW—UNEXPECTEDLY

Many of you may know I am an enthusiastic Rotarian and believe in its motto Service above self. Our club can’t meet normally, so we have chosen Zoom teleconferences to meet. The interaction is surprisingly welcome. Seeing the faces and hearing the voices of friends, fellow Rotarians, is somehow comforting. Another Rotarian is a professional in counseling and she shared a series of thoughts with us that left me hastily scribbling notes as fast as my pencil could move.  My apologies to her if my notes and over simplifications don’t convey her message as well as she did.

 

GOOD ADVICE:

1. Don’t feel so bad about yourself, there’s nothing wrong with you. What you're feeling is “normal” in a very "abnormal situation.”
2. Know the facts if you can, so you can have faith in them. That’s realistic and calming.
3. Be “grounded” in the present: use your senses (touch, smell, sight, hearing, and taste) to connect you with familiar surroundings in your home (most of us in OH are under a Stay At Home order).Wash your hands well & often!
4. Get back to your body, and out of your mind. Physical activity helps; less time watching always-on TV coverage of COVID-19.
5. Find enjoyable “good” distractions: puzzles, books, music, gardening, art, taking walks, etc.
6. Don’t procrastinate: Prepare for the worst, "do what you can do"… and then "you will be ready.”
7. Find a “buddy” you can talk to, and who might give you advice or at least info. (you can use it or not!).
8. Accept that things are and will be different (e.g., telemedicine has been coming; now it’s here (”seeing" Dr. vs. talking to the Dr.)
9. Connect, connect, connect! Follow social distancing, but do what you can. We all need contact—even if not so physical.
10. Practice self-compassion. It’s OK to feel grief or sorry for yourself at times, but realize it comes and goes in “waves.”
11. Take care of yourself: Get enough sleep (you'll need more, anxiety uses energy), get exercise & routine movement, eat healthy, find good entertainment, “get outside”—daylight is good for you. “Hug each other, mentally if not physically—humans need some touch” 
12. Feel gratitude for what you/we all have. For fans of Neil Diamond, here’s a special coronavirus version of Sweet Caroline, he performed for us all, from home.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D1-VWpXIwXk

 

OK…that’s enough for one dose of COVID-19 survival thoughts.

 

Stay well. Stay in touch. Stay positive. Pray…a lot!

 

Best

JOHN

 

PS: It’s a great time to clean house, and clean out the piles of stuff you should have already been rid of. Give usable stuff to needy people. Trash the rest. For me…finish the 2nd novel…successor to The Chinese Conspiracy.

 

 

 

 

 

 

THE ENTERPRISE--REPORTING ON NEWS AND RAISING ISSUES IMPORTANT TO YOU AND YOURS.

 

YES, I’M CONCERNED ABOUT THE CORONA VIRUS, but mostly due to my age and that of my wife! The unknown nature of it is what concerns everyone. See more later!

 

HOW TO WASTE PRIMARY VOTES? VOTE EARLY!

Millions of Americans must be looking with dismay at the mass exodus of the many Democrat Presidential hopefuls. We knew it was inevitable. Few expected so many would drop out so quickly. Anyone who voted early for, for Warren, for Bloomberg, for Buttigieg, for Klobuchar, or Steyer…and possibly a few other marginal candidates—

YOU “ALMOST” WASTED YOUR VOTE. I say almost because the fact you voted for one of these candidates, may have driven the consolidation down to the “two old white men”: Bernie Sanders, 78, (not even a Democrat!), and Joe Biden, 77. 

 

THE MOST IMPORTANT VOTES YOU WILL CAST THIS FALL: PRESIDENCY (TRUMP) AND SENATE (NO DEMOCRATS), AND HOUSE (TAKE BACK CONTROL FOR GOP)

Local votes will also be important, especially those that elect the state offices who control the redistricting choices (in OH, it is Governor, Auditor, Secretary of State, and two people selected by the legislative leaders of each major political party.

 

THE LATEST STAGGERING STUPIDITY FROM THE "DESPERATE DEMOCRATS”—BRING BACK HILLARY!??! Scary!!

Monday AM rumor…a move (by whom? The Clintons, of course!) to slot Hillary as a VEEP candidate to backup sleepy Joe Biden. If you can’t get in the front door, come in the side or back door. Biden is picking up steam as the candidate with the folksy, you can trust me, demeanor. Expect him to choose a female, younger Veep running mate, maybe ever a “person of color?” (Not named Clinton or Warren)!

 

POLITICAL OPINION

While MAD Magazine's iconic Alfred E. Neumann, (now only 60 years old, with a motto of “What me worry?”) actually resembles Mayor Pete—his simple, smiling countenance is also how Joe Biden will campaign. “You know Joe…he’s familiar and friendly…

Biden has been telling made up, convoluted stories for so long, he will be able to fabricate whatever story combination he can recall—no matter how factual or fictional it might be….

 

 

(I’m reminded of the 1979 movie Being There, where Peter Sellers plays a clueless, sheltered gardener “Chauncy Gardner” whose knowledge comes totally from watching’ TV, and whose modest, unaware nature accidentally casts him as a person of great intellect, and elevates him to incredible political heights. Watch it on StreamingTV…Prime, YouTube, etc.) 

 

The "anybody but Trump party" (aka Democrats) will choose one of these two. One is a scary Socialist revolutionary (Sanders), the other (favorite) is a tired, worn out warrior of too many campaigns—both are well beyond their “use by date” —and both are dangerous to the USA, just in different ways.

 

IMPORTANT QUOTES:

“Never make predictions, especially about the future.” (Sam Goldwyn); "When giving a forecast, give a number or a date but never both." (A British Prime Minister); “Nobody knows anything!“ Willian Goldman; "Resist the temptation to substitute commentary for reporting.” 

 

CORONA-VIRUS—YOU’VE ALREADY HAD ONE—THE COMMON COLD.

We had the good fortune to have Dr. Greg Poland of Mayo Clinic speak to our Marco Island Noon Rotary this past Thursday. See bio below. Go see this Youtube on how to wash your hands! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sJfsyhQ0oBs

His message was clear. Don’t panic. Be responsible—get your FLU shot, stay away from large crowds in confined spaces, don’t look for masks, since they are either ineffective or if really effective, so uncomfortable that most people (even medical pros) can’t stand wearing them for very long (an hour)— and most of all, wash your hands, often and correctly.

 

His point in doing this was that hand washing is done wrong—universally—and is the most effective method to slow the spread of the COVID-19 virus.  Public bathrooms are full of viruses and bacteria. So are many widely used public appliances that many people touch often.  The short summary conclusion of his talk was that “we don’t know enough yet” about whether this is a seasonal  virus (like flu & cold), and it will be over a year—maybe 12-18 mo. before a vaccine is available. Refrain from touching your face and eyes with dirty hands too.

WATCH THIS ON YOU TUBE:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sJfsyhQ0oBs  The right way to wash your hands—Jimmy Kimmel and Dr. Greg Poland.

(Gregory A. Poland, M.D., studies the immunogenetics of vaccine response in adults and children. Dr. Poland and his team within the Vaccine Research Group aim to improve the health of individuals across the world by pursuing challenges posed by infectious diseases and bioterrorism through clinical, laboratory and epidemiological vaccine research.)

 

In Fact WE (earthlings) ARE SUFFERING FROM BOTH A “PANDEMIC” AND AN “INFODEMIC!” CAUSED IN THE FIRST PLACE BY CHINA’S TERRIBLE IRRESPONSIBLE BEHAVIOR

China has long been unreliable as a source of truthful, timely information (followed closely by Russia and Iran). Now CHINA’S IRRESPONSIBILITY threatens the whole world. It has already poisoned its people’s water, air and arable land with industrial waste, and lied for decades about theft of intellectual property and financial growth. It needs to be expelled from the World Trade Organization where it is mis-classified as a “developing country.”   

 

NOW—It is the source and major causal point for a new virus, for which there is currently no known vaccine and a shortage of responsive ways to test and confirm or deny its infection! Worse yet, information is being spread too widely coming from a huge range of sources, many of them unreliable or dangerous. MIT calls it the first true social media “infodemic.” with global media whipping up a global “pandemic panic.” That might be the biggest danger of all.

 

WHAT CHOICES DO INSTITUTIONS HAVE BUT TO CANCEL GATHERINGS AND DO ALL THEY CAN TO SLOW THE SPREAD—in the USA at least!

Fear of the unknown is a terrible fear. There is no certain course of action for humans. Since my wife and I are in one of those vulnerable age groups (elderly) we are especially concerned

 

A POSSIBLE OUTCOME OF THIS "PANDEMIC PANIC”  IS THE DEMISE OF TRADITIONAL OFFICES VS. WORKING FROM HOME. 

Many businesses will fail, because they work so close to the fragile edge of insolvency.

I won’t predict things yet, but everyone should realize the extreme possible outcomes of this virus and the related media driven panic over the global coronavirus spread. Stranger things have happened. (The spread of air conditioning and TV totally wiped out the “front steps & sidewalk summer socialization of urban America a half century+ ago.) The effect of this PANDEMIC PANIC will be a global economic recession, in which no one wins and everyone loses.

 

PRAY...THAT THE HUMAN IMMUNE SYSTEM COMES TO THE RESCUE, AND THAT SCIENTISTS RACE THE CLOCK TO DEVELOP EFFECTIVE ANT-VIRAL VACCINES TO HELP THOSE OF US WHOSE IMMUNE SYSTEM CANT BEAT IT. I KNOW OF NO OTHER PROACTIVE SOLUTION. Note also that viruses mutate over time to Protect themselves making anti-viral drugs harder to develop.

 

BIG SPORTS & ENTERTAINMENT EVENTS THAT RELY ON CROWDS OF FANS, WILL SUFFER AND PERHAPS FAIL BADLY.

That’s tragic for the participants and the sponsors and venues. Don’t be surprised to see a massive international action against China. It is both morally and economically liable. 

 

GOOGLE’S $21BILLION (Adsense is 75% of revenue) ADVERTISING MONOPOLY IS UNDER SCRUTINY 

If Google (Alphabet) doesn’t do something to divest part of its control, it could face being “broken up” by the Federal government under anti-trust and privacy laws. It must hold onto DoubleClick/Ad Manager, but watch this battle unfold.

 

FYI—CHINA WAS BEHIND THE EQUIFAX HACK LAST YEAR THAT STOLE ID INFO ON 150 MILLION AMERICANS

The Chinese People’s Liberation Army hackers did this large invasive hack. China has also gained control of many critical materials essential to global production—especially in the USA (e.g., “Rare Earth” minerals is one of the big ones.)

 

FYI-2: MEAT IS BAD FOR YOU (AGAIN) AFTER IT WAS GOOD FOR YOU, AFTER IT WAS BAD FOR YOU

Confused? You should be. Eating is simple and most of us know it—but ignore what we know. Balance of carbs, protein and fat is necessary. Red meat in moderation at most. Lots of veggies and most fruits. Oat grain products are better than Wheat. Refined white breads, cakes, cookies, etc are bad. So is high-fructose corn syrup as a sweetener. Coffee is good. Alcohol not so good. Sugars, which we have all been conditioned to eat too much, are also bad for us. Sad but true.

 

LESSON FROM IOWA CAUCUSES AND NH PRIMARIES

Don’t rely on a bunch of untrained political staffers to develop and use a totally new APP. It failed in Obamacare; it totally made a mess of Iowa caucuses. BIG QUESTION: WHY PUT SO MUCH EMPHASIS ON TWO SMALL STATE’S EARLY PRIMARIES.

BETTER: Use a rotating calendar lottery to rearrange which state primaries go in which order, by size and region of the country in four quarters spanning 8-12 weeks.

 

WE KNOW AFTER TUESDAY’S PRIMARIES—BIDEN GAINS A LARGER LEAD

Biggest concern (as I write this I am just a year older than Biden & Sanders) is the stress of the presidency and the impact of the age related loss of mental acuity—which Biden is already exhibiting.  I have learned that my normally sharp memory, sometimes, struggles to reclaim long familiar names—for a minute or two—after which it pops into my head. This is a normal part of the aging process. Like a Hard Drive…as you get older it fills up more, and the "search function" slows just a little making instant recall slower.  That’s OK for us normal citizens. Not OK for the President of the USA!  

