THE BRYCE IS RIGHT!: August 2021

Tuesday, August 31, 2021

DOG TREATS

BRYCE ON LIFE

- They may look good, but what are they made of?

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My mom has two miniature dachshunds whom she is very attached to. Like a lot of dog owners, she pampers them and frankly, I think they lead a very comfortable existence. It's a good gig. All they have to do is return her love and try not to soil the carpet too often. Other than that, she dotes on them as if they were her own children. They have comfortable beds to sleep in, plenty of toys and chew sticks to occupy their time, they can play in a fenced-in yard, and have homemade dinners prepared for their finicky tastes. I would probably sign up for such a program myself, but I fear my testicles would be sacrificed like the dogs did.

You may remember me talking about the German Shepherds we had when I was younger. Back then, all we fed them was some Purina Dog Chow mixed with a can of Ken-L Ration. Sometimes we would add a raw egg to give their coat a shine. If they were lucky they might get some leftover table scraps, but we were careful not to overindulge them. If they were really lucky, we would give them a Milk Bone which was one of the few treats available at the time. The dogs would have to earn the treat by performing some sort of trick, such as sitting up on their back paws, barking on command, or balancing the treat on their nose. They were quite good at entertaining us. However, this didn't hold up over the years, and today the dachshunds have turned the tables on my mom where she is now trained to give them treats on command.

The dachshunds don't eat Milk Bones either. The times have changed and I am amazed by the variety of dog treats available today. I guess Milk Bones are no longer considered acceptable for the discriminating tastes of dogs. Huh? There is now a wide selection of "softer" and more meatier treats. For example, there are treats shaped liked miniature porterhouse steaks (complete with bone), dog pepperoni sticks, bacon shaped strips, drumsticks, sausages, etc., all in a variety of flavors such as beef, cheese, bacon, and there is even one claiming a filet mignon taste. All very appetizing.

This got me thinking, how do we truly know these treats taste as they claim? In examining the ingredients of these products, I noticed most consist of such things as chicken by-product meal, liver, animal fat, and dried cheese product. I'm not sure how you produce a "filet mignon" flavor from this. I never liked liver, yet this seems to be one of the main ingredients and I suspect effects the taste. But how do we know, in fact, something tastes as they're advertised? The animals are certainly not going to tell us. So, there must be some poor slob out there actually taste-testing these products and giving their stamp of approval, but I don't think this is a job I would volunteer for.

It is my guess all these dog treats actually taste the same and are just stamped out to form different meaty shapes. I also believe the so-called "flavors" are designed to appeal more to the owners as opposed to the pets themselves. After all, I can't remember the last time a dog said to its owner, "Yea, pick me up a bag of the pepperoni sticks, and don't forget the nacho cheese."

Ah, the life of a dog.

First published: January 21, 2011

Keep the Faith!

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Tim Bryce is an author, freelance writer and the Managing Director of M&JB Investment Company (M&JB) of Palm Harbor, Florida and has over 40 years of experience in the management consulting field. He can be reached at timb1557@gmail.com

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Thursday, August 26, 2021

RECOGNIZING THE PETER PRINCIPLE

BRYCE ON MANAGEMENT

- "A man has got to know his limitations." - Dirty Harry

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The Peter Principle was introduced back in 1969 by Dr. Laurence J. Peter in his book of the same name. In a nutshell, the principle contends that in a hierarchical organization a person will rise to the level of their competency, and trouble arises if the person rises above it. Along with Parkinson's Law, it is one of the most well known principles in the world of management. Unfortunately, young people are unfamiliar with the concept which is perhaps why we are seeing more people lately rising above their level of competency.

So what are the earmarks of the Peter Principle? Actually, three indicators come to mind:

1. Project estimates and schedules are routinely missed. The person doesn't just miss assignments every now and then, but consistently misses them. This is indicative of the person's ability to see projects through to successful completion or manage by objectives. If he cannot, he either lacks the proper skills and training to perform the work, or simply doesn't care about being late or over budget.

2. The duties and responsibilities as defined in a job description are not being met. Again, this may be indicative of the lack of proper knowledge, skills and experience, or an attitude problem.

3. The person lacks the respect and confidence of the people working around him, not only his subordinates, but his superior and lateral relationships as well. Although this is difficult to quantify, it basically tells us, "Where there is smoke, there is fire." In other words, the person either has bad social skills, or his peers already know what he is capable and incapable of doing.

