#Buckle on the Bible Belt – CDTalent Enterprises

Don’t waffle on trust for Panther GM Morgan, Walker or trade down, Year 2 picks will be of a Quality

April 21, 2025April 21, 2025by gshorkeyblt2Leave a Comment

After a relatively less newsworthy gap in football for fans, loaded with crackpot trade ideas online, the 24th draws nigh for Reality of Carolina Panther football operations.

At least nobody is suggesting they need to find a franchise QB in a draft with only two, and defense getting max attention is already a fact.

*Spartanburg is in the rear view mirror for Panthers, Draft Day figures to boost DC Ejiro Evero’s defense considerably.*

Nobody wants to Fail at Draft Picks

For any singular ‘expert’ who is naysaying the possible selection of Jalon Walker as a ‘tweener vs. the stud linebacker-edge rusher from Georgia HC Dave Canales and Morgan have both praised, did that young man do everything he was asked the last two years or not?

Just sayin,’ he’s nothing akin to the Shy Tuttle situation, where being a large individual was NOT the answer to being a nose tackle who could stop Panthers defense from giving up an unholy amount of yardage in 2024 season. (FYI – Bobby Brown III very possibly is)

With a solid belief in Morgan’s ability to judge talent and bring it home, the Panthers GM isn’t picking for the Cleveland Browns, whose success in digging out of a massive cap hit hole relative to QB DeSean Watson includes 40-year old Joe Flacco in the mix and *brutal*/astronomical numbers in next couple years. If they select Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter at #2 on Thursday, more bets would be on losing TWO positional starters to a freak accident than fixing offensive-defensive-economic situations.

Shedeur Sanders (4,134 yds. 37 TD/ 10 INT, 75.5 QBR) to Cleveland, or Giants? Didn’t his Dad say NO! to option of Brownies already? Whatever he supposedly lacks, Colorado went from a ONE-win team to 9-3 and playing in Valero Alamo Bowl in two years. Sanders was an underwhelming 16/23 for 208 yds, 2 TDs/2 INTs, 3 sacks in that 36-14 whipping by BYU. Would he fit in the Giants QB room? Like a glove.

Panthers already have nine picks in a 7-round draft, and Morgan continues to let it be known he’ll answer the phone and trade down if someone wants to talk about Panthers #8 position and more picks. Having done an outstanding job on accumulating several high quality defensive players during free agency, Panthers will not be taking flyers on 19 year olds like Charlotte Hornets did with their 2024 #6, Tidjane Salaun.

For those who haven’t noticed, ‘meddling’ Panthers owner David Tepper *still* hasn’t uttered a single negative about the process that Morgan, Canales, and VP/cap expert Brandt Tilis have taken in putting his team back on (fairly) solid footing. Pick for Mingo to Dallas is going to be well spent. https://www.dallascowboys.com/team/players-roster/jonathan-mingo/

‘Realistic Optimism’ says better than 6.5 Wins

Most prognosticators were correct about Panthers not doing better than 5.5 wins in 2024 season, but tapping them as only one game better in 2025 sounds like zero respect for how Panthers played in second half of season. A fumble while driving for a score in OT (Tampa Bay), and games to the wire against eventual Super Bowl teams Philadelphia – a 22-16 loss to Eagles in Philly, with Barkley gaining 124 yds. and Leggette failing to hold onto a late pass for a first down – and Kansas City (last second FG for 30-27 win) meant they were real damn close to eight wins.

Yes, Adam Thielen will be 35 before season starts, and after missing seven games with a hamstring injury, he’s still caught 151 passes (1,629 yds, 9 TDs) the last two years on a team lacking in quality-experienced receivers, especially Young’s rookie season (2023) when QB was under constant siege. He’s a slot receiver vs. a primary, which is still a position that bears upgrading.

6’5″ free agent Jalen Coker (Colgate, 32 catches/478 yds./2 TDs), didn’t get on the field until a 3 catch-41 yd. OT win over the Giants in Munich (11/10), and Xavier Leggette https://www.panthers.com/team/players-roster/xavier-legette/ of South Carolina, who has blazing speed, had solid rookie years. With extra coaching and focus, its expected (fingers crossed?) Leggette becomes a full-fledged terror for NFL secondaries in 2025. Panthers signing thousand yard rusher Rico Dowdle https://www.espn.com/nfl/player/stats/_/id/4038815/rico-dowdle from Dallas as a free agent was an understated but A-1 steal, adding a proven target (5 career rec. TDs) for Bryce Young in HC Canales’ offensive scheming as well.