 

PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES IN THEIR MID-LATE SEVENTIES—A CONCERN?

FYI—that quick short term recall is what is most impacted, and on the podium or campaign trail, don’t be surprised to see Biden (77) filling with an answer that allows time for instant recall to work. Is that a “disqualifier?” You decide. So far Sanders (78) seems “sharper” in that regard, as does Trump (73). How does memory work?  I wrote Rocketships & Parachutes, entirely from memories. I would occasionally blank on a name or place or event, note it on a Post-It, next to my computer, and a short time later, it would “come to me. It was in my memory banks, and the search function took a while to retrieve it.

 

MAKE A NOTE OF A NEW TERM: "MIS-REMEMBERED”

My guess is that you might hear this term often from the Biden campaign—more and more as he gets deeper into the stump speeches, and the Town Halls with Q & A. An easy out for facts that are misstated in defense of his positions is for the campaign staff to say that Biden simply "mis-remembered."  This would be his version of Trump’s “Fake News” claims. Ready for a wild ride?

 

READY FOR MORE FUN TOPICS? —MEASURE “RESULTS" NOT "DIMENSIONS"

Joe Burrow, LSU QB who set or broke every NCAA record there was in LSU’s march to the National Championship, “has hands that are too small” according to NFL recruiting gurus. This is like the claim that Russell Wilson of the Seattle Seahawks is "too short to be a successful NFL QB.” 

Note: Wilson has been named to seven Pro Bowls and has started in two Super Bowls, winning Super Bowl XLVIII. He holds the record for most wins by an NFL quarterback through seven seasons (75) and is one of two quarterbacks in NFL history with a career passer rating over 100.

 (He does have slightly bigger hands than Burrow, but Burrow is almost 4 inches taller, but perhaps a tick slower on foot than Wilson!)

 

DO "SHOES MAKE THE MAN (OR WOMAN)?”

Maybe. Nike’s Vaporfly Running shoe has been proven to provide runners with a measurable advantage. Rules will be changed in an attempt to negate this, but for now, it’s true. Watch for more news as the summer Olympics approach.

 

FACTS FROM HISTORY: Many years ago (1985-1986) Huffy designed and built bikes for the World Championships of Cycling. Americans using these bikes (finally) beat Eastern Europeans (and everyone else) in earlier International Cycling events. Before the US Team could compete on the Velodrome in Colorado Springs that year (1986), the UCI (Union of Cycling International) ruled the bikes illegal under an obscure rule interpretation that prohibited equipment that offered a competitive advantage—which the ultra-light, stiff, aerodynamic Huffy Bikes certainly did—to the tune of 1-second in a 1500-meter match sprint race (a huge margin, in a race where winners are usually determined by tenths of a second.) I know because our company, Huffy Bicycles designed and built the bikes, and sponsored the World’s that year. We had to dig out the 1984 Olympic bikes (old technology for sure) and use them. Team USA did OK because the Europeans didn't compete that year—banned for other reasons.

 

LAST TIDBIT:

Over a century ago Josh Billings said: "It ain’t what you don’t know that gets you into trouble. It’s what you know for sure that just ain’t so.”   Since 1851 we have used Carl Wunderlich’s “normal body temperature of 98.6 F.” Over the past 150+ years, our bodies have cooled (.05 degrees/decade) and measuring methods have improved. Today’s normal body temperature is 97.5 F.  Billings quote also applies to a wide range of things in business, science and life. Pay attention and don’t get fooled by it.

 

THAT’S PLENTY FOR ONE DAY

NOW GO WASH YOUR HANDS—"THE RIGHT WAY.” ...AND DON’T TOUCH FIXTURES AND HARDWARE IN PUBLIC BATHROOMS. ...FIST BUMP OR ELBOW BUMP OR WAVE VS. SHAKING HANDS. Avoid shoulder to shoulder big crowds! Cover your mouth if coughing or sneezing (into the crook of your elbow—then wash up ASAP.

 

PRAYING FOR A VACCINE....

BEST, JOHN

 

 

THE ENTERPRISE— BELIEVING THE UNBELIEVABLE AND OTHER MIND BENDING TOPICS

 

LET’S TAKE THE  FIRST TWO THAT ARE ON EVERYONE’S HEADLINE LISE: BERNIE SANDERS EMERGENCE AS THE DEMOCRAT'S FRONT RUNNER AND CORONAVIRUS…BOTH WILL MAKE YOU SICK—JUST IN DIFFERENT WAYS

CORONA VIRUS: from https://www.livescience.com/new-coronavirus-compare-with-flu.html   
So far, the new coronavirus, COVID-19, has led to more than 75,000 illnesses & 2,000 deaths, primarily in mainland China. But that's nothing compared with the flu. In the U.S. alone, the flu has already caused an estimated 26 million illnesses, 250,000 hospitalizations and 14,000 deaths this season, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 

Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said Jan. 31. "I can tell you all, guaranteed, that as we get into March and April, the flu cases are going to go down. You could predict pretty accurately what the range of the mortality is and the hospitalizations [will be]," Fauci said. "The issue now with [COVID-19] is that there's a lot of unknowns.”   

 

MY Conclusion: the unknown is scarier than the familiar even if the familiar is worse.  

FOR  NOW: DON’T PANIC BUT BE CAREFUL

Unlike seasonal flu, for which there is a vaccine to protect against infection, there is no vaccine for COVID-19. But researchers at the U.S. National Institutes of Health are in the early stages of developing one. Officials plan to launch a phase 1 clinical trial of a potential vaccine for COVID-19 within the next three months. In general, the CDC recommends the following to prevent the spread of respiratory viruses, (both coronaviruses and flu viruses): Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds; avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands; avoid close contact with people who are sick; stay home when you are sick; and clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.

 

THE BIG $64 QUESTION: HOW MUCH WILL THE CORONAVIRUS FEAR THAT DROPPED WALL STREET VALUES, UNDERMINE CONSUMER CONFIDENCE AND DAMAGE US & GLOBAL ECONOMIC GROWTH? I DON’T KNOW. DOES ANYONE?

 

iT’S HARD TO WRITE ABOUT POLITICS RIGHT NOW—THE STORY CHANGES ALMOST DAILY:

IF YOU WATCHED THE SC DEMOCRAT DEBATE YOU SAW REAL CHAOS—

The “circular firing squad” was at work for all to see. Do you think the presidential primaries are broken—going back to 2016’s GOP primaries, and now the 2020 Democrat primaries. Are the primaries, candidates, their campaigns and even their motivations—broken? Maybe so!

 

THE FRONT RUNNER—BERNIE SANDERS : “AKA “CRAZY BERNIE” IS A REAL CONCERN & A DANGER….

Just as few Dems thought Trump had any chance of being nominated or elected, few GOP-ers have ben worried about Bernie as a serious threat. THAT’S A BIG MISTAKE. Emotion almost always wins over logic and while facts may be proven, there is not rule that says voters are swayed by them. Bernie is famous for saying that Climate Change is the greatest existential threat to the US/earth, my opinion is the potential of a President Bernie Sanders is in fact a greater threat to the US/earth. His extreme ideas and plans got him the nickname “Crazy Bernie" for a reason. They are “crazy," as defined in the dictionary: mentally deranged, especially as manifested in a wild or aggressive way.

 

Sanders repeatedly cited a Yale/Lancet report to defend the the economics of this Medicare for All plans. Here is a Vox article that dissects the study’s overly optimistic assumptions. I highlighted key passages for those who want to read it.

 

Download Sanders Yale:Lancet study too noptimistic?

 

However, if even a fraction of Sanders rantings are implemented (and as president, executive orders could make that happen), it would destroy—or bankrupt—the US economy (the world's largest) and in doing so, damage the entire global economy. Damaging the US economy would cripple the earth's leading hegemon—the USA (A hegemon is a leading or major power. The United States has long been a hegemon in world politics), and lead to global chaos. His policies in the US could easily bankrupt the USA and lead to huge social and economic upheavals.

 

Sanders seems to know that, which is exactly why he is dangerous.  His followers are many, action-oriented  but naive, uninformed or misinformed, and many of them are the youth of an "entitled generation" who think the world “owes them a free everything.” Depicting them as victims of the trials of real life is a clever campaign strategy,  but no way to run a country.

 

A REMINDER: THE GOVERNMENT HAS NO “WEALTH” OF ITS OWN. ALL OF THE GOVERNMENT’S MONEY IS TAKEN FROM BUSINESSES AND INDIVIDUALS WHO EARN IT AND PAY TAXES, OR FROM FEES AND TARIFFS IT LEVIES ON OTHERS INSIDE OR OUTSIDE THE USA. GOVERNMENT CREATES NO WEALTH—ZERO, ZIP, NADA!

 

THE DEMOCRATIC FIELD HAS NARROWED TO A GROUP OF 6-7 MARGINAL (OR WORSE) CHOICES:

1. Bernie Sanders is leading. If you promise enough people to give them "free everything,” and blame everyone else for all their woes, they might just elect you. Scary. Few Democrat leaders want him at the top of their ticket.
2. Joe Biden, the former leader, is hoping to save his campaign in SC’s primary thanks to Clybourn's (black) political endorsement, and a recovery from lackluster past debates—scrambled, cobbled-up stories that he can’t keep straight.
3. Elizabeth Warren, the intense, nasty, critical socialist (“Pocahontas”) who has all the charm of an angry badger.
4. Pleasant Mayor Pete, the Obama-lite candidate who sounds rational and "checks all the LGBYQ boxes" but one: “E”—meaningful, mature Experience. He’s just not ready for such a big job.
5. Mayor Mike Bloomberg—did a little better, but he falls short as a speaker crowd of zealots, as a quiet, thoughtful person who has actually run things, built businesses and made a fortune.
6. Amy Klobucher, has actually won elections, & is a credible Senator, but questions about a mean-temper w/staff turnover. (see https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/22/us/politics/amy-klobuchar-staff.html
7. Tom Steyer was able to “get a word in edgewise,” but just barely and without enough reach to quiet the ranting Sanders.

If anyone thinks this group—this party—that has screwed up most major American cities can actually run the whole USA—think again! But the danger still remains. No one on the Dem side thought Trump even had a chance of being elected. But he was elected! Bloomberg makes sense in ads and in a quiet room—but that’s not what this desperate Democratic primary will be.  It’s a ZOO.

 

I'LL BE BACK TO REMIND YOU HOW WE NEED TO KEEP OUR FRIENDS INFORMED OF THE DANGERS SANDER’S REVOLUTIONARY SOCIALISM POSES.

 

SHORT TAKES:

 

THIS PIECE IS WORTH READING IT ALL—TRUMP IS GETTING RESULTS—BUT IS OFTEN HIS OWN WORST ENEMY (via TWITTER).

 

Download Why Trump Needs Bill Barr - WSJ

 

CHINA & RUSSIA—WHEN CAN WE BELIEVE ANYTHING THEY SAY OR DO?

Not ever. Check twice, verify and then be skeptical. China’s public stability is a ruse.  It is the way China tries to prove they are in control.

 

A WORLD I DON’T EVEN KNOW ABOUT—WHO OF YOU DO? SHOULD WE?

YouTube has a whole new galaxy of music and stars and I am totally clueless.

YoungBoy Never Broke Again—a 20 year old Southern Rapper was the most viewed artist in US in 2019??  Really? How about Post Malone—Spotify’s top artist? And Youngboy doesn’t even appear on its top ten! Billie Eilish is one that both lists recognize—but not me. Do you know about Khalid or Lil Baby? When there’s an entire audience and culture with which many Americans are in love, and many others are clueless, it tells us about the wide differences in taste and entertainment.in our country. Thus the least watched Academy Awards Show in years, choosing and obscure, subtitled Korean movie, Parasite, as its Best Movie Award winner.  FYI—the Toy Industry also now deeply involved in YouTube, because kids are now watching it so much—and with Toys R Us departure, the Toy industry is down—a lot.

