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Monthly Archives: November 2023
Modern Day Robbery
Philadelphia Attorney Tells Lawmakers How He Nearly Fell Victim to AI Scam.
How to stem the tide when high tech thieves have no exposure?
It Was a Good Week
A sign that you may be slipping. You can’t find where you wrote about our need for more fist fights in the humble blog’s archive.
Everyone’s lamenting the decline of the (dis)United States this week all because one Congressman allegedly elbowed another in the kidney and one Senator proposed fighting the Teamsters President during a formal hearing after the Teamsters President called the Senator a “clown” and “fraud” on social media before adding, “You know where to find me. Anyplace, anytime cowboy.”
That is good stuff. But it got even better.
The Senator replied, “Sir, this is a time. This is a place. You want to run your mouth? We can be two consenting adults — we can finish it here.”
I like the emphasis on both parties consenting. There has to be some sort of code. Fisticuffs should never be forced.
“OK, that’s fine. Perfect,” the Teamster President responded.
“Well, stand your butt up then,” Senator taunted, with Teamster President telling Senator to do the same.
Then, it was all RUINED by a Vermont Socialist who went all schoolmarm on his colleague.
Here’s what Senator Byrnes would’ve said if he was chairing the hearing.
“Thank you for not shooting at each other and risking not just your lives, but innocent bystanders lives. We should all take pride in the fact that no one died here today. Thank you to the gentleman from Oklahoma and the gentleman from the International Brotherhood for illustrating that some forms of violence are better than others. Similarly, we should all show some gratitude to the Former Speaker for opting to elbow his colleague in the kidney instead of shooting him. Clearly, we are evolving, maybe not as fast as some would like, but evolving all the same.”
A Pastor, Comedian, and Educator Walk Into a Bar
And compare notes.
The pastor says, “I can tell when my congregation is with me. When they’re watching and listening intently, we’re connected.”
The comedian says, “I can tell when my audience is with me. When they’re watching and listening intently, we’re connected.”
The educator says, “I can tell when my students are with me. When they’re watching and listening intently, we’re connected.”
One never arrives as a teacher. On the best days, a distinct majority watches and listens intently. And the connection is strong. More often, some watch and listen intently, while others are elsewhere. The eternal challenge is tilting that balance.
Best To Say Nothing At All
Two opposing forces. Historical enemies. Living side-by-side on the same land. People’s entire identities at stake. Each determined to destroy the other.
Say anything, about any of it, and prepare for the blowback.
Ohio State versus Michigan, November 25th, at 9 a.m.
Podcasts to Ponder
On my commute this morning I listened to this one, “Can Mike Johnson Survive As House Speaker?” One guest, with no sense of irony said, “Predictions are hard. Especially about the future.”
A week ago, I listened to this podcast, “Morikawa vs. Hovland, Grading LIV’s Season, Predicting the Future“. Love me some Dylan Dethier and Sean Zak, but Zak shanked it bigly when he said, “Furyk wasn’t as good as Tiger.” Bold. Astute.
And during yesterday’s run, I listened to this one, “Brian Koppelman on TV, Movies, and Appreciating Art“. Koppelman is a writer, director, and producer known for his work on films like Rounders and Solitary Man, the hit TV show Billions, and his podcast The Moment, which explores pivotal moments in creative careers. During the interview, he shared his two favorite t.v. shows currently airing. . . The Crown and The Bear. That brought a smile because that is the exact correct answer to the two best shows currently airing. You know what they say about “great minds”.
Biden Should Take A Cue From Cable News
Six months to a year ago, CNN replaced its middle aged prime time male anchors with 31 year old Kaitlin Collins and 34 year old Abby Phillips.
Shortly thereafter, CNN platformed The Former Guy with their right wing “town hall” and I swore to never watch any of their programming again. But I’ve backslidden. As one does. CNN’s Middle East coverage has been solid and I like Collins and Phillips a lot, especially compared to the oldy and moldy former guys. Among other strengths, Collins and Phillips do not get ruffled. And, to borrow from some other cable news outfit, they come across as fair and (relatively) balanced.
I’m sure Collins and Phillips both aspired to rise to the top of their profession, but I’m guessing they were surprised by just how fast they got there. And yet, they’re excelling so much maybe the CNN suits should’ve promoted them earlier.
Among other broadcasters, MSNBC has countered with 45 year old Alex Wagner, 41 year old Ana Cabrera, and 44 year old Jen Psaki.
Cable news, at least on the left, has become a youngish woman’s game.
I’m guessing I’m not alone in watching a little more of CNN’s and MSNBC’s newer programming.
How many Kaitlin Collins and Abby Phillips are sitting on the bench—in politics, in business, in every economic sector—patiently waiting for the coach to call their number?
The answer is a hell of a lot. There are a lot of smart, caring, talented men and women in their third and fourth decade who we are not asking enough of. Who we are not providing sufficient opportunities to lead.
The President, who has and is doing a fantastic job, should announce he’s not running for reelection, that he’s passing the baton to the next generation of Democratic leaders. Handing off to the Gretchen Whitmers, the Gavin Newsoms, the Andy Beshears, and the 41 year old Pete Buttigieg. Among others who we don’t even know are on the bench because the “starters” are sucking all the air out of the room.