Aside from dealing with someone who is in over his head, the real challenge is to hire the right person for the right job, which is not quite as easy as it may sound. Human resource departments may have a battery of tests to verify a person's skills and general knowledge, but successful experience and attitudes are much harder to substantiate. Again, there are three areas to consider:

1. Ability to meet project estimates and schedules. This is difficult to demonstrate and management inevitably has to rely on the person's word for their performance. Then again, if the person had been using a Project Management system at his last job, he may have access to documentation which reflects his performance.

2. Understands the job he is applying for. This is where a lot of people get into trouble as they do not really grasp the significance of the job they are applying for, but like the title. Regretfully, people too often chase titles as opposed to jobs. To test his knowledge, ask the person to articulate the job description and how he would satisfy the requirements for it. Further, has he performed a comparable job like this before?

3. Respect of the people he worked with. Again, this is difficult to substantiate as people are more reluctant to give references these days in fear of possible litigation for giving a bad reference. Nonetheless, references should be scrutinized as closely as possible.

The one question that is commonly overlooked is, "Why do you want this job?" The answers might surprise you, e.g.; "I need a job", "I'm looking to advance myself and need a challenge," "I'm the right person for the job", etc. The one I particularly like is, "I want to make a difference," which indicates to me the person's confidence and ambition.

Hiring people without doing a thorough examination of the person's background is courting the Peter Principle.

Allowing people to stay in a position where they are in over their head is just plain irresponsible on management's part. It is a disservice not only to the company, but to the employee as well. When a person has risen above their level of competency, it will become obvious to others and may affect morale. Standard and routine performance appraisals should help overcome this problem, but if they are infrequently performed or done in an inconsistent manner, the Peter Principle will inevitably kick in. Management should either work with the person to get him back on track, or terminate his employment.

I guess what troubles me here is that people apply for jobs they knowingly are not qualified for, and remarkably, every now and then they slip through the cracks and get the job. In this event, management gets what they pay for.

First published: July 21, 2008

Keep the Faith!

P.S. - For a listing of my books, click HERE.

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Tuesday, August 24, 2021

FLORIDA'S PARENTS' BILL OF RIGHTS

BRYCE ON POLITICS

- If you are a parent, be sure to understand your rights.

Most of us have heard about a patient's Bill of Rights for medical care, but there is also a "parents'" Bill of Rights which is gaining in traction, yet few people know about it. For example, here in Florida, Governor Ron DeSantis recently signed into law the Parents’ Bill of Rights on June 29th, and made effective July 1st. The law enumerates the rights parents and legal guardians have to "direct the upbringing, education, health care, and mental health" of their child.

Florida joins a handful of states who have enacted similar legislation, including Arizona, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, Nevada, New York, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, and Wyoming. Although the verbiage is similar but not quite the same, these laws clearly reinforce the concept the authority of raising children belongs to the parents or legal guardians, not the state. For more information on this movement, see the web page, "Parental Rights."

In Florida's case, the law makes it clear education, health care, and morality/religious decisions rests with parents, not with the state, specifically school systems. In its present form, the Florida law is a good first attempt, but refinements will likely be forthcoming. For example, the rights of Foster Parents is not clear. Other states are working on this, Florida will likely follow suit. Also, there is nothing in the law allowing parents to follow what is going on in their child's classroom, such as an audio/video feed. Section 1-D on access to school records may do the trick, but this would likely be a stretch. Nevertheless, the law is now in place and parents should be made aware of its content. To this end, I am enclosing the Florida law below. You may want to print this for future reference:

FLORIDA SECTION 1014.04 - PARENTAL RIGHTS

All parental rights are reserved to the parent of a minor child in this state without obstruction or interference from the state, any of its political subdivisions, any other governmental entity, or any other institution, including, but not limited to, all of the following rights of a parent of a minor child in this state:

(a) The right to direct the education and care of his or her minor child.

(b) The right to direct the upbringing and the moral or religious training of his or her minor child.

(c) The right, pursuant to s. 1002.20(2)(b) and (6), to apply to enroll his or her minor child in a public school or, as an alternative to public education, a private school, including a religious school, a home education program, or other available options, as authorized by law.

