Nature of Journalism

What is journalism? What standards are well-established to guide the institution to widespread public trust? Who is responsible for this standard? And what is the current status of America’s journalism with respect to the standards?

This is a big issue. Big questions. Hard answers. Even more difficult to maintain journalistic standards. But when they are, the public trusts the product. That becomes the assessment then – does the public trust modern journalism? If not, why not? And how do we get back on track?

Understand that I am not a professional journalist.  I was a cofounder of a local newspaper and its managing editor. We covered a Chicago suburb with a population of 14,000. Later we added a second adjacent suburb with 9500 population. We dropped free copies to a third nearby suburb with a population of 26,000. Our print run was 12,500. The publication was free, self-sustaining, and almost intentionally a nonprofit. One person earned a small wage for laying out the publication and coordinating print logistics. Everyone else, about 31 people, donated their services.

Our effort ran over 7 years of news coverage. Our goal had been honest, transparent news gathering that helps define and maintain local community. In our primary city, the weekly paper was well-received. The next town was not covered by our own staff but a local team from that community; trouble was encountered when they pursued a narrow political agenda of which we were not in control. The third city had too small a distribution to gain traction in the community.

We learned a lot from our experience. The first lesson was: print journalism is barely on life support in an age of online social media. The competition is too much. The business model is not supported by paid advertisers. And we declined to kill readership by requiring paid subscriptions. We mailed every issue to every household and business in two of our three communities.

Second lesson: not controlling the product in unknown communities, destroys public trust and readership. Besides, the team of writers there lost the elections they sought!

Third lesson: local writers are effective, creative and committed to community identity. Quality journalism was the result.

Here are the standards we followed. Know that we only had two of 32 team members who had professional AP training and education. The rest of us followed common sense and shared values for honesty on current events in their home context. Much can be said about this, but here are the highlights:

1.      Facts are king

2.      Backstory is vital to understanding context of those facts

3.      What, where, when and who are the key starting points

4.      Defining result and potential effects establishes importance of the article

5.      Posing the ‘why’ question is important but difficult to answer; often not enough facts are known

6.      Pursuit of an unfolding issue in following articles is a gold standard

7.      Follow up, follow-up, follow-up. Don’t let the community forget the issue if it is important

When readers grow their understanding of a community issue, they can weigh its importance logically. At any given time hundreds of issues wrangle for public attention. Only a few can be attended to at a time. Everything is related to everything else in a community. Ignoring an item breaks the logic string. Misleading news articles can easily result. That is the basis for most propaganda and misdirection. Good journalism does not allow room for that to happen.

If a community struggles with key issues, I think it is imperative for the journalists to cover the issues fairly, balanced and with an eye to the options of how they can be properly managed. At least posing the questions and alternative views keeps the community active in solving its own problems in building positive futures.

Is this what we are getting from CNN, NBC, Fox News, CBS, ABC, MSNBC and others? What about the Chicago Tribune, New York Times, Miami Herald, LA Times and others?

I’m close to shutting down TV news and relying totally on electronic print sources for my own analysis and commonsense. What about you? Growing impatience with modern day journalism?

March 31, 2021

 

 

 

 

Courage To Explore

We are faced each day with a choice on how to spend our time. Do I plan to stretch my abilities? Or maybe, will I tackle a problem I’ve been putting off for months, like taxes, cleaning out that closet or store room? Or maybe I will finally get around to exploring the internet for information on issues that matter to me?

That latter category – issues that matter to me – is a tough one. It is more involved and requires discipline to follow. For example, I have the name of the issue – immigration, maybe – but what makes this an issue? Do I know with certainty what the issue is? Well, that’s a good starting point. Here is a list I work through.

1.      Identify a tag name for the issue you are exploring

2.      Define why this is an issue; what are the impacts of the issue on our society if we leave the issue unresolved or improved?

3.      What are the possible solutions to the problem? What options exist, from tweaking for some improvement all the way to a full solution where the problem no longer exists.

4.      What are the obstacles to ‘fixing’ the problem, where fixing it means the issue no longer exists?

5.      What are the likely costs of each optional solution?

6.      Identify the likely supporters of each option

7.      Identify the likely enemies of each option

8.      Consider the practical reality of what can be done in the real world

9.      Now prioritize each of the options

10.   Choose the top two solutions to work for

11.   Write a summary of all of the above so you understand the basis upon which you have reached your conclusions.

12.   Share your summary or a handy recap of it to others: Facebook, friends, blog, letter to editor, etc.

13.   Discuss reactions to your suggestions. Be positive and listen to what others are saying so you truly understand their position, assumptions and practicality of ideas.

14.   Keep the discussion going and hope that others will join in and a ‘movement’ begins.

15.   Be willing to get involved in changing the region/state/nation on solving the issue.

16.   Also be willing to accept improvements as a sign that better things may come along as society works out larger, longer lasting solutions.

17.   Do all of the above with every ‘issue’ you encounter or that is important to you.

18.   Avoid dealing with others on problems you haven’t thought out yet.

19.   Insist that opinion makers think through their comments so slogans are avoided. Such are not discussions and do not help others understand the issue.

20.   Don’t know about the issue? Listen and keep quiet until you do understand the issue.

At any given time we are flooded with issues that matter. We cannot possibly do justice with all of them at the same time. However, if we remain disciplined, we can challenge others to use their time and logic power wisely in actually advancing toward a solution to any given issue.

All of the above is not just the province of journalists, politicians, legislators or commentators. It is our job, each and every one of us. This is what we mean by We The People. We have work to do. Best we get to it.

March 30, 2021

 

 

Anti-Vaxxers

Far right politicos are a stunner. They supported the man who fast tracked COVID vaccine development. They wanted a cure, so they didn’t have to wear masks, or socially distance, or stop doing whatever they wanted doing at the time. Instead of boasting about the quick creation of the vaccine, they now say don’t take the vaccine. It cannot be trusted. We don’t know what is in it. Vaccines are a government conspiracy. And more.

Crazy, right? Yes, it is. But here is their twisted logic: if Biden can roll out distribution of the vaccine and administer it so public immunity is gained, then Biden looks good and Trump seems diminished. Anything but that! So be against the vaccine to show them!

Sound childish? Yes. And it is childish.

Research has shown vaccines of any type are safe and efficacious. They do what they are purported to do. Some may have side effects, but none are fatal unless a rare confluence of disease, allergy and timing fall into place. The chance of that happening is infinitesimal. Has it happened? Yes. Does it cause autism? No. Are vaccines a government conspiracy? No.

So far, COVID vaccines have proven to be working with few side effects. They are very much the answer to our pandemic. If some avoid the vaccine, that is their problem and risk for serious illness and possible death. If many follow this dictum, ‘herd immunity’ may take longer to acquire. However, that immunity will arrive with or without anti-vaxxers.

So, they lose no matter the how or the what.

That only demonstrates how foolish they are. And selfish. And ignorant.

