Too Much…Too Little

Just when I think it can’t get any whackier, it does. I took note of two people this week. Musk and Zuckerberg. Both are absurdly wealthy and both are indicative of how substantive their effects on our lives are.

Good old Elon decided this week to turn off the Starlink program that enables Ukraine to survive. Was it a tantrum or perhaps a change of philosophy in his so called superior brain that led him to do so?  Was it Putin, Trump? Who knows but with a sweep of his imperial wand he brought about the deaths of both the military and civilian personnel alike.

Think about that. An unelected  civilian with so much of a hold on our reality of life that he can just decide to change the path of wars and the countries that fight them. Did anyone take note of just how dangerous that type of power is? He also launches rockets into space once or twice a week and is now the sole provider for NASA to go to the Space Station. Self driving cars finish off the cake de jour. Next up is your phone system.

Mark Zuckerberg is the head of Meta. They just paid a group of states  $25 billion because of some sort of info leak of their customers. They are also in the middle of a settlement for $20 billion because they targeted young kids. All without admitting any wrong doing.

It seems there is the threat of a billionaire tax in California. Ergo, the boss was giving careful consideration to moving out of the Golden State. Oh no, Mark we can’t let that happen. So they voted to issue $35 billion of non voting Meta stock to cover his potential bill. You can’t make this stuff up.

Now both of them are free to do as they see fit. However, what does their actions mean to the residents of Ukraine or the stockholders of Meta. My point is how much of everyday lives are affected by the very few.

Putin decided to invade Ukraine. Not a big deal if you discount the 500,000 Russian troops that have been killed. One man made that decision. Trump invaded Iran on a hunch. 6 months later there is chaos in the Strait as well as world economies. We now have three carrier groups in one spot. Xi is betting the ranch on a gigantic military force. Too bad there won’t be enough young men to man the battle stations.

That trio of egomaniacs have decided the only way to shape things up is to get together Yalta style and divvy the world between them . You students of the old world order are stupid. The boys know what they are doing. They have fired everyone around them that shows any sign of independent thinking. As a matter of fact, thought is forbidden. Only idiots and sycophants need apply.

I could go on and on  in corporate America with the likes of Oracle’s Ellison. Netflix’ vaunted birds eye seat has been knocked askew. IBM and Intel continue to retool. The CAPEX of AI is beyond astronomical. If it works a lot  of people will be out of jobs. Our whole manner of dealing with one another will turned upside down. If it doesn’t, a lot of people are going to be out a ton of money.

Tsk,tsk Teddy. You are getting your knickers in a knot over nothing. The world has evolved over time through the leadership of comparatively few individuals. The best and brightest will lead us and we should all fall into place and be grateful. Shut up and clip your coupons, amass the wealth of your portfolios and play some golf. Yikes! Is it just me?

I once had little tete a tete with the Archbishop of Denver. We exchanged emails which got a little testy at times. Finally I said, why don’t we get together? We had coffee and he commented that I seemed to have a problem with authority. I expressed my credo that no one is better or worse than me. You can be smart in certain areas and really stupid in others. I am not sure he got it.

In my last blog I mentioned how well Switzerland works as a people and a country. The have a group of seven ministers who take care of the governance. They rotate the presidency among the septet to make sure no one has too much power. I think that smells of collaboration and even dare I say, a touch of humility.

Pardon my blathering. We have accomplished some wonderful things in my lifetime. Life has been good to me. But there have been some colossal screwups by people who are supposed to be really smart. Is that human nature or hubris? Are we all supposed to accept it or can we question it?

We have some amazing opportunities in front of us. We also have some sink holes that could swallow us alive. I am hard pressed to see any of the top nation states who have their act together. The whole AI thing is daunting by its application but also by its ability to destroy our way of life. Rich and poor are so far apart that revolt  or rebellion could be just around the corner.

Too much? There is too much concentration of power in the too few. The cognoscenti are preening their feathers and strutting their stuff. They are becoming richer and richer. I just don’t feel that can be a good thing in any way. I was called a socialist by one of my readers. Maybe, but I don’t think so.

Too little? Humility, collaboration, decency and we can throw in a touch of spirituality. We don’t admit our mistakes but blame others. We think there is no one else out there even half as smart. I am right, You are wrong. It is as simple as that.

As always

Ted The Great

Factoids;

People ask me why would anyone want to read a book about hospice? Good question.

Are you over the age of 70?

Do you have parents or loved ones over the age of 70?

Are you so healthy you have no fears of a life ending illness?

I am not trying to sell books. I am trying to educate people and take some of the fear away from a thing called death. Maybe like my blog I am chasing moonbeams. I am an optimistic pragmatist. Tragic flaw.

TTG

Available on Amazon or Ingram as an Ebook or Paperback

All proceeds are donated to hospice.

Hello World….

Kathy and I have been traveling…again. This time to Switzerland. We are at the end of our journey and it has been wonderful in so many different ways. 

This place is neutral but not when it comes to ingenuity and love of life. It is sane, peaceful, active and historical all rolled into one. The people exude pride in their homeland. Everywhere is clean as a whistle. You ask the question, do they have a lot of cleanup crews or do people take care of the place? What do you think ?

The water is crystal clear everywhere. You can fill up your flask from fountains in city squares or from the sink in the loo. Equal opportunity. Walk out on the dock and you can see clear to the bottom.

