Flash Editorials October 7, 2011

By Russell D. Longcore

Business: One of the most creative people in human history died this week at too-young 56. Steve Jobs, founder of Apple Computers, CEO of Pixar Animation Studios, and Disney’s largest shareholder, died of pancreatic cancer. While corporate CEOs are universally reviled, Jobs was America’s favorite CEO. His life’s work products changed the worlds of communication, computing, animation and film. But who knew that he was a practical theologian too? Here is what he said to the graduating class at Stanford in 2005:

“No one wants to die. Even people who want to go to heaven don’t want to die to get there. And yet death is the destination we all share. No one has ever escaped it. And that is as it should be, because Death is very likely the single best invention of Life. It is Life’s change agent. It clears out the old to make way for the new. Right now the new is you, but someday not too long from now, you will gradually become the old and be cleared away. Sorry to be so dramatic, but it is quite true.

Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma – which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of other’s opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.”

International: There are widespread rumors that Germany’s government is already printing Deutschmarks, and will be prepared to leave the Eurozone and return to national sovereignty with the Deutschmark as the national currency. The German economy cannot be expected to continue propping up the European Community, the Euro and bailing out Euro banks. But even if it’s true, remember that they will be trading one fiat currency for another.

International II: Washington is picking a fight with Pakistan. But Pakistan has a very seasoned military…and they have nuclear weapons. Does DC really think that China and Russia are going to stand by and let the US keep messing with one of their allies? Ten years of the American military getting its ass kicked by peasants with AK47s is not enough for Washington. Now they take on the Pashtun tribe…all 40 million of them. DC, you don’t have enough drones.

The Nation: By Thursday evening’s news broadcasts, Herman Cain had tied Mitt Romney in a CBS poll at the top of the herd of Republican presidential candidates. His 9/9/9 plan for economic change is still stupid and has no chance to be enacted. Polls like this, at this point in the race, are only good for fundraising and have no basis in reality. Remember at this point in the last presidential election cycle, Former Senator Fred Thompson was in the lead. How did that turn out?

The Nation II: The House of Representatives is taking up legislation to punish China for protecting its own money against the Dollar. Let’s see…the debtor presumes to lecture the lender on money management. All China has to do to put DC in its place is sell off a few Treasury bonds…or even better, stop buying Treasuries…and DC panties will wad up. China is eventually going to lose patience with DC, and DC doesn’t seem to understand the Eastern tradition of “saving face.”

Religion: A spokesman for the Westboro Baptist Church used an iPhone to twitter a message that church members would picket Steve Jobs’ funeral. Said the spokesman, “He had a huge platform; gave God no glory & taught sin.” God help me I love irony mixed with hypocrisy.

Economy: Sorry, folks. In the last SEVEN DAYS, 401,000 adults filed new unemployment claims. When you see this number below 100,000, you can BEGIN to believe that the economy is improving.

Sports: ESPN…ABC’s sports feed…has been using Hank Williams Jr.’s “Are Your Ready For Some Football?” on Monday Night Football for 20 years. But no more. This week, ol’ Hank compared the president golfing with House Speaker John Boehner “like Hitler playing golf with Benjamin Netanyahu,” (Israel’s PM). Even has-been country stars should know that when you front for ABC/ESPN, you should mind your manners. See ya, Hank.

Entertainment: See Business above. Steve Jobs began with “Toy Story,” most recently Cars 2.” Thirteen animated films, each better than the last.

DumpDC. Six Letters That Can Change History.

© Copyright 2011, Russell D. Longcore. Permission to reprint in whole or in part is gladly granted, provided full credit is given.