Guess their only other effort will be to continue to repress voting rights. Democracy to them is something to manage and manipulate for their own gain.

Pitiful.

March 29, 2021

 

Reflections

A time to reflect on life from the perspective of a senior citizen. I have been told many times to not admit age or allow ‘the old man’ to enter my conscious life. But if I barred the ‘old man’ I would be dishonest. I am an old man and getting older. Changes have occurred which have changed how I live life daily. Here are some examples.

1.      I sleep 8 hours each night most of the time. If not, then 7.5 or near that. This does not include daytime naps lasting 30 to 70 minutes. Those naps are anticipated and enjoyed.

2.      The weather means less and less. I am indoors most of the time. Even going on errands is mostly indoors – indoor heated garage on the first floor of our building; drive out into the weather to an indoor parking garage and then into an attached building. Or drive to a store for curbside pickup of a grocery order made online. They even place the goods in the car for us!

3.      Changing seasons is a pastime watched daily. I still favor summer months when green dominates our landscape. Flowers splash their joyful color liberally, too. In fall the green fades replaced by glorious colors of autumn. Slowly the trees become bare while we await the first snowfall. Once snow enters our experience, we note the changing landscape from color to shades of grey, black and white. Tracery of dormant plant life is suddenly gorgeous, even more so after an ice storm. Spring is the change from drab to hints of green, red, and yellow buds. The greening of the landscape marks the full cycle of Mother Nature’s sensory banquet. Watched. Anticipated. Yearned for, too. Sometimes fearful of storms and violence. But always something of beauty and wonder.

4.      Reading more. Fiction returns to my experience. Somehow the storylines instruct me on issues new and old and how they intersect lives of real people. Books read 15 years ago suddenly take on new meaning and weight. Viewed differently. Meanings shifted. A fresh exploration of reality through the eyes of fiction. Fun!

5.      Watching more documentaries. Understanding the world in all its complexity. I have time to explore these real world issues. It is a luxury well-earned and valued.

6.      Noticing aches and pains of an aging body. Limitations, too, of movement, stamina, and planning activities. Spontaneity is more mindful than it once was. Movement is less spontaneous but thinking remains momentary and richly free to discover context freshly seen.

OK. Nothing new here except personal discovery. The skin sags, hair is lost and finally the beginning of graying hair. Overweight but who cares? Time to think, feel and be. Challenges yes, but freedom to just be.

Focus on what is important. It is surprising what those focal points are these days!

March 26, 2021

 

Mass Shootings

Seriously? Another mass shooting? In America? And for what reasons? Do we know? Are we studying this? Have reports been shared with other researchers and specialists? Is there anything the public needs to know? Shouldn’t public policy change to reflect these issues, contexts, causes?

Well no. Public policy is evidently immune to this. The public must understand Congress has made the decision that the subject research should not be shared with anyone because it may reflect badly on gun ownership which would lead to restrictions for said ownership.

You think I am kidding? The National Rifle Association has squelched research and the sharing of results for years. Congress goes along because the NRA lobby has been a generous contributor to individual congressional re-election campaigns. So, legislation is blocked. To protect the NRA.

Thus, the NRA owns Congress.

The public is the trump card in all of this. We The People must demand that mass shootings get the attention they deserve so we can preserve and protect the lives of the masses. We deserve this. Our kids deserve this.

How do we make this happen?

When automobiles grew in number and miles driven, accidents mushroomed and people were injured, disabled, and killed. In alarming numbers. Congress funded research to determine how the use of automobiles could be managed to produce lower death rates. The research findings were shared broadly with other researchers and academic specialties. Decades later we amassed the data and expertise to draw conclusions. Implementing those conclusions by legislation led to safer highways, traffic regulations, public education, auto manufacturing and re-engineering vehicle design features leading to the safest cars on the road.

Health and safety were the desired outcomes. Well-being of the people trumped all of the special interests.

But not guns. Because it was mentioned in the Constitution. Well, health and safety of the people is mentioned in the Constitution. It matters little what tool or contrivance does the damage. The commonweal is the beneficiary of the Constitution. It should follow that regulating guns and ownership of guns be implemented to increase public safety and reduce deaths and disabilities from guns. 

Reasonable. Unless you do not trust other people. That leads to not trusting institutions, corporations, and government. You see where this is going? One is reasonable safety standards for cars, but not for guns.

Bosh!

Dump the politicians and NRA games. Regulate gun safety so the rest of us are protected to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Too many of us have lost that freedom because others wrongfully have their gun fetish.

March 25, 2021

 

Border Crisis?

No. Not a crisis, at least not a new one. Raising this issue now as though Biden created it is a false canard. The border crisis has been with us for decades. It is raised as an issue from time to time just to rile the masses to a false instant issue. Another wedge issue.

The border problem is real. Real people live lives of desperation in some countries, and they seek freedom and opportunity for themselves and their children. It is a natural human response. America figures greatly in their minds as the great hope. So, they come. They grab what they can carry and gather their loved ones and make a long, arduous journey to our borders. Our southern border is gateway for Mexicans and Central Americans. Some South American nationalities, too.

There are other borders. Our Canadian border is not a problem. Equal opportunity exists on both sides of the border so little illegal crossing is experienced. Coastal borders, however, are another thing. Vast  illegal immigration happens all along our coastal regions. This has been happening for decades, too. More coastal border crossings occur annually by far than at our southern border with Mexico. But no ‘crisis’ flags are flown for those locations. By air or sea, immigration happens.

Political nonsense is clearly on parade.

Is there a crisis? Yes. Always has been. Can it be addressed and solved? Yes, but it must be defined, solutions weighed, and programs designed to solve the problem, not the symptom of the problem.

So far Congress has enjoyed this issue as a political football. They seem to want this handy wedge issue to remain available for them to play when it suits them.

The only solution will come from We the People. We must demand workable and fair solutions to our immigration challenges. Our representatives have no motivation to fix the problem when they can use it to dodge other issues so conveniently.

Shame on them for this behavior. Shame on us for letting them get away with it all these years. Time to change the outcome. But only if we get involved with it. And demand it.

March 24, 2021

 

 

 

More Bits and Pieces

Voter Suppression: Let us count the ways: photo IDs required; limited hours at polling places; reduce number of polling places, increase congestion and waiting time; restrict vote-by-mail protocols; restrict absentee ballots; gerrymander voter districts; more?

Every one of these tactics has been used, abused and refuted many times over the years. Still state legislatures play games with restricting voter turnout and access. They get away with it over and over, so they continue the games even after court rulings kill some tactics. What is the answer for this? I suppose a national voter rights and standards act needs to be enacted. Such an act would do the following:

·        Set a national holiday for voting

·        Set national standard for polling hours; 12-hour minimum (6 am to 6 pm, or 7 to 7, etc.)

·        Photo IDs outlawed as a requirement

·        Encourage vote by mail 30 days before election date

·        Set standard for all voter districts to be logical land mass and shape; three 90-degree angles required minimum for district shapes

·        Set standard for number of polling places; include distance limits between voters and polling places

These are a start on maximizing voter turnout, not restricting it.

