Houston - We Have A Serious Problem

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Whether starting a war with Iran at this time was justified is debatable, but we are where we are - at war.  Some may argue Mr. Trump is trying to avoid a serious threat/attack on U.S. soil, and that's legitimate.  Some may argue that nine months ago the U.S. presumably "obliterated" Iran's nuclear capabilities, and therefore, there is no imminent threat, and that's also legitimate.  But again, we are where we are = WAWWA.

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Where is the Trump Administration's plan?  The dribbling dialogue, ambiguously professed by Mr. Trump and his stalwarts is perplexing.  

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On March 2, Mr. Trump said the war was "projected for four or five weeks but could go far longer than that."  In mid-March, Mr. Trump said the war could go "four or five weeks was the projection, but the U.S. had the ability to extent beyond that."  On March 13, Mr. Trump said the war would end "when I feel it in my bones."  That, I hope, are the most ignorant words we will ever hear from Mr. Trump.  How could he say anything more ignorant?  On March 19, we are told, "there is no timeline."

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Mr. Trump demanded assistance from allies on securing oil tanker's safety traveling through the Strait of Hormuz.  Allies refused.  Two days later Mr. Trump declared, "we don't need anyone's help."  My guess is some allies will provide assistance.

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Over 100 U.S. soldiers have been injured and 13 have perished so far.  The U.S. Navy's largest air craft carrier has had to go to port due to repairs required from a fire.  The U.S. is deploying million dollar missiles to shoot down Iran's ten thousand a piece drones.  The greatest military on the planet is better than this.

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The war is approaching a world war scope.  Attacks to oil production are impacting U.S. allies and enemies (China & Russia), who are remaining patient, but concerned.  (Noted - China, big notorious China, has not been at war since 1979.).  Very smart China.

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The gravest issue, beyond the loss of lives and injuries, is the Trump Administration's obvious failure in war planning.  Similar to Mr. Trump's tariff debacle.  The man without a plan.  You cannot "win" at anything, unless you have a plan, or luck, but I think there's much more at stake to bet on luck.

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As citizens, we all should be distressed.  

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Now is the time to pray and hope, that our country's leaders recognize their mistakes, mature up, strategize, and diplomatically end another Trump Administration fiasco.

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War Time

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The U.S. is at war with Iran.  Operation Epic Fury named by the Trump Administration.  At least Mr. Trump didn't name it the "Big Beautiful War."  Various explanations are being communicated regarding the war's intent.  (The Trump Administration desperately requires a communications plan).  

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Iran is the center of the Middle East hotbed of religious hate, natural resources, territorial ownership, economic survival, political power and nationalism.   I bet people in the Middle East forget why they hate each other  - they just fight to fight.

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The Trump Administration is taking a risk.  It appears they believe almost 50 years of Iranian conflict can be resolved with a poorly-planned short war.  Unfortunately, this war is broadening by impacting oil resources globally.  Iran also has an abundance of attack drones being used.  Under the Trump Administration, Venezuela has been over-thrown, Cuba is being discussed, Taiwan needs to be protected and most likely others.  The U.S. is powerful, but not unequivocal.

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Mr. Trump is claimed to be the "Peace President.," desperately seeking the Nobel Peace Prize.  I'm not betting on that.  He has started a war, hopefully with the intent to create peace.

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At one time the U.S. was perceived as a global peace-maker, the envy of other countries.  We appear to pursue taking over others, for self gain and "security"?  If you have friends, you need to nourish those relationships diplomatically.

 

Mr. Trump (MAGA) have perfected a "war of words" approach to communicating and governing.  He has shot the arrow of hatred into his own country by dictating "who" should be excluded.  There is no peace in that.

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Welcome to War Time - let's pray it's brief.

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Slow Down

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Books have been written on slowing down, although no one has time to read them.

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"Speed to market."  "We need to move faster to beat the competition."  "I need to get more things done."  "Shorten the time frame to code deployment."  "Learn to multi-task and prioritize."  "How do we increase earnings?"  "How do we grow market share faster.?  "How do we expand?" "I've got to get the kids involved in things so they don't fall behind."  "How can I be in two places at one time?"  "We are not on a journey, we are in a race."  "How do I pray faster?"

 

I was the person speeding to work, zig zagging through traffic, frustrated with fossil-paced drivers.  I've even been on two conference calls simultaneously with two phones.  I focused on shorter time frames on every project, and to stay at work longer, then continue on the conference call on my drive home to my kids games.  How many of us are on the phone while at our kids events?  I've texted during mass on Sunday mornings repeatedly.

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AI is generating an incredible expansion of data centers and energy consumption in the U.S. and beyond.  Tech firms are re-opening moth balled nuclear plants for more energy sources. Researchers are looking to build data centers in space.  Data centers are being built on farmlands across the country.  (The U.S. farming industry has declined by 10% over the past decade.).  What comes after AI?  How soon will we get there?  How close are we to living like the Jetsons?

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Is slowing down wrong?  Will you be left behind or worse, left out and not included?  Are we living to win the race, do the most, look the best, and have the most money or friends?  Are we wasting time on social media?  