 

CHANGING THE BALLS  IS A BIG DEAL

In baseball it's a perennial issue of "live or dead" balls impacting home run production. NFL teams have their own favorite balls too. Golfers do, of course, which is why 70%+ of top pros and 90%+ of top amateurs play Titleist balls. Are they better? The pros think so. Now college Basketball has “smart balls” made by Nike, UnderArmour & Wilson, which have embedded Shot Tracker tech in them, allowing the “shots to be tracked,” of course. But it seems the balls vary and some teams in the Mountain West conference are having widely different results and shooting stats. Is it in their heads? Or are the differences somehow linked to shooting styles, bal construction, or coaching, or mystery? Who knows. Watch New Mexico and Utah State who shoot about 10% differently—55% vs. 45% with Nike vs. non-Nike balls. What’s up??

 

UBER IS LOSING MONEY FASTER THAN A DRUNKEN CONGRESSMAN SPENDS IT

How do they survive, long term?  I don’t know. Combined by Lyft, they have shaped taxis, and ride sharing. But is this for the better, if it can’t last?

 

WASTING ENERGY & POLLUTING THE EARTH’S ATMOSPHERE—BILLIONS OF $$ IN NATURAL GAS IS GOING UP IN SMOKE—5.1 TRILLION CU. FT OF IT. IN 2019

It’s being “flared off (burnt) by Oil Companies who don’t know what else to do with it. Russia, Iraq and Iran actually waste more of it. And all we hear is bitching about the Paris energy accords? Burning gas releases CO2, but putting explosive methane into the atmosphere, which is worse. Can anyone find a productive use for all that wasted methane?

 

MBA SCHOOLS ARE FINALLY REALIZING THAT TECHNOLOGY HAS A PLACE IN THEIR CURRICULUM

STEM programs are being added all over. Finally.  Purdue, UNC, NU, and Cal…to name a few. About time!

 

BOEING—THE GANG THAT COULDN’T FLY STRAIGHT

The 737 Max debacle goes back to 2011 when pressure from the Board to find a cheaper 737 design, instead of designing a new airplane, started what led to two crashes and a multi-year grounding of the 737 Max. 7 of 13 members of that board are still on today’s board, but NO ONE with any aerospace engineering experience — except the newly fired CEO (2015-2019) Dennis Muilenburg. This is a massive cultural deficiency, where many Boeing people knew, but nobody stopped the stupidity. Apparently the critical input of test pilots, engineers, and middle/upper management was suppressed or withheld. The Boeing damage in all forms is staggering. Deplorable—but not uncommon in large companies and organizations (or government, including the FAA!

 

WHO’S THE BEST AND WORST OF THE AIRLINES?

Surveys say: Delta, Alaska and Southwest are the three overall best. American is the worst across most the metrics tracked, with United also near the bottom. The consolidation into those two big carriers, they got bigger, but not better. Dominance sometimes leads to mediocrity.

 

THE ORDERLY RETREAT FROM THE MIDDLE EAST 2.0--WISE OR FOOLISH—OR BOTH

Barack Obama led the orderly retreat during his term. Donald Trump is now pushing a disorderly retreat, since he feels the Middle East isn’t our war, and the US is no longer as reliant on Middle East oil. I heard President George W. Bush speak last month, and he warned against withdrawing the US influence too much. Progress is slow and erratic. There’s no “winning” in these Middle East conflicts. Stabilization is even iffy. “When you’re digging a hole you don’t know how to get out of, the best idea is first to to stop digging.” Just leave a few caretakers to watch from mischief or worse!

 

BORDER ISSUES CONTINUE—BUT NOT JUST PEOPLE—COUNTERFEIT PRODUCTS

These have always been problems, but the growth of internet commerce it has become worse. Amazon’s growth has not helped and probably has made things worse. Maybe it’s inevitable, but it sure is pervasive. Counterfeit products and knockoffs are everywhere.

 

KUDOS TO P & G FOR SIMPLIFYING ITS PRODUCTS TO REDUCE COMPLEXITY

Now it is able to focus on moving upscale to better prices and values. Good idea! P & G has been through cycles of acquisition and product line extension, but without commensurate growth in revenue and profits. Now it is doing it the right way—reducing complexity and focusing on strong products and brands—which can sell at premium prices. Complexity: Use it or Lose it…P & G chose the latter.

 

GPS FINALLY COMING TO AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL—AFTER DECADES OF WAITING

The old beacon system is finally giving way to newer GPS based tracking. This allows plane spacing to diminish from the old standard of 40-80 miles apart to the new one of 14 miles, creating a huge increase in capacity for flights and with better tracking (vertical spacing has already been reduced doubling capacity). (Let's just hope nobody hacks the GPS satellite system!)

 

THE STRONG GET STRONGER AND THE WEAK FADE AWAY

As Walmart, Amazon, Target post comparable store gains greater than the market growth, weaker chains suffer. JCPenney, Kohl’s, Macy, JCrew and a host of smaller chains fall away. Remember, when a big like Walmart posts a 2-3% comp store gain on  is $350 Billion US business, that is like taking out a $7-10 Billion retail business. Even big specialty chains like Forever21 are being sold, bought, split apart and hopefully rejuvenated. America is over-retailed; has been for years. Good times have postponed the fall out (except for Sears/Kmart, Toys R Us, etc.), but pressure grows. Best Buy dodged the “show-rooming” bullet, but Bed Bath & Beyond is struggling—too many stores and far too much assortment of SKUs. It will have to change or disappear.

 

LOOK AT THE TOTAL PICTURE—PLASTIC GROCERY BAGS ARE NOT SO BAD AFTER ALL

In the rush for for environmental friendly bags to replace the ubiquitous plastic grocery sack, the ‘greenies' are forcing a stampede to paper bags. (The Marco Island Farmers Market forced that switch…and many folks are bringing their own reusable bag—a good idea.) But before we blame every ill on the planet on plastic grocery bags, let's stop to think from widely. Those paper bags require growing trees, harvesting them, pulping them (lots of waste and pollution), and making paper. The only good part is that they are biodegradable (usually), but seldom get recycled.  Please read the attached for a whole new perspective.

PLEASE READ THIS ARTICLE: 

Download Plastic Bags Help the Environment - WSJ

 

GROCERY HAS ALWAYS BEEN A BATTLE FOR PREMIUM SHELF SPACE 

That is intensifying as the bigs (WMT, KRG, et. al.) get bigger and the consumer product brand companies fight for the best retail spaces.  Retailers like Kroger have increased its brands (presumably more profitable—but of questionably comparable quality) en masse in some categories, pushing branded products to a fraction of the shelf space, and not always the best spots (eye or waist level). I have tried Kroger’s brands and returned them for poor quality, on multiple occasions—in exchange for the branded version. (Aldi’s goods, however are almost all private label and good quality.) Walmart is still evolving its selections. 

 

MORE TO COME, INCLUDING SUPER TUESDAY DEMOCRATIC PRIMARIES, CORONAVIRUS ISSUES, AND THE STOCK MARKET PLUNGE, AND...

 

OK…I’ve gone on too long. It’s been an interesting couple of weeks.  

 

Seems like a series of medical issues (could I be gettng old?? Yes!!))  A bad tooth—surgical extraction, and bone graft, for an implant in a few months; a massive rebuild of a multi-filling molar for a crown; an ongoing battle with plantar fasciitis, and home physical therapy exercises daily to finally (I hope) recover from Sciatica and a damaged disk. 

 

But, I’m in a nice place with my bride of 55+ years and getting to see each of our children more than usual (only one lives nearby).  Since I have time to think, read and write, THE ENTERPRISE frequency has increased a bit. I’ve always encouraged readers to “pass it on” and if others wan to be on the email list, just ask. Those who want off, can also ask and I'll drop their email address from the list.

 

BEST, JOHN

THE ENTERPRISE--A VERITABLE AVALANCHE OF INFORMATION AND INSIGHTS

 

I HAVE TONS OF THINGS TO SHARE WITH YOU—GOOD AND BAD—AND I APPRECIATE YOUR REPLIES AND FEEDBACK

 

A GOOD WEEK FOR TRUMP AND A BAD ONE FOR DEMOCRATS

 

1) Trump is acquitted in Impeachment trial. Yes, it was partisan except for the idealist gesture of Mitt Romney (still mad because he blew his shot at the presidency by his own mistakes—a gutless 2nd & 3rd debates after he dominated Obama in the first debate, and his stupid handling of the Hurricane Sandy event because he believed the unreliable polls that put him ahead—and then the “immoral” Trump won by showing his toughness under fire).

 

2) Nancy Pelosi becomes a caricature of a petulant leader—she topped off a bad week by her tasteless pantomime sitting behind Trump during his SOTY speech, and like an angry, misbehaving child, tore up the speech. She may think that energized her base, but likely sent voters to Trump. She didn’t want to impeach Trump, knew it was a loser; then caved to the party’s radical left, ran terrible impeachment hearings (thanks to the terrible twins, Schiff and Nadler). Then rushed the hearing leaving no time to get her witnesses, then stalled for a month, followed by whining about not getting her witnesses in the Senate Trial (Hey, Nancy, the witnesses testify first and then comes the trial.)

 

3) A new group of Democrat clowns mishandle the Iowa Caucuses (First primary) so badly, no one had confidence in the results. Winners: The immature and under-qualified Pete, and the overly mature and still angry, ranting Bernie. Casualties: Sleepy Joe Biden and the liberal "Pocahontas”  Elizabeth Warren. 

 

4) The Appellate Court  dismisses the Trump emolument case as invalid. Another win for Trump, loss for the Dems.

 

5) The sole Democrat winner: Amy Klobuchar of MN— who stood out among the Democrat Debate participants as a reasonable, non-billionaire candidate.

 

WHAT TO WORRY ABOUT:...

Nobody in the Democrat Party was too worried about Trump being a serious candidate or potential winner— and he won.

Nobody in the GOP is worried enough about “Crazy Socialist Bernie” but he has a powerful message— he’s mad as hell and he wants to give away FREE almost everything. Memo to Sanders, Warren  et. al.— IF you could tax ALL the wealth of the RiCH— it still wouldn’t come close to paying for your radical schemes. What could? The European Solution—a Value Added Tax (VAT). The downside of the VAT? It taxes EVERYBODY— a lot.

WHAT IF BERNIE’S THE NOMINEE AND WINS? DISASTER!

 

FIRST AND FOREMOST QUESTION FOR THE STILL (WHINING) DEMOCRATS

Question: Why didn’t the Democrats conduct a FAIR set of impeachment hearings, call the necessary witnesses, allow open hearings with equal number and quality of witnesses for both sides. Answer: IF the House had done its job properly — thoroughly and fairly, they couldn’t be whining about not calling witnesses during the Senate trial!

 

A THOUGHT TO CONSIDER

Maybe Trump isn’t courting minorities just because he wants their votes. What if he really wants to help them and bring them back into his new centrist GOP? 

 

WOMEN—SUBURBAN WOMEN IN PARTICULAR, ARE A PROBLEM FOR TRUMP

His entire attitude rubs them the wrong way. Watch to see if Kobuchar keeps rising. Women are not happy overall with the USA culture. They have now climbed into the C-suites of many companies but are dead-ended in staff jobs (IT, HR, Admin.,etc.) and not getting into the CEO spots (167 out of 3000 top companies). For some reason (I don’t know what it is.) women are having trouble getting to (and staying in) the very top Corporate job.

 

WANT A HIGH TURNOVER JOB? GET TO THE TOP

Regardless of gender, CEO’s turnover fast, usually leaving a mess in their wake. A new CEO usually means a lot of people in spots one or two levels down will also change. On any team, of any sort, when one or more team members change, the team dynamic changes and not for the better. The style of the leader—collaborative, dictatorial, passive or aggressive—each leads to different organizational chaos.  When contrasting styles follow in sequence, that really tears up an organization. Imagine sharply contrasting styles. Dictatorial leaders tell an organization what to do, when, and often how— and don’t want to hear dissenting views. Collaborative leaders solicit input and build consensus-based action plans. Which ever follows the other, imagine how the people in the organization are  impacted. (Last year 1640 US CEO’s left their jobs, that’s up 13% from 2018 and the highest since 2002.  Were many of them competent? Sure. Were some of them failures. Of course. But the point is, most of them were interviewed, vetted and hired with high hopes—and many were gone in the first year or two. Turmoil, and disruption follow soon after. Occasionally, a close knit team at the next level will hold things together—if allowed to.)

