03/15/22 I’m Your Vehicle, Baby… – Radically Rational

03/15/22 I’m Your Vehicle, Baby…

I’m trying to avoid the easy and obvious Ides of March reference, but…

The next 72 hours or so could produce a tipping point in Ukraine. The Russians are doubling down on their indiscriminate brutality and the Ukrainians are dug in and will fight to the death.

Civilian lives are not collateral damage, they are now targets. Kyiv has imposed a two-night curfew, obviously in anticipation of a full-out Russian aerial and infantry assault.

Missiles are raining down perilously close to the Polish border. If one lands 15 miles off-target to the West, we will have global hell.

The good news is that economic sanctions are strangling Russia. The flip-side is that Putin is now desperate and, it appears, increasingly unhinged.

Representatives from Poland, the Czech Republic and Slovenia are on their way to Kyiv to meet with Ukrainian President Zelensky today in a bold show of solidarity.

There’s talk of Biden going to Europe. Not a bad idea, in my view.

Meanwhile, China is mulling its options. To help, or not to help, Russia?

My guess, and certainly my hope, is that while China will express some vaguely-stated support, it will stop short of providing Russia with military assistance.

China views Russia as its Useful Idiots, even as Russia views the likes of Tucker Carlson as their Useful Idiots. China cares about Russia only to the extent that it can create chaos, damaging the United States and NATO. China does not see Russia as its equal or partner. More than anything else, China seeks global economic domination. Russia can’t help them there, and in fact could get in the way.

The relationship between China and Russia is one of convenience.

For China.

It’s the Ides of March.

I’m your vehicle, baby…

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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.