It is a representative government in its truest form. There are seven prime ministers and they rotate as president. All have equal power. They are elected every four years. The people vote four times a year and 90% do it by mail. They have a say in major issues from immigration to taxes. Simple vote up or down. 

There are contrasts galore, from the mountains to the cities and lakes.

Each have their unique personality with German,French and Italian areas. And yet it works. Our favorite was Lugano with a mixture of industry and laid back. Everywhere felt safe. 

Our tour group of 27 was an insight in its own right. There were couples and friends and a couple of ladies who had suffered losses. The community gathered around and looked out for them. Many of these had taken tours with this provider all over the world. One couple had gone on 32 of them. I couldn’t think up that many places on our bucket list. 

The mountains from the Matterhorn to Jungfrau were massive and both forbidding and beckoning. Cog railways carved through mountains for several miles only to pop up on top of the world. We actually went deep inside a glacier underground. 20 degrees Fahrenheit for these two from Flalaland.  We were served quiche and Mimosas. Why not? 

There is a feeling of awe and humility. Far from Iran and AI there is tranquility. The vast reaches of rock and ice soar into the sky and all of a sudden you are right in the middle of it. The silence was deafening until you heard the cacophony of certain  tour groups.   They took pictures from every angle and posed with selfie sticks, with nary a slice of concern for their fellow travelers. The reality of touring. 

Ski lifts could take you even further. I could only imagine the abject terror of jumping off and having your skis hit full bore down a sheer face. And yet in the summer season it was the stairway to heaven for paraglider and hikers. 

Below were farm pastures and villages with fields that look like golf fairways thanks to the bovine lawn mowers. In the winter the farmers lower their fences and cut off the electric to provide ad lib runs for the skiers from everywhere. It all ends up at the bottom for your next ride up on a lift or gondola. 

They celebrate the seasons and the harvest with century old traditions. Villages no more than a half mile from one another denote their individuality and yet their sense of family. There are no walls. They give thanks for what they have, not yearning for the next fad. We had a guide who left the valley to roam the world. She said nothing could replicate the beauty and serenity of her home. She returned to appreciate that view even more. Nice thought. 

We visited a cheese factory to see it happen. Our guide was a former ad exec in Zurich. This worked better. The cool part was it was a joint venture with the artisans and the farmers sharing equally. Everyone owned stock in the company. Private equity? Keep Out !

Cities for the most part are built around lakes from Como to Lugano to Geneva. Tree lined esplanades  with the backdrop of gigantic mountains. Not a bad way to fly. Outdoor cafes line the streets in summer with the ever present church or museum for this or that. The history of Berne or Luzerne goes back hundreds if not thousands of years. Yet the country is renowned for its banking and pharmaceutical and delicate machinery prowess.  Insurance? Watches? They have got you covered. 

Is it perfect beneath the covers? Probablynot. There are flaws everywhere. But you get the impression when one is found they try to correct rather than put off the inevitable. Maybe that is why they seem so relaxed and loving of their surroundings. They revel in nature and the seasons rather than trying to figure out a way around them. Hmmm. That sounds like common sense to me.

Some will shrug their shoulders and say it is a country of 9 million people, twice the size of New Jersey. I would like to think about it as a microcosm of what could be. Not trying to screw each other out of this or that but figuring out a way we can all pull on the same oar. Really understanding our surroundings and our place in it. A humility to say there might be a higher power or reasoning that is a balance and let’s not try to conquer it. 

For me this was a visit to the top of the world. I will try to remember what I have learned and what I have heard.Good stuff and bad stuff alike. We have all the makings around each one of us. Find your top of the world and enjoy the view.

As always

Ted The Great

Factoid:

In Switzerland you have to have health insurance. Not government but private. They will help you pay for it but that’s it. No questions. 

There is poverty if you can call it that. Because their standard of living is so high the lower echelon is really quite high. The unemployment rate  is 2.2%. They have an estimated 2200 homeless people. 

Their taxes are higher depending on your canton and municipality. The fed  tax is 11.5 %. You could pay up to 15-40% depending on where you live. Switzerland has a robust social security system known for its “three-pillar” structure that covers retirement, disability, survivors’ benefits, healthcare, and unemployment.

Their infrastructure from roads to trains and tunnels is in very good shape. Maintained properly. There are unions but they rarely have strikes. They figure it out beforehand. 

Unlike systems funded entirely by general taxation, the Swiss system relies heavily on mandatory contributions from employees, employers, and individuals. Every male has to put in 2 years of public service in the military. 

Revenge Ain’t Sweet….

Writer’s note: I have invited many of you to Ted’s head for the first time. I try to just give an everyman’s view of the world in an apolitical fashion. You don’t have to agree with me. I would just like you to think. I have been doing this for 15 years.

Revenge Ain’t Sweet …..

9/11 occurred 25 years ago. I can’t do justice to the trauma and heartache it created. I knew 20 people who went down including my cousin’s son who was at his second day of work for Cantor and Fitzgerald. We all have our own thoughts and contemplations about that horrible day that obliterated a clear blue sky. Not only for New York City but for all of us as a nation.

We will never forget. A visit to the  9/11 Memorial is at the same time beautiful and shattering of the senses. We will each do our own mourning. Our first and very plausible reaction was to seek revenge. “Let’s get them bastards.” All good and noble. But I do have to ask where has it gotten us? 

