07/27/18

GDP Growth 4.1% – do not overreact

GDP, Big Red Car? Huh?

Big Red Car here on a lovely, warm Texas summer day – sun shining and headed to 101F. Ahhh, summer!

Something else which is hot is the economy. It is hot as evidenced by today’s GDP number which shows growth in excess of 4%. This is Q3 2018 (April, May, June 2018). US starts its fiscal year in October, but you knew that, right?

Couple this with low unemployment, high job growth, the beginning of real wage growth, increased capital spending, and some progress on the issue of trade and it is easy to see why the President was in the Rose Garden taking a victory lap.

When pressed to explain why growth has begun to accelerate, President Trump and his economic advisers pointed to reductions in regulations, the tax cuts, and the beginning of work on trade. They had a few other things, but those are the big ones.

The most important thing is that the White House is trying to create a fertile environment for growth. That is more important than many of the elements.

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07/22/18

Dealing With Despots – USA Russia Summit Meetings

Big Red Car in the ATX, which is headed to 105F today – it looks like 112F on Monday. Hello, Texas summer! It hit 102F yesterday.

So, the entire kerfuffle of Putin – a despot – meeting with our president got me interested in the history of US-Russia summits. Turns out there is a lot of history which is pertinent to the subject.

What is particularly interesting to me is the first such summits.

The players were Stalin, Nikita Krushchev, Vice President Nixon, President Eisenhower, and President Kennedy.

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07/15/18

Declassify Everything, End It Now

Declassify what, Big Red Car?

Big Red Car here on a sultry Texas Sunday. Ahh, on Earth as it is in Texas, y’all.

I am tired of the continuing saga of the FBI, the DOJ, the Trump admin, the Congress, and the Mueller investigation.

There is a way to end all of the pissing and moaning “most rickety tick” (this is an Army saying meaning right way.)

Everybody in Washington, DC knows it, but only the President can make it happen.

The solution is very simple – DECLASSIFY AND RELEASE EVERYTHING.

That is where we are now.

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07/13/18

Old Dogs, New Tricks

Big Red Car here after an extensive journey to Savannah, Charlotte, Charleston, Folly Beach, Savannah, and points in between. There is nothing like a good summer road trip, y’all. Ahhhh, the South in the summer time. The beaches. The sun. The food. There are few food cities as spectacular as Charleston.

This got me thinking about how using a bit of tech can teach an old dog a new trick.

As I was thinking about that, I stumbled on an experiment which was conducted by a couple of Chick-Fil-A owners using a devise called a “Kallpod.”

This application is in Uvalde on Interstate 10 on the way to West Texas.

I find Chick-Fil-A to be an interesting company. Private. Closed on Sundays. Strong fundamentals – blocking and tackling. Extraordinary quality and staffing and, now, experimenting with Kallpod.

Bottom line – using this device increased sales 500% at the #2 CFA in the US. That’s what got my attention. <<< I don’t believe the 500% sales increase number. Doesn’t sound possible.

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06/23/18

Missionary Work- a Dangerous Undertaking

Big Red Car here, the A/C crisis dealt with. Which brings me to the dangers of missionary work in the startup world.

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Historically, there have been drawbacks to being a missionary. If you fail to convert the audience, they may turn on you.

In the startup world, there are two areas, in particular, in which a founder/CEO/entrepreneur should resist the temptation to do missionary work – meaning attempting to fully convert the audience.

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06/23/18

Fox, Let’s Buy Fox?

Big Red Car here on a lovely, young Saturday morning waiting for the A/C guy and the plumber, which, of course, brings me to the issue of the Twentieth Century Fox feeding frenzy.

For those keeping score at home, Twentieth Century Fox is being pursued by a couple of companies to acquire it. Right now, Mickey Mouse is the anointed winner.

The potential acquirers were: The Disney Company and Comcast.

Image result for images of mickey mouse

My name is Mickey and I want to buy Twentieth Century Fox, y’all.

As I said, right now, Mickey is in the lead, but Fox can receive and consider new bids and new bidders.

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06/22/18

Twitter, Square and Jack Dorsey

Jack Dorsey is an American entrepreneur who co-founded Twitter and Square.

Sun is just coming up over Austin By God Texas, delivering on the promise of another spectacular sunny, summer masterpiece, y’all. On Earth as it is in Texas!

From time to time, there are those who have taken issue with Jack Dorsey’s dual roles as CEO of both Twitter and Square. Hard to believe, actually, but let’s take a look at the most important report card – RESULTS.

Image result for jack dorsey images

Name’s Jack, Jack Dorsey, and I co-founded Twitter and Square. Now, I’m the CEO of both of them. You have a problem with that?

[This is a guy named by 24/7 Wall Street in 2017 as one of the Worst CEOs in America, following on the heels of Fox News similarly picking him as the #4 Worst CEO of 2016. TechCrunch picked him as the Founder of the Year 2012. More importantly, Forbes picked him as the World’s Most Eligible Bachelor 2013. Guy’s been on a roll!]

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06/21/18

China, Tariffs, Trade War

China, tariffs, trade war – hello, America!

Big Red Car here on a gloriously sunny Thursday contemplating recent developments in regard to China, tariffs, and a trade war.

China is a bad actor and has been for years. They have been stealing American technology – both from an espionage perspective and an industrial/commercial perspective – for half a century.

But, it is not just the “big stuff” like software, hardware and military gear.

If you are going to be the King of the Jungle, you have to act like a lion.

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