Morgan might’ve reached a bit in drafting RB Jonathan Brooks (Texas) at #2, as he reinjured his surgically repaired ACL on a non-contact play during a late season ‘lets see’ appearance. The Panthers never rushed his progress, and while he might become another story like Panthers legend Thomas Davis, who had three consecutive ACL surgeries (2009-2011) and returned to play at an All Pro level, nobody can tell.

Dowdle has wheels, and should team easily with highly productive RB Chuba Hubbard https://www.espn.com/nfl/player/_/id/4241416/chuba-hubbard in Panthers backfield plans. Rico is on a make-good contract, and Hubbard is an icon for exactly such economic dealings.

Neither Brooks selection, nor how Morgan handled the saga of Diontae Johnson, who Panthers got from the Steelers for about to be released cornerback Donte Jackson ($14.3M contract) in pre-season – and wore out his welcome here and with the Ravens with butthead attitude – was more best practices than a misjudgment of talent to be held against him.

Year 30 in Charlotte

That massive $$$ hole called the quarterback in Cleveland, where ex-Jet Aaron Rodgers winds up (if anywhere), or whether NFC South division rivals ATL and New Orleans get a grip on QB situations the Panthers-Bryce Young seem to have worked out, not our problem. – GShorkey Draft Week ’25

Having arrived in ‘The Buckle the Bible Belt’ in 1995 at same time as Panthers, and having seen considerable highs (two Super Bowl appearances) and earth-cratering lows that include current seven year stretch of uninspiring football, Charlotte still isn’t Cleveland. A non-winner since #MrTeppers$ purchased team from original owner Jerry Richardson, this years version could well make – if not the sort of ‘resurrection’ many believers here hold personally – a revival worth discussing.

How three days of drafting new talent from the 24th-26th works out on a roster that has jettisoned a number of unknowns (and yeah, Shaq Thompson) since last season works out, the smart $$$ will be on GM Dan Morgan getting the right people for HC Canales to coach, with Brandt Tilis paying appropriately. That massive $$$ hole called the quarterback in Cleveland, where ex-Jet Aaron Rodgers winds up (if anywhere), or whether NFC South division rivals ATL and New Orleans get a grip on QB situations the Panthers-Bryce Young seem to have worked out, not our problem.

Panther Football

Panthers find joy in Munich with Young, 153 yards from Hubbard, POV on NFL QB paychecks vs. production

November 14, 2024November 17, 2024by gshorkeyblt2Leave a Comment

Its always been true that the quarterback position gets more credit (or blame) for winning football games. I’m old enough to remember that Pittsburgh’s Steel Curtain defense crushed *everything* in its sight, notching a couple shutouts during a 9-2 stretch of 1983 when Bradshaw was injured. The unmemorable Cliff Stoudt, who generally carried a clipboard while there, picked up THREE championship rings, starting 16 games, but was a non-factor (244/479/3,217 yds, 14 TDs/28 INTs) beyond handing off to RBs Franco Harris or Rocky Bleier.

Some might recall that Trent Dilfer (career 65-65 record) was the starting quarterback for the Baltimore Ravens in Super Bowl XXXV, but was not re-signed by them, the first starting quarterback to be released after winning a Super Bowl, because everyone knew it was about Super Bowl MVP Ray Lewis and their defense. Teams don’t pay phat free agent $$ for journeyman talent, which will be apparent when the Cowboys don’t pull Ryan Tannehill off his couch after a year despite headlines stating they’ll tap ‘$118M QB’ to finish their season, and probably just suffer with backups Cooper Rush and Trey Lance.

Former Panthers QB Cam Newton seems to finally recognize his career is over, and he probably has a legit bitch about lack of team recognition as ‘one of the greats’ for them. Kuechly, Olsen, Delhomme, Walls, Peppers are in Ring of Excellence, Cam might be soon though. Yes, he was a difference maker, a terror early with his RPO success, but IMHO, he never threw a GO! ball to a streaking receiver, just fastballs that probably contributed to his shoulder problems.

Giving the Carolina Panthers Bryce Young credit for a high-profile second win in a row, their 20-17 overtime victory over the Giants in Germany, its not expected everyone will get crazy happy about Young’s 15/25/126 yds/TD line, but I’m okay with Charlotte fans thinking well about three wins being better than two last season, right?

