Learn from Superman: stay away from the Kryptonite

quick read, friend of mine wrote....

There are likely many things we can learn from Superman, such as: how to fool everyone by disguising yourself with a simple pair of nerdy glasses: how to change quickly in confined spaces, and: how to utilize xray vision in a mature and appropriate manner.  

Additionally, Superman could teach us how to be sensible.  His keen awareness of his vulnerability to Kryptonite ensured he would never tote around a piece of Kryptonite in his back pocket and pull it out at regular intervals throughout the day to determine if it maintains its life and energy sucking properties. He only seemed to happened upon it if he'd been tricked or trapped while trying to save the world.

Next time you pull out your smartphone or scoot up to your computer or cozy up with your laptop, ask yourself, "Am I trying to improve myself; better those around me, or am I testing my strength to see if today at this particular time I can beat the Kryptonite?" There is no building up a tolerance to Kryptonite!

It's been said that nobody on their deathbed has ever stated they wish they'd worked just a little longer. Likewise, I don't think anyone would say they wished they'd spent just another hour or two on their smartphones! At that time you might ask yourself, what if I didn't have my phone in my hand? I could've seen my son make that great play in the game, or really been all present for my friend during that difficult day, or answered a question my child or a friend was leaning on me for my advice, but I hadn't heard them because my focus was on my device.

Go to bed late or miss an event because you had to sift through all the crap to get the creamy pics of how ugly a child tv star is all grown up or how plastic surgery went totally wrong for your favorite sexy idol.

-it's like a dispenser and you keep pushing the button to have it feed you more. It's a buffet of all desserts and the next day all you have to show for it is a sagging brain and black bags under your eyes.

It's like that holiday box of chocolates sitting on the counter that you justify consuming just because they're there.

So just because there might be a YouTube video about how to pluck a pit bull's whisker without getting bitten, doesn't mean that you should spend time watching it (please resist the strong urge to satisfy your curiosity as to whether such a video exists!).  Life is too short to be sucked into the highly addictive trap of what useless nonsense awaits you on your Smartphone.

We may just need an alarm like that on our smartphones since a modern day Superman couldn't come to the aid of the millions of people tightly clutching their Kryptonite...but perhaps there's an app for that! In the meantime, beware of the Kryptonite! 

Trump Tower for All

Imagine a Trump Tower standing tall at the heart American capital cities. The Trump Tower deal  for Moscow reportedly included a gift to Vladimir Putin of a $40 million dollar penthouse apartment at the top of the building.

The recipients, like Putin, should have no real need for the gift—but demonstrate a good dose of chutzpah, the Yiddish word that best captures the Trump personality.

·      Atlanta, Georgia—

o  Ted Turner, media mogul, “Mouth from the South, ounder on CNN and revolutionized mass media on a global scale.

·      Austin, Texas—

o  Willie Nelson, country music star with IRS issues

·      Birmingham, Alabama—

o  George Wallace heirs, Alabama governor, ran for President despite reputation as racist

·      Boston, Massachusetts—

o  Big Papi David Ortiz, a “disruptor” who changed baseball by overcoming the Boston Red Sox curse with a 2004 World Series victory—an “unprecedented” achievement

·      Cambridge, Massachusetts—

o  Elizabeth Warren, Senator from Massachusetts, an Oklahoma native she claimed Native American ancestry and got branded as “Pocahontas” by Trump—himself an individual known to stretch the truth on occasion.

·      Chicago, Illinois—

o  Rod Blagojevich, 40^thGovernor of Illinois until his impeachment and removal from office, contestant on 9^thseason of Celebrity Apprentice in 2010, good TV hair

·      Cincinnati, Ohio—

o  Pete Rose, star baseball player for Cincinnati Red Sox, Hall of Fame entry has been denied due to gambling habit

·      Dallas, Texas—

o  Ross Perot, the feisty billionaire, made a 1992 run as an independent Presidential candidate

·      Detroit, Michigan—

o  Henry Ford heirs, created Ford Motor company, used assembly line to produce cars for middle class

·      Houston, Texas—

o  Roy Hofheinz heirs, developer with vision, create the Houston Colt .45s (AKA Houston Astros) baseball team and developed the Astrodome (Eighth Wonder of the World), the first domed stadium.