Our emotional demonstration of flags on every corner has waned. It’s rare to see Old Glory anywhere these days except for an occasional unfurling on Memorial or Veterans Day. Will the Stars and Stripes burn bright on Friday? I hope so. 

Revenge is plain and simple an emotional reaction. Eye for an eye. Yet decisions made in a moment of rage are rarely ones.  It feels good but empty. Then of course there is retaliation to the retaliation. It goes on and on. 

We went into Afghanistan to root out the terrorists and did a pretty good job. Then as often happens it became a springboard for other unfinished business. Mission Accomplished becomes ongoing. We blow the crap out of countries but we never thought what to do after that. 

Incredibly the first thing Paul Bremer did after we vanquished the Iraqi army and overran the capital, was fire to all of them including the police.  They made a  hundred bucks a month. They still had guns. There were no WMDs. Yikes! 

This is not Monday morning quarterbacking but questioning if anybody really had their shit together or were we doing things on the fly? It cost us anywhere from $6-8 trillion to get revenge. 

Putin has felt screwed by the fall of the USSR. Never should have happened. He wants revenge so he invades Ukraine. How is that working? China wants to take over Taiwan. This will make up for their “lost century” where nobody respected them. The Israelis have leveled Gaza and doing their best to inhale the West Bank. Of course we want to blow Iran to smithereens. Does anyone see a trend here? Have we really settled things?

This is not to heap scorn but really ask if governments everywhere have done a good job since 9/11. We have had a financial crisis, COVID and now a pretty pervasive debt problem. In many countries, 50%  of the populace hate one another.Rather than cooperation we want to build walls. Every man or woman for themselves. Has hate and revenge abated or just gotten worse?

In WW II we had a very recognizable enemy in the Axis Powers. We had a surrender that was signed and sealed. We rebuilt and thrived. Now we have terror cells and rogue nation in all parts of the world. Warlords and authoritarians have signed all sorts of agreements that they don’t have to live up to. Threats are becoming more and more regular and the fear of big countries is abating. 

When 9/11 happened most of the world was behind us. We were welcomed in foreign countries. We had a common goal across the globe to get back to some sort of normal. The only problem was “normal” wasn’t well defined and elusive. We as a world became petty. Diplomatic snubs and insults showed there was a lot of infighting among the natives. 

Now nationalism is the new vogue. Ironically this will only lead to more revenge. You tariff me, I am going to tariff you. You keep your poor and hungry out of my yard. We don’t want them. The “we” is becoming larger and larger, from the US,Europe and Africa. Kids, I really don’t see how this will lead to a better world for any of us. 

Why should we care? 9/11 brought about a lot of crazy things. The world banking system had to cooperate to keep out terror money. We all exchange intelligence. Unfortunately Russia exchanges with Iran and China but let’s look on the bright side. At least we can monitor and try to control things. But are we facing a common enemy or are we becoming enemies to each other? Is everyone trying to get even in one way or another? 

Okay, where am I going with this mess? For a start we have to be creative in so many aspects from geopolitics to warfare to everyday life. We have shunned former allies to our own detriment. We all have to have some friends. No man is an island. 

We are trying to arm a world with carriers and battleships while they can be taken out by both aerial and sea going drones. We need to  blow up or at least adjust old notions to meet the present. We have declining populations in most modern countries. Who is going to fill the jobs and pay taxes? Let’s be honest. Good luck!

Have we learned anything since 9/11? Probably a little here and a little there. But like everything else, memories are short. New ideas get quelled by the old guard and we look to the past while we are living in a very dynamic present and future. 

It is going to become more and more of a balancing act. Brute force has been shown to have limited results. The world needs states people and not politicians and tsars. Waiting until the next election or overthrow will not get us anywhere. We have got to get real. Or should we just stay in our little Fantasyland, we call whatever country we are living in. Live is good. Why worry?

As always 

Ted The Great 

Factoids:

The world has spent roughly $250 billion to $350 billion on dedicated airport and commercial aviation security over the past 25 years. Ironically we could probably save money with faster tomagraphic scans and identity checks but then again we might be invading privacy. 

3,000 wonderful people lost their lives at the World Trade Center, Pentagon and Shanksville. Approximately 15,000 have been disabled by the cumulative effects of exposure to toxic material. 10,000 of those have died. 

All of this upheaval was created by 19 terrorists. So much payback for so few.

The Islamic State IS has operations in 24 countries today. 20% of terrorist arrests are people under 18. The epicenter of terrorism has shifted from the Middle East to the Central Sahel in northern Africa. which now accounts for over half of all deaths from terrorism.

Both Russia and China have terrorist activity within their borders. 

Researchers  describe revenge as an adaptive mechanism that evolved to solve the problem of deterrence. By punishing those who harm us, even at personal cost, we create a reputation that discourages future aggression.

“Before you embark on a journey of revenge, dig two graves.”  Anonymous

And All That Class….

These days I am search of a rare object. Class! Being classy means acting with grace, respect, humility and self control. You are calm and discreet. Kindness and authenticity. Yikes! Know anyone? That’s a tough one. 

Class and elegance are closely related but class is a timeless dignity as to  how you act but elegance is a subtle sophistication in how you present yourself. You walk in the room like James Bond but you act like Mother Theresa. Try pulling that off. 

Narcissism seems to be a transmittable disease these days. Maybe RFK could come with a vaccine. Probably not, because he’d say the meds change one’s personality. Why would we ever want to do that?  

