Paul Allen And Steve Jobs – Both Left Us Early!

Paul Allen, co-founder of Microsoft died yesterday, Oct. 15, 2018.

His untimely death reminded me of Steve Jobs, co-founder of Microsoft who died Oct. 5, 2011.

Allen co-founder Microsoft in 1975 and Jobs co-founded Apple in 1976. 

Allen was 65 and Jobs was just 56 at time of death.

Both were pioneers in the IT Revolution.

Both died of cancer.

Both dropped out of college.

Both accumulated $20B of wealth in today’s money.

Both own(ed) 2 sports teams (Jobs posthumously)

Both were huge philanthropists in terms of what they left the world: money in Allen’s case and many innovations in Job’s.

Both have been in Time’s 100 Most Influential People.

Both died an early death–sadly too young!

(Source Graphic: Andy Blumenthal)

Blood Libels Unabated

Please see my new article in The Times of Israel, called “The Jews Control It.”

Unfortunately, the anti-Semites continue their refrain of “The Jews control the world” from Wall Street to Main Street to K Street.

But what they are completely missing are the true secrets of Jewish creativity and thought.

I hope you will read the article to learn about Jewish values and our faith. 😉

(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Three Legs of Quality of Life

So this is something that I am learning. 

Quality of life means perspective and balance. 

When people go to the extreme and focus all their energies on any one area almost to the exclusivity of the others in their life, it usually means they are going wrong. 

Some people are “party animals”–life is all about their fun, enjoyment, experiences (and even excessive partying, sleeping around, getting drunk and high), and their very immediate gratification. 

Others are all about work–climbing that professional ladder and earning more money, material goods, and more power is the holy grail and also the bane of their existence. 

And yet there are some people that are focused on faith, family, and community–they are mothers and fathers, religious students and clergy, community organizers and organizers of charitable events and giving. 

The problems is that people need multiple facets of their lives–yes, they need playfulness, interests, activities, hobbies, and fun and joyous times; at the same time, they need intellectual curiosity, professional contribution and achievement, and the wherewithal to be responsible and pay the bills; and very importantly, they need  social, spiritual, and emotional fulfillment from family, friends, giving, and faith. 

When a person stands on only one of these legs, like many seem to–they are on wobbly ground and are likely to fall hard and fast.  

Even on two legs, something is missing in their lives–they are standing tall, but not strong and stable. 

On all three legs, a person can be grounded and able to not just stand for themselves, but able to bear weight like on a stool, and they are can play music and sing and smile, knowing that they have a genuine quality of life that few ever really achieve. 😉

(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

It’s Like Saving The Whole World

I saw this sign hanging prominently in a large local Baltimore hospital here (and it comes from the Talmud): 

“He who saves one life…It is as if he saves a whole world.”

For doctors, nurses, and other medical practitioners, what greater purpose or joy in life than to save other human lives!

Each person is truly a whole world unto themselves…their thoughts, feelings, and their contributions!

Who knows what one single act of kindness or generosity from someone can have–what impacts down the line to one or even billions of others. 

Today, I have a friend that is undergoing a major operation in this hospital. 

My thoughts and prayers are with him. 

This is his third hospitalization in the last few weeks and it’s time for the doctors–with G-d’s help–to save his life.

I actually had something similar to this friend many years ago, but the technology wasn’t there yet to diagnose it, and I had to have emergency surgery where they went in “exploratory” to find out what the heck was going on.

And thank G-d that they did–they literally saved my life at the time or I wouldn’t be writing to you all today. 

I feel so grateful to G-d for his mercy to us and for giving us modern medicine and technology and all the wonderful people who work tirelessly to help all the sick people and to help save their very lives.

I am wishing the best of luck to my friend to come through this with a full and merciful healing.  😉

(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Wonderful Thank You

This is one of the most beautiful thank you songs that I have ever heard.

This was played for a departing leader with beautiful photos of all the good and caring work that they did over many years.

The passion, commitment, and tenacity were evident through out, and even though I hadn’t known this person for long, it brought tears to my ears.

What certain people can accomplish with their lives–helping others, making a better world. 

What we can accomplish through kindness, caring, selflessness, generosity, and tenderness. 

It’s the definition of inspirational–that we can live a life where the “thank you” is really and totally besides the whole point. 

Live life and live it well! 😉

I’m That Jew Too

I’m a Jew, you’re a Jew, we’re all (pretty) good Jews, and we’re proud! 😉

Draining Our Life Force

Here’s a photo I snapped of one of the Fantastic Four (superheroes).

He’s telling the evil Galactus, who drains planets of their life’s energy, to “Stop!”

He yells at Galactus, “You have facilitated the Corporate Fascist Agenda long enough.”

I think we all know a Galactus (or two)!

In every company and agency…there are individuals that seem to literally suck the creativity, problem solving, and life force from the bowels of the organization. 

They complain incessantly, make excuses for their lack of support and contribution, erect obstacles to progress, and needlessly put down other people’s ideas and contributions.

These Galactuses facilitate their own or a corporate agenda–to raise their stature, power, and purse.

They can be–almost G-d like figures in the organization that are feared and cowed to–but in the long term it’s counterproductive to enslave humanity to them.

You can be like the Fantastic Four, who recognizes problem people and calls them out for bad behavior–you can be part of changing the culture from a BIG VILIAN negative to a SUPERHERO positive.

It starts, like in the comic–by identifying their personal agendas and bad behaviors and telling them to stop as well as by working with or around them to facilitate progress.

Galactus, you are finished! 😉

(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)