Bears repeating: Where does an 800 pounds Bengal tiger sleep? Anywhere it wants to! This is a comment on the mighty economic sledgehammer that is the U.S. economy. And the entire faux tariffs warfare waged by the E.U. and essentially all rest of the word.
But for the massive value of all things traded—gained, given away, over-valued, de-valued—the whole affair would be amusing. Did anybody in the world—setting China aside for a moment—truly expect serious bargaining with the U.S.? How gracious was Trump to allow a bit of time (precious little) for self-serving consideration to the massive “win-win” outcome.
That is comment on the temporary (we hope and pray) failure as relates to Russia. Back to the ongoing global naiveté: negotiating with Putin. Really, people? Consider the Russian playbook and its utter disregard for human serving, face-saving protests by many, with the E.U. leading that parade? Give honest lives. Again, the dipsomatic Stalin murdered tens of millions of his people in the name of his beloved Rodina (Mother Russia). And now, Putin.
Could chocking off his war-funding-machine-money-spigot, energy exports, with our sanctions on Russia and its main trading partners motivate Putin to abandon his megalomania. A starving Russian population is not far in the rearview mirror.
China, India, Turkey, Hungary, Slovakia and Brazil are the notables who continue to buy energy from Russia. Will the time come when Trump will levy another 500% tariffs on them lest they stop! Can you spell economic suicide?
Yes, yes. China is another kettle of fish. After all, China is the best “long-game” player in history, with a penchant for making massive investments in human lives in that game.
- The evident mental crisis paradigm continues unabated in the U.S’. incomprehensibly permissive society. A balance must be stricken between avoiding a Soviet-style society of mutual suspicion, where people denounce each other to curry favor, and ensuring that serious mental health threats are not left unchecked. Somebody please point this humble scribe to that Rubicon.
- Last year, your humble scribe, Steven J. Manning, gave away all his Harvard gear to the homeless on the streets of Los Angeles. There are over two times as many of those pathetic souls on our streets than the city and county governments assert. I have that on absolute authority. Just think: those incredibly unfortunate people are not deemed sufficiently relevant to even count or acknowledge, much less be helped in imperative ways. Shame on all of us.
Back to Harvard. I dropped of a large pile of Harvard tee-shirts, shorts and sweats at several “homeless encampments.” That was the alternative to a large bond-fire, midday in Harvard Yard. My lawyers insisted that would not be socially acceptable nor legal. Something insipid about arson… Since I cannot get back the money I spent there, that was going to be my protest against the steadfastly antisemite, anti-Israel, morally bankrupt Harvard. Always has been. Remains so today, although Trump is wielding our massive checkbook at them. Some motivation to withhold a few billion dollars in grants. Or make them pay a fine. $500 Million I hear… They have $53 billion in the bank!
Just when I thought it might be safe to dip my toes in the water—forgive the obtuse reference to Bruce, Steven Spielberg’s shark in JAWS—in July, Harvard hired a drag performer as a visiting professor in its Studies of Women, Gender and Sexuality program: Kareem Khubchandani, PhD (aka LaWhore Vagistan). He is self-described as “everyone’s favorite desi drag queen aunty.”
In his courses, Queer Ethnography and RuPaulitics (Drag, Race, and Desire), he examines “gender and sexual dissidents” in spaces like gay neighborhoods, trans raves, sex work, lesbian parties, BDSM dungeons, drag performance, and AIDS activism. The courses he will be teaching, “blend fieldwork with performance to study how queer communities build resilience.” I cannot make this up…
Time for me to go back to Harvard, is it not?
- There are over 110 active military conflicts raging in the world. Arguably, there are 193 recognized sovereign countries in the world. You do the math.
Oh… 110 not including the nightmare scenario of potential such conflict between China and the U.S. Now, if there is anything worth praying on—against— that would be top of list.
- 28% of the globe is plagued if not paralyzed by [we hope and pray] short-term risks tied to inflation, trade wars, and post-pandemic recovery failures. Fueling populism, corruption, debt crises. And vertiginously growing classes of victocrats all over the world. That would be people who exploit a victim mentality for personal, political or financial gain. Shame on them and the “nanny-governments” that coddle them.
- Dozens of countries around the world have public debt exceeding their GDP! Among the “biggies:” Japan, Italy, United States, France, Canada, Portugal…
You suppose you, an individual, could pull that off?
- Waiting with great anticipation and little hope for lasting peace in the Middle East.
Dishonorable mention goes to the morally destitute, cowardly, unholy cabal of Keir Starmer, Emmanuel Macron, Anthony Albanese and Mark Carney. On July 26, those gutless “leaders” reaffirmed their support for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Well done, people: you are rewarding the blood-letting Hamas for the Holocaust they perpetrated on October 7, 2023. I, Manning, stand corrected: that makes you morally bankrupt not destitute. And remarkably gutless.
First, how many times has Israel proposed such solutions just to be rejected by the PLO and the Palestinian Authority, the hapless, purported “leaders” of the Palestinian territories. No matter. With a 90% rate of support, Hamas became both the de facto and de juris leadership in the territories. Hey Keir, Emmanuel, Tony and Mark: give a read to the Hamas charter. Let me know if there is anything there that even remotely smacks of peaceful coexistence with Israel.
Rather, they HARD-CODED the annihilation of all Jews and the destruction of the State of Israel. Specifically, killing all Jews and wiping Israel off the face of the earth. Now, you pathetic leaders, go and negotiate!
You are indeed cowardly and pathetic. How far are you all willing to go to appease your respective blood-thirsty, antisemitic and anti-Israel fringes in your respective countries? Does your fear go so deep as to achieve moral bankruptcy? As does your narcissism and political ambitions.
Words to the wise: buy a mirror into your soul. Then share that with your children.
- A friend just booked a direct flight from India to China at the end of the month! It has been five years since the last time that was possible. How cool is that? Of course, THAT world might change multiple times in the next three weeks. There are some really pesky issues that in my humble opinion, will not resolve in my lifetime. Hmmmm. Particularly if Trump beats India into submission with 100% – 200% – 500% tariffs.
- In a heartwarming moment that touched everyone’s hearts, a class of 4th grade children in the U.S. came together to surprise their favorite cleaning lady with a special gift. Known for her kindness, warm smile, and tireless dedication, she had quietly become a beloved part of their daily school life. The students, guided by love and gratitude, decided to show her how much she meant to them. With handmade cards, small thoughtful gifts, and a table full of surprises, the children created a memory she would never forget.
They didn’t gift her expensive items—what they gave her was something far more valuable: love, recognition, and respect. The classroom, filled with laughter and emotion, stood as a reminder that kindness can come from the youngest hearts, and those who work behind the scenes deserve to be seen, celebrated, and cherished.
Perhaps not all is lost. That “little” story brought tears to the eyes of this “though-guy.”
- Seriously cool! There has not been one cancellation of a subscription to MONDAY INFLUENCER® since it was launched. Allow me to boast some… We must indeed be dispensing truly valuable insights and strategies for success in business, career and life.
Thank you for reading and listening. And for your kind indulgence.