(d) The right, pursuant to s. 1002.20(13), to access and review all school records relating to his or her minor child.

(e) The right to make health care decisions for his or her minor child, unless otherwise prohibited by law.

(f) The right to access and review all medical records of his or her minor child, unless prohibited by law or if the parent is the subject of an investigation of a crime committed against the minor child and a law enforcement agency or official requests that the information not be released.

(g) The right to consent in writing before a biometric scan of his or her minor child is made, shared, or stored.

(h) The right to consent in writing before any record of his or her minor child's blood or deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) is created, stored, or shared, except as required by general law or authorized pursuant to a court order.

(i) The right to consent in writing before the state or any of its political subdivisions makes a video or voice recording of his or her minor child unless such recording is made during or as part of a court proceeding or is made as part of a forensic interview in a criminal or Department of Children and Families investigation or is to be used solely for the following purposes:

A safety demonstration, including the maintenance of order and discipline in the common areas of a school or on student transportation vehicles;

A purpose related to a legitimate academic or extracurricular activity;

A purpose related to regular classroom instructions;

Security or surveillance of buildings or grounds; or

A photo identification card.

(j) The right to be notified promptly if an employee of the state, any of its political subdivisions, any other governmental entity, or any other institution suspects that a criminal offense has been committed against his or her minor child, unless the incident has first been reported to law enforcement or the Department of Children and Families and notifying the parent would impede the investigation.

This section does not:

(a) Authorize a parent of a minor child in this state to engage in conduct that is unlawful or to abuse or neglect his or her minor child in violation of general law;

(b) Condone, authorize, approve, or apply to a parental action or decision that would end life;

(c) Prohibit a court of competent jurisdiction, law enforcement officer, or employees of a government agency that is responsible for child welfare from acting in his or her official capacity within the reasonable and prudent scope of his or her authority; or

(d) Prohibit a court of competent jurisdiction from issuing an order that is otherwise permitted by law.

An employee of the state, any of its political subdivisions, or any other governmental entity who encourages or coerces, or attempts to encourage or coerce, a minor child to withhold information from his or her parent may be subject to disciplinary action.

A parent of a minor child in this state has inalienable rights that are more comprehensive than those listed in this section, unless such rights have been legally waived or terminated. This chapter does not prescribe all rights to a parent of a minor child in this state. Unless required by law, the rights of a parent of a minor child in this state may not be limited or denied. This chapter may not be construed to apply to a parental action or decision that would end life.

Obviously, this law does not sit well with those who believe the government should have more control over children as opposed to parents; e.g., those who believe face masks should be mandatory in the classroom.

Keep the Faith!

P.S. - For a listing of my books, click HERE.

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Thursday, August 19, 2021

BIDEN FIDDLED WHILE AMERICA BURNED

BRYCE ON POLITICS

- This is getting embarrassing.

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Two more significant snafus emerged from the Biden administration last week: begging to OPEC for gasoline, and the fall of Afghanistan. Both events have shaken the credibility of the administration in the eyes of not just the Republicans, but of the Democrats as well. It is like when the country heard the legendary call from Apollo 13, "Houston, we've had a problem here." Americans saw it the same way this past week, which has shaken our confidence in the president and the country overall.

First came President Biden's call to the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) to increase production in order to offset spiraling inflation in the United States. OPEC refused as they saw no reason to increase more oil than what they currently produce.

In response to the president's call, Texas Governor Greg Abbott, along with notable oil producers from his state, claimed Texas was ready and able to increase production provided the Biden administration "just stay out of the way," meaning lifting the operating burdens imposed by the president.

Keep in mind, these regulations were implemented as an attempt to reduce our dependency on fossil fuels and polluting our environment. This means the Biden administration believes the Middle East can do a more responsible job in this regard. Huh? Their policy also means he would rather take jobs away from Americans and transfer them to the OPEC countries. I guess the Biden administration wants the energy resources, but doesn't want to get their hands dirty.

Over the last few years, we finally achieved energy independence and was actually selling gas and oil to other countries, but this all came to a screeching halt this year. By being independent, it was no longer necessary to become immersed in Middle Eastern entanglements as policemen, thereby saving American lives. By forcing Mid-East states to cooperate as opposed to depending on the United States also encourages peace treaties, such as those between Israel, the UAE, Bahrain, and the Sudan. Imagine; peace in the Middle East. Who-da-thunk-it.