 

When did you last breathe?  What are you racing to - the end of your life?

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What happened to us?  Did you just blink?  What was that blur?  It was your life..

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In the age of speed, I began to think, nothing could be more invigorating than going slow. - Pico Dyer​

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AI - Live On, Blue Collar Paycheck

 

Have we heard plenty about AI or Epstein over the past 12 months?  Both are controversial, newsworthy and career ending for some.

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Robotics was a craze 12-15 years ago.  Robotics and LLM (we've been using Large Language Models for over a decade) are forms of AI.   "Bots" were being piloted at numerous firms with the ultimate goal of reducing employees.  Bots remain prevalent in the workplace.  Now we have Bots building Bots, building other Bots to replace humans on assembly lines.   Likewise, LLM has a similar objective.  Bots and LLM have improved worker productivity, and created workforce redeployments and some workforce reductions.  There was just never such a threat with Bots, automation, innovation and LLM, like there is with AI.

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AI is becoming more ubiquitous and threatening to white collar workers.  Below is a link (copy/paste in browser) to an article Andrew Yang (a smart dude who we should respect) authored on AI impacts to the workforce, particularly the white collar workforce.  Mr. Yang is bold and does not refrain in his predictions.  I don't think Mr. Yang is a "futurist", although he's certainly intelligent enough and I value his perspective.  (I would consider voting for him if he chose to run in 2028.) 

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https://blog.andrewyang.com/p/the-end-of-the-office?r=2061dc&utm_medium=ios&triedRedirect=true

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Mr. Yang predicts AI will cause significant white collar worker reductions within the next five years.  His estimates are intimidating.  If you are a white collar worker who stares at a screen all day - beware!  If you are one of these workers, Mr. Yang's predictions warrant self-reflection..  For example, if you are a financial analyst at a large company who generates spreadsheets on monthly spending and forecasting or a paralegal summarizing legal briefs - again, beware!

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Alexander Karp, CEO of Palantir Technologies (AI defense firm) and Nicholar Zamiska (Palantir Legal Counsel) have their own AI perspective described in their book,  "The Technological Republic".  Sure, AI will replace white collar jobs, but AI developers should be hired by firms supporting U.S. national security interests, pharmaceutical firms, chronic illness research and other "well-intentioned" firms improving U.S. citizens' health, well-being and security.  Karp and Zamiska argue that AI developers are paid multi-million dollar salaries to work for Meta or X, enabling users to further spread hatred, lies, jealousy and misinformation via social media.  Wouldn't you rather have AI improve national security and healthcare, than replace a mundane white collar worker's position or improve Facebook/Instagram's functionality?   

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Enough said.  What I do know is what you've all heard.  The blue collar worker should not feel threatened by AI.  If anything, blue collar workers should be thrilled, due to the infrastructure required to support massive data centers to run AI models/agents.  

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One more comment and this is where AI can really provide benefits.  The 

first white collar workforce reductions should be in the U.S. Government.  We need an AI Congress, with AI agents representing all state Congressional districts.  This replaces Congress, which is as effective as a scarecrow at a robotics convention.  Next, build AI agents replacing the Executive Branch of the United States, including an AI agent named, President AI.

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Note:  AI was not the author of this piece.

 

Hate of Hate

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MAGA is MAHA (Making America Hate Again).  I think we all agree, since Mr. Trump assumed office and the MAGA movement progressed, the U.S. has more hatred.  

 

We are approaching a time when followers of certain religions make sacrifices for Lent.  Instead of giving up alcohol, candy or TV, think about giving up "hate".  Hate is a mindset, a bias or fear of others. Hate of LGBTQ individuals, hate of blacks, hate of immigrants, hate of browns, hate of a political party, hate of Mr. Trump, hate of Bad Bunny, hate of Jews, hate of the rich, hate of yourself, hate of your neighbor, etc.

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Hate is a contagious disease or virus.  Instead of meeting with friends and discussing hated views about others - stop.  Talk about anything other than what you hate.  This will NOT be easy!

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What is a Great America?

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A Great America allows a woman to choose.

A Great America separates church and state.

A Great America peacefully and objectively enforces immigration laws.

A Great America addresses welfare and medicaid fraud.

A Great America allows DOGE to reduce governmental waste.

A Great America replaces the Affordable Care Act.

A Great America replaces the Inflation Reduction Act.

A Great America allows people to vote with a single valid ID.

A Great America taxes the rich to help the poor.

A Great America has no poverty.

A Great America doesn't care if it's Bad Bunny or Kid Rock.

A Great America supports DEI.

A Great America has practical/negotiated tariffs.

A Great America has no Democratic extremism.

A Great America has no Republican extremism.

A Great America has no racism.

A Great America creates peace within its people.

A Great America promotes vaccines.

A Great America doesn't have citizens storming the Capitol.

A Great America has a dignified and trustworthy President & Congress.

A Great America has peaceful protests.

A Great America ignores Project 2025 principles.

A Great America has less government.

A Great America has no hate.

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