 

A TREND THAT, SADLY, CONTINUES—THE VANISHING EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT (NEE: SECRETARY)

The longer I type on this, the more I appreciate the days when I could dictate long memos and reports, and they would  be typed neatly and my content, context and other errors would magically be fixed. At the peak of their career heights  Exec. Asst’s were 95% female, totally indispensable, starting to be paid closer to their worth—and they were the “glue" that held corporate organizations together. Even though we saddled them with ridiculous ancillary duties (fetch coffee, find birthday presents for spouses or others, make countless copies of inane documents and organize office events in their “spare” time) they were invaluable as true “assistants.”  I remember every one I ever worked with, clearly, and the best ones were truly great. The not so good ones, were still helpful and important and the few bad ones—well, they were my fault for choosing and hiring them in the first place.

 

IS THE MIDDLE EAST WORTH ALL THE PROBLEMS?

When it controlled the largest oil deposits, many folks would say yes. Does control of the Straits of Hormuz make it that critical? Or is it the fact that its society’s beliefs are rooted in tribal practices from 7 centuries ago? Or is it their tradition of kill or be killed arising from Bedouin roots fighting for survival in the desert? Except now a couple of them have nukes? And anyone who hopes Israel and Palestine will ever settle their deep seated differences peacefully is dreaming. Ditto the Shiites and the Sunnis. The US best bet is to look out for its own interests and quit pouring our money and lives into someone else's war — that will never end.

 

A HEARTFELT SET OF CONCLUSIONS

Did you know that many heart surgeries may be unnecessary. A landmark report from an NYU study of interventions intended to prevent heart attacks and deaths of patients with stable heart disease revealed this startling fact—based on results in 5179 patients from 37 countries with moderate to severe artery blockages. Over 3-1/2 years, a group of people who were treated only with drugs—statins and other cholesterol lowing medications—were compared to a second group of people receiving those drugs, plus surgical treatments such as stents or bypass surgery. The number of people who survived vs. died were essentially the same! The surgical treatment reduced chest pain better than pills, but also confirmed that it’s very difficult to pinpoint heart problems well enough to place stents or do bypasses that work with certainty. The tentative conclusions—for non-emergency heart issues—try the pills first. You may be able to avoid the risks of surgery.

 

SMART GLASSES ARE COMING WITH AUGMENTED REALITY INCLUDED

All the biggies: amazon, Apple, Google, Microsoft, Facebook, etc. are racing the develop these smart glasses that can are a mix of reality with better vision, “augmented reality” and in some cases “virtual reality,” which create vignettes that let the wearer see things they once could only imagine.

 

IS YOUR STOCK BROKER A ROBOT?

Robots are coming to the financial management field. With a huge part of investments made in Index funds which simply follow “indexes” of identified groups of stocks or bonds, robots can do that quite well. Considering the actively managed mutual funds are outperformed by index fund about 75% of the time, most investors will see the low fees and say, “why not.”  Will you? 

 

WANT TO SEE VENICE? VISIT SOON BEFORE IT IS SUBMERGED.

The long awaited MOSE project with huge moving floodgates that can be raised to protect this legendary city, are stuck, rusting, and  mired in corruption, bureaucracy and foolishness. The most recent flood reached more the SIX FEET above flood levels, inundating historical buildings, homes, churches and landmarks. Will the inept Italian government get its act together before the Adriatic sea destroys one of Europe’s great historical cities? The prognosis based on the past several decades is NOT GOOD!

 

IF YOU WANT TO SEE ROME, FLORENCE, PARIS, GO SOON; ARE ALL BECOMING TOURIST ATTRACTIONS IN CITIES OVERRUN BY REFUGEES AND UNRULY IMMIGRANTS.

Cars are now banned from the central, most famous parts of Rome and Florence, replaced by buses carrying tourists. Paris has not yet fallen prey to this, but has, perhaps the biggest refugee, immigrant problem—violence, crime, and disruption. So far the great iconic sites are still there and accessible to see, but the trends are troubling.

 

IN THE US, BIRTHS ARE DOWN, DEATHS ARE UP AND DEMOGRAPHICS ARE WORRISOME

There are already shortages of labor, especially skilled labor (e.g., nurses) in most American states and cities—due to low unemployment. The birth rate has plummeted to 1.73 children per woman, because todays younger folks, marry later (if at all) and are concerned about children “slowing down their career and lifestyles.”  Further, the huge number of early life deaths from Opioids and avoided births due to abortions have dramatically slowed (or stopped) the American population growth rate. Our country’s economic well being and growth depends on having "enough workers" and "good productivity” to continue growing. (FYI—The Chinese birth rate is also too low to support its targeted 6%+ growth rate.)  The trend toward Robots and AI may well be needed as much to sustain economies and to keep them vital and growing.

 

ARE YOU DROWNING IN ROBOCALLS? YES! IS HELP ON THE WAY? NOT SO MUCH

Technology has outstripped the controls in this area. The robot calling computers can make such calls faster than we can block them, screen them or even answer them. The Do Not Call Registry is not working. NoMoRobo helps a little, but not nearly enough. The miscreants are like absentee landlords who flee at the first whiff of detection. Penalties are too small, too slow, and too hard to levy. (I have no answers—I have to go answer the phone—it’s ringing again with a number not in my caller ID)

 

WHY SHOULD ABLE BODIED AMERICANS STAY HOME, AND COLLECT FOOD STAMPS PAID FOR BY WORKING PEOPLE?

Answer: They shouldn’t. BUT, the “bleeding heart liberals” say they shouldn’t have to do anything at all, expect to be supported by the minority who work and add value to the America economy. This is insanity. If capable people want to be supported by those who work, they need to “DO SOMETHING” to earn it. “Workfare was the right idea. No work (or training to work) deserve no welfare. Period.

 

NSAIDS CAN HELP DEPRESSION (and are cheap and non-addictive) & BAD SLEEP HABITS CAN HARM YOUR HEART.

So, I am going to take a couple of aspirin and stop writing on this and go to bed!😉

HAVE A GREAT FEB.

 

JOHN

 

Have you read ROCKETSHIPS & PARACHUTES ? 
It can change your life, and the lives of everyone you share it with.  https://tinyurl.com/mariottiR-P

Sent from my iPad--(excuse autocorrect's changes). 

 

THE ENTERPRISE: A NEW YEAR STARTS WITH BAD NEWS, GOOD NEWS; AND SOME NEWS YOU JUST CAN’T CATEGORIZE BUT DO NEED TO KNOW (NOT "FAKE NEWS”)

 

 

READ PEGGY NOONAN’S GREAT, INSIGHTFUL MESSAGE TO START THE NEW YEAR 

She always hits exactly the right tone in these messages. I hope you will open and read this  WISDOM FOR 2020, first.

 

Download Warren Zevon’s Wisdom for the 2020s - WSJ

 

THE BAD NEWS—THE OHIO STATE BUCKEYES LOSE TO CLEMSON AMIDST CONTROVERSIAL OFFICIATING & RULES MIS-INTERPRETATIONS.

There was more the the game than the blown calls—especially the reversed call on a fumble run back for an Ohio State TD. Justin Fields knee injury clearly hampered him, and kept him from running as freely as usual. But injuries are part of the game. J. K. Dobbins was spectacular in the 1H running the ball, until he injured his ankle. (But, he did completely muff a screen pass catch that would have been an easy OSU TD.) 

 

Dobbins diving catch that was ruled "not a catch" by the 2nd worst rule in the book, the one requiring receivers to maintain absolute control of the ball "to the ground"—period. If a runner crossed the goal line in possession of the ball (like Dobbins did), and only when tackled the ball was knocked loose—it’s a TD. The NFLand NCAA have both been plagued by erratic interpretation of the "control a pass to the ground" rule for several years. 

 

BUT--The worst rule in the book is the "targeting rule." "One strike and you’re out"—period—even if the opposing player ducks his head down and causes the helmet to helmet contact (in a bang-bang play). (Soccer has it right: “yellow card” first time. Red card & out, next time.) 

 

Rules that can’t be applied fairly and consistently and are too often poorly enforced, are stupid rules.

 

As far as other points, it's easy to argue that if OSU can’t get a TD out of 3 trips to the red zone—maybe they don’t deserve to win. 

Who was the better team? Ohio State. But the better team doesn’t always win. That’s why they play the games.

 

Now we will root for another Ohio State Graduate—Joe Burrow—to cap a remarkable season by leading his team to a win.

 

THE BAD NEWS: 

PART I—NEWS BULLETIN: THE VENDETTA AGAINST TRUMP WILL CONTINUE UNABATED

Pelosi, Schiff, Schumer, et. al. now want to stall while they "cook up” or at least "witch-hunt" for additional accusations/fabrications upon which to feed the liberal media their failed case. IT WILL NOT END…UNTIL THE SENATE STOPS IT! WHICH THEY SHOULD DO VERY QUICKLY. WHY? The results of Trump's policies (and not his irresponsible personal behavior & Tweets) are working far too well.  No viable Democrat candidate is emerging. What else to do? “SLING MUD” BECAUSE SOME OF IT MIGHT STICK.

 

PART II—DANGER!: I’VE BEEN SAYING THIS FOR 20 YEARS: A CYBERWAR IS THE MOST AWFUL KIND OF POSSIBLE WAR & COMBINING IT WITH THE EMP (Electro Magnetic Pulse) FROM A  NUKE IS THE ABSOLUTE WORST POSSIBLE COMBINATION

As rogue states like Iran and North Korea (and others less publicized like Pakistan) grow in their ability to use one or both of these cataclysmic forms or warfare—the people of the earth are in greater danger than ever. The US Electric Power Grid is just one of the secondary casualties of such attacks. These would take us back to the “Dark Ages” —before widespread electricity and communications even existed. 

Identify your elected representatives in both the House and the Senate and vigorously communicate with them. Meet with them. Write, call and email. Only with concerted efforts by the US government, and the help of US technology companies to devise solutions, can this danger be averted. MAYBE.

 

NEW NEWS:

1. TRAINS RUNNING AT 150-220 MPH IN THE USA?

I grew up, and lived just two blocks from the Santa Fe RR main line, I later worked on the Santa Fe RR while in college.  Back half a century ago, the Santa Fe Chief— "Chicago to LA" passenger trains would often go by at 60-90 mph. If you’ve ever stood near (not too near) a train going that fast, you WILL remember it. The ground shakes, the wind swirls, and the noise is fearful. Now the Federal Railroad Administration is planning to allow trains in the US to run at up to 220 mph, but in the near term—2021—speed will be limited to 160mph due to track limitations. These trains are being built in a 160 year old factory in NY by Alston SA, a French company—28 are due to be finished by next year. Track limitations were problems when I worked on the Santa Fe as a youth almost 60 years ago; so were errors of controls, signals and drivers (engineers was what we called them. Be careful with these high speed trains.

2. "BUY IT AND RETURN IT" HAS BECOME EPIDEMIC AS ON-LINE SALES BOOM: 
Talk about wasteful: UPS estimates it will handle 1 million return packages per day in December. This pace is expected to set records as it continues into early Jan., peaking Jan. 2. That’s up 26% from last year. If you’ve ever shaken you head it dismay when the box you get from amazon.com is about 4-5 times as large as needed to contain what you ordered—you are not alone. Now multiply that waste and add the wasted human effort (time to ship, restock or dispose) and fuel, wear and tear on highways, air pollution and on and on. Maybe Congress should quit fighting about a phone call between two government leaders, and do its job, (based on common sense) to reduce waste, save energy, improve productivity, etc.

 

3. WHILE I’M ON “WASTE”— IF ANY PART OF GOVERNMENT ACTUALLY AUDITED THE FRAUD AND WASTE IN MEDICARE AND MEDICAID — THE NUMBERS WOULD BE STAGGERING.

There are medical companies and people (doctors, and other medical service providers) who are purposely defrauding the system of billions each year. Some of it is criminal and malicious; some of it is purely stupid systems and processes, and some of it is driven by the fear of legal actions.