 But behind this mask of extreme confidence, they are not sure of their self-worth and are easily upset by the slightest criticism. People with narcissistic personality disorder may be generally unhappy and disappointed when they’re not given the special favors or admiration that they believe they deserve. They may find their relationships troubled and unfulfilling, and other people may not enjoy being around them. 

These last two paragraphs I plagiarized. I am not that smart. But they are worth thinking about. 

Have you ever seen somebody with money or power berate a waiter or someone behind a reception desk? Do you know who I am? No, and I really don’t give a crap. I will have your job! The classic is playing golf with a caddy. Crappy shot? Of course it was his fault not yours. He handed you the wrong club or read the putt wrong. That isn’t just being rude. It is the height of insecurity. Making a lesser person feel even worse. Good for you.

They have an unreasonable sense of self importance and need constant admiration and fawning. They feel they deserve special treatment. They want the best of everything and constantly compare themselves to others. They become impatient with staff and lose it when someone criticizes them. 

Is it just me or is this becoming pervasive in so many walks of life. Government? You can be president, senator, rep or cabinet official. You are squired around and doted on. You are unapproachable unless it is on your terms. Wait! Who do they work for? 

Narcissistic personality disorder is a mental health condition in which people have an unreasonably high sense of their own importance. They need and seek too much attention and want people to admire them. People with this disorder may lack the ability to understand or care about the feelings of others.

CEOS and veeps in corporate suites. Just tell me the good stuff or you are fired. Sports people ? Celebrities? I want only green M and M’s in my dressing room. I will do interviews when I want. I want to be your idol but don’t dare invade my privacy. It is beyond interesting that we not only accept it but want that behavior as a consuming public. Probably would be a great study of human nature an failings. 

If you are classy you are kind, approachable and even humble. You have an authenticity that is palpable. Dolly Parton just died. Does she fit the bill? Never forgot where she came from. She knew who she was and was not afraid to show it. 

I hope I am not overplaying it when I say maybe that is what is missing today. We all have different points view. What if we really listened to people? Not just polite but really trying to understand. What if we were empathetic? I can’t experience your pain but
I can picture it. People really do have crappy lives and huge personal problems. Do you just blow them off? Sorry for your loss but I have things to do. Really interesting stuff. 

Is it silly to aspire to this high level? I hope not. I am one of the worst offenders but it doesn’t mean one settles into being a jerk forever. Work in progress and that is the point. We are all guilty in one manner or another. Maybe a lot of us have just given up? Sad.

Me? I am gong to try to be authentic.

I am going to try not to interrupt. Set my ham radio to receive and not just transmit. I have specific thoughts and beliefs but it does not mean I don’t have a lot to learn. Maybe I just say thank you for all the numbers things people do for me. Perhaps not God’s gift to the music world as the saying goes. Work in progress, right to the end.

As always 

Ted The Great  

Factoids:

Wealth breeds contempt. You think you got there by your brains and not luck. As you have more you want to amp it up. The higher and higher you go the more detached you become from the real world. From what really makes this world tick. 

Classy People

Mother Theresa..top of the list. 

Pope Leo…

Adam Scott and Justin Rose…pro golfers. 

George Herbert Walker and Barbara Bush

Tom Hanks

Jimmy and Rosanne Carter

Kate Middleton

Princess Di

Warren Buffett

MY MOM!

I am sure there are more but I really have to think. Decent, honest and humble probably were my favorite attributes. Interesting as I look online everyone was great because the were beautiful or well dressed. Hmmm.

Implications…

I am starting off with a piece from John Ellison’s Substack. It is not political in any way. It is a clear statement of facts. If anyone wants to take on its accuracy, please do. I hope you take a minute to read and consider its implications. 

“ Not that anyone seems to care, but:

Around 2030, the United States is projected to surpass three milestones that illustrate the lack of precedent for the government’s fiscal predicament. 

According to the Congressional Budget Office, 2030 is the year when federal debt held by the public as a share of the economy will exceed the record set by World War II. Unlike in the ’40s, this debt shows no signs of ever declining. 

In 1945, 84 percent of federal outlays were on defense, a tsunami of spending that would ebb once World War II concluded. In 2025, 73 percent of federal outlays were on mandatory spending or interest payments, which are legally obligated to continue. 

The year 2030 is also roughly when the ratio of seniors to the total population will reach 1 in 5. As recently as 2008, the ratio was around 1 in 8. Seniors’ rising share of the population mechanically raises Social Security and Medicare costs and pushes them onto a proportionally smaller working population. 

The U.S. always used to be able to count on a naturally rising population as an engine for economic growth, but that will no longer be the case. That’s because 2030 is also the year when the CBO projects that deaths will begin to exceed births. The entitlement programs making up much of the budget were designed under 20th-century demographic expectations that no longer hold true. 

Social Security used to take in more money than it gave out, but that money was spent on other things. The program has run annual deficits since 2010. It is projected to go insolvent in 2032, at which point seniors would receive a roughly one-quarter cut in benefits across the board. 

Medicare’s budget-busting makes Social Security’s look modest by comparison. Of the projected $138 trillion budget shortfall over the next 30 years, $109 trillion is from Medicare. Rising health care costs, combined with an aging population receiving far more in benefits than it ever paid in taxes, spells fiscal Armageddon. The Medicare Hospital Insurance trust fund goes insolvent in 2033.”