Next we come to the fall of Afghanistan, which seemed to crumble at warp speed before our eyes, making the fall of Viet Nam look like an orderly fire drill. I have veteran friends who feel disgraced by how the president handled the collapse. The scenes of people trying to flee the Kabul capital at the airport was reminiscent of the opening scene from the movie "Lost Horizon."

By abandoning Afghanistan, the president has created a Jihadist state. The Taliban released ISIS and Taliban fighters from Afghan jails who will naturally join their army. More than this, Afghanistan is now the go-to place for frustrated Middle East terrorists to re-group and start again.

Because there wasn't an exit strategy, the Taliban seized American munitions and equipment, such as a fleet of Blackhawk helicopters. They may not have anyone to fly them yet, but they can sell them to the highest bidder, such as China who would like to study their strengths and weaknesses.

The atrocities being performed by the Taliban, particularly to women and children, is offensive to everyone. Knowing this would likely happen, why wasn't there a plan to shelter the helpless?

In hindsight, I believe nation building is wrong for third world countries like Afghanistan. These are primitive people who have lived under autocratic rule for thousands of years. They simply couldn't handle the concept of living as a republic. No wonder the Afghan leaders fled the country.

Most likely, we will have to fight the Taliban again sometime down the road.

My veteran friends claim the fear now is that America is viewed as impotent militarily and politically. We no longer have the wherewithal to get things done. Further, such actions will encourage the Chinese to try something, such as taking over Taiwan.

The fact President Biden was resting in Camp David, while Afghanistan was savaged, did not sit well with the American people. Afterwards, when he finally spoke up, he claimed nothing was wrong and the chaos was to be expected. Even the News Media didn't buy this one.

Between illegal immigration, oil production, and Afghanistan, we look rather silly right now. As for President Biden, his credibility is shot, along with his ability to lead. Nobody in the international community will take him seriously, including Americans, there was simply too many missed queues along the way.

As my veteran friends say, these are dark days.

Keep the Faith!

P.S. - For a listing of my books, click HERE.

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Tuesday, August 17, 2021

WHAT'S NOT TO UNDERSTAND?

BRYCE ON POLITICS

- Why most Americans are clueless about Covid-19 and our southern border.

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I find it fascinating most Americans do not seem to grasp the correlation between the recent rise of the Covid-19 virus and our problem with illegal immigration. They simply cannot fathom one directly affects the other. To illustrate, despite the Biden Administration's attempts to cajole people to wear masks and take the vaccine, new cases have risen 86% across the United States, mostly driven by the new Delta variant. Keep in mind, the president has not just been encouraging people to use the vaccine, they are pushing strongly to mandate its use.

The surge in Covid-19 can be directly linked to the voluminous number of illegal immigrants crossing our border in the South. The number has gone up every month during the Biden presidency, with July peaking at 212,672 illegals. To date, over 1.3 million people have illegally crossed in 2021. Interestingly, they are not provided masks or vaccinations, yet they are shuttled across the country by bus or plane to states and communities throughout the country. If the Biden administration was truly interested in curbing the disease, you would think they would supply both before releasing them to the public. The fact of the matter is, they do not.

Allowing illegals is also likely to have a bearing on the spike in violent crime, something that is also surging.

So, the question is, why is the American public oblivious to this simple link between Covid-19 and illegal immigration? The answer is rather obvious, the News Media is shielding the president from any bad publicity. The media is no longer about honest journalism, but rather, acting as a political organ for the Democrats.

The main stream media's approach to news is costing them dearly. At CNN and MSNBC alone, their ratings are tanking, mostly because they no longer have Trump to kick around anymore. Instead, they attack Fox's Tucker Carlson (who has the #1 cable show).

There is more: a recent Gallup poll shows an erosion in trust for the media. For newspapers, only 21% of respondents said they had "a great deal" or "quite a lot" of confidence in newspapers. Television news was even lower, at 16%. Congress was at the bottom of the list at 12%. All of the institutions mentioned in the report had dropped in ratings since last year, except one, the Police which gained in stature to 51%.

This lack of trust in the News Media is caused by their false reporting, which has become apparent to the American populace and explains why they are clueless as to what is going on in this country. What I have mentioned herein is nothing new, but it should be startling to those who have been misled by the press.