Fox News – Fake: I swear Fox News views MSNBC and CNN and then invents news stories that present the opposite point of view as though it were the only point of view. Example: President Biden’s aggressive legislation agenda versus reports on cognitive weakness. Another: Biden’s busy schedule versus tripping up stairs to airplane. Example: in face of COVID Relief Bill, unleash stories on how the bill doesn’t address actual COVID relief when it is 90%+ directly related to relieving the negative effects of COVID on people’s lives, finances, economic recession and all the rest. Example: economy is in trouble versus soaring stock market. Last I checked stock values mirror the confidence in the future, not current economic strengths.

Fox is the bad boy of journalism. They revel in it. They stretch boundaries of propaganda. Same with the Washington Examiner newspaper in DC. They refute every current event to a right wing talking point. If the dateline is Washington Examiner, my attention immediately moves to another news source. Same with Fox.

I guess alternate reality is good for ratings and advertising rates!

Diversity Issues: America has been found wanting on its vaunted diversity record. Violence against Asian citizens rises. Systemic racism directed against both Blacks and Hispanics more noticeable. Anti-Gay legislation, court decisions and violence continue. Being different becomes the negative news item, not the mark of individualism.

We have a problem in our nation. If only a few experience discrimination and/or violence just because of who and what they are on the diversity scale, then all of us suffer. We learned that lesson dearly in the Holocaust. Removal of Native Americans from their home territories and resettled in vast desert reservations is another example. Internment of Japanese-Americans during World War II is yet another. Stigmatizing anyone because they are different is the mark of Cain. Same for immigration status.

Diversity is not the negative. It is a strength of America. Discrimination is a sign of weakness of the majority, a sense they are losing their majority. Too bad they fail to recognize how our diversity broadens the opportunities to excel on the world stage. Economic and culture power come from diversity of people and their creativity. We need to foster diversity in all we do. It enriches life for all of us.

March 23, 2021

 

 

 

Bits and Pieces

Putin’s Feelings: Not sure he has any, oh, maybe anger? Greed, too? Putin is a man who manipulates constantly to make the world around him conform to what he wants. Sound familiar? Those words can be used to define Trump.

In his mind Putin thinks he gains by upsetting others. As long as we pay attention to those antics, we lose sight of what he is actually doing. Do not fall for it. Observe Russian actions and policy thrust. Respond logically to such. Keep Russia at a distance. They have nothing we need or want. Too bad we the people cannot freely interact with Russian people, but they have defined the relationship. Let them stew in it.

One day they will realize their folly. If they wish to arm themselves to the teeth, they will starve their own people to pay for it. And no payback to see for their ‘investment’ in peace.

Royal Family Dysfunction: When a family is built on privilege and wealth unearned by their own effort, reality is skewed to them. What they believe is often built on what is not real. Idle gossip and ill will among family members sparks feuds that are hard to quell. Princess Diana knew this. Meghan Markle knows it from her own experience. Harry and William will thrive or fail living life honestly. Two different lives, one based on reality and the other on blind tradition and false fronts.

Unhappy are the lives lived in a bubble.

Congressional Cooperation: This is a prime example of an oxymoron - opposite stifles truth.

Congress is in a pickle because it cannot cooperate among the political parties and wannabes. They skirmish needlessly to draw attention to themselves. They gain a smidgen of influence and power this way. But they do not cause lasting good outcomes; lasting poor outcomes, yes.

The soul of our nation was built on immigration. The diversity is the basis of our strength and adaptability. Managing immigration is not the power to deny, but rather the power of inclusion. This needs rapid attention to push forward reasonable solutions to the crisis at our borders. The crisis itself has been caused by Congress through inaction over 70+ years. This is a management problem based on policy. Congress is in charge of the policy. Fix it.

Education is the foundation of each citizen’s ability to live in the real world, adapt and create. Equal access is still needed throughout our nation. Challenging education for students of all levels is a must that often misses the mark as lowest common denominators frustrate the system. Life-long education extending to adults is the answer to career change and adaptability. It will boost economic creativity within the constantly changing contexts of commerce. Research is an educational process and outcome. Discovery leaps from this process and benefits all of mankind. Education is one of the primary human services the Federal Government ought to guarantee and support. Is it?

Conclusion: So much is right, so much is wrong. We have work to do!

March 22, 2021

 

Immigration Fix

We are a nation of immigrants. Each of us. Whether born on American soil or not, each of us has a family tree that spans national borders. For some the chronology may be only part of one generation, or two; for many it is a long chain of generations. Newcomers are still at our gate wanting to be part of us.

History has been ugly regarding American immigration. Sure, we are a nation of immigrants, but those inside the nation have not always been welcoming. Nationalities have been cited as cause for exclusion. Religion was another exclusionary tale. Color of skin yet another. Shameful history, racist, bigoted, and grossly unfair.

Who caused this? Who can we blame? Was it a political party, a religious denomination or sect? Or was it us?

Yes. Us. We are to blame. Those who fear newcomers are spread among us. They are not to blame alone; we who allowed them to speak their bigotry share the blame as well. Remember: good people saying nothing in the face of evil become part of the evil.

America has been a beacon of hope and equality for hundreds of years. The beacon did not always shine bright; no, it was dim at times, and for many, it was dark.

How many people should be allowed to enter our citizenry in any given period allows our country to adapt, absorb and properly manage the influx. That is an understandable procedure, protocol, or policy. But it is a problem if it does not accommodate unusual surges in traffic. Those occur when foreign lands torture, discriminate, murder, or mistreat their people, driving them to seek better opportunities. We are not in control of those causes. We do not govern other lands. We only have our own to deal with.

Immigrants bring us treasured gifts: skills, culture, talents, youth, labor, perspectives, and myriad diversities. We need them all. We benefit from all of them.

The plight of the immigrant – why he/she is at our gateway – is for us to manage. How we welcome and support such yearnings tells the world much about who we are. What we are. Why we are.

Why. We. Are. Think about that. Think about what that truly means. Deeply think about it.

Now, let us find the homes, the beds, the food, and the medical care that welcomes the stranger among us. Let us help them survive the challenges of change so they are self-sustainable. This is what a host does. This is what we are told to do in the Bible for the stranger, the Samaritan. We are not allowed a choice. We must act to fulfill the charge. To do otherwise is to abandon ourselves.

Is that what we want? Are we telling the world that America is no longer the home of the free, the brave and the immigrant?

I think not.

March 19, 2021

 

Politics of COVID

Shame! Shame on those who continue to politicize the pandemic. It is a virus. It is nature. It is science.

It is not politics.

Freedom to be is always trumped by how one person’s freedom affects another person’s. If my freedom reduces your freedom, then limits are needed on my freedom, at least with respect to the specifics of that case.