 

4. YOU’VE PROBABLY HEARD THE TERM “SPENDING LIKE A DRUNKEN SAILOR.” THAT’S DEMEANING TO SAILORS…IT SHOULD BE “SPENDING LIKE A DEMOCRAT PRESIDENTIAL HOPEFUL”

It’s hard to believe that aa bunch of supposedly intelligent candidates to lead the USA do not realize the total lunacy of the spending levels required by the programs and policies they are espousing… Or am i alone is seeing and thinking this?

 

SHORT TAKES:

—The answer given by someone on an expedition if he brought a med kit? He said yes, Aspiring, Whiskey and Duct Tape—one of mankind’s greatest inventions.

—Chocolate is a $161 billion industry growing at 7%/year, and it relies totally on farmers. Love that Chocolate!

—Nancy Pelosi and her Democrat accomplices are trying to create a “Potemkin Impeachment.”  A Potemkin village is any construction (literal or figurative) built solely to deceive others into thinking that a situation is better than it really is.

—What could slow or derail the US economy? Slowing in growth of wages & income. Less income (wages & salaries) means less money to spend, and with consumer spending at about 70% of GDP, the whole economy could slow down. Also low unemployment (fewer available workers) and/or lower productivity could exacerbate the effect of such a slowdown.

—What’s happening to music genres? The are blurring so much, the age-old categories mean little. One performer might perform kin 3-4 different types of music. (e.g., Kacey Musgraves in country, pop, disco, & psychedelic—whatever that is?)

 

INCREDIBLE NEWS!

1. MEDICARE FOR ALL, GREEN NEW DEAL, AND OTHER LUNACY….FUTURE LEADERS? REALLY? THEY MAKE OLD RE-TREADS LIKE JOE BIDEN, OR HIGHLY EDUCATED (BUT LIGHTLY EXPERIENCED) CANDIDATES LIKE PETE BUTTIGIEG LOOK GOOD.

Bernie Sanders (78), (has never seen someone else’s money he wouldn’t like to spend), Elizabeth Warren (70) (has never seen anything she wouldn’t like to tax or regulate) and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (30) who has never seen anything but wild ideas to be responsible for (the youngest woman to serve in the United States Congress, at age 29). All three are self-avowed Socialists who believe in taking money from people who earn it and either wasting it on insane, hopelessly expensive projects, projects, projects, or giving it away to others who will waste it in even more ridiculous ways. 

Ocasio-Cortez advocates a progressive platform that includes Medicare for all, a federal jobs guarantee, a proposed Green New Deal, abolishing the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, free public college and trade school, and a 70% marginal tax rate for incomes above $10 million. 

Their ideas and plans are so outrageously expensive that no serious study can pinpoint just how high is up? Warren’s $20-$35 trillion, $40 trillion, Sanders at $97 Trillion … and AOC's at a number so big most people cannot even calculate (or comprehend) it. (Thank God she’s not running for President too.)

2. HAVE THESE CANDIDATES, (SOME OF WHO CLAIM DAMAGE TO THE CLIMATE IS THE BIGGEST ISSUE), NEVER MENTION CHINA’S ROLE?

As Beijing struggles with its weakening internal growth, and spending on infrastructure, and US trade worries, it continues to foul its own atmosphere, soil and water. This problem is so severe, it may never be possible to remedy it. China is literally allowing polluters to poison its people. After a short-lived (3 year) effort to “clean up” its coal based power plant emissions, China has resumed development of coal fired plants and the coal needed to fuel them. The "trade war” with the USA over its anti-competitive practices  (e.g., stealing intellectual property from American companies), China’s drive for energy independence is back to reliance on coal. And despite claims to the contrary, there is no such thing as “:clean coal.” (It’s just a less dirty version of coal!)

3. I’LL SAY IT AGAIN: "WHAT THE HELL WAS BOEING’S MANAGEMENT—NOT JUST THE CEO—A BUNCH OF THEM, THINKING AND DOING" (OR "NOT THINKING” & NOW PLAYING “CYA”)

Getting fired is insufficient. If a terrorist brought down a couple of airliners full of people, what punishment would they get? 

You know the answer. Criminal penalties, prison time, and huge fines—both company and personal.  . Otherwise, why should anyone be responsible if they can just say “OOPS” and walk away. RESPONSIBILITY MUST BE ASSIGNED AND SEVERE CONSEQUENCES SUFFERED.

 

4. RATS BEING TRAINED TO DRIVE? REALLY?

In a new experiment, scientists (at the U. of Richmond, VA) actually taught (conditioned) rats to drive a sort of wheeled vehicle. The rats steered by touching different parts of a copper wire and were rewarded with Froot Loops. YES, Froot Loops. After months of training (conditioning) the rats became fairly adept at “driving” and seemed to enjoy the experience. So many inappropriate comments are flying through my mind now, I have to stop writing on this one. 

 

NEWS TO WATCH FOR:

1. HEADS UP: RETIREMENT SAVING & INCOME RULES ARE GOING TO CHANGE—TAKE TIME TO STUDY THIS AS IT HAPPENS

Typical large 401(k) fund investment managers/administrators charge very low fees, of around 0.25%. Ideally, retirees with such investments would be able to set them up as annuities that pay set amounts regularly over a person’s lifetime. These are typically offered by insurance companies, who charge between 2% and 4%—10-15x as much cost—taken out of retirees funds. New rules are coming, but it’s not clear exactly when or what the will require. Some likely changes: will allow retirees/employers 401(k) plans to save more, set aside 15% of pay, vs. 10%, the current maximum and much higher than the 8% most annuities allow. Required distribution age (now 70-1/2, and taxed then) could move up to 72. Inheritance rules will also likely change. Do your homework on these changes as they become law.

 

2. HOW BIG IS TOO BIG part I—ASK CARNIVAL CRIUSE LINE

It’s latest ship, the Mardi Gras, will weigh in at 180,000 TONS, and carry 6,641 passengers. The show lounge will hold 600-800. Interior walls will be curved to give a more open feeling. Of course it will be divided into “neighborhoods!”

 

3. HOW BIG IT TOO BIG part II—ASK THE AMERICAN DREAM (MALL) ENTERTAINMENT CENTER IN EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ

450 Stores, an amusement park, an ice rink, a theme park (Nickelodeon), a water park (Dream Works), and aquarium, two mini-golf courses, a ski slope are just a few of the attractions. Cost estimate is $5 Billion. (Next door is the NFL Stadium)

 

4. BUYING TRASH ON AMAZON? SURE, WHY NOT? (CAVEAT EMPTOR: Let the buyer beware)

This has been all over the news. Dumpster divers and reclaim artists, grab things out of the trash, and “recondition” them for sale on amazon.com. Of course amazon doesn’t monitor or control what it sells, it just gleefully takes its share of the sale to the bank. https://www.wsj.com/articles/you-might-be-buying-trash-on-amazonliterally-11576599910

 

5. NO, YOU’RE NOT CRAZY—part I: WOMEN’S CLOTHING SIZES HAVE NO STANDARDS 

A size 8 means nothing in terms of how own brand or garment compares to another in how it fits.  Men are stuck with dimensions like waist/inseam in inches and chest size in inches. Not for the ladies. Whatever the marketers think will sell, that’s how they size the garments. This has been all over the news too, including in the Wall Street Journal. https://www.wsj.com/articles/its-not-you-clothing-sizes-are-broken-11576501384

Finally—NOT “FAKE NEWS” AND NO, YOU’RE NOT CRAZY—part II—YOU’RE JUST “SAD"

It’s time for SAD: Seasonal Affective Disorder: I recall the old Mamas & Papas song that went, “Rainy Days and Mondays always get me down.” Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a form of depression and the symptoms typically emerge during the fall and winter months when there is less sunlight, according to the American Psychiatric Association. Here are facts that SAD is real, and a problem in many areas of the USA on grey winter days.  

 

People with SAD often experience mood changes and symptoms similar to depression that typically emerge during the fall and winter months when there is less sunlight, according to the American Psychiatric Association. For those with SAD who live in central Ohio, it’s not easy: Columbus is ranked the seventh gloomiest city in the United States, according to the website BestPlaces.net. Pollard has a harder time doing everyday activities because of SAD. “My inclination is to stay home, to stay in bed, just try to hide from the world, so I really have to motivate myself to get up and do the things I have to do, especially when it’s cold,” she said….

 

...People between the ages of 20 and 30 are most likely to struggle with SAD, McCutcheon said. It’s almost like a bear going into hibernation,” McCutcheon said.

Seasonal affective disorder is estimated to affect some 10 million people, with January and February usually being the hardest months, according to Psychology Today. It’s different from the winter blues, however. Winter blues typically refer to a condition in which people notice “that their mood dips a little bit or they may have lower energy or they sleep a little bit more, but it’s not to the point where they are having a whole constellation of symptoms that are causing significant impairment and distress,” McCutcheon said.

 

SAD is more complicated and can be more serious than wanting to hunker down and stay in for the night, she said. The disorder can be debilitating. There are three main treatments for SAD: antidepressants, psychotherapy and light therapy, McCutcheon said.Light therapy involves using a 10,000 lux lightbox that mimics natural outdoor light, at the same time every day, typically in the morning for about 30 minutes.

 

“In Ohio, we have so many months where you don’t have great daylight,” Baughman said. If someone is unsure if they have SAD, McCutcheon recommends consulting a health-care specialist. “I think the most important thing to remember is it’s very common,” she said. “You’re not alone if you are experiencing it.

From: [email protected]

 

OK…THAT’S PLENTY TO GET YOUR MIND CHURNING AS WE ENTER THE NEW YEAR.  

HERE’S another of PEGGY NOONAN’S brilliant columns. 

Read it all because she see things too many of us miss—and explains them so well:

 

Download The Century of the Postheroic Presidency - WSJ

• THINK ABOUT SUCH THINGS AS NOONAN EXPLAINS—in TWO COLUMNS! 
• DISCUSS THEM WITH LIKE MINDED FOLKS YOU TALK TO (including a generation younger ones) 
• THEN RAISE ISSUES WITH YOUR ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES. 
• ASK/TELL THEM—QUIT THE (WASTEFUL) POLITICKING & ACTUALLY DO WHAT THEY WERE ELECTED TO DO… GOVERN 
• REMEMBER: WE ARE "A GOVERNMENT OF THE PEOPLE, BY THE PEOPLE AND FOR THE PEOPLE”…
• AND THE GOVERNMENT IS SUPPOSED TO WORK FOR US, NOT VICE VERSA.

 

PLEASE DON’T GET MAD.  GET PROACTIVE.

 

(I’M JUST RAISING ISSUES YOU ALL KNOW ABOUT, SO THINK CONSTRUCTIVELY ABOUT HOW TO BRING ABOUT POSITIVE CHANGE.)

 

HAPPY NEW YEAR,

JOHN

 

PS: IF IT DOESN’T ALARM YOU THAT THE US GOVERNMENT IS BY FAR THE LARGEST EMPLOYER IN THE US, IT SHOULD! 

(EVEN WALMART, WITH NEARLY 2 MILLION EMPLOYEES ISN’T EVEN CLOSE.)

Have you read my book, ROCKETSHIPS & PARACHUTES ? 
It can change your life, and the lives of everyone you share it with.  https://tinyurl.com/mariottiR-P

AFTER A LONG WAIT, A YEAR END EDITION COVERS MANY TOPICS

 

IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER, HERE ARE SOME OF THE TOPICS;

 

You’ll note the absence of many political topics—except this one. The (fabricated) impeachment proceedings has overshadowed the real work of government. Whatever Trump said or did, it is clear to any (non-Democrat/liberal not afflicted with Trump Derangement Syndrome) that until they convince the American people, and the US Senate to alter the entire meaning of “high crimes and misdemeanors,” that nothing impeachable happened.  The one GOP witness, Jonathan Turley, a professor at George Washington University Law School, testified on Wednesday that he didn't see any proof that President Donald Trump committed a crime and that Trump therefore should not be impeached. He was right.Why? 