·      Miami, Florida—

o  Meyer Lansky heirs, Jewish mobster who reached across the aisle to the Italian Mob to build Las Vegas in the middle of Nevada desert

·      Minneapolis, Minnesota—

o  Al Franken, former Minnesota Senator and SNL comedy performer, the penthouse apartment is consolation for Al being kicked to the curb by #metoo movement

·      Montpelier, Vermont—

o  Bernie Sanders, the independent Senator from Vermont, like Trump recognized the frustration of working class Americansrecognized the frustration of working class Americans

·      New Orleans, Louisiana—

o  Louis “Satchmo” Armstrong, trumpet player extraordinaire with gravel-toned voice and great phraseology

·      Portland, Oregon—

o  Phil Knight founder of Nike, advertising phrase “Just Do It” defines the Trump improvisational or “transactional” style of doing business

·      Los Angeles, California—

o  Arnold Schwarzenegger, bod builder and movie star turned an unlikely, unexpected, inexperienced politician who got elected despite the odds, failed host of The Celebrity Apprentice

·      San Francisco, California—

o  Stewart Brand, editor of the who anticipated Internet with Whole Earth Catalog, Brand insisted the Earth photo take from satellite in 1967 should be available to all

·      Seattle, Washington—

o  two penthouse apartments for: 1) Bill Gates (Microsoft), 2) Jeff Bezos (Amazon) real billionaires

SUVs, Scooters and Survival

GM cut 15,000 jobs this week. Said nobody wants to buy sedans any more. That’s why they’re closing factories in Michigan and Ohio and Ontario, Canada. They have no market for their Impalas, Volt, etc..

Ford Motor Company is also getting out of the sedan business. They have no market for the Taurus, etc.. 

People want to drive big SUVs, built on truck chassis, and pickup trucks have always been a staple down here in Texas. 

I see a lot of super-clean pickup trucks—Ford F-150, Chevy pickups and Dodge Ram pickup trucks. These pickups with not a single scratch in the bed and a pristine paint job indicate a lot of white collar guys with no calluses on their hands buy pickups. Many of these wannabe cowboy wish to stay connected to their salt-of-the-earth roots. Just an observation…

But, now it seems soccer Moms need to a SUV to ride high and have enough steel to make mom feel safe. Kind of like the Cold War weapons escalation from the 1960s. Soviet Union has 50 nukes, we Americans need 100 nukes. 

Translate the Cold War to the Car War escalations of today’s consumer. You get a big car, I need a bigger car, now I need a truck (SUV).

However, I do seen sedans on the road—and most seem to be either European of Japanese. Toyota sells tons of cameras. High end sedans still have appeal. Look at all those Audi and Lexus sedans zipping down the highway. GM and Ford do not bother to address this side of the equation. Their strength is building pickup trucks and SUVs and they are sticking to it.

The scooter phenomenon is a counter-weight to the rise in truck popularity. The city streets are now littered with scooters—magically arrived from some corporate source—ad placed on the sidewalks for all to consider. A credit card app gets the scooter moving. The brave then stand astride the scooter and take their chances on transportation sans protection. 

This very interesting scooter development parallels the increased use of bikes, also a risky pursuit, on our fast-moving public streets. Bikers mostly feature helmets and some use proper illumination at night. 

Scooter and bike people may be making a grand effort to save the planet. They will give you alternative explanations but I think the core idea, “let’s pollute less,” exists behind their transportation choices.

The New York Times has been tackling global climate change as a major target of their publication. I immersed myself in the recent article, “The Insect Apocalypse Is Here.” 

Here is the link:

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/27/magazine/insect-apocalypse.html

Do not let the title fool you—this is a human apocalypse, generated by mankind and foisted on all living things. The numbers of insects has declined significantly. Many other species have declined also.

The decreased insect population saddened me. We have all experienced the plenitude of nature. Maybe you have been in an apple orchard at harvest time? I have seen massive pecan crops on good years in Central Texas. 

Nature is no respecter of modest bounds. The California wildfires show us Nature’s limitless strength. Yet we have managed to throttle nature and toss it into an emergency state, a state with the intensity of cars racing headlong down the freeway, hell bent to get to work on time.

Mankind’s ambitious, restless personality, set on survival and prosperity and domination, has dwarfed even the Eden we were born into it. Look at Mars for alternate housing. Not good!

If you love the planet and share even a modicum of goodwill for all the other species, the Times article should get your attention.

Trump versus The Great War (1914-18)

Donald Trump has conveyed a great respect for military men, except John McCain, and stressed the importance of a strong military to maintaining American hegemony. He speaks proudly of a bigger button and America’s unfathomed ability to strike our enemies.

Trump attended New York Military Academy and graduated in 1964.  His record with the draft board is well documented:

While in college from 1964 to 1968, Trump obtained four student deferments from serving in the military…. In October 1968, he was given a medical deferment which he later attributed to spurs in both heels and classified as 1-Y, "unqualified for duty except in the case of a national emergency."

Trump seemed inspired by the thought of surrounding himself with generals—savored the nickname “Mad Dog” applied to Marine General James  Mattis and made him Secretary of Defense.

