Thursday, September 25, 2025

TALE OF TWO “JIMMY WHO?” FROM PEANUT FARMER TO A PRIMETIME TV PUNDIT

When "Jimmy Who?" has presidential gravitas, he is elected POTUS. Its not enough to be a late night entertainer... 

In the modern American political landscape, the line between entertainer and political commentator has all but vanished. Few embody this shift more than Jimmy Kimmel, the late-night host whose nightly monologues often serve as impassioned editorials on the state of the nation. While he prides himself on being a comedian, (sarcastic at that), his growing political influence invites a curious comparison to another ‘Jimmy’ who ascended the national stage from relative obscurity: Jimmy Carter.

In 1976, Governor Carter of Georgia was famously dismissed by the establishment as “Jimmy Who?”  Carter was an outsider, a peanut farmer and a man of deep, quiet faith who ran on a platform of integrity and competence in the wake of the Watergate scandal. Carter did not pretend to be an entertainer. Carter was a serious, policy-focused politician who, against all odds, became the 39th President of the United States and went on to become the longest-lived. His path to power was through the traditional grind of retail politics—a testament to a bygone era.

Jimmy Carter was elected because he possessed presidential gravitas.

Contrast that with the Jimmy of our time. An established progressive entertainer from ABC TV, Kimmel wields a different kind of influence. His power is not derived from a state governorship or a party nomination, but from the media ecosystem itself—ratings, viral quips, and the cultivation of a para-social relationship with millions of viewers. While he may not officially be partisan, his sarcastic wit is consistently aimed at specific political targets, and his emotional monologues on healthcare and gun control have effectively mobilized public opinion and shaped national debate.

The question: Is Kimmel merely a comedian with a conscience, or does he harbor deeper political aspirations? The path from entertainment to executive office is no longer unthinkable; figures from Ronald Reagan to Donald Trump, and internationally, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, have proven that TV-radio celebrity is a potent political currency. Kimmel’s platform gives him a direct line to the American public that most traditional politicians can only dream of.

The fundamental difference lies in their approach to power. Carter worked from the outside-in, leveraging his status as a non-Washington figure to conquer the political system. Kimmel works from the inside-out, leveraging his status as a media insider to influence that same system without ever having to run for office.

Whether Kimmel ever places his name on a ballot is secondary. His current role as a cultural arbiter and de facto political pundit already makes him a significant, unelected force.

Jimmy Carter asked Americans for their vote based on his character, gravitas and his plans for the country. Kimmel asks only for their viewership and secondarily sales promotion; yet he wields a power that can sway minds and drive policy. He is a new archetype in the American experiment, challenging us to decide where the stage ends and the state begins.   You be the judge.

Note: Definition of sarcasm: Sarcasm is the use of irony in order to mock or convey contempt toward a person or subject.



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Tags: #JimmyCarter #JimmyKimmel #presidentialgravitas #ABCTV #politicalsarcasm

 

Monday, September 15, 2025

GLOBAL GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT IS RISING. THE GROWTH OF WORLD GDP IS DUE TO AI

We review here insights about a coming economic boom of a multi-trillion dollar expected in the next five and ten years.

The world is on the verge of an unprecedented economic expansion driven by artificial intelligence, with projections indicating a potential increase of trillions of dollars to the global gross domestic product (GDP) over the next five to ten years.

Get this: by the time you finished reading this short paper it is out of date.

Precise figures vary among leading economic analyses, but a consensus emerges that AI will be a significant driver of productivity and growth. Estimates from major financial institutions and consulting firms suggest a potential annual increase in global GDP ranging from 1% to as high as 7% in the coming decade, with a substantial portion of this growth materializing within the next five years.

A conservative synthesis of forecasts from sources like Goldman Sachs, McKinsey, and PwC based on research suggests a prospective increase in the range of $2.6 to $4.4 trillion annually in the near term.  McKinsey predicts that over 66% of developed economies already have national AI strategies, compared to just 30% in developing economies and 12% in least-developed ones. AI has emerged as the defining technology of the 21st century.  According to the conclusions of PwC's “Sizing the Price” report, AI could contribute up to $15.7 trillion to global GDP by 2030

This figure is expected to grow as AI adoption matures. Goldman Sachs, for instance, has projected a very modest 7% increase in global GDP over a decade, which translates to a significant economic uplift in the initial five-year period.