 

Anyone who doesn’t think that ”horse trading” during negotiations hasn’t and doesn't go on between heads of state for decades, is living in some imaginary world. The failure of any crime having been committed is simply the “icing on the cake.” If everyone who talked about anything “inappropriate” in the world of high level politics or who discussed doing something illegal (as long as it was not actually planning a violent crime) were indicted, tried and found guilty, there wouldn’t be enough prisons in the world to hold them all. Yes, it appeared Trump stalled making a payment to gain some leverage, but in a short few days, the payment was made as planned.  

 

Here’s the problem when one party is so extremely determined to unseat a legally elected president that it will go to any extreme—and it is supported by 90% of the mainstream media—a lie told often enough can be accepted as the truth by too many people. There are countless scientific studies that support this principle. Tell a lie often enough, broadly enough and with enough vehemence, and it therefore becomes the truth—but it is not the truth—it is an often repeated lie. https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20161026-how-liars-create-the-illusion-of-truth

 

COULD PLANTING MORE TREESS HALT CLIMATE CHANGE?

YES, but it will take another 50-100 years to fully do the job. Tree’s absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. And there is plenty of land on which to plant a trillion trees and let them grow. This is not a new discovery. It’s just the first time it has been modeled on a global scale. Industrial plants (like AK Steel in OH) surrounded its facilities with green belts for just this effect, on a much smaller scale. Instead of imposing crippling taxes and fees or penalties (the bureaucrats first choice), or spreading subsidized windmills (that are unsightly, wear out fast and have harmful secondary effects)—plant trees…thousands of them. Meanwhile use the best available technology to minimize carbon dioxide emissions while the forests grow

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/jul/04/planting-billions-trees-best-tackle-climate-crisis-scientists-canopy-emissions

 

IS THE “GREEN NEW DEAL” EVEN REMOTELY PLAUSIBLE?

NO…not a chance. The economic impacts would be crippling to society, and the effectiveness is grossly unproven. This is an immature, amateur’s “pipe dream.”  Any responsible scientist or economist or even a smart 7th grader can prove that the Green New Deal is a “Bad Deal” fo everyone.

 

DOES THE PUBLICITY OF SUICIDES ACTUALLY CAUSE MORE SUICIDES?

YES…and this has been known since the 1980’s. Robert Cialdini’s 1981 book, Influence: the Psychology of Persuasion contained evidence from the 1970’s so persuasive that mass media collectively agreed to downplay and not publicize suicides, because each time they did, another 35 suicides quickly followed. The more coverage in the media, the larger than number became. (Chart 4.1 p.148).

 

ARE BIG COMPANIES (LIKE IBM) ACTUALLY PURGING OLDER WORKERS?

NOT EXACTLY, BUT SORT OF… In general, older workers are more highly paid, less up to date technically, and more set in their ways/resistant to change and new ideas. This makes a compelling case for trading their costly and inflexible experience for a less costly, more up to date, and younger replacement. Some claim it’s “ageism;” other simply call it “pragmatism.” In an era where most developed countries and markets are growing at 2-3%/year, and human (people) costs are one of the largest expenses. One way to lower those expenses is replacing older, more expensive (and less healthy) people with younger, less expensive (and more healthy) people. Plus the growth of automation, machine learning and artificial intelligence replaces people, and younger, more up to date people are more likely to accept and use these new technologies.

 

WHY ARE TEENS SO SLEEPY—AND WHOSE FAULT IS IT

SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS MOSTLY…but also parents, teachers, teacher’s unions, and everyone but the teens. There are few compelling reasons for school to start so early, and then get out so early. It might be justifiable if the extra time were put to use for more learning—but that’s not what happens. Everyone gets out mid afternoon, leaving time for everything else they want to do—except helping create better educated youth. It just creates sleep deprived youth, who have been proven to underperform academically and in other ways too.

 

AMERICA’S OBESITY EPIDEMIC IS REAL—AND SERIOUS. WHOSE FAULT IS THAT?

LOTS OF BLAME TO SPREAD AROUND: First the terribly flawed, misstated information that created a “sweetness”/sugar-depended society, by blaming everything else for obesity and bad health. The the bureaucrats made matters worse by creating dietary plans that are way to heavy in carbohydrates. The companies who sell food discovered that sweet, fattening, unhealthy foods, heavy in simple carbohydrates sell really well—especially to time stressed workers and students (e.g. Twinkies!). Healthy foods are not as sweet and tasty to palates trained for decades to crave sweetness. Everything has more sweetener in it than needed.  Why? because it sells and tastes good. But it makes us obese, unhealthy, and prone to lifetime diseases like Type 2 diabetes. Add the increased sedentary lifestyles of both youth (video games!) and adults (office work at desks/computers and at home TV) and you have perfect setting for obesity. Changing these behaviors will take decades—only after some crisis drives a large group to decide that change is a good idea (which has not yet happened very widely).

 

IS AMAZON AND JEFF BEZOS TOO POWERFUL?

YES…WITH TOO GREAT REACH INTO TOO MANY INDUSTRIES. Amazon controls about 40% of e-commerce, and a like percentage of books sold (and owns the Washington Post newspaper) About 2 million small businesses use amazon’s services; and amazon does more searches than Google (many of them to find one of the millions of items it sells). Amazon Web Services is now one of the largest (maybe actually the largest if there was data to measure it) cloud computing and storage companies too. It’s growing ability to sell and deliver everything faster and cheaper than competitors, actually runs many companies out of business... and into amazon’s arms as parr of the huge group of amazon secondary “Sellers.” Amazon’s clout allows it to create or “seize” brands, and control entire market segments.  Monopolistic practices and privacy violations may ultimately be amazon’s Achille’s Heel, as it comes under growing government scrutiny. Time will tell, how big is too big!

 

HOW COULD BOEING’S CEO KNOW SO LITTLE AND BE BLAMELESS?

EITHER PURPOSEFUL IGNORANCE OR GROSS NEGLIGENCE are two likely reasons. Plausible deniability is the popular term used, but when planes full of people fall out of the sky—someone should have been MORE responsible. There is growing evidence that the very top of Boeing was in deep denial and didn’t want to know just how bad its problems were. As more and more information comes to light, it’s clear that many people knew, but those at the top, chose to “not know” most likely, on purpose. The organization flaw of insulating top management from the dirty secrets widely known at lower levels has always been a problem. This time, it was a “fatal flaw."

 

IS AN MBA WORTH WHAT IT COSTS  THESE DAYS—ESPECIALLY FROM THE BLUE CHIP COLLEGES

NO, UNLESS YOU WANT TO BUY PRESTIGE OR INTO A POWERFUL NETWORK. Not only are MBAs declining in value and credibility, but demand for them is dropping. The cost far exceeds the value as measured in simple dollars and cents. At $75,000/year for a Harvard tuition, it’s likely that the diploma will come with $100,000-$150,000 in student loan debt. There are many quality universities at half the cost. The MBA, as prestigious as it might be, can only convey second hand knowledge via cases, and professors. As a credential if might be more valuable than for what was learned. There is a lot to be said for “the school of hard knocks” and learning via OJT (On The Job training).

 

IS THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE OBSOLETE?

NO—IT’S MORE RELEVANT THAN EVER, FOR DOING WHAT IT AS INTENDED TO DO—AVOID CONCENTRATION OF POWER IN A FEW LARGE CITIES/STATES. The big cities, located heavily on both coasts, are filled with low-income/poor folks, and immigrants (legal or illegal). Those dense population centers could use a direct popular vote to elect a president, and elect the one who would ”take from the value creators” and give to the "value destroyers.” Ayn Rand’s classic novel, Atlas Shrugged, described the situation that results when the value creators are driven away. “Where is John Galt” is a famous line from that book. If you are willing to slog through a great 1000 page novel, (good for winter reading) you will be amazed and appalled at how eerily familiar it sounds, more than a half-century later.

 

SHOULD WE BE WORRIED THAT THE GOVERNMENT IS BY FAR THE LARGEST EMPLOYER IN THE USA?

YES…BUT IT APPEARS UNLIKELY TO CHANGE. Not only is the government the largest employer, but contractors who work for the government make up an even large bloc of people. Worst of all, the government has no money except that it collects in taxes. It creates no wealth. It only spends taxes and fees collected from wealth others create/earn. When the largest employer creates no wealth, the country is in a perilous place. But nobody want to rein-in the government. Even Donald Trump, who reined in regulations, still spent enough to increase the budget deficit. Only wealth creating profitable growth can solve this huge problem.  And it seems that the members of both political parties  would rather spend (and run up debt) instead of being frugal. (Democrats worse than Republicans—but only in how they go about it)

 

ARE NEW HOME BUYERS BEING FORCED OUT BY HOME PRICES AND STUDENT LOAN DEBT?

YES—TO BOTH…And no solution is in sight. Hence the explosion of apartments. Those who can’t afford to buy, rent. Shortages of construction workers runs up wages, and adds to housing costs, making the problem worse.

 

OK, THAT’S PLENTY FOR THIS EDITION. THE TOPICS SEEM TO PILE UP…BUT HOPEFULLY THERE WAS SOMETHING USEFU IN THIS BUNCH.

 

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR.

JOHN

 

 

THE ENTERPRISE--A LONG TIME COMING, AND HARDER THAN EVER TO WEIGH IN ON ISSUES

THE ENTERPRISE--A LONG TIME COMING, AND HARDER THAN EVER TO WEIGH IN ON ISSUES

 

FIRST SOME NOTABLE THOUGHTS—I MET A LEGEND TODAY: JERRY LUCAS

Lucas was a basketball player back when I was much younger—he went to Ohio State, and was a year older than me.  I went to Bradley (too short to play forward at 6’1/2”. Lucas was 6’9”). In those days top 3 teams in the NCAA were Ohio State (notables:Lucas, John Havlicek, and Bobby Knight), Cincinnati (Oscar 'Big O' Robertson, and Bradley (Chet “the jet” Walker) Why is he a legend? 

• he won 2 state championships at Middletown; OH HS, 
• he won the national NCAA College championship at Ohio State, and 
• was the first student athlete to graduate OSU with a straight 4.0 GPA; 
• he went to the NBA and won a NBA Championship with the NY Knicks; 
• he then won an Olympic Gold Medal in basketball for the USA, 
• and was the first athlete to be chosen for Time Magazine’s cover as Man of the Year.

 

I’VE STALLED WRITING THIS EDITION FOR WEEKS

Hoping that some renewed sense of perspective and sanity would permeate our American society.  It hasn’t and I fear is unlikely to do so. Polarization between left and right, liberal and conservative and Republicans and Democrats just grows worse and worse. Now all I hear is “impeachment,” for what seem like normal give & take between country leaders when Trump is doing it, but was no big deal when Obama was exposed doing the same or similar things (he cleverly added some layers for deniability, but was caught tell Putin to wait unless he was reelected and he’d have for flexibility in what he could do for him.  

 

Unlike our President who calls it all “fake news,” when it is a coordinated campaign of the mainstream media and the Democratic party to flood the media with lies and spin until the America people think it must be the truth because so many news organizations are reporting it. But—not the WSJ or Fox New, or most of conservative (Limbaugh, et. al.) talk radio! FAcebook has even banned Prager U. posts because they are too conservative (translation: “not liberal or socialist).

 

With this media hype and the normal human tendency to read and reinforce what we want to believe—instead of keeping an open mind and weighing the issues and actions on a balanced, logical and rational basis—like people who want to collaborate to find solutions instead of making the problems worse and yelling louder about them.

 

OUR LEADERS ARE MAKING IT WORSE

I voted for Donald Trump and I’d do it again over the awful opponent, Hillary Clinton. Now as the GOP had 4 years ago, we have a circus act of candidates. Are they all clowns? Heck no. Most of them are fairly smart people, who have a very different idea about what America’s direction should be from what it currently is. Is Trump part of the problem? Absolutely! But he’s also part of the solution. 

 

Somehow, amidst if incendiary and narcissistic Tweets, he has managed to use a parade of his own choosing, to craft policies that have made America more prosperous, stronger abroad (albeit less well liked than the articulate, yet apologetic, pacifist Barack Obama that preceded him.) Congressional leaders are making it worse too. 