Interestingly, the only way to save the Lame Stream Media is to have Donald Trump run for President in 2024. They will finally have something to talk about again; falsely of course, but as we all know, this doesn't matter to the media.

Keep the Faith!

P.S. - For a listing of my books, click HERE.

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Thursday, August 12, 2021

TIME TO CLEAN UP THE GOP

BRYCE ON POLITICS

- The Biden Infrastructure Bill tells us a lot.

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I am always surprised when Republican politicians act subserviently to the Democrats. Whether it is acquiescing to calling for investigations, such as the Russian Hoax and the January 6th hearings, or the abuse in investigating government officials, such as Justice Kavanaugh. I don't know why this is unless possibly the Democrats have a library of photos of Republicans in compromising positions to blackmail them. The Republicans constant kowtowing to the Democrats greatly discourages the faithful of the party.

To illustrate this further, consider President Biden's $3.5T Infrastructure Bill which recently passed the Senate. If you look at it closely, you can see the pork buried in the legislation.

As Republican Senator John Kennedy (LA) said recently (August 9, 2021), "Well, I can just share with you my perspective Laura. Early on, I was likely yes on this bill. I mean who’s not for infrastructure. I’m for children and prosperity, too. But then I got a copy of the bill and I realized pretty quickly that if you look up stupid stuff in the dictionary, there’s a picture of this bill. They told us it was a real infrastructure bill. It’s not. Only 23% of the bill is real infrastructure. The rest is Green New Deal and welfare. They told us the bill was paid for. It isn’t. We’re gonna have to borrow maybe up to $400 billion to pay for it. They told us there were no tax increases. There are. My state’s gonna have to pay 1.3 billion dollars in new taxes on our petrol chemical industry. They told us, as you pointed out, that the Democrats were really wary of this bill and if we passed this bill it would make it harder for them to pass their five trillion dollar tax and spending binge reconciliation bill. Well, if that’s true how come every Democrat voted for this infrastructure bill. And finally, they told us it’s not gonna add to inflation -- but it will."

Kennedy's remarks typifies the Republican perspective on the issue. Further, according to NPR, "Republicans who opposed the bill cited its cost and said plans to offset that were not robust enough. The Congressional Budget Office found last week that the legislation could add $256 billion to the deficit over 10 years."

Yet, in spite of all this, 18 Republican Senators helped pass the bill. Of these, four are up for re-election in 2022 and, as such, there should be an overt push to vote them out of office, including:

Sen. Kevin Cramer (ND) - normally considered a conservative, Cramer's vote was considered bewildering.

Sen. Deb Fischer (NE) - the same as Cramer.

Sen. Lisa Murkowski (AK) - a well known moderate, she is also one of seven Republican senators to vote to convict Donald Trump in his second impeachment trial. In turn, she was censured by the Alaska Republican Party.

Sen. Mitt Romney (UT) - perhaps the most recognized RINO of the party, Romney also voted to find Trump guilty in both impeachment hearings. He has also protested with Black Lives Matter. Make no mistake, the former 2012 GOP presidential candidate is a Democrat in sheep's clothing and should be censured by Utah Republicans.

Replacing these four Republican politicians with more qualified conservatives cannot help but produce better results as we approach the 2024 presidential election.

Among the other Republicans voting for the bill, but claim not be running again in 2022 include:

Sen. Roy Blunt (MO)

Sen. Richard Burr (NC)

Sen. Rob Portman (OH)

Sen. Chuck Grassley (IA) - has indicated he will decide to run early in 2022. He has been a US Senator since 1980; over 40 years. That's enough.

The remaining people on the list will not be up for re-election until 2024. These are the people who should be watched closely.

Sen. Shelley Capito (WV)

Sen. Mike Crapo (ID)

Sen. John Hoeven (ND)

Sen. Jim Risch (ID)

Sen. Thom Tillis (NC)

Sen Roger Wicker (MS)

Sen. William Cassidy (LA) - He was among the seven Republican senators to vote to convict Donald Trump in his second impeachment trial. Consequently, he was censured by the Republican Party of Louisiana. It is time for Cassidy to go.

Sen. Susan Collins (ME) - She is a well recognized RINO. She too was one of the seven Republican senators to vote to convict President Trump in his second impeachment trial. Collins is spineless.

