Monthly Archives: January 2015
My Fellow Americans
The State of the Union is tonight, which will be a constant applause-break speech by President Obama with plenty of partisan soft balls to his political allies and jabs at his political opponents. There will be fact-checking throughout (as well as following the speech, as is protocol) to determine the validity of his many statements about the past, present and future. Serving as just one example, it’s probably a safe bet the near historically low labor force participation rate number will not make its way into the section concerning the “growing economy,” quality jobs being created and the true unemployment rate.
How about introducing fiscal conservatism and equal opportunity into the lowest-income places around the country for the purpose of creating high-quality jobs through entrepreneurship and by luring prosperous businesses into communities that can economically sustain individuals and families, while recognizing the vitally important correlation between the economic success and sustained safety of a community with the academic success of its public and/or private schools, as is clearly evident in great communities nationwide?
Probably not going to happen, as fiscal liberalism has always self-appointed “genius” leaders for that (Gruber…Gruber…). They haven’t fixed the problem so far, but this century will surely see vastly different results with the same ideas and economic philosophy…
With that being said, most Americans are expecting to be lured into a false reality regarding policy truths/results, in some way or another. It will be a political speech from a president who loves reading political digs from his trusty teleprompter and who believes everything he reads from said teleprompter is the truth: period. In other words, President Obama is “the Ron Burgundy” president. If he reads it, it must be true.
“America: I’m a job-creating, debt and deficit-reducing, healthcare fixing, massive freedom of speech moment realizing, foreign policy expert.”
It will be an interesting speech, partly because it will be in front of the newly Republican-controlled Congress and also partly because his proposals will be heavily unrealistic ideas. President Obama will likely make political points close to his heart, regardless of its plausibility or if it’s all at geared toward the genuine need/benefit of the country as a whole. It’s sad to say, but it’s the truth. On the same note, Republicans need to be cautious and measured in their response(s). Specifically, with substantive rebuttals and positive solutions of their own.
This will be more of a legacy/power-up to liberal politicians considering 2016 than any serious suggestions for fixing the broken economic foundation of the United States (ie -transformational tax reform, entitlement reforms, meaningful and necessary spending cuts).
It’s been six years and the economy still isn’t running with vigor or purposeful direction. Most six-year-olds are racing around with excitement and unbridled creativity, growing with a clearer vision each day.
Unfortunately, far too many Americans feel like we’re still crawling out of The Great Recession six years later…
Happy Martin Luther King, Jr. Day!
In honor and celebration of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, let’s always remember the powerful speech he gave in Washington, D.C. on August 28, 1963. The, “I Have a Dream” speech was a profound moment in American history. But let’s also not forget the lesser known sayings of Dr. King, which are also deeply meaningful in each of our life’s endeavors. Here’s one of those inspirational phrases.
(AE Mind)
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.: A timeless legacy.
The Worst Call Wasn’t Made During a Game
There was a story today in the Columbus Dispatch that, for all intents and purposes, revealed the Columbus Crew SC effectively chose Kei Kamara (30 years old) over the future #10 on the USMNT for years to come in Mix Diskerud (24 years old). In no universe driven by good judgement, insight and a high soccer IQ does this make any sense…at all. Mix and Kei are not on the same level whatsoever, which is clearly evident for any soccer fan who has seen them both play. After a failed attempt to sign Diskerud’s services last year, which reportedly broke down at the very last stage of negotiation (ended by Mix’s father?), the Crew then signed Kamara. The allocation system for MLS knocked Columbus off the coveted number one spot after signing Kamara, which ended the Crew’s chances of adding Mix’s dynamism and relentless effort (offensively and defensively) to the black and gold.
And if you’re thinking this seems like déjà vu, you’d be absolutely correct. Kamara was an average forward (though admittedly young) for Columbus from 2006-2007. Now, he did score a good number of goals later on for the Houston Dynamo and Sporting Kansas City. However, he fizzled out of his most recent clubs at Norwich City and Middlesbrough.
Will his stock rise again in 2015? Possibly, but that’s not the point.
It needs to be noted this is nothing personal against Kamara, but rather a reaction to Columbus impatiently and purposefully forfeiting the talent, vision and future stardom of Mix Diskerud to the already stacked NYCFC. What’s more is that Mix had said that he would be like to play in Columbus, citing the atmosphere and American soccer history related to “Dos-a-Cero” as a reason to come, among other reasons like the city itself. The best soccer managers strike while the iron’s hot and, after 2013 and 2014, Mix Diskerud’s stock was a broker’s dream. Buy low and watch as his valuation takes-off like Apple (AAPL) after a new product announcement. Despite the fact Mix get on the field in the World Cup because Klinsmann chose a defensive Fort Knox central midfield against superior opponents as opposed to splashing creativity in the middle (which was a coaching mistake), Mix is part of a fantastic generation of young players in their mid-early 20s who will lead the USMNT from this point forward.