Trump made John Kelly, another retired Marine general, the White House Chief of Staff. Kelly, reportedly, has reached the end of the line. Soon he will move through the spinning revolving door for cabinet members. Kelly seems rock-ribbed and stone jawed and had some success in reining in the President. 

Maybe military generals are not so much fun when you have to work with them in real life. 

Piers Morgan appeared on Morning Joe, Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski’s daybreak television program on MSNBC. Piers was a winner on Celebrity Apprentice and claimed to spend upwards of 100 hours around the conference table with Donald Trump. Piers observed that demonstrating respect for “Mr. Trump” was essential to succeeding as a contestant on the show. Trump looked favorably on those who accorded him a measure of success. That need may have been intensified by Trump’s reputation as hustler as much as a businessman. Respect matters more to the insecure more than anything else.

The question remains why did Trump falter in Europe at the Centennial celebration for the ending of World War, fought between 1914-1918. Emmanuel Macron represented France honorably at the dais. Angela Merkel joined them, though German soldiers fought against the Allies from the other side of No Man’s Land. Vladimir Putin represented Russia and Canada’s Justin Trudeau made the important gathering.

One pundit suggested Trump didn’t like going where he is not liked—Macron, Merkel and Trudeau have also suffered the slings and arrows of the mighty Donald.

But Donald Trump looked to be in a daze. Maybe the military gravesite and rainy conditions did not suit his preferences. The decision to no-go the ceremony caused shockwaves. The image of innocent lives cut short, infantrymen ordered to head out of the trenches through the razor wire and directly into enemy fire has been burned in our psyches. Mustard gas maimed and killed in a manner we seem unable to exorcize. Like now, technology leapfrogged ahead of man’s consciousness. We were unable to control the demons we had created from steel and chemicals, hot flying lead bringing down good men and ending lives before their human potential could barely be tapped.

Trump has been criticized for a lack of intellectual curiosity. He took a misstep this time—underestimating the world’s fascination for a war mainly recalled for the unusual outbreak with the assassination of Archduke Ferdinand and its terrible toll. Just the name, World War I, evokes thoughts of cannon fodder and human folly. By acknowledging this past, even 100 years later, we acknowledge the existence of our sins. In this battle The Great War (1914-1918) defeated Donald Trump’s political and public relations talents.

Piers Morgan made another observation on Morning Joe,commenting on Emmanuel Macron’s relative success in dealing with Donald Trump. Macron, said Morgan, shows respect for the office of President of the United States but does not hesitate to criticize policy. Macron stated that nationalism was the opposite of patriotism during the ceremonies, drawing Trump’s ire no doubt. But Macron gave Trump credit and that is always a smart policy, with friends and foes alike. 

Trump: spinning too many plates

 If you are old enough to remember the Ed Sullivan Show you may also recall the guy, Erich Brenn, who spun many plates simultaneously. The novelty act gained traction. The man moving rapidly to keep plates spinning atop wooden poles seemed to capture something beyond simple entertainment. We watched Erich moving rapidly from plate to plate and we saw a microcosm of life itself. 

Donald Trump’s recent expansion into multiple issues has a spinning plates quality. He seems to be multi-tasking, working to attract voters and clouding the issues all at the same time. Trump is a man who much prefers campaigning to governing. He is a perpetual campaigner.

These issues include:

1)  Criss-crossing the country on Air Force One, like a newsboy proud of his new bicycle. His big rallies on behalf of Republican candidates for the House and Senate are impressive and oppressive.

2)  He calls the press “The Enemy of the People” at his rallies, even though media is his secret mistress.

3)  Trump depicts the caravan of Central Americans as “invaders” walking across Mexico on their way to the U.S. border.

4)  Claims he can sidestep the Constitution and declare babies born to illegal immigrants as non-citizens.

5)  Creating a massive tax break for the wealthy and adding massively to the national debt. Makes believe he is interested in a “middle class” tax break.

6)  Uses coded language to insult women and minority Democratic candidates—like Andrew Gillum—the African-American man running for Governor of Florida. Trump claims Gillum will turn Florida into Venezeula if elected over Trump acolyte ( read ass-kisser) Ron DeSantis.

7)  Trump declares himself a “Nationalist”—despite the anti-Semitic rally in South Carolina where a white nationalist ran over an innocent from the other side.

8)   Taking a “pass” on the opportunity to of call Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton after they received pipe bombs in the mail from a Trump supporter.

9)  Bringing Kanye West to the Oval Office in a show of support. Kanye has since begged off of politics.

10)              Traveling to Pittsburgh for the funerals, despite requests that he delay his visit.