Sen. Lindsey Graham (SC) - His vote to accept the infrastructure bill surprised a lot of people. He has been a US Senator since 2002 and has flipped-flopped depending on who is in office.

Sen. Mitch McConnell (KY) - He has been a US Senator since 1984; over 35 years. He was also Senate Majority Leader from 2015 to 2021. Republicans tend to see McConnell as a closet moderate. While he supported several of President Trump's policies, McConnell often butted heads with the president.

The Democrats have no problem keeping their people in line, but the GOP cannot claim the same. As such, these Republicans bear scrutiny as we approach 2024. I do not believe these politicians understand the angst they have created within the party and the tempest they have set off within the ranks of conservatives. We need leaders of integrity who will stand up to the Democrats and spend less time doing political tap-dancing. This is one reason why we need term limits for Congress.

Republicans used to be known for fiduciary responsibility, trying to live within our means, but the Biden Infrastructure Bill means returning to the era of "tax and spend." By voting for this bill, these few Republicans are accepting the fiscal policies of the Democrats. Because of this, it is time for them to go.

As President Trump recently wrote about the Infrastructure Bill (Aug. 11, 2021) - "It destroys our Borders and the rule of law by granting dangerous amnesty that will flood America’s beautiful cities. It will overwhelm our schools, and make our Nation less safe. It raises taxes like we have never seen, while also making many things you buy everyday more expensive (gas, groceries, and much more). And don’t forget the crazy Green New Deal. America, you are being robbed in the dark of night. It’s time to wake up!"

Before we ever hope to free the Capitol of Democrats such as Schumer and Pelosi, we have to first clean up our own house of milquetoast Republicans who simply want to play political games and not do what is best for the country. Thus the need to clean house.

Keep the Faith!

P.S. - For a listing of my books, click HERE.

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For Tim's columns, see: timbryce.com

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Tuesday, August 10, 2021

THE AGONY OF FORGETTING SOMETHING

BRYCE ON LIFE

- It's the little things that will drive you crazy.

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As I grow older I find I am starting to forget things in my daily walk through life. They're mostly small things, but they certainly get under my skin. For example, I keep a small notepad in the kitchen to record things I need to pick up at the supermarket; you know, milk, eggs, bread, etc. I dutifully take the list with me to the store. As I browse the aisles, I also keep my eyes open for other items I might need. In other words, I do not rush through the store. Nevertheless, no sooner as I get home and unload the groceries, I discover there are a couple of items I have somehow forgotten. This drives me bonkers and I inevitably return to the store afterwards to pick up the missing items. The ladies at the register in the checkout lines know me well and often kid me, "See you tomorrow," as I exit the first time.

Once I happened to forget my wallet, causing me to make a mad-dash home to get my billfold. Does this just happen to me or are others afflicted with this problem? I also have forgotten things at a hardware store, a favorite place for me to visit. I go there to get one item, become sidetracked by other things and totally forget the principal reason I went there, thereby forcing me to get back in my car and return. Oy!

In my case, I'm particularly confounded to forget something as my professional background was in the area of Information System design where I was intimate in building massive systems, involving thousands of pieces and parts, such as business processes, procedures, programs, modules, inputs, outputs, files, records, and data elements. To be successful in this field you can ill-afford to forget anything, regardless of its size.

I quickly learned if you forget something in systems or any other manufactured product, it will cost you dearly later down the road. Consequently we employed such techniques as architectural blueprints, Bill of Material Processing (BOMP), and Materials Resource Planning (MRP), all of which is used to record components and design decisions.

Today though, I worry about forgetting such simple things as a head of lettuce, laundry detergent, garbage bags, light bulbs, toiletries, napkins, and a variety of other things. As someone who was responsible for thousands of components, the thought of forgetting these mundane items is a source of madness.

To me, forgetting something at the store is on a par with losing your keys, garage door opener, the TV changer, or your phone, all of which can have an adverse effect on your personality. That simple nagging feeling you have forgotten something plays on your nerves. As you get older, it gets worse as you start to forget words, names, and birthdays. As an aside, women tend to remember birthdays and anniversaries better than men. In contrast, men can tell you the make, model and year of every car they've ever owned; women haven't a clue, nor could care less.