The virus will spread to other hosts. That is its nature. The virus will also mutate; that is science, evolution. Science has been supported by our society with research, study, testing and more research. We have come to understand how science works. That has helped us create new knowledge and expand our understanding of how the universe functions. These advancements are the foundation of our products and services rooted in our economy. And our homes, families and future.

Healthcare has benefited from this scientific method. Each virus, bacteria or medical diagnosis presents its own specifics. How we treat a patient with specific diagnoses is customized to the illness.

With COVID-19 we have learned much. From no understanding to a lot of understanding. That explains why our early treatments were a flurry of experimentation, physical therapies, and drug experimentation. We applied what we knew to what we didn’t, kept track of the results, and carried on with amended procedures until we recognized improved results. These then became the newest protocol in treating COVID patients.

Along the way we learned how to slow down the spread of the virus. The greatest tool turned out to be the simplest – wearing a face mask. Next in usefulness was washing hands, followed quickly by social distancing. We experimented with social distancing and learned which commercial venues spread the disease fastest. Bars, restaurants, and partying were the greatest culprits. Those were the businesses shut down or curtailed the most.

Herd immunity is a concept still not fully understood. Until it is, or until most everyone is vaccinated, we must continue our practice to stop or slow viral spread. It is a basic fact of life. To claim otherwise is a political naivete. It is a willful game of chicken. Only the game has potential of lethal results spread far and wide. No one should be allowed to play that game for the sake of others.

If we are to return to a full, rich American life, we must protect everyone from the virus and its consequences. 535,000 dead are proof of the lethality of the disease. That is a fact. We can control the outcome of the disease. That is also a fact.

Let us be a part of the solution, not a part of the problem.

Get the vaccine when available to you. Meantime wear a mask. Afterward, wear the mask until you know you are safe, and others are too.

Think of others. Your kindergarten teacher said so.

March 18, 2021

 

 

Powder Keg Dry?

Maybe it’s the isolation we’ve been in for a year, or maybe it’s a sense of powerlessness that looms from time to time as we realize just how dependent we are on others. And systems. Technology. Dreaded technology. Can’t live with it; can’t live without it.

Yesterday was my tale of woe regarding internet connection and cable TV. Today it is phones and computer.

With irregular regularity my phone malfunctions (or so it seems). Same for the computer. I hastily attempt a fix to get back to work. It usually does not work. In frustration I hand the phone or computer over to Rocky. He worked with this stuff most of his career. And he is calm. Cool and collected, too. The opposite of me. I’m ready to dump it all out the fourth floor window.

My powder is not dry. I’m exploding…

Minutes later Rocky hands me the phone or points to the computer with an OK sign. I return meekly to the mentioned items. Yes. They are working well now. I continue my work. Reading, researching and writing.

Until the next time. Again, with patience, Rocky pushes me out of the room and takes charge of the scene. Again, minutes later, I am invited back to the computer desk to resume my labors.

Why don’t I learn this stuff and save Rocky from the hassle? Good question. Here is the answer: Because what is in my head is what I’m trying to transfer elsewhere. It is very complicated. It is delicate to handle. Learning technology will lure me away from what is important. I do not wish that to happen. There are far too many distractions as it is. I don’t need a crippling regime of learning technology.

I have always been impatient. I have always grumbled before losing my temper. Some grumbles are short lived. Others are longer and sometimes allowed to fade away.

Am I alone with this peculiar personality trait? Am I mentally disturbed? Is this understandable and expected?

But are we being manipulated to retain imponderable systems in order to remain connected to the world? How far does this manipulation extend? Is there any way to avoid it?

That is my question for the day. I want freedom from this tyranny of technology. It ought to be easily plugged in and operated. It is not the system that matters to me. It is the outputs of that system that fuel the imagination and intellect. That’s what I am after.

Why is that so difficult to get?

March 17, 2021

 

Alone - Power

Alone. Pandemic. Isolation of sorts. Stashed away in our leased condo. Limited excursions to pharmacy, grocer, gas station, McDonald’s drive through, restaurant drive ups. An occasional visit to Walgreens in store, or the local supermarket.

The rest of our consumption is ordered online and picked up outside the stores. Pre prepared dinners are ordered to feed us 5 nights per week. Electronics are our lifeline. Banking, phone calls, texts, emails and Zoom meetings. Even church is Zoomed.

Technology is great. When it works. When it doesn’t, an elder citizen is perplexed. Calm is required. Logic helps, too.

I’m an elder. I am not calm or logical when sudden malfunction is encountered. The debit card is not accepted at the gas pump, nor in the store. Something is not right. I pay cash and drive to the credit union for help. They reset my card and all is well. Until…it isn’t.

The Comcast Xfinity account works pretty darn well. But the bill keeps rising, 8% a year. Inexorably up, up and away. I go online to pare it back. Can’t. It won’t let me. I search for a better package, but nothing happens unless I click on accept. I still don’t know what this will cost me or if equipment must be changed. We own the modem. We bought it from Comcast. It still works. Why replace it, why lease theirs? Why increase my bill when I am trying to lower it?

Nothing works on this online visit. Nothing is settled. I still have an expensive service contract that continues to rise in price.

How to change this? Threaten to cancel the relationship. This is done over the phone if you can get through. Then they play the game of this is all they can do until you threaten cancellation. They transfer you to ‘customer retention’ for a special deal. This is automatic. This is part of the game. They do well with this; I have remained a customer through this process several times. But the price still rises automatically no matter what.

If I wish to make a radical change, I must remove Comcast equipment and take it to one of their stores. There you wait in line for a clerk to serve you. You plunk down the equipment on their counter, give them your name and address, and they look you up on their computer. They check the equipment is correct and look for anything that they can use to keep you from cancelling. You are adamant and have cut the cord.

Now, you drive to Best Buy and tell them what you did. You ask them to hook you up with equipment and services that will replace the Comcast Wi-Fi. You ask for computer streaming methods to power my 55-inch flat screen HD TV. They load you up with what you need, all the while telling you it is simpler to buy cable.

I will stream TV entertainment, news and local stations for free. That is the quest. That is the solution.

But this is not easily done. Facebook ads claim help but those helping are all cable networks. They lead you back into the cable cord world of complexity and control.

This consumer has had enough. The news is not news. It is skewed into propaganda and misspeak. It is fighting for ratings that don’t interest me. All I want is fact and information. Entertainment occasionally. Documentaries a lot. Simplicity and Wi-Fi at my beck and call.

The pressure to change is real. Has been for a few years. Complexity has kept me prisoner.

Not any more.

March 16, 2021

 

Aspirations of Power

China claims it will surpass USA’s economy soon. Why wouldn’t they? They have 1.4 billion people, or more. Housing, feeding and transporting them is enormous commerce. Educating them, networking with foreign markets and innovating products and science breakthroughs adds to the size of the economy, and its ability to trade with foreign markets. This should add up to a whopping economy.