On the edge of being a Loserville location sports-wise, we can even feel cool about the hometown Hornets (4-7) playing better than half the East. Okay, they’re 8^thof 13, only 12-0 Cleveland and 9-2 Celts are over .500. Just sayin’, the young guys are doing better than 2023.

Before flipping the script about a whooole lot of other NFL teams that are truly unhappy with their QBs results, lets point out how chagrined an entire LEAGUE has to be about Caitlin Clark taking her game to Europe https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=94eXwTx-xck, where the payoff from her talent will be exponentially higher, with the added benefit of not being thugged on constantly.

Cowboys, Jets, Bears, Browns, Giants

It’s a no-brainer to state these teams are more than just ‘disappointed’ about their status at halfway point of 2024-25 season. The ‘Boys (3-6) ponied up a $60 million per year deal for Dak Prescott just before season opener, and now he’s sidelined with a hamstring injury that’s a lot more serious than what seems like an epidemic of hammies league-wise.

Anyone caught up with that blinding sunlight through the windows on CeeDee Lamb’s non-touchdown non-catch this past week, or Coach McCarthy’s obvious unsigned and won’t be back status after several 12-5 seasons at helm, meh.

The Giants obviously overpaid for Daniel Jones, handing him a 4 yr./$160M deal after a glimmer of ‘better’ in 2022. Instead of picking up a 5^th year option for about $22M for his worthwhile production (3205 yds, 15/5 TD/INTs, plus 708 yds/5 TDs rushing) and getting into the playoff at 9-7-1, they served up that whopper contract. While NYG’s 2-8 record is now below the Panthers in standings as worst in NFL, there’s no place to really offload that kind of contract.

Don’t bother surveying the fans about Jones, many of them still don’t think Eli Manning can win a Super Bowl, and he has two rings.

The Jets Aaron Rodgers, who will be in Hall of Fame at some point, turns 41 in December, and suffered an Achilles injury about 15 seconds into last season. On a 3-7 team that seriously thought he was the single ingredient they required to dig out from under a history of negatives to become relevant/Super Bowl contenders, that ain’t gonna happen. There are all kinds of numbers on his guaranteed $$$, but if he taps out after another discouraging year of under-achievement for J-E-T-S! it’s a $66M dead cap hit.

Pass the ‘shrooms please, Aaron.

DeShaun Watson was a terrific player at Clemson, a perhaps less good person with Houston Texans, and the Carolina Panthers should be glad they didn’t overextend themselves during the bidding war (picks and cash) for him that Cleveland Browns ‘won.’ As elusive and productive as Watson was in Texas, over a year and change out of the game over legal troubles, his talents have dissipated completely.

For every previous situation the franchise might want a wish/replay on (1980 MVP Brian Sipe *doesn’t* throw that INT in -37 degree wind chill against Raiders in 1981), the Browns are still in a $92M hole with his contract. They’d probably love to get Joe Flacco back after releasing him end of last year (now 0-3 in Indy), but at 3-7, they are still one of four NFL teams to have never appeared in the Super Bowl (Jaguars, Texans, Lions).

Bears and Fields and Caleb W.

The Bears were lauded for stealing the Carolina Panthers blind by demanding WR DJ Moore to swap draft positions when Panthers wanted their #1 pick in 2023 draft. With the treasure trove of picks from Panthers for privilege of picking Young, it was expected they’d find their own franchise QB, and 2022 Heisman winner Caleb Williams (from USC) joining the Windy City crew would mean everything, the salve to heal all previous wounds. (FYI – McMahon wasn’t that skilled, just a winner with an awesome Bears D of ‘86)

Not so much healing yet, and Bears O-line allowed Williams to be sacked NINE times against the Patriots in recent 19-3 loss, so now 4-5 Bears have ended OC Shane Waldron’s time there, after just nine games. The new guy – Thomas Brown – represents a 7^th coordinator in 10 years, the previous guy (Luke Getsy) was hired by Raiders in 2023 and fired in November last year. They’ve gone 23 consecutive possessions without hitting pay dirt, with Williams going 48/95 with zero touchdowns in last three games.