This news is still just simply surreal. If there was ever a window for Columbus to get Mix, the past several months were it. Literally. Now, Berhalter and Co. (with venture capitalist and Crew owner Anthony Precourt) deserve credit for going after him. That’s certainly acknowledged. But to give up these efforts by signing a former player, who is six years older than Mix and who was forgettable in his final-third finishes for the Crew is mind-boggling. Imagine the partnership of Wil Trapp and Mix Diskerud for the Columbus Crew SC: young and talented workaholics with vision who, quite likely, could be the future central midfield for the USMNT. Mix’s style positively defines teams with a competitive identity and consistently leads to goals, assists and, yes, wins. His addition would’ve helped in last years playoff disaster against the New England Revolution (as well as a competent defensive line, a forward who scores goals and a comprehensively dynamic strategy).
I have said before and will say again that Mix Diskerud is the future #10 (jersey number and talent wise) for the United States and is a superstar in the making. He is a player worth an exhaustible effort and investment. While it’s possible that the Crew knew he would never sign after their initial effort, it’s also quite possible that they caved to the unknown for the known, which includes the record-breaking re-signing of play-maker Federico Higuaín (currently #10). When Sigi Schmid orchestrated his Crew team that won the 2008 MLS Cup, it was a squad that included players who were Columbus Crew staples (Chad Marshall), UCLA-friend Frankie Hejduk and players barely known to the everyday fan (Steven Lenhart), as well as Argentine superstar Guillermo Barros Schelotto. Schmid took chances and got the exact right players for the exact right positions for a remarkable championship season.
In other words, the Crew had the right mix…
Transforming the Cool
Spoiler Alert: Content in this post is from the January 14, 2015 episode of The Goldbergs
We all live to be cool. And while the definition for “cool” morphs into different things as one gets older, it still remains an objective. If even just for our own personal sake. What’s special in The Goldbergs is that age doesn’t place any restrictions on anyone for how they should act…and this includes not going to that morbid deli down the street.
Skip that one for as long as you can!
When cartoon popular culture takes a detour from enjoyable fantasy into the harsh realities of life and death, the reaction is anything but a soothing mixture of bright colors and hope. The unexpected drawn demise of Optimus Prime in the movie theater in 1980-something shocked Adam to his core. Though thoroughly confused by his grandson’s reaction, Pops did what a best friend does and he stuck it out with him in the empty theater for way, way too long. For the first time in Adam’s life, death was a reality he had to think about. And yes, it was sparked by the death of a beloved transforming cartoon hero. But, if you were or are a fan of such things at his age, you completely understand where he’s coming from.
(TV Line)
In the other wing of Goldberg manor was a love connection/love triangle/love sep-whatever the word is for seven people in this situation. Here’s a marathon sentence recap: Barry loves Erica’s best friend Lainey, Erica and Lainey can’t stand it (yet the latter secretly does), Erica pushes Beverly to set up her delicious boy with his soul mate, Barry meets his mom-approved “soul mate,” who turns out to be a creepily comforting mini-Beverly, Lainey gets jealous and dumps her secret boyfriend Barry for accepting an invitation to the Darryl Hawkins Sadie Hawkins dance with Evy, Erica feels bad and tells Barry to go after Lainey, but Lainey turns him down at the dance, yet she forgives him on the 50-yeard line of the football field after a strangely good/bad speech by Barry (“let me be your secret shame”), so Barry and Lainey publicly dance together with Barry-approved dance moves and Erica fixed Evy up with a mini-Murray (played by Jeff Garlin/Murray’s real son) that officially freaked Beverly out as everything worked out perfectly.
For Barry, it was pure “heaven” (the reference warrants an ’80s response).
Returning back to matters of life and death for the youngest and oldest Goldbergs, the wisest of the bunch Pops took the initiative (after a nice talk with Murray) to comfort grandson Adam in the best way. Adam’s eyes and heart lit up when Pops told him that while he can’t ultimately beat death, the lively spirit of his best friend (talking to Adam) was the reason why he was there and why he was so personally awesome. And in a Hallmark family moment, Pops asked Adam to run him over with the car.
Relax, it was the pivotal scene for the most epic live-action Transformers movie.
Whether it’s trying to act “cool” in high school or if it’s being the cool grandfather, it’s always cool to stand up for something/someone and to be there when they need you most. Fortunately, I have a grandfather like that who always has a smile on his face, a good joke up his sleeve and the coolest outlook on life I hope to emulate when I’m older. Instead of a Pops, I have a Pardner, and he’s helped show me how to be a glass half-full kind of guy.
As Adam would say, “My Pardner is the coolest badass around!”
As I would say, “Pardner has helped transform my life in ways I never imagined possible.”
Like Optimus Prime, the family sitcom lives with The Goldbergs.
Jimmy's Daily Planet 