The sheer simplicity struck me. Anyone should be able to read it and understand it. It focuses on one extremely important aspect of our world…deficit spending. There are many other critical components to pursue ranging from infrastructure to foreign policy. That is not the point. We are so good at avoiding facing difficult solutions. What was I thinking?.It is time for the summer break. 

We have the rich and famous, both individually and as mega corporations. We can tout how much they contribute to society and pay more than their fair share of taxes. Yes and no. Are they scheduled to shell out huge sums as  is touted for the 1or 10% ? Yes, with an asterisk. More importantly is how much of that taxation is subtracted through a variety of loopholes and the definition of what salary is. 

We have given large corporations all sorts of deductions on the hope they will “reinvest in America.” Bravo….except they have spent a majority of this money on share buybacks. Of course that raises the stock price at whose benefit? The average Joe? 

Let’s not let our socialist friends off the hook. They have more ways to spend money than Carter’s Little Liver pills. Subsidized housing. Free healthcare and child care. Perhaps a guaranteed income whether you work or not. If you do we are going to have a fat minute wage. Let’s have all the corporations come under government ownership.

Both sides are tough to reason with. The only way you and I can affect policy is to vote in one side or the other. Every four or eight years we flip our approach to spending and foreign policy. That usually doesn’t work and we go back to ground zero. And to use an abhorrent phrase,”We kick the can down the road.” To my way of thinking we are about to run out of any road whatsoever. 

People ask how we got here? I would ask do we really take this process seriously? When we vote for someone do we really know them or do we just step in the booth and pull the red or white lever   as a robot. Do we listen to attack ads or is there ever any reasonable back and forth?

Let’s take Trump. He ran on closing down the border which I agree wholeheartedly with. He also wanted to round up the crooks and rapists. How can you be against that? Is the government bloated? Mais oui. But…

Did you vote for ripping people out of cars and shooting them? Rousting people in the middle of the night who have been here for 30 years with a wife and kids? Oh and by the way sending them off to Latin America or Africa without any recourse where they will probably die in prison. Are we all that inhumane?

I am not picking on the Donald. He is just the most obvious demonstration of knowing what you are really getting into. Senators and Congresspeople are much more subtle. After a while they settle in and find all the neat escapes and benefits. I will ask you if this is who you and I are? 

Do you really understand that our current crop of politicians are so beholding to party hacks and vested interests? The entire nominating system is so tilted that you have to  pledge undying devotion and loyalty or you are out. Is it US or THEM who are planning our future? We only have ourselves to blame. 

You and I in everyday life have to understand the implications of what we do. If I make an investment it is either good or bad. If I am profligate or just a bad guy I pay the price. Is that what happens in our beloved government  or even corporate America? I think pardons and golden parachutes have made for an air of irresponsibility and insolence. 

My point is simple. You and I have to take our world more seriously. We have to realize the implications of what we do and say. We have to take an interest in what is going on. We have to look at both left and right and realize the long term consequences of what they are saying.Is this even possible? At this point it is a long shot. I sat that as an optimistic pragmatist who really gives a shit. 

I hope you do too. 

As always 

Ted The Great

Factoids:

Only one. The opening statement. 

Rinse and Repeat ….

We are creatures of habit. Some good. Some bad. People crave routine. This can be in our activities as well as our thinking. I decided to do some digging. 

Believe it or not you do things on automatic to conserve brain power. The grey matter comprises 2% of our body weight but sucks up 20% of the energy we use. Whether it is walking, eating, driving a car things just happen without a lot of thought. 

The good part of habits is  it takes stress out of our lives. There is a thing called consistency. There is a bad part when we repeat bad things. Drugs, alcohol, eating can be detrimental to your health and psyche. Yet we do the same thing over and over again.

Repetitive feels good like a pair of flip flops or an old sweatshirt. I will just kick back and let the world go by. I am just going to worry about me and my own. Why rock the boat?  Why think differently?

I am probably the wrong person to go down this path. My poor wife has followed me down a number of rabbit holes and dark alleys. We have moved dozens of times. We have lived in several cities and states and belonged to a number of clubs and parishes. Is this healthy? I am not quite sure.  

We have made friends at each stop with a few still hanging in there with us. When we visit other towns or even countries we muse if it might be nice to live there. Check the real estate listings. Envision a new life. Go ahead. Ask the question. Are we restless, bored or perhaps escaping? Or are we just super inquisitive or adventuresome?  No comment. 

As we get older I think we have slowed down. We have lived in our house for ten years here in Flalaland. A world record for the Kennys. We have done more travel that probably satisfies our wanderlust. We have wonderful friends here but not so much with cliques. We tend to seek out new acquaintances.  

My one regret wherever we go is that we get used to the scenery. We have lived in some marvelous places with panoramic views of the Rockies, the Sonoran desert and of course seashores. I had to slap myself and say don’t forget how lucky you are. I am sure we all get used to views from our bay windows and our minds. 

How we think politically, spiritually, morally and philosophically become habits. Are these deeply held principles or just laziness? Do we need to revisit and even question long held truths? I have told you before my Jesuit training has taught me to question everything. If you can’t believe in it, you can’t internalize. But once you do I don’t think you can put that in the freezer. Times change and offer new insights. I think that inquisitive lust should always be there. 