China has also injected entrepreneurial interest and supports for its citizens. Wealth among individuals has soared in the past two decades. The giant that is China should have spelled economic growth years ago, but their social system is hampered by its ideological governance structure. It is huge and unwieldly. This fact alone poses problems for China’s aspirations. It is one thing to aspire to a large goal, it is entirely another to manage reaching the goal.

China’s discipline is not with organizational structure. It is with top down supervision and instruction. The history of mankind has taught us that this methodology suffocates individual innovation and genius. This is why China has underperformed for so long. Yes, they have come a long way and are on the right path, but warning signs suggest failure. Here are some of them.

1.      China is smothering the innovative spirit and genius of Hong Kong. They have made this an ideological principality. It won’t work. Governing such free thinking that creates commercial success will kill the golden goose. Watch it happen. International partners will disinvest in Hong Kong and leave the scene. Curtailed participation from such stakeholders spells certain death.

2.      Secretiveness of government has invaded the educational system which chokes off research, discovery and innovation. Furthermore, ownership of the idea found in educational circles is controlled by, if not outright owned, by China. The motivation for the individual to strive for discovery and benefit from the earnings of it, is dampened or killed.

3.      China buys its raw materials and food from nations that are still developing. They enter the country with fat bank accounts and end up dominating the commercial landscape of that nation. The result: fear, control and manipulation of supply chains, distribution and benefit to the host nation. Foreign partners of China are learning a valuable lesson: Do business with China and lose your identity and control over your national future.

4.      Military adventurism in the China Sea may sound attractive to China which has had minimal naval power. If they wish to pick fights with the international community over such yearnings, then they are building an economy that is not well anchored. There is a trap built into every society that combines its military with the manufacturing sector of their economy. The military-industrial complex is not a joke. America has learned this lesson the hard way. Still trapped in it.

These warning flags spell certain failure of China’s economic goals. If they change the underlying elements that have held them back in the past, they will necessarily change their social and governing underpinnings. I doubt they are able to shift to such a paradigm.

March 15, 2021

 

Emerging from Pandemic

With both shots behind us – each one of us – we feel more comfortable with our chances to survive COVID. A few more days or weeks will add to that confidence.

So now, what is on my agenda?

First, I want to visit a local restaurant and order a big breakfast! Three eggs sunny side, hash browns, chewy bacon, and a well done English muffin slathered in butter. I have missed this combination meal for over a year, especially the bacon. Moist, limp, chewy and filled with flavor only bacon can release. Wow!

Second, I want to visit a Texas Roadhouse twice. First to have their prime rib dinner. The second visit will focus on a very good steak. The trimmings only need to be a baked potato loaded with sour cream, chives, and butter. Yum! Both of these meals have been lurking in my memory bank for well over a year. Their image is almost so real I can taste the food. Yes, this is on our early bucket list post pandemic.

Third? Visit my kids and their families. We will need to wear masks because they have not had their shots yet. And that is precisely why visiting them are not higher on the bucket list. Their safety is a must.

Fourth, a ride in the country to spy spring coming to life on the hibernating prairie. Stop at a diner for a meal (breakfast or lunch) and then a lazy return trip home. Then a nap!

The simple things we missed in the pandemic are the most valuable now. Always were.

Meanwhile, the pandemic taught us we can survive alone time, quiet time, and limited diets. Family is most important. Reading is high on the list of importance. Discerning fact and fiction is vital for our future as a nation and personal sanity.

The pandemic also told me TV is not as important as I once thought. The binge watching was fun at first, but now I realize how bankrupt most storytelling has been. Cable is not long for our home. Even the news is stale and repetitive.

Time is what I now treasure. Time to think. Time to taste. Time to feel. Time to nap.

The pandemic demonstrated our ability to pivot, change and adapt. It uncovered our inventiveness. It showed us who and what we are. Used to be attending church did this for us. Now? Hmmm. I think we have more strengths deep down to explore and appreciate.

And now we have the time to do just that. Perhaps more of us will discover that we are not what is important in life. Others are more important. Serving their needs is the elixir we have wanted without knowing it.

Now we do.

March 12, 2021

 

Harry and Meghan

I watched the interview of Harry and Meghan by Oprah. Very sensitive, caring and credible interview. Sensationalism was absent. Sheer human emotion, love, fear and isolation were on display. Just like the rest of us, life is hard. Yes, we have moments of joy and elation. Yes, we feel successful, comfortable, and stress free at times. We also feel stress, dread and a host of other emotions that prove our humanity.

I have often felt these stressors were the key to innovation and invention. Cutting edge situations pull us through difficult conditions and usually surprise us. We are more adaptive and intuitive than we think. In such struggles we learn much about ourselves and the world around us.

I am a fan of England. I love their literature, history, culture, just about everything but their cuisine. I have traveled throughout the nation and admired its age, orderliness and sense of tidy. The architecture, music, pomp and yes the monarchy. I am mature enough to realize the institution of the Crown is an anachronism in the modern age. It is a wonder, however, and fascinating.

I do not ‘believe’ in the English monarchy as much as I respect it. It is an absorbing topic in which to lose yourself.

Having said that, what Princess Diana put up with the Royal Family was hideous. Her husband was a cad and cheat. He allowed Diana’s life to devolve into misery without helping her cope. And he is doing the same with Harry and Meghan.

The struggle between family and institution is the theme here. It is clearly a dysfunctional relationship. Being caught in it must be a personal nightmare of loneliness. Personal identity is lost in such environs. All for what? Really? All for the monarchy? Why? For what reason?

I appreciate what a royal personage is called on to do. I also recognize that it is for show and national pride. It serves very little purpose and the institution should own their humanity better than it does.

Meanwhile, we have Harry and Meghan among us now. Looks like they are a grand addition to our melting pot.

Welcome!

March 11, 2021

 

Stimulus Questions

Is the economy in a position to benefit from a stimulus bill from Congress? Or is the economy recovering well enough on its own to avoid the need of a stimulus bill?

That supposes the argument properly assesses the economy’s condition. What are the underlying factors that indicate the economy is in trouble or not? Is it unemployment? Is it investment in new industries? What about adoption of new capital goods driven by technology change? Are corporations moving strongly toward a new standard of manufacturing, distribution or service that will revolutionize operating results and net income? What will be the return on that investment?

Are markets solid and strengthening? Or are they weak and faltering? And here is a question people do not like to ask: are the employed fully engaged or marginally so in their careers and occupations? Are they expanding their expertise in their chosen field or are they waiting for new opportunities to engage in? In short, is America’s workforce underemployed?

And what of recent changes in workplace? The pandemic has forced many to work from home. At first this was seen as a weakness, but later it proved to be a boon to productivity and innovation. The workforce was pivoting nicely to working from home. Employer overhead costs were trimmed. Output surged. A new business model was forming. But were all businesses able to benefit from this development? Were employees equally benefitting from the development?

