My How Time Flies

Remember the Euphoria, the Gratitude, the Optimism?

One year ago. And then Tuesday. Thunked in NJ, VA, CA and NYC elections.

True all are very blue states, but still.

Even more remarkable than the Commie in the Big (now RED) Apple was the DA race in VA and the fact that Jay Jones, the Democratic candidate who texted he wanted to see the children of the Republican Speaker of the House murdered... (Yup, murdered. You could look it up.) was not only was NOT thrown off the ticket immediately. He was not even disavowed by the Democratic candidate for Governor, who won. He was elected by the Democrats of the Commonwealth of Virginia. Talk about closing ranks. Talk about drawing no lines. Nothing is too heinous to disqualify where the Dems are involved.

What are the lessons?

People vote with their pocketbooks. Yeah, they cheer peace deals and support secure borders but the price of eggs still rules. Nobody cares who's really to blame. If you're in office, you're to blame.

Ideology & activism still overwhelms common sense because hatred of Trump is all that really counts.

Republicans don't get out to vote when Trump isn't on ballot. Democrats do. Democratic voters are never apathetic as long as there's a chance to hate on Trump.

Wealth is not Zero Sum

Contrary to Democrat thinking, wealth is not a zero sum game. The successful do not have to forfeit wealth for others to gain theirs. Wealth can be and frequently is created through ability and hard work. It, however, cannot be created through handouts.

Trump Subscribes!

Considering military action against Nigerian terrorists persecuting Christian. Says he got heads up from CME.

Landmark Trade Deal with China

China specifically agreed to:

• Suspend new export controls on rare earths announced on Oct. 9.

• Issue general licenses for exports of rare earths, gallium, germanium, antimony and graphite.

• Take "significant measures" to curb the flow of fentanyl to America.

• Suspend all retaliatory tariffs imposed since March, including on U.S. farm products such as soybeans, pork, corn and dairy.

• Remove non-tariff countermeasures targeting U.S. industries.

• Purchase 12 million metric tons of U.S. soybeans by year’s end and 25 million tons annually through 2028.

• Resume imports of U.S. sorghum and hardwood logs.

• Resume trade from Nexperia’s chip facilities in China.

• Lift sanctions taken in retaliation for the U.S. investigation into China's maritime, logistics and shipbuilding sectors.

• End investigations of U.S. semiconductor companies.

• Extend its market-based tariff exclusion process for U.S. imports through Dec. 31, 2026.

This according to White House reports.

We'll see. No evidence China will actually do anything constructive for the US. If true, economy must really be tanking.

Coming Clean - Finally?

Three University Chancellors from Syracuse University, Vanderbilt and Washington University in St Lous all confirmed that Anti-Israel, Pro-Hamas protests on campus were orchestrated by Iran.

They pointed out that clear coordination and the "playbook" for protests came from "organized networks" that motivated or directed agitators to demonstrate and disrupt campus. "Students were looking at and were using the playbook that they had seen at Columbia and other places, and it was the same messaging. It’s more than social contagion, there are organized networks as well. For sure we saw that."

No surprise, right? Free speech my behind.

Can't Even Celebrate Properly.

Los Angeles police officers were bombed with fireworks and bottles during street celebrations after the Dodgers World Series win late Saturday. Police were authorized to use tear gas to quell the chaos.

The Farce Continues

I am among the first to admit that an Ivy education is worth little more than the credential, which still carries weight with some employers. To some it still means you "were chosen" among other highly qualified candidates.

We all know that is not the case. Being "chosen" is mostly about DEI credentials and, of course, legacy.

In practical terms, very little if anything, is actually learned that can be applied in the future or enhance one's job performance. Knowledge gained has negligible relevance. As far as GPA - almost useless as a metric of potential in 90% of the cases.

Here's why...

A Harvard study confirms 60% of all grades given are A's. Versus 25% two decades ago. What ever happened to the good ole-fashioned Bell Curve?

Naturally, a committee has been formed to study further. Wanna guess what is being considered as one of the solutions? Employing the use of the A+ grade for the highest achievers. Well, that'll sure as hell separate the wheat from the chaff.

Just the Messenger!

Last issue we cautioned about presuming Woke/DEI is DOA. I listened to an interesting theory this week that may buttress the suspicion that Woke ain't dead. (If Tuesday's election results weren't enough.)

Helen Andrews, a conservative commentator and author, wrote a piece called the "Feminization of America". In it she opines that the Woke movement, which began years ago but exploded in the summer of 2020, is a product not so much of liberal, left-wingers in general but of the increasing number of women in the workplace, Especially in certain industries. For example...Women became a majority in law schools for the first time in 2016. The NYT staff tipped majority female in 2018. Managers in business are rapidly approaching a majority female. The same trend can be seen in medicine, politics, the judiciary and universities.

Ms. Andrews' contention is that Wokeness is more an expression of female values than those of males. Women, by and large, value safety, group cohesion and inclusion more than men do. They eschew confrontation. If women have a disagreement, unlike men who fight it out, they are more likely to just stop seeing the other party period.

She went on to say that the group dynamics of women are different from men. Men are used to giving orders and following them because they accept hierarchy is necessary in conflict (war) and efficiency. Female dynamics are oriented toward raising children and, as such, more egalitarian and averse to confrontation.

For the record, I have long been a fan of bringing women into the workplace. Seemed downright stupid to ignore the skills and potential of 50% of the human race. In fact, I was quite intrepid in bringing women into my consulting company starting in the early 70's.

Nonetheless, what I want from my lawyer, doctors, judges and those who teach my child is to be laser-focused on the mission. Winning my case, curing my illness, following the law, preparing our children to be productive, self-sufficient members of society.

Food for thought. Wokeness and its counterproductive stepsister, DEI, may prove more resilient than hoped.

Here's Something Really Cool

Remember when Israel took out dozens of Hezbollah terrorists by blowing up their pagers (and walkie talkies)? Turns out Israel had the pagers made in Hong Kong and embedded with a chip they could trigger at the right moment. Then they figured out how to sell them to Hezbollah. Years later - Boom.

Crafty SOBs that Mossad.

Really Good Idea

Friend of mine sent me a piece by a guy named Wayne Root. He had a very clever idea for dealing with Mamdani. Trump should declare NYC an "illegal alien free zone". Let them pour in just as Mamdani wants See what happens. Be the greatest flop of the Communist experiment in history. And that's no small feat.

Good weekend all.