That of course gets me in trouble. It predicts some sort of change or redirection. That makes people feel uncomfortable. Throw out democracy, socialism or immigration on the table at your next dinner party. If you are not immediately asked to leave there will be a deafening silence. Oh well, I like to keep it interesting. Kathy calls them Ted’s hand grenades. Puts a crimp in our social life. 

Where we are today as a country is revealing. We had the World Cup at venues all over. All sorts of outsiders came to watch futbol but also to see what this place is like. They were surprised and engaging. The differences were  palpable but also intriguing. Crazy Scots, rowing Norsemen showed us a different type of fandom than Yankee Stadium or Chavez Ravine. How about the Japanese cleaning up before they left the arena?  I loved it. Something different. 

Talk about different? The  Trumpster, Elon and Mandami have thrown our day to day into a whirl.  AI and global dynamics have challenged our contentment. You really aren’t sure what the hell is going to happen as you greet each day. Do we just hunker down and wait it out or get involved? I can watch my daily dose of Netflix or God forbid dig deeper. 

I was talking with a friend today about his neighborhood. He said he has never met the guy across the street. He said people just don’t get involved. Why? Well it is just their way. We tend to stay in our lane. A good or bad habit?  

Cool it TTG. Boring is simple. The world will survive and in a few years we won’t even remember this. Apple pie and People magazine. Haircuts every month and dinner at 7. Film at 11. Rinse and repeat. 

As always 

Ted The Great 

Factoids:

Everyone wants to change their habits with New Year’s resolutions. Join  a gym? 80% of new members quit within 5 months. 

Unusual habits can be called quirks or weird. OCD brings out the strange in people.  Some can be downright annoying. Talking on your  cell phones in confined spaces. Slurping your soup or eating with an open mouth. 

Ask someone why they believe a particular ideology and you will usually get,”Because I have always thought this way”. Why? “None of your business.” 

Insanity is doing the same thing over and over assai and expecting different results. Albert Einstein. 

WC Fields on habits: “I once met a woman that drove me to drink. I have been looking for her ever since to write her a thank you note.”

In golf you can do the same thing wrong every time. It is called muscle memory. Your brain is a muscle. 

Life, Liberty….

Happy Birthday To All Of Us…..

I got to thinking about this particular one. I have lived just about 1/3 of the time this place has been in business. Many questions surface. I find my little brain wandering back to the beginning. July 4, 1776. Philadelphia was hot, and sans fans and ac’s it had to be positively sweltering. With our heat wave today maybe nothing has changed. 

Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness keeps ringing in my ears. That’s really all we wanted after years of the monarchy. 

Common sense and respect for one another. Sounds simple.

We were 13 colonies but each had their own idea of how to run their cities and burghs. A convenient arrangement. You leave us alone and we will do the same. 

I guess that relates to the “life” part. You should be able to walk down the street or make your way into town without someone blowing your head off. Do you think they had road rage then? Maybe it also entails a crazy concept called, “Do Unto Others.” Live and let live. I could go on for pages. 

We have seven grandchildren. As I watch them grow, I resist every urge to say you may want to consider this or that. It is your life, not mine. I told this to our three kids when they were 18. We would love to be part of your life but we don’t have to be. What are you guys, nuts?

Liberty. That is why we have the bill of rights. Within reason you can do whatever you want. However if you doing your thing infringes on anyone else’s we have to have a discussion. 

I really believe in freedom of speech, press or whatever. Pro Palestinian or pro Israel. Trump or no Trump. You really can say what you want. I really wonder if we are close to censorship in a real or subtle way? What if I look down on you for what you think? You are ostracized for believing in this or that. At your club, church or block party.  Is that right?  Good question. 

The pursuit of happiness is the ability for you to better yourself. You don’t have to but we can’t get in your way. But it also means we don’t owe you a living. We will try to help in some ways but you are on your own. I think in an abstract way, you have to  take responsibility for yourself. 

Over 250 years there have been a lot of adjustments. Some rights crash into others. You have a right to do whatever you want with your body. Should we be able to terminate a pregnancy or end our own lives at will? I know it will never satisfy either side but you really have to give it some thought. 

You want to own a gun. Great! But doesn’t that infringe on my right to live peacefully if you decide to shoot up your local food court or political rally? I am driving on I95 and all of sudden a drunk is driving the wrong way without a license or insurance. Is it really TS,TTG?

Pursuit of happiness is my particular breaking point. In the service, it was three hots and a cot. In real life it is a roof over your head. I owe you running water and a decent meal. Self determination means you have the right to to set your own goals, make your own choices and determine your own destiny. I always ponder that everything good or bad that happens in your life is the result of a decision you made. Stop making excuses. 

We have always been at war. It is part of our DNA. My lifetime has seen 7 or 8 of them. I participated in one. If you have ever been there you do not want another. Yet there are SEALS, CIA agents and defense companies that will always get a receptive ear. Tear up at a flyover, but always duck when the call to arms is sounded. Thank you for your service. 

We are ambitious, adventurous and inventive. The Musks of today were the Edisons, Salks and  Bells of yesteryear. We are never satisfied with status quo. There is always something else. That is maddening in some ways but very cool in others. I worry that we don’t embrace smart people from other parts of our world. We don’t have a monopoly on brains and can’t buy our way into it. 

There is a lot of hand wringing about AI, jobs and global warming. We have to be prudent and wary but does paranoia work for you? Sure there is a lot of money out there that most of us will never see. It is great to strive but should we blow our brains out for the Holy Grail of a second home, five cars in the driveway and a $500 bottle of wine. Is it really worth it?

