03/05/22 – Radically Rational

03/05/22

Hmmm. This is…interesting. Why would the Kentucky Teachers’ Retirement System have invested $15.6 million in a Russian bank since March of 2017? I’m sure there are banks in Kentucky. So, yeah, that caught my attention.

And this is kinda curious, too. The Kentucks sold their Russian bank shares on February 23. What a ko-ink-ee-dink. Gee, if memory serves, that was a day before Russia invaded Ukraine, which triggered international sanctions that have imploded the Russian economy.

So the banjo pickers got out right before the roof collapsed. The teachers’ system lost (only) 3.2 million, which seems like a bargain.

It’s upholstery-grabbing pucker up time for Mitch and Rand.

Mike Pence is set to make a speech condemning GOP Putin apologists. How enlightened. Yeah, cancer is bad, too…

Yep. Russia is guilty of war crimes. Russia is guilty of crimes against humanity. Yes, this is mass murder. Yes, Russia has a lot of troops, a lot of mercenaries, a lot of firepower, a lot of heavy, explosive falling objects, evil intentions and zero remorse.

And, as Putin reminds us, they also have…those mushroom thingies. And already they have adopted attacking nuclear power plants as part of their strategy and tactics.

But they also have an army that is a joke. They have soldiers who can’t fight and don’t want to. They’re F-Troop.

And they are fighting the Ukrainian breed of Devil Dogs.

And that’s why this is not hopeless yet. .

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

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.