Currently, the trend now is agentic AI, which has rapidly emerged as a major focus of interest and experimentation in business enterprises and consumer technology. Agentic AI combines the flexibility and generality of AI foundation models with the ability to act in the world by creating “virtual coworkers” that can autonomously plan and execute multistep workflows

This economic surge is not evenly distributed.   A handful of nations are poised to capture the lion's share of the economic gains. These countries are characterized by strong technology sectors, significant investment in AI research and development, and supportive government policies.


The Top 10 Nations Leading the AI-Driven Economic Transformation

Ten countries are best positioned to contribute the most to the increase in global GDP driven by artificial intelligence over the next five years. The estimate is based on their current AI investments, adoption rates, and overall economic strength. Different researchers may argue for a different ranking list. Note that Russia is missing on this top-ten list. This is likely caused by lack of reliable accurate information from this country.  The World Bank economic activity projections ignore the effects of AI R&D, (which is a highly secretive and competitive field), on national GDP and still discuss globalism, trade relations and tariffs. And… WEF.

1.    United States: As the undisputed leader in AI investment and home to the world's largest technology companies, it is projected to be the single largest contributor to AI-driven GDP growth. Its vibrant venture capital ecosystem and deep talent pool continue to fuel innovation and commercialization of AI technologies across all sectors.

2.    China: With a national strategy focused on becoming a global AI leader by 2030, China is making massive investments in AI research and implementation. China is rich with natural resources and developed a widespread education system.  Its large domestic market, military industry  and rapid technological adoption will drive significant economic expansion powered by AI.

3.    United Kingdom: The UK has established itself as a European hub for AI, boasting a strong research base and a thriving startup scene. Government support and a focus on AI in key sectors like finance and healthcare will be significant drivers of its economic growth.  The British government gets the cooperation of the American counterpart in the area of AI. Nvidia, Microsoft and Google were among the U.S. tech companies to announce major investments in the U.K.

4.    Germany: As a global manufacturing powerhouse, Germany is poised to leverage AI to revolutionize its industrial sector and growing military re-armament. The integration of AI into its "Industrie 4.0" strategy will enhance productivity and competitiveness.

5.    Japan: Facing demographic challenges, Japan is turning to AI and automation to boost productivity and address labor shortages. Its strengths in robotics and advanced manufacturing of automotive and electronic products provide a solid base for AI-driven growth.

6.    India: A large and growing digital economy, coupled with an enormous pool of IT talent, positions India to be a major contributor to AI-driven growth. The country will see significant AI adoption in sectors like IT services, finance, and agriculture. Note that CEOs of Google (Sundar Pichai) and Microsoft (Satya Nadella), are originally alums of India’s undergraduate education system early in their careers..

7.    Canada:  Recognized for its pioneering research in deep learning, has a strong foundation in AI. Government initiatives and a collaborative ecosystem between academia and industry are fostering innovation and economic benefits.

8.    France: With a growing number of AI startups and a government committed to fostering a strong AI ecosystem, France is emerging as a significant player in the European AI landscape.

9.    South Korea: Is a recognized global leader in technology, automotive products and innovation.  South Korea is heavily investing in AI and maintains its competitive edge in electronics, communications, automotive, and other key industries.

10. Israel: Known for its dynamic startup culture and expertise in cyber security and machine learning, Israel's "Silicon Wadi" is a hotbed of AI innovation that will contribute significantly to its economic output.

This ranking is based on a synthesis of factors including private and public AI investments, the maturity of the technology sector, and the potential for AI to be integrated into key industries. The economic impact of AI is expected to be a defining feature of the global economy in the coming years, with these ten nations at the forefront of this transformative wave.