Justin Fields might not have been 100% responsible for his less than successful three seasons in Chicago under those circumstances, but Bears declined to pick up his option for Year 4 based on being ‘just’ an effective runner compared to a multi-talented QB like Lamar Jackson. The Ohio St. product had a couple good games after landing in Pittsburgh, but those who thought Russell Wilson was toast after starting season with a calf injury, Steeler HC Mike Tomlin made him QB1 as soon as Wilson was physically cleared, and Steelers have won three straight.

Patriots, Jaguars, Titans

These aren’t your Tom Brady- Bill Belichick Pats, but they might actually be okay after picking UNC (and Charlotte’s Myers Park grad), Drake Maye at #3 this spring. Maye was ACC Player of the Year in 2022, throwing for 4,321 yds/38 TDs and running for 698 yds/7 TDs. https://www.reddit.com/r/fantasyfootball/comments/1g4dh4s/drake_mayes_nfl_debut_2033_cmp_243_passing_yards/ Its less a question of $$$ as playing time, and he hasn’t blown anything yet.

The Jacksonville Jaguars highly touted (generational talent!) Clemson hero Trevor Lawrence has a 20-34 four-year career record, and signed him for 5 yr/$275M extension in 2024, are 2-8. That’s pretty much all you can say, beyond the Chargers choking a huge lead to them and Jags pulling out a 31-30 Wild Card playoff win as reason for the $275MM.

The Tennessee Titans with – who cares? Ok, they have Will Levis, who’s been sacked 22 times in 148 passing attempts, but the 2023 2^nd round pick out of Kentucky (after a couple years sitting at Penn State) has had some productive days, starting with a 238 passing yards/4 TD game in a 28–23 win over the Atlanta Falcons as a rookie. (So it might really be the Titans I don’t care about).

Bottom line for Panther fans, cheer the third win and maybe Bryce’s returning confidence, perhaps even give a nod to fact #MrTeppers$ hasn’t broadcast any negative POVs along the way. By all accounts, he was a solid human being/teammate during his time on the bench, not a distraction like many of the bloated contracts and ‘I deserve better’ attitudes of others.

Being half way to the six wins necessary for payoff from betting against most experts 5.5 win prediction on Panthers season is where I’m at, and their remaining schedule includes two games against Eagles and two against the Buccaneers, so a split with Bucs and Mayfield is probably best shot at $$$. Maybe they can take the Cowboys – Rush or Lance, bring it on! – and just for giggles, ATL because its *always* about beating our division rivals from down on 1-85. That end of regular season loss (15-1) in Super Bowl season still rankles.

A last hmmm…note on QBs

Sam Darnold had three INTs and 0 TDs in last game for Vikings, and nobooody in Charlotte will forget he and Baker Mayfield performed poorly in their short time in the Buckle on the Bible Belt. HC Dave Canales got the Panthers coaching gig because he was a ‘QB Whisperer’ with Mayfield (Tampa Bay) and Geno Smith (Seattle), earning both major contract paydays. Most of the NFL is split on whether Darnold, still only 27, can continue playing well with a tough defense and stacked Vikes receiving corps to get a similar payoff as a free agent elsewhere (Mayfield got $100MM), because rookie JJ McCarthy will almost certainly be given the starters spot in Minnesota when healthy in 2025.

Business, Sports, Thought Leadership

Communications, customer service, quality content writing, the greatest of these is service

June 14, 2021July 15, 2021by gshorkeyblt2Leave a Comment

Control Central, 2020. Working from home lacks a level of personal communication, *quality product* *is alway an expectation, but customer service is a difference maker.*

Maybe this is “preaching to the choir” – a term used often in Charlotte – as a leadership thought deal, but while giving myself and writers of many descriptions credit for writing ability, the customer service aspect is what makes one-shot clients into regular gigs.

While perhaps a stretch as political commentary, I’ll take the COVID-19 vaccination program – 309M doses given, 145M/43.8% of population fully vaxxed – as proof we elected a President who has delivered maximum customer service on a MAJOR promise.
Me, 6/14/21

Customer service-wise, if your Wellington’s somehow sprung a leak, just tell them, they will gladly send you another pair, is an example of Excellence. The Home Depot person who can lead you directly to the product you’d already walked by twice is A Cut Above, the gas attendant who feels empowered to comment about your tee shirt slogan because he’s already got your money, much closer to the bottom.