The answer, of course, is no. Some industries benefit greatly from the work-from-home model. So do the employees. But not all. Manufacturing still requires central work sites where products are made and assembled. Team development and idea sharing is lessened in some instances but strengthened in others. The model is fresh and still developing. We do not understand all the elements involved in adopting new norms. It is a work in progress.

How confident is the business community in investing in the new norm, finding it, innovating around it, and delivering worthwhile results? Are economic leaders vigorously adopting the new?

I suspect hope is the adopted element. We hope for a buoyant business model that will take us from the doldrums of the pandemic era. We do not know that it will fully materialize, but we hope it will. Enough so to support heavy business investments?

Entrepreneurs are those brave souls who are willing to take risks to find the new, use it and build new businesses upon it. Corporate entrepreneurs are more risk averse, but they have the capital hoard to afford potential loss. Will they spring forward with that investment?

Meanwhile, the nuts and bolts of our economy are frayed and exhausted. Workers are in danger of losing their homes, going hungry, waiting for the next financial emergency to befall them in this chaotic economy. No one is confident that up is up, and down is down.

Yes. Our economy needs a stimulus. Unemployment benefits need to be lengthened and increased. Relief for both lenders and borrowers are need to avoid chaos in the lending markets. Tenants and landlords need supports to calm the rental markets and ease our way out of a huge calamity that is forming. State and local governments have suffered gravely from the pandemic – reduced income and spikes in operating costs – and need financial support to keep them from furloughing armies of workers to balance their budgets.

Stimulus is a boost on one hand, and a salve on the other. We need both.

Republicans have created massive stimulus in recent years - $6 or 7 trillion dollars – and did not have a care in the world about what this would mean to inflation, deficit management or anything else. But now they are complaining that a $1.9 trillion stimulus bill is folly? Please stop the nonsense.

Pass the stimulus legislation and then let us get back to building the economy to a new, stronger reality.

March 10, 2021

 

Journalism 101

A report comes on TV news. An accident. Storm damage. Celebrity in public view. Sports results. Weather forecast. Social problems and what is being done about them. A death of a well known person. A good news item that uplifts our spirits. Maybe there is a cultural happening – play, concert, stunning performance that grabbed a lot of attention, or a plot twist on a TV drama that excites attention.

We consume the bit of information. We file it away in our mind for something to think about or to pair up with another item that somehow resonates meaning within our mind.

So far this is ho-hum boring. But then a ratings buster. An announcement that an authority figure, politician, or major elected official, has been accused of a wrongdoing. The juicier the better. Why does this grab our attention? Is this a favored person who is endangered? Is this a political foe you want to see embarrassed and torn down? Why do we find these sorts of news items fascinating?

Indeed, what is journalism’s role?

Yes, that is the real question. Someone says something about another person, and we call it news. It might be news, and then it might not. It depends on the factual basis of the report. Is there credible evidence that an accused leader has done wrong? Or is it supposition?

Take the Cuomo matter. Here’s a governor of a major state, a state that is home to much culture and international leadership, a governor who has demonstrated courage and strength to battle the COVID pandemic in New York City and New York state. The political environment was national because the sitting president at the time was from the opposing political party. The president was a political bully and name caller. He worked to polish his own image and the quickest way to do that was tear others down.

The governor did well with the pandemic. Instilled public trust and hope that all would be well, and the state was moving mountains to safeguard its people. He did battle with the president and won. All was not perfect. There were questions about deaths reported at senior citizen long-term care centers. Problem was the deaths were from many causes, mostly pre-existing conditions, and health officials simply didn’t know how to classify the deaths. Were they COVID, COVID-related, or not? The definitions were imprecise, especially at the pandemic’s start. In fact, the definitions kept changing. What reports were available on this matter? Were the data being changed and for what purpose? Were the reports in error intentionally or by happenstance?

New York state politics – and that of the Big Apple alone – are rife with competition for political advantage. If one pol is dissed another’s reputation by comparison is enhanced. Manipulation and political-speak is often employed to create competitive advantage. And Governor Cuomo is a prime target.

So, a staffer, beautiful and young steps forward and claims she felt sexually harassed by the governor. Journalists jump to cover this sensational story. In the early days of the story, the focus is on a possible wrongdoing. Is there substance to the issue? If so, what next is done?

In New York City, the news industry is driven by competing news organizations, both local and national. They fight one another to create headlines that sell papers or draw electronic media audience ratings. It is not about the fact but about the sensationalism factor that matters most to these people. Even national news programs that are highly respected, get caught up in the competition for audience. NBC national news takes up the story. ABC, CBS, CNN, FOX News Network, and all the rest jump into the fray.

Interviews and press conferences are hurriedly arranged. The principals in the issue are splashed across the papers, newsmagazines and electronic media.

Still, what is the role of journalism in all of this?

Simply this: to determine the factual basis on the matter. To carve out fairness for all parties in the matter, both the accused and the accuser. If the issue is actionable, then authorities need to process the matter as a case for the criminal justice system. Standards of evidence, witnesses, protection of rights employed. All of these things need to be used to provide balanced perspective on the issue. Will the accused be found guilty? Or will the accuser be found to be a manipulator for her day in the sun, or a tool of a political power boss who wants to remove the governor from power? Or some other motivation?

Journalism’s role is to lay out the issue clearly and logically. It should report on the remedies at hand to determine the factual truth of the matter. Then it should report the results of that process. Meanwhile, it ought to avoid a rush to judgment or trial by public opinion.

I find it disturbing that people in leadership are always fair game for this attack to destroy. Some are good at avoiding negative fallout or defusing its sting. The past president was good at that. Cuomo may not be quite as good. But then he need not be. Instead, rely on facts, process and fair treatment to determine the truth.

So far that treatment has not been present to either the accused or the accuser. Shame on the public spectacle this has caused. We are much better than this.

March 9, 2021

 

 

 

COVID Shots

Rocky got his second COVID vaccine shot Tuesday, March 2^nd. I’m scheduled to get my second shot today at 9:15 am. We both have done well by the first shots, so don’t expect much reaction to the second.

I did have a weird night 6 days after my first shot. I slept poorly with muscle aches and pains, plus chills and a slight fever. A headache as well for several hours before going to bed. However, I had begun decluttering the apartment on Friday or Saturday. That meant I got down on my hands and knees to toss out shoes and other junk collecting at the bottom of my closet. After an hour of that, I attempted to get up. It happened, but slowly and painfully. By the time I went to bed I was a mess. I think my bad night, chills, et. al. were the result of strain and lack of exercise. My fitness is very low. So, the decluttering activity did me in.

24 hours after the episode, I was fine. Slept 9.5 hours that night without awakening once. Arose with energy and almost no muscle soreness. Ate a great breakfast, kept active all day and really was fine.

So, I do not expect to have a reaction to this shot. Just grateful we have made it this far without getting sick. Will continue to wear mask and social distance for a few more weeks. Later, I will wear the mask to ward off bouts of flu and colds. Amazing how effective masks have been for a year now! They work.