After many years of using state-of-the-art technology to track complexity, I am now left with nothing but a scratch pad and a lot of frustration. Maybe I should tie strings to my fingers to remind me. Then again, with my luck, I would cut off the circulation to my fingers causing nerve damage.

Again, is it only me who forgets such things?

Keep the Faith!

P.S. - For a listing of my books, click HERE.

Note: All trademarks both marked and unmarked belong to their respective companies.

For Tim's columns, see: timbryce.com

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Thursday, August 5, 2021

AMVETS #98 IN HOLIDAY RE-DEDICATES POST

BRYCE ON NONPROFITS

- Finally, a feel good story.

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Every now and then you run into a story that restores your faith in mankind. In today's world, we tend to be preoccupied by news of political backbiting, political correctness, lawlessness, and the lack of basic common courtesy. However, I recently attended a re-dedication ceremony for AMVETS Post 98 in Holiday, Florida on Saturday, July 24th, which renewed my belief in honest friendship and community spirit.

The American Veterans (AMVETS) is a nonprofit organization founded by World War II vets and open to those in all branches of the military with an honorable discharge (DD214). AMVETS have provided assistance, jobs, and services to veterans and their communities for more than 70 years.

Like a lot of nonprofits, the AMVET Post in Holiday suffered due to the Covid-19 epidemic, forcing the Post to curtail their programs and close the building. During this time, they put on a new roof, replaced the flooring, and painted a mural across the front of the Post. Because of the renovations and as a sign they were back open for business, they re-dedicated the building. The Post was originally founded in 1998 and is led today by John "Jack" Gerry as Commander, a very personable leader for the organization.

What I found refreshing about the Post was the camaraderie of the members and their dedication to the needs of the local community. In addition to being patriotic and good citizens, I found them to possess a genuine respect for the human spirit. This explains their strong sense of fraternity and their willingness to help others. There also appeared to be a spirit of harmony and cooperation less the petty politics one normally finds in a nonprofit.

The Post helps fellow veterans with wheel chairs, scooters and other economic assistance, thereby providing a support network. For their community, they regularly support Gulfside Elementary in Holiday, Hud Workers, Toys for Tots, Operation Storefront, multiple food drives, and during the holidays they feed families and provide gift cards. Their sense of volunteerism is truly admirable. More groups should emulate them.

U.S. Congressman Gus Bilirakis of Florida's 12th District was on hand to help with the re-dedication and made it clear veterans are his top priority. Because of the close proximity of AMVETS to the American Legion Post 1731 and the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 10167, all within a short walking distance of each other, Cong. Bilirakis wants to lead an effort to rename the street they are on, from "Bartelt Road" to "Heroes Way," which was met with great enthusiasm by those in attendance.

One of the highlights from the ceremony was the Post recognizing Mirinda Tanner of New Port Richey, the young artist who painted the mural on the front of the Post. "In the mural," she said, "I have included all of the branches of the military, including the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Coast Guard, and the new Space Force. I wanted to show this Post was a home for all branches of the military."

Mirinda was presented a recognition certificate along with $500 for her college tuition by Lenny Piskac of the Post. In the audience was her beaming family who was rightfully proud of her.

The Executive Director of the Florida Department of Veterans Affairs, James S. "Hammer" Hartsell, was also on hand to present a challenge coin to Korean War Veteran Jack Westlake for his many years of service. During his comments, he mentioned there are currently more than 1.5M veterans in Florida.

Following the official ceremony, the Post was open for food and dance. As an outsider, I found the friendship and community spirit most rewarding, and something we rarely see anymore. This is why I recommend membership in such nonprofits, to enjoy camaraderie and better their communities, if not at AMVETS 98, then elsewhere perhaps. The point is, if we want to promote moral values, now is the time to lead by example.

AMVETS Post 98 is located at: 4629 Bartelt Road, Holiday, FL 34690. Again, it is open to all honorably discharged veterans of all branches of the military, including the National Guard. For information, contact Debra Brooker, the Post's 1st Vice Commander at: deborahbrooker@yahoo.com or stop by the Post to pick up an application.

Also published by Senior Voice America - the leading newspaper for Active Mature Adults.

Color guard at opening of re-dedication service.	Cong. Gus Bilirakis (FL-12) helps with the re-dedication; "Veterans are my priority."
Mirinda Tanner is thanked by Lenny Piskac for her mural painting on the front of the Post.	Mirinda Tanner in front of her mural.