 

The Democratic leaders seem to inherited Trump’s disregard for factual evidence and choose demagoguery and incendiary obstruction—of almost everything GOP/Trump proposes. The GOP leadership is only a little better, because they are letting Trump roil the waters and keeping their heads down as much as possible (Mitch McConnell excluded—he’s doing his best Harry Reid impression, blocking anything and everything the opposing party wants the Senate to debate.)

 

WHAT BECAME OF ELECTED LEADERS WHO COLLABORATE TO DO FIND CONSENSUS AND DO WHAT’S BEST FOR AMERICA—ALL AMERICANS?

Trump’s behavior ranges from sort of tolerable to totally intolerable. Ironically, his policies and how they impact the USA, and its government are mostly effective, usually much more moderate than this Tweets and speechifying, and in the view of most moderates of the GOP brand, doing the right things.  

 

Of course the liberals are beside themselves. First they don’t accept that Trump should even be president, after all, he was only elected by the Constitutionally mandated Electoral College (not by the popular vote, distorted by huge California and big city Democratic votes—of course these people like the Democrats,  because their representatives promise (and try to deliver) "free everything" to all those who reject the old-fashioned idea of earning a living and abiding by the laws of the land.

 

I’M CONVINCED THAT IF THE ISSUE OF WHETHER THE SUN RISES IN THE EAST AND SETS IN THE WEST WERE A POLITICAL ISSUE…

The political polarization would continue into gridlock—debate on what “rises and sets” means. GOP would form a committee to study and observe it, then publish factual results

Dems would investigate the GOP committee for bias, then craft a bill to spend trillions to allow government control of which way the earth rotates, but all “free” except higher taxes on the rich.

 

CONSIDER FOR A MOMENT WHO TRUMP BEAT IN 2016

What Could have been the BEST EVER HILLARY EMAIL 
I'm still trying to figure out how I lost the election.
I thought we had the thing bought and paid for!
Was it the Russian Uranium Deal? 
Was it Wikileaks?
Was it Podesta’s Emails?
Was it Comey’s Was it having a sexual predator as a husband?
Was it Huma Abedin’s sexual predator husband Anthony Weiner?
Was it because the Clinton Foundation ripped off Haiti?

Was it subpoena violations?

Was it the congressional testimony lies?
Was it the corrupt Clinton Foundation?
Was it the Benghazi fiasco?
Was it pay for play?
Was it being recorded laughing when I got a child rapist off when I was an attorney?
Was it the Travel Gate scandal?
Was it the Whitewater scandal?
Was it the Cattle Gate scandal?
Was it the Trooper-Gate scandal?
Was it the $15 million for Chelsea's apartment bought with Clinton Foundation money?
Or my husband's interference with Loretta Lynch & the investigation?
Or when I happily accepted the stolen debate questions given to me by CNN?
Or my own secret server in my house and my disdain for classified information?
Or deleting 30,000 emails after I was told not to?
Or having my cell phones and computers destroyed with hammers and Bleach-bit?
Was it the Seth Rich murder?
Was it the Vince Foster murder.
Was it the Gennifer Flowers assault & settlement?
Was it the $800,000 Paula Jones settlement?
Was it calling half the United States deplorable?
Was it my underhanded treatment of Bernie Sanders?

Was it Bill's impeachment?

Was it the lie I told about being under sniper fire in Bosnia?
Was it the $10 million I received for the pardon of Marc Rich?
Or the $6 BILLION lost while I was in charge of the State Dept.?
Or was it because I’m perceived as a hateful, lying, power-hungry, overly ambitious, greedy,
and nasty person?

Gee, I just can't seem to put my finger on it!

 

NOW CONSIDER THE CURRENT CAST OF CHARACTERS AND UNDERSTAND WHY THE DEMOCRATS ARE TRYING TO PUT IMPEACHMENT FRONT AND CENTER.

IF THIS IS THE BEST ASSORTMENT OF LEADERS WE CAN FIND—GOD HELP US!

Consider the three Democratic front runners gracing the debate stage to vilify Trump and come up with every form of Big Government freebie imaginable. (I’ve excluded the irresponsible “AOC” and her “Squad" who seem like a group of high schoolers, who finally escaped from detention, after reading all the works of Karl Marx and assorted other Socialist extremists, and now grabbed the PA system microphone to spout their unique brand of revolutionism. In this case, the liberal mainstream media (90% of the big media are liberal left-leaning) are providing the PA microphone and video to the entire country and world. 

 

What the saner part of American must think of this, I have no idea. Everybody loves news about disasters, and that’s what the Democrats (with an boost from President Trump’s jibes) are providing. 

 

THE FRONT RUNNER—EGAD

Here are our three: 

1) Raving and ranting Bernie—make everything free, a right no matter that there isn’t enough money to begin to pay for it. His outrage is palpable, and for all those poor gullible youths and socialists, they must be in his thrall. Can his heart hold up?

2) The strict, grimacing academic schoolmarm Warren, lecturing us on all the new policies, programs and ideas she’s dreamed up while waiting to lay down the her new rules. No idea how to pay for it? Of course not. Do you really want her as President? NOT ME!

 

The two of them would have Americans sign over their paychecks and the Socialists provide everything—until “somebody else’s money” runs out—which it will—FAST.

 

3) Sleepy, almost moderate sounding, placid Joe, who’s said so many things over his long career, he can no longer keep them all straight. So he mixes and matched those that sort of serve his purpose. He plays slow and loose with the facts every bit as well as Donald Trump—just in a much calmer, soporific presentation. (Including his stern rebuke about getting a Ukrainian out of a key spot or getting no Aid $$

 

ARE WE LIVING IN “BEING THERE” THE OLD PETER SELLERS MOVIE?

This movie featured middle-aged, simple-minded Chance, who lives in the townhouse of a wealthy old man in Washington, D.C.. Chance has spent his whole life tending the garden and has never left the property. Other than gardening, his knowledge is derived entirely from what he sees on television. 

 

Elements of Donald Trump’s research methods (watch Fox news—really?) and Joe Biden’s quiet and error filled recitation of his old positions (fill in the blanks, don’t worry about facts).  OMIGOD.  

 

Now the demagogues are actually attacking President Reagan posthumously for flaws no one saw back then, but are re-interpreted  to be heinous by the finger pointers. He’s a racist, because he said something 40 years ago that sounds bad now. The more the radical critics dig, the more dirt they can find.  That leads to Brett Kavanaugh and the popular approach to anyone in any office that is not deemed suitable—IMPEACH them.

 

READ WHAT A COUPLE OF DISTINGUISHED COLUMNIST SAID ABOUT THE KAVANAUGH DEBACLE

Download The Democrats’ Ritualistic Stoning of Brett Kavanaugh - WSJ Download Why They’ll Never Stop Targeting Kavanaugh - WSJ

 

OK—I HAVE THAT ALL OUT OF MY SYSTEM NOW… ON TO OTHER TOPICS.

Here’s one I can understand only too well—I am part of it.

THE GRAYING OF AMERICA

https://theweek.com/articles/859185/graying-america 

The number of Americans 65 and older is projected to nearly double by 2060. Here's everything you need to know:

Why does this matter? 
America is in the midst of a profound demographic transformation that will render its population significantly older in the years to come. In 2014, the percentage of Americans ages 65 and older was 15 percent — already an all-time high. By 2030, that will rise to 21 percent, and by 2060, a remarkable 24 percent of Americans will be in their golden years. 

By 2035, the number of those 65 and older will surpass Americans under age 18 for the first time in the country's history. This graying is already well underway. In 1970, the median American age was 28.1 years. Forty-six years later, in 2016, the median age was 37.9. 

As the median age continues to advance, it could have transformational consequences for large swaths of American life, including the workforce, the economy, the solvency of the social safety net — even the way sidewalks are engineered.

What's driving this transformation? 
A confluence of factors. Americans are not only living longer — one born in 1900 could expect only 47.3 years — but fewer of them are being born. In 2018, the crop of newborns was the lowest since 1986 — about 3.78 million, continuing a downward trend that some are now labeling "the baby bust.” 

The dramatic birth-rate decline is occurring at the same time that America's second-largest generation — the 77 million–strong Baby Boomers, born between 1946 and 1964 — are moving into old age. Boomers are now turning 65 at a rate of between 8,000 to 10,000 a day; by 2030, all of them will be older than 65. In the face of these statistics, the U.S. Census Bureau has sounded the alarm, calling 2030 a "demographic turning point" for the country.

Why else is 2030 significant? 
It's the year when America's so-called dependency ratio — or the percentage of nonworking citizens who rely on those who are employed — will exceed 70 percent. This will have profound consequences for Social Security and Medicare, the former of which is now projected to exhaust its $2.9 trillion reserve by 2035. (At that point, unless Congress increases taxes or cuts benefits, only payroll taxes from a shrinking workforce would finance the program, and benefits would likely be reduced by 20 percent.) 

Employers have mostly eliminated pensions, and Boomers have an average of only $152,000 in retirement savings — far too little for a 20-year retirement; 45 percent of Boomers currently have no retirement savings. A Gallup poll found that 74 percent of Americans plan to work past 65, with some Boomers becoming "workampers" who combine work and retirement by buying an RV and touring a seasonal rotation of places to work. You might see them logging hours as a NASCAR usher in Florida, a security guard at a Texas oil field, or taking tickets for whale-watching tours in Maine.

Will this affect the economy? 
As the percentage of Americans with full-time jobs drops, so, too, will GDP. Researchers from Har­vard's Med­i­cal School and the RAND Corp. recently compared the growth rates of states that are aging at different paces. Their findings were startling. 

For every 10 percent jump in the portion of a population over 60, economic growth fell 5.5 percent. Nationally, the group estimated, the aging of America's workforce has already lopped 1.2 percent off GDP this decade; this may explain why the average rate of growth has been a meager 2.3 percent since 2009. Another vexing question is how well America's consumer-driven economy will hold up when so many of us are living frugally on fixed incomes.

How about health care? 
American spending on health care is expected to rise from about $4 trillion a year to $6 trillion, or 19.4 percent of GDP, by 2027. By 2025, U.S. health-care providers believe they will face a collective shortage of about 500,000 home health aides, 100,000 nursing assistants, and 29,000 nurse practitioners. Some are also bracing for a shortage of up to 122,000 doctors by 2032. This problem was complicated by Congress capping Medicare reimbursement to teaching hospitals for each resident in 1997, when there was talk of a doctor glut.

 

What other problems are ahead? 
Cities will need to adjust their infrastructure for older people: Crosswalk timers will have to be reset to give them more time to get across the street, and far more curb cutouts for walkers and wheelchairs will need to be installed. The number of homebound, isolated seniors will dramatically rise, contributing to an existing loneliness epidemic. 

The isolation, ironically, will be worse in the sidewalk-less, car-oriented suburbs America created to make Baby Boomer childhoods so utopian. What happens to tens of millions of suburban residents when they're 85 and unable to drive or walk to stores, community centers, or doctors? "In the '60s, a majority of people weren't living past 70, or 75," says Hilde Waerstad, research associate with the MIT Age Lab. "We're entering into this new era that we just have not seen before."

 

Well, I better stop writing on this and send it.

 

JOHN

 

 

Here are some great hints, and some very
interesting things to know:
 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

THE ENTERPRISE—WHAT’S HAPPENED ... AND IS HAPPENING

 

 

EBOLA OUTBREAK IN CONGO—A SERIOU GLOBAL EMERGENCY

I think most readers know how serious Ebola is. The mortality rate is usually over 80% (death). It is easily spread by contact with bodily fluids. This is scary stuff. Read as much as you want, but  if you are a world traveler—be very careful where you go and how you interact with other travelers. 

 

Download Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern

 

MEANWHILE…POLITICAL INSANITY IS UPON US.

 

A DC-BOLA: OUTBREAK OF FOOLISHNESS, IGNORANCE AND LACK OF GOOD SENSE

This seems to afflict elected officials a short time after they arrive in Washington, DC, and it often lingers for years and recurs over and over, typically on 2 year (election) cycles. DC-BOLA is marked by outbreaks of wildly questionable statements, reversal of prior positions,  (also known as flip-flopping), extremely polarized political behavior and in general, a loss of good sense, civility and a desire to govern responsibly. 

