Paul’s Daily Ration: 07/11/21 – Radically Rational

Paul’s Daily Ration: 07/11/21

Maybe I’m being unreasonable, but before folks start banning stuff, shouldn’t they at least know what it is they’re banning?

Who does more actual “canceling” than the folks who bray the longest and loudest about “Cancel Culture”?

So statues of treasonous military generals of a foreign government on U.S. public property are “history,” but actual teaching of actual history isn’t?

As I write, we’re still a couple of hours away from Richard Branson’s high-wire act. I will say this. I think he has the right idea. No, I don’t want to be in space for six months. I will not be applying for a spot on the ISS. But 15 minutes, a la Shepard and Grissom? I’m in! Light it. Climb it. ‘Scuse me while I kiss the sky (briefly). Then glide on down in time for afternoon beer call with the boys.

I’m tempted to say that we’re about to blow it…yet again…in our F-Troop battle against COVID. But I’m going to amend that. “About to blow it”? Nope. We’ve already blown it…yet again. Buckle up. And the next cauldron has the potential to be much hotter than the last one.

My favorite media observation of the week? Kaitlan (Roll Tide!) Collins: “It’s gonna be pretty hard for the extreme wing of the Republican Party to expand its base when they’re telling people not to do something that could keep them alive.” That’s not “partisan.” That’s rational. Radically so.

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Paul's Bio

I clearly have the attention span of your median fruit fly.Look! Airplane!

Sorry. I’m back.

It’s both a curse and a blessing. I’ve never bought this stuff about, “He who dies with the most toys wins.” But I do think that a wide range of life experiences helps us grow as people, and helps us better relate to other people. I’ve been fortunate. And I am beyond grateful.

I show up on time. I go like hell. I’m a good listener. I hold myself accountable. I own my mistakes. And I have a natural and an insatiable curiosity. I’m never afraid to say, “I don’t know,” when I don’t. But then I try to find out.

The flip side is I’m a lousy ballroom dancer and my clothes sometimes fit me funny.

Stuff matters to me. I care. But while I take that stuff seriously, I try hard to never take myself seriously. As a result, I have sometimes been told, “Paul, it’s hard to tell when you’re serious and when you’re just having some fun. Which is it? Serious or fun?”

My answer is “yes.” But I think that is a legitimate criticism. I promise I’m going to work on that.

This has been the quickest and strangest half-century I’ve ever experienced. During that period, I’ve been afforded amazing opportunities in news and sports journalism across all platforms. I have taught wonderful students at the high school and collegiate level. Always, I learned more from them than they did from me. I’ve been a high school administrator. I spent ten seasons as a high school varsity football coach. I’ve been an advertising executive. I’ve hosted nationally syndicated television entertainment shows. In maybe the biggest honor I ever received, I was selected by NASA to be “Chet The Astronaut” for the “Land The Shuttle” simulator at Space Center Houston. (All I can say there, is “Do as I say, not as I do.” I put that thing in the Everglades more often than not.) Most recently, I just wrapped up a decade as a television news director, during which time our teams distinguished themselves in holding the powerful accountable, achieving both critical and ratings success.

What does all that mean? It means I am profoundly grateful. It also means I’m ready for “next.” So here we are. Radically Rational. It’s an idea I woke up with in 2017. I scribbled “Radically Rational” on a piece of notebook paper and used a magnet to stick it on our refrigerator. I saw it every day, and it just would not leave me alone.

I am second in charge at Radically Rational, LLC. My wife, Jo (also known as BB), is the president. Clearly, I have failed in my attempt to sleep my way to the top of this organization.

I hope you will learn that I’m loyal as a Labrador. But I will admit that this doggie can bite every now and then. My promise to you? I will show up on time. I will go like hell. I will listen to you earnestly and attentively. I will hold myself accountable. I will never be the least bit hesitant to say, “I don’t know,” when I don’t.

But then I’ll try to find out. Let’s do it.