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Tags: #AI  #agenticAI #GDP #worldGDP #McKinsey #GoldmanSachs #PwC  #technology  

Saturday, August 23, 2025

RELIGION AS THE SOURCE OF UNHOLY WARS

 

MILITARY CONFLICTS DRIVEN BY "HOLY" WARS

Religious beliefs often drive military conflicts. Ayatollah Khomeini asserted that religion and politics are intertwined and inseparable.

So.  If you want to understand why people are at war, check out their religious beliefs.

You want a reference? Here is the quote taken from the Iranian Islam Shiite cleric – Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini:

“Anyone who will say that religion is separate from politics is a fool. He does not know Islam or politics.”

 

Source: H.R. McMaster, PhD and Lieutenant General, U.S. Army



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Tags:  #religion #holywar #AyatollaKhumeini  #HRMcMaster  #politics

 

Tuesday, August 5, 2025

THE ART OF PARTNERING WITH SERENDIPITY

In the whirlwind of daily life, many people believe that “chance” encounters are merely flukes. However, for those who truly understand the art of serendipity, these happy “accidents” are not just anticipated but they're practically a way of life.

You are now reading this essay and this is - our mutual serendipitous encounter – yours and mine.

Imagine navigating through your life with an unwavering mindset that every turn, every moment, holds the promise of an extraordinary well-off discovery. That is The Happy Accident: How to Cultivate Fortunate Encounters understanding the universe where fortunate encounters aren't rare exceptions but are daily occurrences. These daily encounters are common.

It’s more than “luck”.  It's a dynamic interplay between the universe's whispers and a mind prepared to listen, see and receive.

I regard the art of serendipity as finding pure gold when you weren’t even looking; a sparkling incident that reshapes our journey in the most profound ways. By consciously embracing this philosophy, walking through each wakeful moment with the conviction that a serendipitous encounter is not just possible but is probable, we transform the ordinary into the extraordinary.

Serendipity encounters are a daily occurrence. I’m used to them because I anticipate them during any of my waking moments wherever I am. Wherever I go I encounter serendipitous opportunities. Serendipity is a universal phenomenon. All one needs to do is anticipate serendipity and recognize the serendipitous encounters as they occur. 

 I went back reading my old notes on serendipity. I wrote and kept plenty of them, I reviewed and edited them weaving in the wisdom of three out of many renowned thinkers and authors who have explored serendipity.

Being mindful, I now walk every wakeful moment of my life, holding the conscious thought that at this moment a serendipitous encounter is about to fortunately hit me.

The Art of Serendipity: Cultivating Fortunate Encounters

Serendipity is way, way more than an unplanned, unanticipated joyful encounter.  It is a dynamic interplay between random external events and the prepared mind. It is the art of finding something valuable when I am not actively seeking it; a happy incident that can profoundly alter the course of my life.

While the trigger for a serendipitous moment seems accidental, the experience of serendipity encounter is not reserved for merely the "lucky."

Serendipity is the mental faculty, ready and alert, that can be cultivated, a mindset that can be honed.

Serendipity Seeks the Prepared Mind. The potential for serendipitous encounters is ever-present. These are perpetual currents of potentialities in the rivers of life. However, these encounters do not randomly attach themselves to passersby.  Serendipity is available to the person who anticipates it. This anticipation is not passive waiting but an active conscious state of awareness. A serendipity encounter is a mental posture of ever conscious mindfulness, and a readiness to embrace the unexpected goodness of the universal affluence.

Here is my declaration of practicing the art of serendipity:

I live in continuous readiness to encounter beneficent serendipitous events.

#        #        #

Robert Merton, the renowned sociologist, gave us language for this phenomenon drawn from his world of science. He described the "serendipity pattern" as the observation of an "unanticipated, anomalous, and strategic" fact. Think of Alexander Fleming's discovery of penicillin from a contaminated petri dish. The mold was an anomaly, some “accident”. But it was Fleming's sagacity—his wisdom and prepared mind—that allowed him to recognize its significant strategic importance. The encounter was available to him because he was not ignorant of the conditions for discovery.  Alexander Fleming’s mind was primed to see meaning in the anomaly. Then the field of the modern era of antibiotics in medicine took off.

