July 17, 2019
So what does an alligator in Chicago, Newton's 3rd Law, three congressmen, a senator, a meteorologist, a 116 year old book, a deceased cicada bug and July 20th 1969 all have him common? At first glance, nothing...but upon further inspection they are the whole kit & caboodle when it comes to The Wednesday Rant. Another foray into my never ending search to find the obvious buried in the absurd and make sense of the senseless. Don't know what a caboodle is? You're gonna find out.
July 11, 2019
While digging for an archived cassette tape last week after hearing about the passing of Lee Iaccoca to create a #TBT episode on the Life 2.0 podcast, I came across a Rubbermaid vault filled with names from the past, among them Jim Bouton, a 21-game winner for the New York Yankees in 1963 and author of the best-selling Major League tell-all book “Ball Four." I put it aside along with a few other tapes for future consideration. Little did I know, that one week later, Jim Bouton would pass away at the age of 80. So this week its an audio jaunt back to the year 2000, with hanging chads and Y2K, and my conversation with one of the all time greats. You don't have to be a baseball fan to appreciate Jim's take on pro sports, and overcoming loss. Godspeed my friend.
July 4, 2019
I had to dig into the blog archives to find the 1648 words I wrote back 2015 regarding my thoughts about Independence Day. After posting the text on Facebook, I had a few people ask if I would please read it and make it available via the Life 2.0 Podcast.
Honored to be asked and to do so.
Just to be clear, the first to take a bullet for the cause of freedom was a black man, Crispus Attucks, whose name doesn't appear on the Declaration of Independence, but is a pivotal figure in our short history, as are the lesser known men who signed their own death warrants with the stroke of a quill pen.
Its the ultimate TBT- 243 years later.
June 29, 2019
Been busy with wrapping up my latest book "Phenomenon: Sacred Moments, Messages, Memories & Other Sh*t I Can't Explain" but of course there is always time for foray into the Life 2.0 Podcast! It wouldn't be politics without name calling, (just like on the school yard in 1975)...HEY... that was the same year JAWS came out! So what do shark attacks and climate change have in common? Is Marianne Williamson heading to the White House? Is Joe Biden a wimp? As always, the headlines are no match for the lifelines...and I am reminded again this week that in the end, just in the beginning...we are all estate sales in the making or in the case of the guy next door, a garage sale.
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June 22, 2019
Question: What do Babe "The Sultan of Swat" Ruth, Jon "I'M SICK AND TIRED AND NOT GONNA TAKE IT ANYMORE" Stewart, Mitch "The Buck Stops Here" McConnell, Alex "Psycho" Jones, Sea Monkeys and a serious case of PTSD along with spending $40 a month at Starbucks all have in common? Answer: They are all part of this weeks Subscriber Saturday Exclusive. I hold back no punches, cut no corners, go up the down staircase, in the out door in my ceaseless quest to make sense of the senseless and find the obvious truth buried in the absurdity of human behavior. To listen click "Subscribe To Premium Content Now" and follow the prompts-and welcome aboard the USS UNCOMMON SENSE.
June 15, 2019
1977- Jimmy Carter was elected president, a gallon of gas and carton of eggs cost the same, a new stereo system would set you back $250 bucks, the New York black-out lasted 25 hours (the population of NYC increased significantly nine months later) and it was the year Elvis died. 42 years ago, I graduated from Schurz High School in Chicago, and this past week, I was back there with a cadre of other alumni, celebrating with the 2019 graduates, and awarding scholarships to some of them. I learned a lot hanging out with these kids, not an easy thing to do sometimes, I have shoes older than they are. Another reminder that the world isn't the toilet we are told that it is, and once again, lifelines are far more important than headlines. Toss in an "aha" moment during an episode of The Partridge Family and "Earth Matters with Bill Kurtis" and we are good to go.
May 27, 2019
I waited until after 3 p.m local time to post the Memorial Day episode of the Life 2.0 Podcast. Why 3 p.m you ask ? That is the National Moment of Remembrance, established by Congress, that asks Americans, wherever they are at 3 p.m. local time on Memorial Day, to pause in an act of national unity for one minute. Did you put down the beer or cellphone? Did you stop for a moment to reflect and remember? Did you even know about it? Do you know the difference between Veterans Day and Memorial Day? For Gold Star families, and fathers like Brian Jopek and Greg Daniels, who lost their sons in battle, every single day is Memorial Day. #lestweforget
May 22, 2019
Distracted: "Unable to concentrate because one's mind is preoccupied." According to the latest stats, over 600,000 people are driving around right now, in three tons of metal, while distracted, which is in and of itself...distracting. Now comes word that there is an uptick in..."distracted walking" as cell phone zombies are so locked into their ELS (electronic life support) aka "Smart" phones that a senator from New York is proposing a ban to keep them safe. Really? Yea...really. Toss in my college alma mater asking for my "success story," a conversation with a friend about someone we both know personally running for president, the incredible power of synchronicity, a new "True or False" segment about something Joe Biden said forty-five years ago, and another episode of "Earth Matters with Bill Kurtis" and you have another serious attempt to make sense of the senseless. Hold on to your lug nuts, its time for an overhaul.