 

SIDE EFFECTS ARE PARTICULARLY TROUBLESOME

Side effects of DC-BOLA seem to be the inability to compromise and reach collaborative, effective outcomes, needed for the good of the country.  The most notable victims of DC-BOLA are either very high ranking, long-time elected officials or very new elected officials, seeking to gain more publicity than their experience, contribution and opinions warrant. One side effect that continues unabated is to spend taxpayer money (whether the US has it or not) at the slightest provocation. Another is the unusual form of verbal tantrums, often exhibited during interviews, at speeches, and on cable and network TV.  

 

Warning: This side effect seems to be more contagious than most, spreading to large groups of followers with only visual or audible contact.

 

DC-BOLA seems to have a particularly high level of infection in places where people congregate such as rallies and college campuses. Suspicions that media/journalists, talk-show hosts, faculty members and many politicians are “carriers” has been theorized, and evidence continues to grow in support of this premise.

 

THE NUMBER OF DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES FOR PRESIDENT CONTINUES TO GROW

Many researchers have questioned whether a widespread mental condition often referred to a “Trump Derangement Syndrome” is a contributing factor to the growing number of people who are under the illusion (or delusion) that they are qualified for election to the most difficult job know to exist—being President of the United States.  This aberration was first seen as the “Hillary Effect", during the prior election, when an unusual number of candidates emerged, but then fell by the wayside during the campaign. 

 

MYSTICAL, MAGICAL, IMPOSSIBLY CONFUSING

A "Sorting Process," as mystical as the one used at Hogwarts (of Harry Potter fame), seems to be required to resolve this issue. In the "sorting process" a group of elderly wizards and witches weigh in on the various candidates, in hopes of reducing the number and increasing the quality of a few who remain.  One side effect of this unusual process is to inflame the media magicians, who report the process and attempt to cast evil spells over voters, using strange incantations, and (allegedly) evil trances and potions.

 

THE MOST CHALLENGING TASK FOR CANDIDATES

Candidates from both sides face daunting tasks. One side must convince voters that impossibly expensive ideas they have are somehow affordable in a kingdom facing a mountainous debt already. The other side has an equally arduous chore, illustrating how the promised things claimed by opponents to be “FREE” are actually an impossibility. Everything worthwhile has a cost to it—and is not FREE. The only question from "who else’s money" will that cost be paid. 

 

IT APPEARS MAGIC IS TRULY THE ONLY SOLUTION

Magicians promise that "taxing the rich" will make all the "free things" possible. However a detailed study done by the wisest of wizards (The financial accounting wizards) has proven that even if ALL the money of the rich were taken and used, it still wouldn’t begin to cover the fiscal debt and mounting deficits. Even great Magic, cannot make something out of nothing, it seems. 

 

Further, the mystical council has revealed that even though the poor of the kingdom are given more and more money and help, they remain poor, and indeed, actually waste what they are given and become poorer.   With this disappointing report, the council recessed to seek even more powerful, (and more expensive), and magical ways to make lies into truths and truths into lies.

 

======================

 

BACK TO THE WORLD OF REPORTING FOR A MOMENT—UPCOMING ELECTIONS.

A few Excerpts From Kiplinger (A serious source)

2020 elections—expected to be the most expensive campaign ever—$7B plus —in U.S. history, surpassing 2012's record $6.86 billion…  Outside groups' outlays will again be dwarfed by that of candidates and party campaign committees. … The 20 PLUS Democrats seeking to challenge Trump have collectively raised $270 million so far ...(Hillary Clinton spent $768 million in her 2016 races.)  Political campaigns are big business... witness their billion-dollar price tags... 

What is driving up costs so dramatically? Presidential candidates foregoing public funding... and its spending limits...and a Supreme Court ruling that allows unlimited spending on political speech from outside groups such as corporations, labor unions, super PACs and nonprofits.

Also contributing: New tech. Massive candidate fields. Social fragmentation. Social media is now a major line-item on campaigns' budgets. Advertising on Twitter, Facebook and Google is a must. It's cheaper than TV airtime, but you need more of it.

Campaigns are investing in analytics, data mining and marketing tactics to find every like-minded and uncommitted voter eligible to participate in their races. Such expenses were small...a decade ago. Driving these costs higher: The unprecedented number of contenders.

Political digital ads already cost more than last time, campaign folks say. Some candidates have spent more than $35 to get $1 back in donations via Facebook because the competition is so fierce. Others are spending six figures to rent donor lists from other campaigns and outside groups. Trump has spent $35 million to find donors online. His campaign says it will have found "40 million to 60 million" potential donors by Election Day, whereas a "good candidate might have four to five million" by then.

Americans' media consumption habits are also driving up campaign costs. Buying local airtime in a congressional candidate's district isn't enough anymore. Fewer and fewer voters watch broadcast TV. But you can't drop TV advertising either. Candidates must spend across all platforms. 

 

======================

 

A BULLETIN FROM THE MYSTICAL COUNCIL OF OIL, GAS AND HOT AIR

After the USA striving for decades to become energy independent, it was discovered that energy producers drilling for oil, are actually causing enormous waste of an equally valuable resource—natural gas. Every day, $1.8 million worth of gas (in one area alone—Texas) is simply burned off, polluting the atmosphere, and wasting the energy, because oil companies do not want to pay for pipelines to transport it, or find alternative uses for this valuable energy. 

 

AN INTERIM RESOLUTION DOESN’T SOLVE ANYTHING—AS USUAL

These wasteful events are due to a process called Fracking. The council finally decided that the best interim step was to change that name to Fricking. Then it would decide what to do with all the Fricking energy it is wasting foolishly.  The wizards suffering from DC-BOLA argued into the wee hours of the morning about what to do with this valuable substance besides just setting it afire.

 

WHAT DID THE MEGA DEBATES TELL US?  THEIR CONCLUSION

After two separate debates, spanning two evenings each, with ten candidates on stage each night we have learned several important things. With this group of candidates, they would prefer to give illegal immigrants the full benefits that US citizens have—and then some—like free health insurance, and a lot of free other things. The wisest wizard of all it seems, was the esteemed Milton Friedman who published the collection “There’s No Such Thing as a Free Lunch: Essays on Public Policy” which printed the maxim on its back cover. In fact “somebody” pays for anything that seems “free” because everything created requires either time, or energy, or effort, or money from the creator.

 

Only the charlatans who claim it’s “free” are getting something “free,”—they are getting publicity for being liars, and scam artists of the highest order. The twenty candidates on the debate stage all, at times, sounded like intelligent, reasonable people. That gave me hope for America. Until, that is they started bickering about whose “fee stuff was better,” and who could offer a rationale that that wasn’t ludicrous about why their plans were better. Ironically, the more sane the rationale seemed, the more vigorous the attack by their fellow candidates.

 

Give it to the politicians, seeking FREE stuff, to give everyone, to pay for all the FREE stuff, which isn’t really FREE after all.  Let the Fricking Energy pay for it.  Then the wizards retired to the local Inn & Pub to quaff some ale and figure out how else to fool the people into leaving them in charge. You have entered the Kingdom of Make Believe and a tousle-haired, yelling wizard named Bernie Sanders seems to be the loudest voice in the kingdom. It also appeared that one candidate, named Warren, and bitten down on bitter and bad tasting biscuit. Why else would she have that expression on her face?

 

The coolest head on the stage, stumbled at times, but he kept referring to how well he had served the make-believe former President whose approval rating at 97% among fellow Democrats threatens to defy science and logic and exceed 100% (but then Democrats often exceed that number in election registrations, so perhaps we are in the land of make believe after all.  Meanwhile, at another place, the reigning golden-haired Grant Wizard Trump ranted about how great he is for almost as long as the ludicrous debate went on. His followers loved it.

 

NOT THE END—JUST THE MUDDLE—and an election is still 15 months away.

 

JOHN

 

Odds are the next debate for the Dems will only require one night and a stage of ten or less—all of whom agree on only one thing…Grand Wizard Trump the is evil spirit/person “who shall not be named.” (Donaldemort?)

THE ENTERPRISE: A FATHER’s DAY SMORGASBORD OF TOPICS—USEFUL and/or RADICAL

PEOPLE ALWAYS THINK A GOOD BOSS ONLY MAKES DECISIONS
That’s not the case. The best bosses gather the best information to help them make the best decisions.  People usually know what’s right & wrong with the places where they work. More often a good boss helps them validate what they instinctively know—or not. To do that the people must trust the boss to make good, wise use of their answers & input. How? By asking them good questions, then better questions. Only then, make decisions in which the people have input and ownership.

To Be a Better Boss, Ask Better Questions 

https://www.wsj.com/articles/to-be-a-better-leader-ask-better-questions-11557426294

======================

PEGGY NOONAN IS A VERY ASTUTE OBSERVER...READ & HEED
Peggy Noonan gets it right! She usually does. Read on, click on the link.

https://www.wsj.com/articles/overthrow-the-prince-of-facebook-11559862145

======================

BIG DATA IS IN BIG TROUBLE—why?
In a word, privacy violations, big, flagrant ones, revealing way too much info derived from users private data.  Do you know what GDPR stands for?  Look it up! It’s law in Europe and spreading fast in the USA. Penalties for violators are huge—Billions of dollars (or Euros). Google, Facebook, amazon & others who rely on their big data could be in big trouble!

======================

QUID PRO QOU
Here’s an idea for a rule change in basketball & football & hockey that will help eliminate a lot of the rough, dirty play:
If a foul/penalty results in the opposing player being injured and unable to play, ...then the opposing player in a comparable* position (and importance) must also leave the game. Only if or when the injured player can return is the opposing player allowed to return.
* matching position on depth chart or lineup

======================

LEADERSHIP MEANS BEING DECISIVE AND SETTING PRIORITIES...doesn’t it?
Democratic Party now has over 20 prospective presidential candidates.  And they’ll leave it to primary voters to sort out who’s best to lead! 
“When everybody is leading, nobody is leading!”
If choosing priorities is a key role of the president, the Democratic Party sure seems to have trouble deciding & choosing who should lead it!
https://www.wsj.com/articles/democratic-national-committee-names-20-candidates-for-first-debates-11560462288
Will primaries be “circular firing squads” or just be a contest of who can vilify president Trump the most outrageously.

======================

WHATS WRONG WITH THIS BUSINESS MODEL?
UBER News item from WSJ: 

“In last month’s IPO, Mr. Khosrowshahi and his executives sought to take the attention off Uber’s losses—which totaled about $1 billion in the first quarter—and instead tout the company’s long-term future as a platform for all-things in transportation. “

“Instead, Uber’s red ink became a big focus among investors, as the company reported the biggest-ever loss—$3.8 billion—by a U.S. startup in the 12 months before going public, according to S&P Global Market Intelligence.”

Wow...who are the biggest fools? The management — or lenders —or investors?

 

======================

 

Preparing to Say Goodbye
A Fathers Day tribute to the person who entertained us all, helped build Pebble Beach Golf Course (where the US Open is being played as I write this .... and to a guy who played characters and behaved like a man who stood by his convictions & didn’t take crap from anybody!  (I don’t know if Clint actually wrote this all,  but he may have.  It is inline with his political philosophy.)
 


 
My Twilight Years at 88
If you realize each day is a gift, you may be near my age.  
As I enjoy my twilight years, I am often struck by the inevitability that the party must end. There will come a clear, cold morning when there isn't any "more." 
No more hugs, no more special moments to celebrate together, no more phone calls just to chat.

It seems to me that one of the important things to do before that morning comes, is to let everyone of your family and friends know that you care for them by finding simple ways to let them know your heartfelt beliefs and the guiding principles  of your life so they can always say, "He was my friend, and I know where he stood." 
 
So, just in case I'm gone tomorrow, please know this:

I voted against that incompetent, lying, insincere, narcissistic, double-talking, socialist hypocrite And fiscally irresponsible moron who spent eight years in the White House trying to destroy our Military, our Homeland Security Department, our Treasury Department, our Justice Department, and turn our wonderful country into a Muslim loving, socialist shit hole like the one he came from, and I don't mean Hawaii! 

Regards, Clint

Make My Day – Forward it

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Happy Father’s Day to all you fathers and sons & daughters of fathers. Love and appreciate fathers (& mother’s). They are our greatest treasure in life!

John