The open mind is the vessel for serendipity. As we have noted, these fortunate encounters are invariably available to people who are mentally open to receiving them and bypass those who set prior conditions. A rigid mind that has already decided what it is looking for, is closed to the gifts the universe delivers in unexpected packaging. You may be looking for a crowbar, but then you overlook the key lying next to the locked door.

Merton, in his seminal work on the "serendipity pattern" in scientific discoveries, emphasized the role of "sagacity."  He observed that many groundbreaking scientific discoveries were not the result of a linear, planned process but rather of an unanticipated, anomalous, strategic observation.

The key, for Merton, is the prepared mind of the scientist observer who could recognize the significance of an unexpected finding. Thus, serendipity is not just about the random event itself but about having the wisdom to understand its importance.

An Open Mind is A Magnet for Serendipity.  Serendipitous encounters seek people who are mentally open to the cornerstone of this phenomenon. A mind cluttered with rigid expectations and preconceived notions acts as a barrier, deflecting these fortunate moments. When we set prior conditions on what we are willing to receive, we effectively blind ourselves to perceive the countless other possibilities that life presents us.

#        #        #

Morton Meyers is a physician who, in his work Happy Accidents, powerfully illustrated many random serendipitous events in the high-stakes world of medicine. Meyers chronicles how many of the most vital medical breakthroughs, from X-rays imaging to numerous life-saving drugs, were born from serendipity. Researchers, looking for one thing, stumbled upon something of a far greater significance. Their genius was not in their initial plan, but in their ability to pivot—to embrace the unexpected result without prejudice.

They did not allow their hypothesis to become a prison, a prior condition that would have forced them to discard a world-changing discovery.

Meyers explored medical breakthroughs that robustly illustrate this point. Researchers, in pursuit of one goal, stumbled upon something entirely different and monumentally important. Their success lay in their willingness to deviate from the original research plan, to explore the anomaly and its consequences rather than discard it. They did not allow their initial hypotheses to become prisons.

Pfizer scientists were exploring potential medications that could lower high blood pressure through widening blood vessels by inhibiting an enzyme PDE5. While testing a compound called UK-92,480, they observed an unexpected side effect: prolonged penile erections. This led to further research, and the compound was eventually developed into Viagra, purposely for treating erectile dysfunction. It was patented in 1996 and approved by the FDA in 1998.

We cultivate serendipity, by shedding the ignorance of its nature. To ignore the serendipitous condition is like being adrift in a sea of opportunities without a sail. Awareness of the phenomenon itself is the first step toward harnessing its power. As noted earlier, serendipitous encounters are available to all who are aware of the serendipity phenomenon.

#        #        #

Christian Busch is a modern-day research authority on serendipity.  Busch offers a practical framework for awareness of the concept of "serendipity mindset."  He argues against the passive notion of “luck” and asserts that we can create our own personal "smart luck." Busch suggests several actionable strategies:

  • See connections: Train your mind to find interesting aberrations in the unexpected. When something unusual or unplanned occurs, don't dismiss it. Ask yourself:

"What is the potential opportunity here?  How does this connect to my existing knowledge or objectives?"

  • Set hooks: Proactively "seed" your conversations and interactions with your creative ideas, your interests and aspirations. This increases the chances that other people can connect you with relevant opportunities. It transforms passive random encounters into potential gateways for engineered serendipity encounters.
  • Embrace the unexpected: When a prior set plan goes awry, view it as a  detour towards more interesting and better destinations. A missed train may lead to a life-changing conversation on the platform. A missed flight may leads to alternative route through a different city where we’ll meet different people.

This is the core of what Christian Busch calls "The Serendipity Mindset."  His findings offer a practical application to this “metaphysical” concept:

Set Hooks: Proactively I share my intentions, questions, and passions with others. Each "hook" you cast into the world is a potential prompt for someone else to connect you to an unforeseen prosperous opportunity.

Develop and harbor a "Trigger Spotting" Mentality.  I always see the unexpected not as a nuisance, but as a "trigger."  A typo in an email, a unintended meeting with a stranger, a flight delay, these are more than random events - they are potential openings.  