11)               Refusing to take on the role of national healer in chief even in the wake of the murder of 12 Jewish members of the Tree of Life synagogue.

I’ll stop there at 11. That’s enough spinning plates.

A conservative, right-wing friend of mine showed me a bit of cellphone video shot in the Pittsburgh hospital where survivors of the mass killing recovered. Donald, Melanie, Jared and Ivanka were there to visit the injured. 

The Trump foursome and their retinue of bodyguards walked down a polished, clean corridor of the hospital and came across a group of ardent supporters. The small group of supporters began repeating the phrase “Thank you! Thank you!” Trump realized the compliments were directed his way.

The simplicity of the phrase “thank-you” proved irresistible. Donald approached the well-wishers. He had a blue tie, not the usual red. Maybe this was a bi-partisan fashion choice? The president, on his visit to a city hurting with the pain of anti-Semitism and horrible murder, might actually have softened in some microscopically tiny way.

Donald seemed moved. He relaxed and greeted the folks. He even extended his hand for a handshake. I hear he’s germ-phobic and this was a concession. Melanie stepped forward. “Thank-you First Lady,” said one of the fans. Melanie extended a hand. Jared and Ivanka hung back in the hallway but beamed their contentment. “We love you Ivanka,” said another. That got a laugh and more smiles.

The Trumps need love on a personal level like the rest of us. Donald savors the campaign stops and the adoring cheers and laughter of his supporters. The greetings and love in that hallway spoke volumes about the chance for humanity in every human being.

Trump Never Did Pivot

I first became aware of the word “pivot” on the high school basketball court. The pivot foot must stay stationary. You plant that foot and  spin your body in either direction to create a shot or to throw a pass. Trump never did pivot from the bellicose campaigner of the Republican primaries.

Many of us figured Donald Trump, if elected, would pivot and act serious, sober and rational, like the previous 44 presidents. It did not happen. 

Donald did not pivot. Why? He learned that his base loves the plain-spoken, blunt, insulting, bullying Donald Trump. 

The experts called for Trump to stop tweeting. Even loyal Republican supporters complained about the tweets. Trump wisely ignored the advice. He actually increased the tweeting. He now has 55,000,000 followers on Twitter. Why give that up? He can speak directly to his audience.

Donald Trump may qualify as a genius of 21^stcentury communications-- some would say an evil-genius. He gets credit as a marketing and has branded the Trump name to the heavens. His domination of cable  television, left and right, amazes all.  

Trump recognizes politics has become theater. He brilliantly turned presidential politics into a reality TV show. Real reality and the virtual reality of internet and TV become difficult to distinguish. The electronic world has become the world.

Marshall McLuhan, my favorite media philosopher, recognized the revolution in human history in the change from books and newspapers to the electronic world we now inhabit. McLuhan’s emphasis on technology met stiff opposition, especially from the academic world. Guess who won that competition? Marshall was right. The academics have remained nostalgic for print media. "Long live print media!" they seem to say. Trump baits us with "failing New York Times."

McLuhan understood the change of a deep level. He identified a basic change from “acoustic space,” the space we inhabit on our devices to “visual space”—the continuous, logical and alphabet world, the world of books. 

The multi-sensory world acoustic space of electronic media brought us back to a kind of tribal drumbeat:

“It was the space of the electric world, in which people are hit with almost random bursts of information from all sides.” (p.133)*

The pundits, the talking heads of cable TV, the cognoscenti, the journalists and presidential historians, gnash their teeth over Trump’s resistance to the norms of presidency. They seek logic, reason and a continuous narrative. Trump gives us spontaneity, equivocation, multiple versions of the same story, a revolving door of employees and speeches sounding more like standup comedy.

Trump understands McLuhan’s acoustic space. He has responds constantly, just to keep up with our speeded-up world. The pace and randomness of the information systems suits his ADHD tendencies very well. And seems to work for much of the audience.

Many long for a more peaceful presidency with less name-calling, divisiveness and partisanship. If you want to understand the new presidency-- check out the Housewives shows-- New Jersey, Atlanta, Orange County, etc. housewives. Drama is created out of seemingly nowhere. Conflict powers the narrative. Change happens quickly. Andy Cohen is the Bravo TV mogul behind the Housewives franchise. Andy holds a close second to Donald Trump when it comes to media literacy. 

Both men understand their audience. Funny how such different audiences agree of their passion for drama. Trump flourishes there. And Obama, as you may recall, had the nickname "N0 Drama Obama." 

Apparently we got tired of Obama's gentlemanly air of peace and tranquility and voted in Donald Trump,  a Tasmanian Devil of energy, manipulation and shape-shifting.

* Marshall McLuhan: The Medium and the Messenger, by: Philip Marchand