IT IF WALKS LIKE A WAR AND TALKS LIKE A WAR We're at war. At least I think so. Check out this paragraph from the AP:
In the last week alone, Israel has killed a senior Hamas militant in an airstrike in Beirut, Hezbollah has struck a sensitive Israeli base with rockets, the United States has killed a militia commander in Baghdad and Iran-backed rebels in Yemen have traded fire with the U.S. Navy.
Sure seems war-ish to me. Israel has also killed a high level Hezbollah commander in Lebanon as well. The article gives a deeper dive into all the players in the region and suggests that we are headed for a larger conflagration that brings in Lebanon, Yemen and Iran. We shall see but shall discuss it today. This column digs into the background on why October 7th happened when it did. From that column:
Indeed, the background to the war is the Iranian desire to exact revenge on Israel. To retaliate with great force and in the most painful way. But the Iranians do not act out of an instinct for vengeance. Therefore, the Simchat Torah massacre cannot be understood only in terms of revenge. The war was driven by a strategic Iranian objective: to orchestrate a regional explosion that would destroy, once and for all, American and Israeli attempts to forge anti-Iranian coalitions and alliances with Saudi Arabia and other Sunni nations. Another “round” or another Israeli operation in Gaza would not be sufficient for this purpose. Israel had to be dragged into a war, and preferably a multifront one. However, Iranians were cognizant that this conflict must not spiral into an uncontrollable detonation. The strike on Israel was intended to be excruciating enough to lead to the occupation of Gaza, as well as escalation along other borders, but not to trigger Israel into behaving irrationally and taking action that would not be able to be contained regionally.
So even if you don't care about Israel you should care that we are at war.
ANOTHER GEN Z ALERT I'm sure some of you are wondering why I care so much about the youngest generation in the workforce, or maybe you think I just love trashing the younger folks. The answer to the first part is that these people are going to be running my nursing home, and the second part couldn't be further from the truth. We need to recognize that we broke these people so we can make sure the NEXT generation is raised better (although Gen Alpha is not exactly blazing a trail either). Now we have a study of the corporate world with some SHOCKING results in my opinion. From Fox News:
In a Dec. 2023 study, the New Jersey-based research group Intelligent surveyed 800 U.S. managers, directors and executives who are involved in hiring. The respondents reported that Gen Z candidates struggle to pick up professional cues, causing 39% of employers to favor hiring older candidates. About 60% of employers said they are willing to offer more benefits and pay higher salaries to attract older workers rather than recent grads.
...
More than half of employers surveyed said Gen Z candidates struggle the most with eye contact during interviews. Candidates in this age group also ask for unreasonable salaries and have dressed inappropriately for in-person interviews, according to about half of the study respondents. Even virtual interviews have posed issues, with 21% of employers reporting that some candidates refuse to turn on their cameras for the interview. Nearly 20% of employers said they've even had a recent college grad bring a parent to an interview.
Holy cow, you guys. I haven't even gotten to the part where they can't manage their workload or even show up on time. But I like the way Fox News approached this by finding someone to talk about the upside of Gen Z with this:
The HR expert also encouraged employers to keep an open mind while hiring.
"Employers cannot reasonably expect the newer generation, with access to new technologies and information sources, to do things the way we have always done them," she said. Gen Z candidates bring many valuable skills and perspectives to the workforce, Norfus pointed out. "We regularly come across many Gen Z candidates who have owned their own businesses before finishing high school, have incredible analytics abilities, and know how to leverage technology to more efficiently get work done," she said.
It's a whole new world for these kids, but maybe some perspective from my listeners on what career progression looks like may help so I'll enlist your help.
COULD COLORADO REPUBLICANS LOSE SAFE CONGRESSIONAL SEATS? We all know the party is a hot mess that can't raise any money and spends too much time attacking Republicans rather than Democrats. Jon Caldara writes about that here. Now with the carpet bagging of Lauren Boebert into a crowded primary field in the 4th Congressional district and the announcement by Doug Lamborn that he isn't seeking re election in the 5th, we've got a couple of wild cards to pay attention to. Businessman Jeff Hurd, who was primarying Boebert until she jumped ship, has a new opponent in noted Trumpet Ron Hanks, who is still running on a platform of a stolen election I'm assuming, as he's a one trick pony and that pony is sucking up to Trump. The Democrat in that race has raised over $7 MILLION, I'm guessing most of which is from out of state but that is going to be a big war chest. So who is going to run for Lamborn's seat? This column breaks down the players, but the one that sticks out to me is David Williams, the current Trumpet head of the Colorado GOP. He can't raise money for the party but he's going to raise money for a campaign? We could conceivably split the primary vote among reasonable and decent Republicans and nominate three of the most toxic Republicans I've ever seen. Sigh. I'm talking with former State Senator Greg Brophy about it today at 1:30.