‘Getting stuck’ March 18th – for an investment of 26 minutes – with the COVID vaccine, instead of worrying it could take until mid-May, you’ll have to believe that cemented my concept of delivering customer satisfaction.

Dysean at T-Mobile delivered too. When he didn’t know the deal with my phone making a constant notice noise, he was willing to call a guy who might. Bazinga! Turn the phone all the way off periodically, not just screen off.

Getting my phone back doing as it should brought an appreciation of the service effort, but c’mon, the day a Novant supervisor at a clinic around the corner from my place – no extra effort to try – said to 64-year old, Category-5 person me, “Sure, let’s get you stuck,” that’s going to be tough to top as customer satisfaction.

How matters get handled

The point is, those who emphasize the customer’s satisfaction of the service delivered gain loyalty – business might have changed over the years, but its not an outdated, ‘used to be’ philosophy.

As a creative I can deliver written content that hits specific points I’ve learned from a client during interviews. With plenty of extra experiences communicating through Q&A to determine wants and expectations from sales situations, the truth is, the happiest people will ever be is when “Is that what we decided to do?” or similar matters get handled right.

A different POV

Having umpired Little League baseball the last two weekends, I’ve had three situations with balks resulting from batters that I didn’t allow a time out to just because they asked for it. Managers want to disrupt a pitcher’s rhythm when he’s working well, but I very seldom grant any requests when the pitcher is ready and a batter gets in the box.

Specific point: Unfortunately, the pitcher has to release the ball or yes, it’s a balk, even though one stopped because the batter was stepping out, without knowing I hadn’t given him a time out.

Late in a semi-final game, I have to allow the runner from third to score that way, and there is a third hoo-hah! with a particular coach. Best outcome: The ‘customers’ are really the spectators, and with that correctly handled balk call – even against their team – and two others in a wild game, one guy calls me to the fence with a “Hey Blue! I want you to know, I’ve told the tournament director he needs to do something about that screaming coach who charged you. You’re running things right, and we all got your back out here.”

THAT’S what I’m talking about! Customer satisfaction seal of approval.

Thousands of places across America…

Cycling along the Greenway in 88 degree Carolina heat, the fact I might be literally without a roof over my head in a week was sobering.

Having commented numerous times the last few weeks, that “This scene is being recreated thousands of times across America at this same time” – meaning family baseball – it’s a more sobering https://vocal.media/unbalanced/a-week-of-blue-was-umping-charlotte-baseball-now-its-panthers-blue-with-darnold-c-mc-moore-and-defense reality to recognize I may literally be homeless in a week.

Umpiring has been good extra cash – $400 last weekend – which helps make things happen like this move back into the Real World, after brother Mike and his two dogs head off into the sunset in his 37′ RV.

It’s always been his clear goal, and I knew this day was coming from the moment one of those “guaranteed cash offer” people briefly toured the house over three months ago and he signed immediately.

No, I didn’t get serious about the search until this month, and while its true some of the online operations – Roomster leaps to mind – are bona fide (mostly) scammers, I’m confident the cash from three full weekends income will allow this move to be smooth.

My point in mentioning this is how stressful such situations are for others, too.

Staying awake from before 5:00am, that’s never been a problem before. Like during the Great Recession years, I wonder how parents with tuition, car payments, and mortgages made it on retail wages. I was single, chiseling every nickel, and still wound with significant credit card debt. Others used their accumulated cushion to get past the last economic problem, and it won’t be available this time around.

My time essentially runs out in this house on the 23rd. I’m about half-packed, and while I don’t *think* I’ll wind up sleeping in my Hyundai, it’s going to make a difference how soon a real person responds to my phone messages. It’s also going to be an upheaval of way large proportions for MILLIONS. Families large and small are going to experience some REAL dislocation the end of June, when the protections of the pandemic social net expire .

Having stayed one overnight a month during the colder months for a Room in the Inn ministry for many years, I didn’t question that, with only minor changes, I could be some of those people.

Umpire-wise, I’m neither out nor safe in the moment. On the good side, I do have cash in hand now…

Community based pr, Sports

Panthers thumping aside, Charlotte’s seasonal activities welcomed four terrific days

December 10, 2019December 16, 2019by gshorkeyblt2Leave a Comment

20191208_175020 — Doubling down on goodness at Christmas tree lot.