Lastly is our voice. Who are we? Trumpers or AOCers? Tycoons or artists? Arrogant or humble? My guess is if we go out and see our country it is chock a block with some very good people. Not necessarily rich and famous but deep down decent. 

Our news orgs of all sorts don’t think that sells and maybe they are right. But who are the buyers? Fox News is at the top of the charts but that is 10 million viewers. Throw in 5 million others scattered about. That is 5% of our population. Let’s even go so far as to say that 5% of our population are evil or crooked in some sort. That is still only 15 million bad guys or girls. Do we really understand that ?

We are a good if not great place. We have accomplished so much in a relatively short period of time of time. We are a nation of good and caring people even if we don’t toot our own horns. And that kids is how I define my pursuit of happiness. Happy Birthday!

As always 

Ted The Great 

Factoids: 

We had 2.5 million people in the 13 colonies  250 years ago. Today we are 342 million strong. The U.S. Census Bureau identifies nearly 1,500 specific race and ethnicity groups. However, because the U.S. does not track legal “nationality” on its census, the exact number of nationalities living in the country aligns with the roughly 195 countries recognized globally, with residents from nearly every nation on Earth represented. We at one point were all immigrants. 

We have beaten numerous diseases including  polio, HIV,COVID et al. We have made extraordinary advances in fighting cancer. We have figured out a way to replace almost every body part. We want to live longer but still haven’t quite figured out how to live well. In extending life we have no idea how to care for an aging populace. 

We have powered our economy by natural gas first, then oil, electric power, atomic power, wind power, solar power and who know what else in the future. Air conditioning ,manufacturing, AI are insatiable. Do we come to a screeching halt because we have outstripped or ability to create power? I hope not. 

There have been over 12 million patents issued in our history. There are 16 million worldwide. A better mousetrap? There is always room. 41% of tech related patents are from foreign born inventors. Overall there have been approximately 800,000 patents in the last 25 years.

Immigrants have been behind 25% of them. 

I could go on but…….. 

We Have A Tradition Here…

Traditions have an important role in our lives. Some good. Some bad. Right now they are a big source of conflict. To break from tradition is to many sacrilegious. To the extreme it can get you a one way trip out of your family, church or even country. 

Traditions have taken a central role in our history. Things are passed on. Religion goes way back whether you are a Christian, Jew or Islamist. Rules were made and rituals put in place to reinforce those beliefs. We are a country of laws. 

Families have traditions. We do holidays or vacations or even Sunday dinner a certain way. Many times we have to travel far and wide to get there. In today’s world kids live in different parts of a state or country. But you have to  be there. 

Certain parts of the country have different ways of doing things. New York..in your face. South..hospitality. Southwest…pickups and cowboy boots. West coast…who knows? Other countries are warm, cold, friendly or standoffish as a national personality.

 

Here in Flalaland, where you live can define you. Are you a boater or golfer or both? Are you welcoming or snooty? Clubs have their rules both written or unspoken. We have a dress code that is laid out. We have an unspoken manner  that rejects people talking about their previous accomplishments. Come as you are. Others demand a curriculum vitae before golf or dinner. To each his own but it does influence how you act and even think. 

POAs are predominant to keep things relatively sane. I really would have a problem if my next door neighbor decided to paint their house a bright pink or neon yellow. There is an order and agreement. In a very real way it presents system of belonging. We all think alike. It is just fine the way it is. 

Enter the outsider or renegade so to speak. That rule is stupid. We no longer need to have 10,000 Christmas lights strewn at our entryways. Or then again maybe we need more.  Manger or creche prominently displayed? Are you kidding? One’s individuality or perseverance is put to the test. 

It seems to me our current world invites dissonance. AI, wealth, globalization (if it still exists) screams change and innovation. Thinking outside the box becomes more commonplace. Open borders have impacted social norms to the point nations are really questioning their effect on the populace. Muddy our culture? Are we still American? Is this how started 250 years ago?

To be steeped in the past is comforting to some but an anathema to others. It seems so out of date in a world that craves the latest of everything. Fashion, cars, housing, entertainment have been moving at warp speed. The old stuff is boring. Old equates with last year or even last week. 

I would hold out to you that we have  traditions as a country that are manyfold. We have been a country of workers and achievers. Innovators? Look at so many things from science to medicine. We have been religious. Look at small towns throughout America and invariably you will see church spires here and there. 

To go on there has always been a clinic or medical center of some sort. A volunteer fire department. A Fourth of July  or Memorial Day parade. Football, basketball or baseball games. I think most of that is still there but mission creep seems to be saying we really don’t need that anymore. If you pay $1mill for your house do you really want to hang out at the local firehouse after fire practice on Tuesday night?

As exemplified by Spacex, there are a lot of people getting wealthier by the day. I guess I should say not a lot but a few. Perhaps the chosen few. That is not so much derogatory but a fact of life. Wage gaps are real and many think that is the way things are. Maybe a new tradition. 

I think when there are quite a few wealthy ones we tend to think that we really don’t need other people or if we do they are to do our bidding. Why do I need to hang out with the hoi poloi? Small town or mundane are boring. 