I ask myself: "What is the upside here?" 

The answer is:  “There must be a golden pony hidden under this pile of shit.”

I practice mental reframing – Let’s embrace the detour - when life diverts me from my planned path, I see it as a scenic route to a more rewarding destination. This mental reframing turns obstacles into welcoming opportunities.

Every random event in my life is a prompt for the next serendipity encounter.

#        #        #

By integrating the perspectives of Merton, Meyers, and Busch, I concluded that serendipity is not a mystical force that randomly bestows its favor. Instead, I accepted serendipity as a partnership.

Engineered serendipity encounters are my working partner events; an instrument available to advance the course of my life.   Random serendipity events provide the spark; it is our perceptive, prepared, open, and sagacious minds that fan it into a flame. To live a serendipitous life is to be an active participant in the dance of randomness and awareness, and be perpetually ready to be delightfully surprised.

#        #        #

I deliberated over these notes, inviting the essence of the contents to resonate with the wisdom of other great thinkers who have explored this subtle and powerful force.  My observations are capturing the very spirit of serendipity. I have taken the liberty of editing and expanding upon them, weaving in the insights of other authors.

The Architecture of Happenstance: A Guide to Cultivating Serendipity

At its surface, serendipity appears as an unplanned and unanticipated fortunate encounter. It is the sudden, happy accident—the unexpected discovery of a treasure you were not actively seeking.

However, leaving the definition there is to see only a flash of lightning and ignoring the atmospheric conditions that created it.

There are no mistakes in the Universe.  Serendipity is a creative artwork, and a science with a dynamic interplay between randomness and the prepared perceptive mindful life.

Serendipity encounters have a standing invitation to occur in my life.  Serendipity encounters invitations are openly and freely available to every person who learns to anticipate them.

Note: Serendipity encounters are not the anxious anticipation of a specific outcome, but rather calm, thoughtful, vibrational readiness for universal infinite possibilities.

It is the posture of a person who walks through the world with open arms ready to receive, rather than with a clenched fist, guarding a preconceived plan.

 

Constant awareness is the act of tuning in to the frequency of serendipity.  This awareness is the most crucial component.  Serendipity is a conscious life decision - living in serendipitous milieu is real and accessible to all people.

Take Home Message:  We are the architect of our own good fortune.

The universe provides infinite random bricks for endless options.  It is our awareness, our openness, and our sagacity that builds them into beautiful, unexpected structures whenever we take a turn we did.

 

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Tags: #serendipity #sagacity #serendipitypartnership #engineeredserendipity 

Wednesday, July 16, 2025

Saginaw's Splash in Color: The Silo Murals

 

The Giga Murals in Saginaw

Well now, if you've been down by the Saginaw River lately, you can't help but notice something truly eye-popping.  Old, rusty grain silos that used to just sit there, an eyesore for years, have been given a brand new lease on life. They're now giant, colorful canvas, and folks, it's a monumental sight!


This grand transformation is the entire artistic gift of a fellow named
Okuda San Miguel. Now, Okuda, he's not from around here – he hails from Spain, where he was born in Santander, 1980.  Okuda calls himself a "citizen of the world."


You can see that big, wide-world thinking in his art, too. He's known for the bold, patterns and bright, lively colors. His work often features these sort of blocky, almost cubist figures, all mixed up to a tapestry of different designs and textures.

He's done his art all over the globe, but he's pretty proud of this Saginaw piece, says it's one of his favorites. And you can see why! It's his biggest one yet, stretching way up into the sky.


The whole idea behind these murals, from what Okuda says, is about freedom, diversity of shapes and colors. He's woven together all sorts of patterns, few old-fashioned, and many modern like pixels. Some are his unique geometric designs. It's like he's trying to get all kinds of folks, all kinds of cultures, to come together in one big, happy picture.


In our era of postmodern art, stretching from Art Basel to ExpoChicago, it's a wonderful thing when a novel object of artwork takes something that was just sitting there forgotten, and turns it into something that makes you stop in awe and smile. These murals are doing just that for Saginaw. They're an awesome bold welcome to anyone passing by - a reminder that even plain abandoned silos can be transformed into stunning artistic installations with creative imagination and  lots of flashy paint!