Commonsense works as well. Washing hands, social distancing in crowds and avoiding crowded spaces all makes sense.

For COVID deniers, nearly one tenth of our population has had the virus. Over 500,000 have died, a number that exceeds the deaths of World War I, II, Korean War and Vietnam war combined. Just think of that. And recall the horrendous hospital stays and overworked healthcare staff.

The COVID Pandemic is in the history books. And it isn’t over yet.  Continue commonsense defenses so you are one of the survivors when this is truly over and done with.

And yet we still have the loss of those who died. That we will have with us forever.

March 8, 2021

 

Electronic Payments

Account settings are brutally complex when something in your financial network changes. Case in point: merger of existing financial institution with another institution. Our debit cards were replaced with another system. Now the real fun began.

Which programmed automatic payments were made directly from my checking account, and which were made against my debit card?  I did not know the answer to this basic question. So, I had to create a list of all auto payments I could remember.

Lease payment for apartment was first. It was directly from my checking account, but the amount needed to be adjusted upwards. I followed account instructions and made the changes. All set to go.

Then my cell phone account. After a tedious process I learned how to change my account settings, found the old debit card, eliminated it and replaced it with the new one. So far so good.

Then Comcast: learned from the cell phone provider and repeated it. Successfully changed the account settings. Comcast should get their outrageous payment on time and in full.

Next Allstate Insurance: same as Comcast; successfully reset account settings.

Target was a little more complicated, but I persisted and successfully removed my old debit card connection from our Red Card at Target and replaced it with the new one. Should be good to go.

Freshly prepared meals was faster and smoother. Wish their delivery was as good. But the account settings did not need to be changed; they take funds directly from my checking account.

Am now on the phone (answering line queue, actually!) to make desired changes to my Walgreen's account. I am a frequent user of Walgreens and have a discount reward relationship with them. We also have an express pay arrangement based on our debit cards. We need to remove the old debit card and replace it with the new.  [Walgreen's successfully finished the call after 32 minutes; all set to go!]

With this call over I’m done until the middle of the night when I will no doubt recall still another account relationship that I had forgotten! Think about it. We have a lot of repeat account relationships and most of them are connected to our debit card. Now we have to remember to change the settings each time we use those businesses.

Shouldn’t there be an easier method available?  Just asking?

March 5, 2021

 

Bits and Pieces

Infidelities of Politicians: Cuomo, Clinton, Sex and Lies. So many themes could be covered here, but I will focus on what sexual peccadilloes are in the press. Cuomo is currently accused of having a history of sexual partners and abuse with women. I have no way to know if this is true or not. The real question is why it matters?

I want my public servants to be well-intentioned and respectful of broad values for the public good. I also wish my public servant to be fully human. I recognize we each have our appetites for food, music, comfort, and sex. But I really do not care what those specifics are unless they are abusive of the rights and freedom of others. Then it matters. Not all these issues matter; what do I care that you prefer seafood over beef, or French cuisine over American? But violence, meanness, abuse and other behaviors are not appropriate with being a public servant. I hold them to a higher standard.

Clinton’s dalliances are his business, and Hillary’s. Not the press. Not yours. Not mine. A blow job in the White House? Why do such sensibilities matter? No damage was done to anyone or anything. It was consensual. Unusual location, but it was not a crime. Leave it alone.

Trump’s infidelities? He is a pig and a consumer of many over the top appetites. Sex is one of them. Gaudy taste in interior décor is another. Hamburgers and Kentucky Fried Chicken are others. But did he hurt anyone? If so, that is a crime. Prosecute him under the law if applicable, if not leave it alone.

If Cuomo or others are prosecuted and found guilty, then take action. Until then we simply don't know the facts. Find them out but until then keep the political manipulations to yourself.

Political Humor: Changing history when your party is out of office; Ted Cruz, Rand Paul, etc. These are the current buffoons and court jesters of our day. The themes of upending political discourse just because your party’s politicians are out of power is hilarious, not serious discussion. Immigration has been a problem for 70+ years; both parties have created and ignored the problem continuously unless they can magically turn it into a wedge issue. If there is a problem, fix it. Both parties join hands to do the right thing. Then rejoice on how innovative and caring humans we can be when we put our minds to it.

Ted Cruz has turned into a bulbous, hairy loudmouth. He is a clever wordsmith but that does not make him truthful or factual. No; he is a politician looking to aggrandize himself and his career for power and money. Plain and simple. He is noise. We need to laugh at him and turn to other matters. Same with Rand Paul. What a joke. Laugh and move on! Trump, too.

COVID’s Truths: wear the mask; social distance; wash your hands; be patient. We will beat this scourge eventually but only if we do what is right continually. I know it is hard. Humans are not built to be right, just stubborn, and selfish.

We are making progress on COVID. Trump’s quick action and follow through helped for a speedy invention of several effective vaccines. This work was done in months, not years. However, planning for appropriate protocols for distribution and administering the vaccines when available was not done. Biden’s administration is filling in those gaps and progress is greatly noted. Not perfect but then what we are now asked to do is being built on a poor foundation of earlier malfeasance.

We know masks work. I will be wearing mine in the future whenever I know illness is being spread, or if I am contagious. If we all did this cold and flu seasons would be short lived.

Role of Propaganda: TV news programs are mostly propaganda machines. Those that differ remain true to journalism’s protocols: facts, chronology, array of opinion, testing what is true and what’s not; presenting the unvarnished facts and context.

When I was a newspaper editor, I invested time in research and articulating the issues drawing public attention. That work created an understandable context for each issue as it came to public attention, handling and solutions were created and then implemented. Each phase of an issue’s life has its own contextual stages of understanding and articulation.

A news organization needs to clearly focus on all of that and help readers understand those functions. The ever unfolding dimensions of an issue are not easy to discern. A journalist’s job is to help readers discern without making up the readers’ minds on the issue. There is a huge difference.

What we have now are news agencies which think on issues, conclude what they feel the outcomes ought to be, and then ignore facts to craft a propaganda piece for public consumption. This is a good summary of Fox News. Fox is not alone. Newsweek, Wall Street Journal and other well known news organizations are guilty of the same thing.

Know the difference between a propaganda machine and a journalism craft shop.

March 4, 2021

 

 

Blog Traffic

This blog started October 2012. It will be 10 years old this year. During that time, a global audience has outstripped the domestic one in the USA. I had not thought that would be the case, but it is what it is. It is unclear why this is the case. An observation of mine may be the primary reason: people from other nations want to catch a glimpse of what life is like in America. Or they specifically hope to understand why America acts as it does.

Regardless of why, it has been an unexpected pleasure to know people around the globe have read my inner thoughts as presented in this blog. I use this space to think out loud, to reason and tease what I think to better understand myself. And I have come to know myself better. I have also improved how I articulate complex issues.