Having chosen to invest my time in a solid bike ride to enjoy the primo weather we kind of expect around here, I missed the entirety of the Panthers 40-20 debacle against Atlanta on Sunday. After the ride, something to eat, and making a few landing page adjustments, it was time to scoot to the Christmas tree sale.

I’ve watched the highlights, seen a lot of quotes with consistent sorrow-breast beating (this is ‘The Buckle on the Bible Belt’) about what is now a five game losing streak. Yes, Christian McCaffrey got his contribution in, with 11/58 yards on the ground and 11 catches for 82 yards. QB Kyle Allen was 28/41, 293 yards, TD/2 INT, and rushed for a TD late in the game. DJ Moore (4/81) continued closing in on a 1,000 yard receiving year (980), and TE Ian Thomas had his first five catches of the year, with Greg Olsen still in concussion protocols.

Four turnovers and allowing BIG plays (again) to the Falcons – Matt Ryan was 20/34 for 313 yards and two TDs – and the run defense that gave up 159 yards, Atlanta’s best production of the year, I’m willing to say I didn’t miss much. Now 5-8, it confirmed for many that not believing was legitimate, fire up the BBQ.

Owner David Tepper makes decision on Rivera

Ron Rivera is gone, and Perry Fewell didn’t wave any magic wands in his first game as the interim coach. Owner David Tepper is every bit as pragmatic about what comes next as the fans can ask for, which probably means hiring from outside the organization. Hold onto your PSLs.

Tepper rolled with the field operations group and facilities during Year One, but they’ve moved on from Wofford, have an indoor practice facility now, and Rivera got pretty much the standard amount of rope in 2019, considering a disastrous second half of 2018. The Cam Newton factor of losing #1 QB is factual, but lots of teams lose top personal (ask Houston about JJ Watts). Its still a Ws and Ls deal to be a coach anywhere.

“(Long time Charlotte Catholic Coach) Jim Odo said he won a championship because in OT he chose to defend in front of the student section. He felt it made a difference.” – Current Coach Mike Brodowicz

On the other hand, local favorite and two-time defending 3A champs, Charlotte Catholic won their game 56-49 in seven overtimes against Kings Mountain to advance to the State finals against first-timer Southern Nash (15-0). That it was 7-7 at the end of regulation is the amazing part, and there were a bunch of 4th down plays to test wills.

I can only imagine the juice running through that stadium, and you betcha, those young men felt the love. Friday night lights, baby!

For those considering getting off any Who Needs Cam? bandwagons that appeared when Kyle Allen led the Panthers to four straight wins with no INTs (he now has 12), fan-dom doesn’t mean blowing off the rest of the year now. (Seahawks, and even if it rains, you’ll want to see Drew Brees…) Geez, if this was the NFC Least, the Panthers would only be a game out.

Tree selling, schmoozing, Beer Garden tent, singing, joyful kids

Business-wise, getting into December doesn’t change anything about my approach to writing gigs, and most ‘project resources’ know about end-of-year and future funding considerations. As military types might say, “Stay frosty,” meaning on the lookout for what makes a difference, and hang your professional stocking out there with expectations of being filled for the effort.

20191206_193150

Tree selling though, that is 100% satisfying, like Mom’s smooth gravy on mashed potatoes, or a slab of cinnamon-y apple pie. If you never ran away from siblings among the trees (lots of snowballs in upstate NY) while looking for one to cut down, may your kids enjoy the search for bigger or smaller or fatter anywhere you decide to look.

This year our Men’s Club had an activity tent that included karaoke, brots, and some simple – a hole drilled in cut-off tree bottoms with a twig of Frazier insert – crafts we’ll undoubtedly keep going in the future.

That a handful of guys who hadn’t really been part of club activities before showed up was an extra goodness, with the genuine good will generated while talking to customers and tying trees onto rooftops being priceless.

At a time when tensions around the world seem wound pretty tight, especially our political situation that has kept center stage, unplugging from that to watch the Panthers get clobbered to the point of a captain apologizing for it, what still matters is the spirit of the season. Sometimes its still legit to walk away from miserable others who might otherwise suck the joy from a candy cane.

Congrats to Charlotte Catholic, “bless their hearts” for the Panthers from the locals, and since its always the thought that counts, especially two weeks from Christmas, think of me if the opportunity arises.

Glenn Shorkey – Creative eDitorial Talents Enterprises

http://www.linkedin.com/in/glennshorkey

https://www.cdtalententerprises.com/about

(704) 502-9947

Political, POV - Content Creation

911, Mueller-Trump, or a Hurricane: Which one should have your attention?

