CTOADS® is a collaborative, non-linear journal—a unique interactive social and political discourse platform that I architected some years ago. Regrettably, it was a decade ahead of its time…
The “dirty wall?” That would be our world!
It is vast yet intimate, complex yet traceable, ancient yet immediate, often regressive, sometimes compellingly timely, and occasionally progressive. It is resilient but not invulnerable, abundant but not equitable, knowable yet never fully known—where signals of things to come is seldom subtle. Noise is loud, outcomes judge intentions—the good, the bad and the ugly.
The world is finite, interdependent, and unforgiving of illusion. Wisdom is often a conveniently ignored nuisance, rather than a catalyst for clear perception and disciplined action.
“CLEAN THOUGHTS?” FINGER ON THE PULSE presents observations stripped of philosophy and sentiment. Hard-edged pragmatism delivered with cynicism, alarm, and occasional amusement. Cultural sensitivity is neither sought nor spared; some entries land with deliberate, acute displeasure.
With that, some “CLEAN THOUGHTS…” in no particular order.
Greenland ….
Devoting far too many key-strokes to Greenland. Come now, Mr. President and Europe’s idiotic, incompetent, situationally ethical and intellectually castrated leaders. The Greenland theater is a choreographed farce in which the United States counts leverage, Norway counts relevance, the EU counts process, Canada is irrelevant, and Greenland counts nothing at all. Because in great-power politics, ice does not vote, sentiment does not matter, and geography always collects the rent.
A farce indeed: replete with exaggeration, absurdity, implausibility, and even ridicule. Do the math on Greenland:
– the biggest island in the world
– approximately 80% covered by ice
– population: 57,000
– average annual family income: $58,500
– the biggest military base in the U.S. : Fort Bragg, NC
– approximately 57,000 military live in Fort Bragg
– average annual income for those 57,000 military—skewing very young: approximately $57,500 (more for families) + housing
Hello, the new Fort Bragg in Greenland. Problem solved. Everyone happy.
ICE and the rest……
A nasty storm—imperfect in every respect. An unholy convergence of process elevated over outcome, with Neville Roy Singham’s and the Soros boys’ millions serving as accelerant, capped by a remarkable public-relations failure on the part of the administration. Two Manning-isms apply. One can be one hundred percent accurate and still be entirely wrong. And a word to the wise: our world can perish in the flames generated by the heat of its own passions.
James Carville—when he was relevant and quoted as such, unlike his present idiocies—said: “It is the economy, stupid.” The question is: is anybody “on the streets” listening, much less aware?
– GDP, Q4 growth projected at 4.25%
– inflation is at 2.7%—albeit “sticky” in food, housing, and energy, unacceptable in healthcare
– major crime the lowest since 1900
– wage increases are [finally] surpassing inflation
– unemployment at 4.4% while massive reduction in federal employees
– U. S. stock market at all-time high – 68% of us are directly invested in the stock market; many more indirectly
On balance, not so bad.
War in Ukraine …..
Wars run on money. Putin’s war runs on money from gas and oil sold principally to Germany and a few other lesser European players. Ending the war? When Trump “tariffs” Germany so that when sold in the US, a German compact is over $140,000, German sausages are $50 per pound, and small bottle of low-dose Bayer Aspirin is $25, Putin’s gas and oil cash machine will be choked.
Gaza and ……
Israel also announced the reopening of the Rafah crossing with Egypt after a prolonged closure. I fear that a unilateral gesture, very Shakespearean. Much ado about nothing. The fate of the Palestinians continues to be held in the reluctant hands of the militarized strongman of Egypt, Abdel Fattah El-Sisi.
Japan Forms Social Media Protection Panel for Youth …..
This is a big deal. They aim to protect children and adolescents from the harmful effects of social media. It is about mental health, exploitation, addiction, and social wellbeing. Bravo to Japan, joining a small cohort of others—and many more who merely pay lip service.
Words to the wise, a Manning-ism: Social media is a cancer of the intellect. It fosters superficiality, misinformation, and group-think, eroding intellectual rigor.
Major Breakthrough in Pancreatic Cancer Treatment ….
Scientists in Spain have reported a potentially transformative therapy that completely eliminated aggressive pancreatic tumors in laboratory models without relapse after treatment. Pancreatic cancer has long been among the deadliest cancers with limited effective therapies, so this advance — still early and pre-clinical — has sparked global attention across medical research communities.
This development is now on my calendar for frequent follow-ups. A really big deal!
AI governance, agentic AI, spatial computing, and quantum technologies ….
Some uber-tech-talk there. But, you get this.
A small set of governments, technology platforms, and defense-industrial actors are translating AI governance, autonomous AI systems, spatial computing, and quantum technologies from research into operating infrastructure—thereby redefining how value is created, power is secured, and society is organized. This is not the future; it is happening now—and it has profound implications for market structure, security boundaries, and social order.
The major players, in consort and independent of each other, and entirely not altruistic are: USA, China, EU, UK, Japan and Israel. Be wary of alliances: unnatural partnerships forged without shared values.
Taylor Swift ….
Tone of the most economically powered figures in entertainment. She changed the balance of power between artists and the music industry. The most sought-after influencer in the western world. She converts cultural sway into economic shockwaves—no one does it better. 10 million people attended her last concert tour. Dropped $2.2 billion…
Mr. Beast (Jimmy Donaldson) ….
He has hit 95 billion (95 BILLION) YouTube views. From 490 million (490 MILLION) subscribers. Mr. Beast is not merely a content creator. He is an operations architect who turns attention into infrastructure, generosity into brand power, and algorithms into predictable advantage. Have you looked at his work? Much of it lives firmly in the “Oh, baby” category.
More soon…
Thanks for reading and listening.