 


There are many more street murals in Saginaw.  Watch for more posts like that. Pure Michigan.

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Tags - #modernart  #saginawmurals  #streetart  #OkudaSanMiguel  #SaginawRiver  #PureMichigan  #ArtBasel #ExpoChicago  #gigaart

Wednesday, June 4, 2025

GUERRILLA SERENDIPITY: HOW TO CULTIVATE OPPOPRTUNITY IN CHAOS

 

GUERRILLA SERENDIPITY WISDOM IN A PITHY BOOK

Some call them lucky. Others call them fortunate. There is no luck. But there is a secret.  There exists a whispered art, a secret handshake among the daring and the sagacious observant: Guerrilla Serendipity.  In 1961, I happened to be at the Cave of the Treasure in Nahal Mishmar when the five millennia old treasure was uncovered.


The Unseen Handshake

Forget the dusty treatises on strategic planning, the five-year forecasts, and the meticulously crafted roadmaps to “guaranteed” success. Those are the well-trodden paths, leading to well-known destinations.  Guerrilla Serendipity isn't about the destination; it's about the detour on the road, the unexpected vista, the invaluable discovery stumbled upon in the thicket of the unplanned.

It’s the understanding that the breakthroughs often aren't engineered but encountered. It’s the art of being ready for the unbidden gift, of recognizing the opportunity not in its polished, unannounced form, but in its budding, often messy, disguise.


It Isn’t Blind Luck

Luck is a fickle mistress, seemingly dispensing favors indiscriminately. Wrong.

Guerrilla Serendipity, however, is an active pursuit of the fortunate, joyful encounter. It’s the cultivation of an internal radar for the resonant, the readiness to pivot when the universe winks.  It’s the architect of the happy “accident”.

Think of the scientist who notices the mold contaminating a petri dish, not as a ruined experiment, but as a potential cure. Think of the artist who spills paint, not as a mistake, but as the genesis of a new technique. They weren't seeking penicillin or a novel brushstroke; they were simply open, observing, and willing to deviate from the script. Remember the woman who went on a blind date, got proposed, married, and later won the house by inheriting the Las Vegas Sands Casino




The Guerrilla's Toolkit

So, how does one become a practitioner of this elusive art?

·       Guerrilla means Anything But Cash.  G=ABC. Although money helps.

  • Cultivate Curiosity's Edge:  Ask "what if?" even when the answer seems obvious. Poke at the edge of your assumptions. The most fertile ground for serendipity lies just beyond the known.
  • Embrace the Uncomfortable: Get out of the comfort zone.  Routine is the enemy of discovery. Step outside your usual favorite places of visits, engage with disparate ideas, cross-pollinate your thoughts with those who think differently. Adventurism is key.
  • Observe with Fresh Eyes: Meet with other people. Be sociable.  Don't just look around.  See. Don’t just listen. Hear the undertones. Pay attention to the anomalies, the outliers, the things that don't quite fit. These are often the breadcrumbs leading to the unforeseen.
  • Maintain Mental Agility: Be willing to drop your preconceived notions. The world rarely presents opportunities in a neat, pre-labeled package. Sagacity is key. Recognize when a tangential observation holds more promise than the current trajectory. Chaos is a friend.
  • Connect the Disconnected: The magic happens at the intersections. What seems unrelated today might be the missing piece of tomorrow's puzzle. Hold onto diverse scraps of information; their true value may only reveal itself later.

The Unwritten Map

Guerrilla Serendipity is about knowing how to navigate without a map and how to find treasures that aren't marked.

It’s about understanding that some of life's most valuable discoveries are not found by following a path, but by creating one. One unexpected step at a time. It’s the art of living with a heightened sense of infinite possibilities; of welcoming the delightful intrusion, of realizing that the greatest adventures often begin with an unplanned turn.

Follow us for more tips on living the Guerrilla Serendipity life of fortunes.

 

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