Monthly Archives: April 2019

04/30/19

Worshiping Satan With the Internal Revenue Service

OK, so I admit I haven’t been writing too much about Satanic Worship for the last few years, but something caught my eye the other day and I need to weigh in on it.

Krampus, Mask, Customs, Austria, Advent, Devil, Angry

Recently, the Internal Revenue Service recognized The Satanic Temple as a tax-exempt entity — yes, you read that correctly — challenging the adage that the only certain things in life are death and taxes. Now, if you want to worship Satan, The Satanic Temple doesn’t have to pay taxes.

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04/30/19

The Power of Competition

Competition — it’s what’s for breakfast these days.

Your Big Red Car sometimes feels like folks who are “in the fight” think they have to cede certain territory to their competitors without a fight. I am often reminded of a snippet of wisdom once placed before me by a Sergeant Major, “Lieutenant, when you get in a fight, remember to fight.”

That has always stuck with me which brings me to some interesting statistics from Q1-2019 related to advertising revenue growth, digital advertising revenue on the Internet.

One assumes that advertising revenue is owned by a few big companies — talking to you, Google. In case you didn’t know, Google has a new logo.

Image result for images google logo

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04/28/19

Great Moments in Entrepreneurship

Bit gloomy in the ATX, but who doesn’t like a few clouds? So, I have been reading several interesting books about the American Revolution. Two of my favorites are Ron Chernow’s biographies on Washington and Hamilton. They are both worth a read. I have read them both at least three times, but I learn something new every time I re-read them.

If you think these are beach books, plan on at least three months at the beach.

In both of them, George Washington and Alexander Hamilton come up for detailed scrutiny of their role at the First Battle of Trenton whereat George Washington undertook a Christmas Day, double envelopment, river crossing and attack on the Hessians in Trenton. It has been recognized as one of the most audacious military strokes in the history of the world.

Related image

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04/27/19

Joseph Robinette Biden For President 2020 — Exclusive Interview

Today, the Big Red Car sits down with former Vice President Joe Biden to discuss his campaign to obtain the Democrat nomination for President and, ultimately, his thoughts on the general election.

“Welcome, Vice President Biden.”

Image result for images joe biden

“Thanks, Big Red, wow are you looking good. By the way, where have we met before?”

“I don’t think we have, but I was born in 1966 and there are a lot of impostors out there. You would have been 24 back in 1966.”

“Well, you sure do look familiar. So where do we start, Big Red?”

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04/26/19

The Economy

Big Red Car here back from a nice tour of Savannah. Today, the numbers came out for Q1-2019. Gross Domestic Product is up 3.2%!

Image result for images savannah

[Special note to “you know who” — yes., the government fiscal year starts in October, so, yes, it would be Q2-2019 of the government year, but this is Q1-2019 of the CALENDAR YEAR 2019. The economic statistics are kept on a calendar year and it is not my fault or a conspiracy. OK?]

Folks were waiting for these numbers with baited breath because of the government shutdown of 35 days — 22 December 2018 until 25 January 2019. In addition, this impacted the first quarter, always the weakest quarter for economic activity.

This is a huge number, y’all.

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04/19/19

The Mueller Report

Sigh, a friend who constantly goads me in regard to all matters pertinent to President Trump has threatened me with physical violence if the Big Red Car fails to take note of the Mueller Report. I will try to restrain myself from discussing much of the detail, but I will touch on the process.

Robert Swan Mueller III investigating President Trump’s McDonald’s selections.

First, I believe that most reasonable people will conclude, as did Bobby Mueller, that there was no evidence of Trump campaign Russian collusion. That is, of course, the genesis of the report — “Bob, go take a look at whether the Trumpies were in bed with the Russians. Do it in accordance with the Special Counsel statute.”

Two years later, we now have the Mueller Report.

The charge then morphed into an investigation of whether the President obstructed justice. The charge to look at obstruction was focused at first, but then ran far afield during the course of the investigation.

I take issue with the process. Let us map the process, shall we?

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04/17/19

The Character Traits and Skills of the Successful CEO — Accountability

Cool day in the ATX and I like it. So, we are back to talking to and about CEOs. One of the most important elements of a successful company derives from the CEO’s creation of an environment of accountability.

Accountability is a two way street — the accountability of those from on high to those they serve and those served to those on high. Let me translate that: accountability goes up, down, and sideways.

Accountability? I’m confused, Big Red Car

OK, we have different levels of accountability:

 1. The bosses are accountable to the workers.

 2. The workers are accountable to the bosses for doing their jobs and accomplishing their objectives.

 3. Everyone is accountable to their peers.

 4. The CEO is uniquely accountable to the Board of Directors.

 5. The Board of Directors is accountable to the shareholders and the CEO.

One point that is essential — it takes a long time to develop an all-encompassing environment of accountability, but there are elements of it that should be in place from the beginning. Let’s break it down.

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04/16/19

Intellectual Testosterone

Big Red Car here after a trip to Lexington, Virginia for the Business Leadership and Innovation Summit at the Virginia Military Institute. I love a road trip and this was a good one.

Road trips give me a great chance to reflect on thorny issues without the press of other matters distracting me.

Today, I write to propose the addition of a bit of intellectual testosterone to our diets. Here is a world figure debating the wheat crop; with a trice of toadies on a warm day.

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