A simple message for people with access to a telephone, a mailbox, or the internet.
Category: Victimization
The TACO President
President Trump’s erratic “the-world-is-on-fire” executive orders, pronouncements, and tweets have left the world’s economies and markets in chaos. Perhaps that’s what he wants… or maybe he doesn’t know what he wants. Possibly, he paid someone else to attend his world economy classes at the Wharton School. There is usually a method to anyone’s madness or…
Arrogance and Complacency
Case Study 1 – The Russian Invasion of Ukraine In early 2024, the Russians, led by the Wagner Group mercenaries, thought that the territory around Donetsk, Ukraine, would be easily overwhelmed. Most of the area had been under Russian control since the beginning of the war. The city faced non-stop attacks from the air and…
21st Century Crime
When America was “great” between 1890 and 1932, there was an active, overtly criminal culture, particularly in large cities. The most famous criminal icon in this era was Al Capone of Chicago. Capone and his associates were able to control neighborhoods in many ways, including violence and intimidation. However, over time, many gangsters were able…
Experts and Predictions
Many aspects of life are predictable. Gravity has kept me grounded on planet Earth for as long as I can remember. If I do not sleep enough, I am cranky the next day. I do not keep friends if I am dishonest and treat them badly. Sometimes people believe they can overcome the “normal” world….
The Forced Conversion of Meat Eaters into Vegetarians
Trump’s Unintended Consequence Number 666 For millennia, humans have been omnivores. In addition to consuming fruits and vegetables, humans have eaten animal products. The scarcity of animals in the food chain or religious inhibitions in some cultures have led to various forms of vegetarianism. At the end of the vegetarian spectrum is a vegan who…
Speeding Toward a Brick Wall
The NY Times reports the inadvertent or conscious advantage given to some Chinese exporters over American importers. Despite the Trump Administration’s bravado and anti-China bombast, Chinese companies like Temu and Shein can AVOID tariffs for purchases under $800 made by direct-to-American customers. For example, if an American buys a $400 set of bowls from Temu,…
The Good News and Bad News
The good news is that we will not need to file our tax returns within a few years. That should make former Speaker Paul Ryan happy! The bad news is that a little-known corporation recently energized by Trump and DOGE will know everything about you, and thus, there will be no reason to report to…
Chaos Leads to Disaster for Most of Us
The chaos of the Trump Administration’s tariff war is already causing importers and exporters to halt shipments worldwide. The COVID-19 pandemic caused factories and most supply chains to freeze for extended periods. Have we forgotten the empty shelves of toilet paper? Do we remember the hoarding behavior? We can expect a similar experience by this…
Detecting Baloney
It is too bad Carl Sagan is not around today. He was an outstanding scientist and a great communicator. In 1980, Sagan developed and narrated a 13-part PBS television series, Cosmos: A Personal Voyage. Sagan was not only a television personality and scientist but also an outstanding educator and author. One of his lasting contributions…