Today our traditions or new feelings are probably what you might call our personality. We are a vicious lot. Not only cage fighting but mud slinging. We shoot from road rage or just because you looked at me the wrong way. Then of course we have to right that wrong by shooting back. 450 million guns say kill or be killed. We now have security at those Little League games. 

Morality? That is such a dated and Victorian concept. Let the good times roll. What goes on wherever stays there. A concert with crotch rocks or twerking is just a new expression of art. Why the hell else would I pay $2,000 to see it in person? It is the chance of a lifetime. 

Traditions change and they should. I am not opting for marching in place or cutting off science and technology. I guess I am just wondering if I am adding to that change or just being sucked up in the vortex of things I just don’t understand.

I worry about the warp speed we are hurtling at with AI, moon colonization and drugs to keep us living forever. I worry that we cannot spend a single moment looking around at what we have. Really deciding the best way forward. 

I am sure many of you think that I am naive and you are probably right. You can do that when you are 81. Or maybe, just maybe we can create a new tradition that takes all the good parts from the old ones. Not just throwing everything out indiscriminately.  They say I am a dreamer. I just hope not the only one. 

As always

Ted The Great 

Factoids:

TTG has been working on a small book for the last few months. It is titled, “Hospice Is Not A Dirty Word.” It is combination of telling the story of hospice and its incredible outcomes as well as some memories of being a patient volunteer for over 18 years. I guess that is my innovation so to speak for this crazy world. Coming soon to a book store near you. Ha!

I 

Lost At Sea….

Good Morning or Afternoon to all. My daughter sent me an article on writing a few weeks ago and it has taken me aback. One of the key elements was that you should write what people want to read about. Ted’s Head has been about what is going on in my little brain at any given point in time. Maybe I have it all wrong. It may be the height of arrogance. 

If I adhere to the thought of being popular in my thinking then am I just falling in line like most of us? It seems to me that we are being dictated to in so many ways. MAGA, DEI, AI and let’s throw in a little religion. If you don’t agree you are an outcast from either the left or the right. 

That would plunk one in the middle and alas, an enemy to most everyone else. People will pat you on the back and say “Go,gettem” but in reality it is a lonely spot. While you are being hit from all sides the silence is deafening. You know TTG, I agree with you but I really don’t want to get involved. 

I don’t like our world which borders on absurdity as I  write to you from Flalaland. Who has it any better? Unfortunately I take my cue from morning headlines.

Threats, retribution, war, polarization, hate, shootings, debt, wealth, fraud of all sorts, and dehumanization are just a few of hits we take as we try to make sense of this world. Plain and simple I don’t like to live this way. 

Ignore it you say. Stay in your own cocoon and don’t give a shit. You can put gates on your community, your front door and your thinking. If you view the world as a solitary place, created for your own personal enjoyment then I guess that works. Perhaps you could just dip your toe in the water every now and then, without getting wet above your ankles.  Just for today you are participating. 

Fraud exists because we let it. We prosecute the felons successfully only to see them pardoned. States, blue and red alike, look the other way because it actually results in more dollars in their coffers. You can look at your Medicare statement and see false or exorbitant charges. Report it? To whom? It’s all rounding errors anyway. 

This redistricting crap has gotten totally out of hand. There was a district in Louisiana that snaked for 250 miles. Chalk up one for the blue team. The reds don’t even try to hide the elimination of whole districts  and the equal representation they might have provided. We have learned to rig elections in a perfectly legal way. Oh c’mon TTG it has always been played that way. What a mess. 

I have spoken of the deficit so many times you are probably sick of it. Everything is costing more. Medicine, education, social security, infrastructure. Every department is busting their budgets.  Oh yes and don’t forget an extra $500 billion for defense. What should we do?  Cut taxes of course. Is there even one adult in the room? Not just in DC but in our own burghs and boroughs. 

Florida wants to do away with property taxes. Our Wall Street migration is clearly a result of our not having an income tax. So where on earth do we get the money for schools, cops and firemen? Some genius has got to explain the hidden formula to me. We will just up the sales tax for visitors and not the locals. There are people in power proposing this.

My son is involved in 5G. He recently attended a seminar on the electrical grid both local and national. It is decidedly long in the tooth and requires huge amounts for restoration and rebuild. We have a solution. Let’s keep adding data centers that chew up wattage. Let’s shut down every bit of alternative energy. Wind farms are ugly. We can’t have them ruining our views. Let’s just go nuclear. It should only take 10-15 years to get them up and running. 

If you are still reading this missive it would be called “doom scrolling” in today’s vernacular. I look at it as a dose of reality. There are so many nooks and crannies that need attention that we could throw up our hands in disgust. Can we? 

My career has been “fixing”. Finding things that don’t make sense and try a new approach. Not prescient or radical but just exhibiting some common sense. Things get done the wrong way and continue on because we don’t like change. If I try to make it better but in a sense you have to admit that maybe you were wrong. I have to admit it too. Maybe together we can collaborate and come up with a better mousetrap. Do you see that happening. 

Whether it is government, corporate America, religion or even our own way of thinking we have got to find a better way. That would take leadership not blind obedience. We can hide our problems with glitz and futuristic plans of Nirvana. We can find hope in the casinos of Vegas et al, on line betting, lotteries or Wall Street. We can kid ourselves all you want. How do you think that is going to work out? 

I am lost at sea but I hope you see I am trying to figure out solutions and engender participation. I guess you can call me a pragmatic optimist. Care to join me?

As Always 

Ted The Great