Keep the Faith!

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Tuesday, August 3, 2021

WHY TRUMP MUST RUN AGAIN

BRYCE ON POLITICS

- The fight is far from over.

Click for AUDIO VERSION.

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The state of California represents a microcosm of the utopian world Democrats envision for the United States. It is essentially a two class society featuring the elites and working class. The middle class is fleeing the state in droves and taking their money with them, representing the economic engine businesses and government depend on to operate. Consequently, the cost of living has skyrocketed, the state is in debt, taxes are on the rise, and the government is enacting more rules and regulations routinely thereby choking the lives of the citizens and businesses remaining there. Even if you decide to leave the state, your assets come under the scrutiny of the state's Office of Tax Appeals (OTA). Not surprising therefore, California is dependent on federal subsidies to help bail them out, something all American taxpayers must pay for. The California experiment may be applauded by Democrats, but everyone else sees it as a cesspool.

California has also embraced the concept of de-funding police departments and "catch-and-release" of criminals, meaning crime is rising dramatically, thereby deterring tourism and the safety of the citizenry. In other words, the state is no longer a fun place to visit and can actually be quite risky.

Bankruptcies are also up in the "Golden State," and state government workers have a mandate to wear masks and take Covid-19 vaccinations (as does the federal government). No wonder Californians are fleeing to Republican states such as Texas and Florida. In all likelihood, all Democrat-led states will follow California's model, particularly Illinois, Michigan, Massachusetts, New Jersey and New York.

Not surprising, Americans are hopelessly divided over the state of the Union. Recent polls indicate the country is heading in the wrong direction and President Biding's ratings keep sagging.

So Republicans are wondering who will stand up to the Democrats in the 2024 presidential election. Even though President Trump is the early favorite, having easily won two CPAC straw polls, some Republicans, particularly moderate RINOs are concerned with his electability. Again, we hear the lament, "He doesn't act presidential." Maybe, but if the former president has taught us anything, he knows how to get things done, such as securing the border, curbing unemployment, producing a robust economy, energy independence, facing down our international competition, our Jerusalem embassy, producing the Covid-19 vaccine, and much more.

The only other possible candidates as of today are Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem, both good people but lack the skill to do battle with the Loony-Left, although both are learning. Frankly, what is needed is a war-time president who knows how to do battle with the Democrats. That only leaves Donald Trump, as the one person who knows how to fight back. The Democrats already know this, and explains why they continue to attack him savagely even though he is out of office. For example, the histrionics of the Democrats' January 6th Committee is carefully choreographed and designed to bring shame on President Trump. The point is, the American public has already made up their mind on the subject and either approve or reject what is said by this committee. Basically, this is a colossal waste of time and intended to deflect criticism of Democrats as we approach the 2022 Congressional elections.

Trump alone stands in the way of the Democrats' agenda to realize their utopian world, which is why they will say and do anything, whether it is legal or not, to keep him from returning to power.

As a businessman, President Trump learned a long time ago you do not run from a fight, particularly if you are right. Failure to do so is an admission of guilt. This is why he makes the most foreboding candidate to take down the Democrat machine. Governors DeSantis and Noem understand the problem, but may not be ready for the fight quite yet.

As an outsider, Trump doesn't particularly care what politicians think of him, including members of his own party. He is more interested in the American people and results, including securing our government for future generations. While Democrats will try to portray him as an evil demigod, Mr. Trump will wear his two impeachments as a red badge of courage which will actually serve as an asset as opposed to a liability in the next election.

What we have to understand is that the 2024 presidential election will be the most costly and bloodthirsty in our history. The Democrats and their minions, the News Media, will see to that. To Independents and Republicans, including RINOs, you have to ask yourself, are you satisfied with how the Democrats are running the government? If not, who possesses the chutzpah to wrestle the government away from the Democrats before we go the way of California?

Forget personalities for a moment; ask yourself, who will get the job done?

Only one name comes to my mind; Donald Trump.

Keep the Faith!

P.S. - For a listing of my books, click HERE.

Note: All trademarks both marked and unmarked belong to their respective companies.

For Tim's columns, see: timbryce.com

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THE BRYCE IS RIGHT!

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WHY TRUMP MUST RUN AGAIN

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