Over the past 12 to 18 months international traffic to my site has declined. Most likely the cause is twofold: the nutty social environment of trump, and the pandemic. Both have disrupted how we live in the United States, and elsewhere in the world. The pandemic has done this without discussion. Trumpism will provoke discussion, but those of us living in the USA have no doubt about how twisted and disrupted our national persona has become. It is still in upset.

With the presidential election decided and with Biden in the White House, our national nightmare is not over. Much healing is needed to accomplish that. Our foreign friends (and enemies!) need to know this to understand us. A sleeping giant of racism and bigotry has been awakened, much like Nazi Germany in the 1930’s. It is likely most nation’s have the same sleeping giant within. My observation is: don’t underestimate the power of disenfranchisement, dislocation, or separateness felt by fellow citizens.

America’s brand of this problem is a sense of White Supremacy, entitlement that all good things belong to people of white ethnicity.

Of course, the problem is real, but how nonsensical is it? Think of all the DNA testing done to determine blood nationality and ancestry? The more it is done, the more we realize how interconnected and related we are. This is not a white or black world, or tan, pink, umber, or any other hue. We are all one within the human race. Finding what separates us is the first step toward setting us apart form one another.

Focus on what unites us. Focus on how we are the same in so many ways.

The blogger’s life teaches us many lessons.

I started today’s post to comment on the unexplained drop in international readership. I wonder if my experience is similar to other bloggers? Or has my message become trite? I was going to pose the question of continuing the blog or not. I believe I answered my own question – the blog is not about others but rather myself. It is here to help me understand myself and the world and whatever else toddles down the path.

So, here I am; here I remain.

March 3, 2021

 

 

Practical Theology

Well, maybe the title should be, Theological Questions? Or Puzzles?

In all my years of churchgoing (70+) I am left with questions on theology I have never heard anyone in authority discuss or even hazard a conclusion. Here are some.

1.      I am a person of faith. Nailing down a definition of that term is difficult for me. Faith and full acceptance of any catechism is not what I mean. What do I believe? What do you believe? With regard to God and the nature of being. On those topics I could spend a lot of time and have fun with it. But in church? This is very unlikely to be the topic of discussion.

2.      Divinity of Christ? I personally have trouble believing Christ was a divine creation of God. A creation of God, yes. A real live human person who walked this earth? Yes, I believe that, but I don’t think he was the product of a virgin birth. I believe Christ was a profound thinker and prophet of the age. I don’t believe he walked on water, either. Just saying. Am I alone in these thoughts?  My faith says Christ's teachings are likely the product of a group of people who wrote the Bible, but those words are fabulous and truth. Not truth of historical fact, but truth of philosophical logic.

3.      Am I a Christian anyway? I think so. I have the values down pat, just not the catechism, or the slavish attention to them. I attended seminary for a year and knew I wanted to work with people in practical ways but felt uncomfortable being an actual minister preaching divine messages I felt were not divine. Or adoration of a non-divine namesake of the church. So, I went into human resources, education, writing, thinking and consulting to help others achieve better success. Was I wrong? Was my life a waste and hollow of truth? My faith says no. But formal religion would likely say yes. Interesting dichotomy, no?

4.      Who Am I? Why does it matter to know this? To me. Not to you. Yes to you knowing who you are, but not knowing who I am. You see what I mean? Am I religious, spiritual, faithful, or what? Or total laity and an unknowing sluggard? A pretender to Christian principles?

5.      What Role Does Music Play in the Church?  For me music transports my mind to meditative spaces. While there I can think deeply and wrestle with life’s problems productively. My musical preference is classical. I was raised in Bach, Beethoven, Mozart, Brahms, and their era’s friends. I love organ music; deeply love it. Chorales are also a favorite, sung as well as played on the organ. A solo grand piano playing sonatas of Beethoven’s or the airs of Bach, are enticingly alluring to my mind. They help me think logically and fruitfully. Is there a place for guitar, violin, drums, trumpets, and saxophones? Sure. Not sure if they are ensemble or solo, or with vocal accompaniment either. But if the music is thoughtful and meditative I like it. It works.

6.      Bible Readings; do they matter? Yes, they do. In my mind they root us in the narrative of our collective religion, the stories that teach and coach us how to live meaningfully. The history is mythological in character, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t contain truth and some facts. Piecing together a history of mankind from pre-history to post Christian times is not easy. Just try doing it! The Bible readings help me find human context to the truths of our theology.

OK, that’s enough sacrilege for one posting. I wonder how many readers I lost with this message?

March 2, 2021

 

Unaddressed Business Opportunities?

Aging has its distractions. Here are a few:

·        Leaning down to read lower shelf labels, titles

·        Adjusting audio controls; focusing eyesight on tiny labels, symbols

·        Stooping to check cable connections, rearrange cables

·        Understanding electronic advancements, using them

·        More; much more!

I have experienced each of these. How else would I know them to list? So, what does this tell me about an unaddressed business opportunity? Read on.

Frustrated with my cable TV set up, wi-fi services and sound system adjustments, I finally went into Best Buy a couple of times and shared my needs. The point was to learn if anyone would come to my home and suggest improvements, adjustments and upgrades that make economic sense. The best they could do was sign me up to the Geek Squad. We did for $150; this allowed unlimited visits for $50 each to help us. We used them once in the first year so that visit cost $200. Renewal of Geek Squad was another $100 (I think) plus $50 per visit during that 12-month period. So we dropped them.

OK, Geek Squad is good and helped us out, but it is not cheap. I think there is room for competitive advantage here. That is business opportunity one.

The second business opportunity is more direct: a service to help senior citizens cut the cable TV cord with good streaming, recording and access to free TV programming. My wi-fi connection is part of my cable service now; how do I get strong wi-fi connection without using a cable company? The business opportunity would advise clients on alternatives and cost options, then help to implement the changes. A fee would be charged. Savings would pay for the fee from a few months of cable-free service! This business requires knowledgeable techies and young ones able to crawl around on the floor to reach cables, equipment, and such. They will also need patience to arrange return of cable equipment and installation of new items as needed.

A third business opportunity is broker cable services for the client. Everyone knows cable companies provide low introductory cable rates to new customers. Then 12 months later the rates rise at least 8%, maybe more. And annually thereafter. Customers can negotiate for a lower rate so the cable company can ‘retain’ customers. However, they make this a contest of time and patience. Rather, why not let someone else simply handle this onerous job and actually get the properly sized service package at a sustainable, affordable rate? In truth, why don't cable companies do this from the start? Oh, never mind; that's me being logical.

The fourth business opportunity is a large one. It will require an army of electronic engineers and software developers. It is simply this: Wireless home electronics. Everything communicates with a hub unit for TV, cable, DVR, CD player, audio system, surround sound, computers, Wi-Fi service, phones and all the rest. Appliances too? The mass of cords are horrendous. The dust and cobwebs are hideous. Changing any of them is beyond a hassle. Simply eliminate the cords and have each unit communicate with others as needed. 

Then invent a master remote control that works, easy to understand, and flexible. Perhaps voice activated? Business opportunity five?

March 1, 2021