November 11, 2024
Good morning! It would appear we are in for a long stretch of wonderful
October weather. Have you heard any news on the outcome of the election? Happy 78th birthday to my good friend and sometimes reader, Dan, who high tails it to Florida this time of year. And, as coincidence would have it, Dan served in the United States Navy during the Viet Nam war.
- This day honours, remembers, and recognizes those who have served (past-tense), not those currently serving… perhaps not an important distinction, but yet it is.
- My Dad served, my grandpa served, my great-grandpa served, my great-great grandpa served (Shiloh, 1862), and further back…
- …my great-great-great-great grandpas served (several of them) during Colonial times and throughout the first war against England.
- (Did you know you have 64 great-great-great-great grandparents? We all do, every human on earth!)
- My era was Viet Nam and I didn’t serve.
- I’m sometimes ashamed of that; confused, puzzled, and torn.
- My brother served and was wounded, but I don’t think that counts except to check the box for seven generations in a row.
- As a percent of the total U.S. population — men, women, and children, all ages — the highest percentage in military service — 12% — came during World War II.
- About 8% of the colonists served with George Washington. (Not counting those who sided and served with the other George.)
- About 11% served during the War Between the States — 3.5 million soldiers — although it was at least double that number throughout the Confederacy.
- Viet Nam saw 5% (9 million) citizen soldiers with almost one-third of those rotating to serve in-country.
- Military service in the United States is now less than one-half of one percent of the population.
- If the data are accurate, nearly half of all voters in the United States just couldn’t wait — and they voted early, prior to Election Day.
- Does anyone benefit from the $billion$ spent on advertising throughout the presidential campaign?
- If Coke were to spend that amount, for example, it would expect a profit return commensurate with its increased expense.
- McDonald’s, Delta, BP, Hyundai, Apple, Progressive, all the same.
- But what is the return for a political campaign — beyond a huge boost for the marketing sectors?
- Victory, maybe, and then enormous power? But, then what about the loser(s)?
- And, on a related note: Are 40,000 new government jobs equal to 40,000 new manufacturing jobs?
- Or, in the case of approximate current reality, will 40,000 new government jobs exactly replace 40,000 lost manufacturing jobs?
- Is it net-neutral for the economy?
- Anyone have a formula for this?
- For my friend and reader, King, who asked for a report:
- The pilgrimage to Galena, Illinois for the purpose of paying homage to Hiram Grant was an A+.
- If you want to turn the calendar back 200 years without much effort and without much cost, just immerse yourself in this small village for a few days.
- You can hike 100 circuitous miles in this little village without ever leaving the center — and without ever walking the same mile twice.
- Grant’s family lived there for about nine years from just prior to the Civil War and up until moving to Washington City to occupy the White House.
- Nine Union Generals hailed from Galena, none as famous as Grant, but all accomplished;
- …three would later serve in Grant’s Cabinet — including General Ely Parker, a First Nations descendant who was with Grant at Appomattox.
- Lead attracted European settlers to Galena — not unlike the ways in which gold, silver, and copper resulted in hundreds of other boomtowns.
- The mineral wealth extracted from the surrounding hills produced many millionaires who built impressive mansions and who supported civic and cultural strength.
- The lead was soon depleted, but the village imagined, constructed, and sustained schools, libraries, a robust Main Street, and a diverse economy.
- Abraham Lincoln came to the town to give a speech from the hotel’s balcony — as did his opponent, Mr. Douglas, and a dozen other national notables.
- What about General Grant himself — from an amateur layman’s perspective?
- He was humbled, even humiliated at times, and so was accustomed to humility.
- He knew how to get up early and go to work.
- He had a good moral compass.
- He could see the big picture (strategic) of things.
- He understood a goal and how to pursue it — and how to inspire and motivate others in the pursuit of the goal.
- He was patient and persistent along parallel paths.
- He and I share a birthday in common, though 130 years apart.
- He did not seek greatness — rather, it found him.
- Few did more than Grant to prosecute the outcome of the Civil War — and of the 13th, 14th, and 15th amendments to the United States Constitution, but…
- … all was for naught as the 19th President would unravel all of Grant’s — and Lincoln’s — progress.
- Warren’s cash has grown to $325 billion after liquidating significant ownership positions in both Apple and Bank of America.
- Remember when seeing and being seen at T.G.I.F. was about as hip and cool as you could get?
- Wild fires in New Jersey — as if they were happening in California? Get ready.
- Harley Davidson is in trouble — and who thought that was possible?!
- Leadership skills to think about — and to be forever conscious of: (dangling… sorry)
- Fueling the culture best for the organization
- Positive Energy; Optimism
- Integrity — Do what you say… Say what you’ll do
- Collaborating genuinely
- Listening actively