DO PEOPLE STILL BELIEVE THE MOON LANDING WAS FAKE? Because we're going back and other countries are landing there now. Two new missions are headed to the moon to see if we can set up a viable delivery system, which is the first things we've got to do if we're going to have any sort of outpost on the moon at any point. Read more here, but if you don't believe the moon landing is real you're going to be even easier to make fun of now.
WHAT'S COMING IN THE UPCOMING SESSION? This article paints a rosy picture of Democrats and Republicans working together to solve some of our thorniest issues, from construction defect laws that could spur condo building again to laws making it easier to have an Accessory Dwelling Unit on your property. I've got Minority Leader Rose Puglise at 2:30 to discuss. Read more here, but then watch this take by Complete Colorado's Sherrie Peif:
ONE THING THAT WON'T BE HAPPENING THIS SESSION Is the use of a secret balloting system called a quadratic voting system used by Democrats to set legislative priorities. A judge has found it to be a CLEAR violation of Open Meetings laws (which it CLEARLY is) so it's out. The judge had this to say:
“Simply put, ranking a bill and emphasizing the importance of a bill evidences that legislator’s mental impressions, including strategic considerations, trading relationships, and sympathetic ideologies with other legislators,” the ruling says. “These considerations may conflict or be consonant with a position that the legislator has taken with his or her constituents. The public has the right to know.”
They are going to have to do this the old fashioned way, which is hear the bills that are put forth and argue about it publicly.
BUT BUSINESS IS GEARING UP FOR MORE REGULATIONS Because Democrats hate business and they are fully in control here. Read this for what may be coming.
LAUREN BOEBERT IS BACK IN THE NEWS But not in a good way. There was some sort of incident with her ex husband at a Silt restaurant and the police were called. Read more here.
HEY LOOK, A WOLF HAS ALREADY BEEN SPOTTED And he doesn't seem the least bit concerned about the human taking photos of him. He sure is pretty, but then again, he's not eating my livestock. The wolf was spotted relatively close to civilization, which is unnerving. I can't wait until he eats someone's pet. JK, I don't want that to happen but it probably will.
SOME VERY COOL SCIENTIFIC STUDY IS HAPPENING AROUND POT And this is good news because we need to know EXACTLY what the ramifications of pot and CBD use really are. Some of the results seem to indicate good things around THC, some not so good. The biggest shocker for me was that CBD in pregnant mice seems to create diabetes in their offspring. If you're pregnant, you probably want to forego anything that isn't just food and hydration. Just saying.
TRUE SCHOOL CHOICE WOULD END THE BATTLES IN EDUCATION Because parents would be able to choose schools for their children that align with their values. This column explains.
WANT TO SKATE ON COLORADO'S LARGEST ZAMBONI GROOMED LAKE? I can't ice skate very well but I've always had the notion that I'd love to skate across a frozen pond someday. Then I realized that frozen ponds are super bumpy and as I'm not a very good skater this seemed like a recipe for disaster. Now I know I can head to Evergreen soon to skate across a well groomed lake.
DRY JANUARY IS GOOD FOR YOUR HEALTH As most participants saw an improvement in their sleep, while some lost weight, and some even saw improvements in their skin. Read it here.
THE WORLD IS MORE OPTIMISTIC THIS YEAR When it comes to whether or not they will have a better year this year than last year, but the rest of the survey isn't all sunshine and roses.
THE GOLDEN GLOBES WERE LAST NIGHT And a bunch of people I don't know from a bunch of shows and movies I've not seen won some stuff you can read here.
WHAT DO YOU CALL YOUR INLAWS? this is kind of funny and kind of sad that she can't figure this out. Watch below or click here.
AARON RODGERS IS AN INSPO At least to the Jets.
THE COLORADO BLACK LICENSE PLATE HAS TAKEN OVER Proving sometimes simplicity wins. Read about it's dominance here.
THIS BEATS THE HECK OUT OF "WHERE DO YOU WANT TO EAT?" Watch below or click here and I'm so doing this.
THIS WOULD YOU RATHER IS INTRIGUING For a totally hypothetical question that will never happen that is. Watch below or click here.
A FLASH MOB FROM A GALAXY FAR FAR AWAY Watch below or click here.
MARK CUBAN IS PAYING OUT $35 MILLION IN BONUSES To the employees of the Dallas Mavericks. They are basing it on how long people have worked for the Mavs and some other metrics, but this could be quite the windfall for lower level employees. Good for him.