Not because of a widely reported poll that has appeared exactly one year from the election, but because everyone declines a lot in their 80’s. Maybe Joe isn’t too old to do the job well today, but that doesn’t mean he’ll be able to do it as well in 1-5 years. Why should we risk hoping Joe’s decline is going to be much less noticeable than on average when we don’t have to? When we have such a deep bench?
CNN had an executive who whacked his starters and then elevated his second stringers for an obvious win.
The Executive Branch is a different animal. A large ego is a prerequisite. Absent Jill, or some other confidant whose perspective the President implicitly trusts, all we can hope for is he decides himself to raise his hand and signal to the coach, I mean country, to take him out of the game. Doing so would secure his legacy.
The Big Question In Retirement
Who am I now that I’m not working? That’s the question Stephen Kreider Yoder, 66, and Karen Kreider Yoder, 67, reflect on in this Wall Street Journal essay.
Karen writes:
“I no longer have the career that was the dominant part of my identity. Instead, I have a many-faceted identity.
Sure, there are mornings when I feel melancholy, often when the coming day feels unstructured or without purpose. On rare occasions, I stay in my pajamas all morning and wish I were back to my routine of setting off before dawn by bike to the ferry, across the San Francisco Bay and back on the bike for the last leg to the university. It was an invigorating commute, and I had heady work building a department that made an impact in the community.
But the pressure and the stress? The sleepless nights preparing for meetings and classes? I am happy to have left that behind, and the place it had in my identity. Now, if I’m not satisfied with my day, it’s my own fault.”
I wonder though, is it her own fault?
I’m struck by the limited opportunities for retired peeps to share their unique skills and work/life experiences, insights, and wisdom. A cynical view would be that “society” just doesn’t care. That it has an ageist, “thank you for coming”, perspective.
Sure, retired people can volunteer for any number of non-profits, and some create “encore” careers, but for the vast majority it’s not easy to find the right fit. To be able to make similar contributions as they did when working, just in significantly less time, and with less stress.
I wonder if I happened onto a large part of the answer when I entered the crib last Saturday afternoon. The GalPal had just finished tutoring a recently retired lawyer-friend who is learning Spanish. Afterwards, she said she felt a sense of purpose that is decidedly more elusive in her post-teaching life.
I wonder. If for retired people struggling with their new, post paid work identities, the answer may be informal small groups where each participant contributes a unique skill.
Which leaves me wondering. How might we facilitate more grass roots, retirement, purpose making?
The Only AAPL Warning Sign That Really Freaks Me Out
Apple’s shares slipped more than 3% in after-hours trading following last Thursday’s earnings call. Even worser, AAPL was also down Friday despite the fact that the broader market surged both Thursday and Friday.
When it comes to AAPL, I happily and knowingly break conventional personal finance wisdom that says never have more than 5% of your total invested assets in any individual stock.
Over the last fifteen years, I’ve learned to chuckle at the doubters. Chuckleheads all.
But what if I am right, until I am wrong? Maybe a little humility is in order? Maybe AAPL isn’t always going to make the personal tech of choice? If so, maybe I should pay attention to the “headwinds”.
The Wall Street Journal on Apple:
“. . . the stock already had been underperforming its big tech peers lately. Concerns were mounting over the new iPhone cycle and longer-term issues like the health of the China market and the company’s lucrative relationship with Google, which pays Apple billions of dollars every year to be the default search engine on the iPhone and other devices. That relationship is at the center of an antitrust trial against Google that has now lasted two months.
The case is a long way from resolution. China, however, is a more pressing issue. Apple’s revenue for its Greater China segment fell nearly 3% year over year compared with a 6% rise in last year’s fiscal fourth quarter. That brought China’s contribution to Apple’s total revenue to its lowest point in nearly three years. . . . Data from market research firm Counterpoint suggests the iPhone has lost momentum in China to a newly resurgent Huawei, though.”
Also, what about the anecdotal? A year ago the family had the nerve to suggest Spotify was better than Apple Music. Eventually, to save money by partnering with the GalPal, I caved and gave it a whirl. And you know what, don’t tell them, but they were right.
In related news, the sensor on the back of my Apple watch cracked. It still mostly works (no sleep data, heart rate, etc.), but I’m thinking of replacing it. And I’m leaning towards a Garmin Venu 3 or Garmin 265 because one charge lasts at least one week. How to make sense of the masses preference for Apple’s for-shits battery life? By acknowledging the company’s marketing genius.
But I digress. Back to the one, mother and father of all, AAPL warning signs. And I quote the recent CNBC headline that stopped me in my Apple track.
Jim Cramer lauds Apple’s ‘lifetime customer,’ says analysts are too negative on the company.
Harvard educated Jim Cramer is the single worst “stock guru” in the mainstream media. Yes, his television persona attracts eyeballs, but any primate throwing darts at a stock chart would outperform him.
John Oliver said it better than I ever could, “Cramer is the only person who could look you in the eye and say you are going to die tomorrow, and give you an immediate sense of calm knowing that you’re going to live for another 50 years.”
Hard to top that, but Ian Krietzberg says Cramer has been wrong so often “that Matthew Tuttle, the CEO and investment lead of Tuttle Capital Management, decided to create an ETF designed to short Jim Cramer.”
Tuttle for the win.
Maybe I should sell some AAPL and use the proceeds to buy an equal amount of SJIM.
News Alert
UCLA star freshman Aday Mara cleared by NCAA for competition. Just think of him as Wemby Jr. Go Bruins.
Pressing Pause 