September 11, 2018November 23, 2018by gshorkeyblt21 Comment

See the source image

If you only have the attention span or ability to focus on a single subject at a time, what would be on your mind today? Many would say ‘Remember 9-11!’ and that would certainly be appropriate. A large number would undoubtedly select some sliver of the on-going saga of Trump cruelty/BS policies-Mueller investigation-possible impeachment-upcoming elections, and more than a few would point to (as of yesterday) a Category 4 hurricane named Florence that is bearing down on the Carolinas.

The anticipation of a Thursday landfall is a Reality, but it’s not necessary to forget about the other two.

9-11 of course, is a significant historical event, a devastating attack that was truly world-changing. The second has been a slow-rolling situation that has split this country in ways that only Vietnam or our incredibly bloody Civil War of nearly 160 years ago (‘The War of Northern Aggression’ in these parts), but that hurricane is almost here and very Now. Having seen the flooding and destruction from a close hurricane pass for eastern North Carolina a few years ago, yikes. Recognizing that when they say GET OUTTA THERE! so publicly to several million people, you reallllly should do something to prepare for the potential worst.

Last night I congratulated a gal-pal who bought her way out of a shared condo lease about a half-mile from the South Carolina shore just a month ago. It looked like a financial disaster then, more like a gift now.

Here in Charlotte, NC, almost 200 miles from the coast, nobody has forgotten Hugo (1989), and while there was a semi-freakish confluence of two pressure systems that essentially ushered-spun it this way after it hit Charleston, I’m not feeling immune to possibility it happens again. Back then, a good-sized tree came down along side of my brother’s house vs. on it, but more importantly, *I’M* here now, and current house is surrounded by large, OLD, oak trees.

Politically, I’ve checked my voter registration and will do my part to remove Trump from a position on the world stage that he’s deliberately butchered, starting with the House, but I’ve never had to dig out from under a natural disaster (or a bombing either), and yes, that brings a certain pause to all other parts of Life.

Glenn w-captains

Watching ‘The 2000’s’ on TV the other night, will praying do anything about 8-10 inches of rain an hour for several days that Katrina did to New Orleans or more recently, Houston? Here in ‘The Buckle on the Bible Belt’— and bless what the legendary late Billy Graham epitomized as a messenger of God plus over 1,100 churches listed on Google might mean—its going to be a tense week, considerably longer if we take a direct hit.

Last night I congratulated a gal-pal who bought her way out of a shared condo lease about a half-mile from the South Carolina shore just a month ago. It looked like a financial disaster then, more like a gift now. I still object to the kind of disaster relief that rebuilds homes in a place that will almost inevitably be destroyed again, but its not mine either, and that certainly counts in a significant way.

Right now it’s a terrific September morning, Carolina blue sky with a smattering of fluffy clouds. That’s probably how it looked to New Yorkers that evil, disastrous day 17 years ago. I’ll never forget how a co-worker hung up her phone and said, “An airplane just crashed into one of the Twin Towers!” and opining that was unbelievable accident, not knowing it was a BIG plane vs. just a two-engine Cessna or such. That a second plane hit the other tower and this country watched an almost surreal scene unfold all day—with three more planes-as-bombs elsewhere– was as big as anyone could imagine, a modern-day Pearl Harbor of fanaticism.

One group of passengers—and the memory of a ‘Let’s roll!’ final word of determination has produced goosebumps like I haven’t had in a long time– forced one terrorist piloted plane to crash in Pennsylvania instead of allowing it to continue on its murderous mission of crashing into the White House, and that’s something we should have a collective, ultimate respect for.

stat3 spag dinner — *It was related to helping my Dad vs. 9-11, but making spaghetti dinner (with modesty aside, great meatballs) once a month for three months at two stations, was my way of saying thanks.*

It’s awesome that we have people who care about others enough to sacrifice themselves, which is how our military-police-first responders are somehow rigged mentally. Its almost hard to believe Nike chose an out of work QB vs. those cops and firemen of 2001 or a Pat Tillman, who left his job playing football in relative safety to give his life in Afghanistan- as worthy of an advertising campaign and rolling it out this time of year. Even knowing, and agreeing with, the reason Colin Kaepernick started kneeling in protest, its not like they didn’t know there were better examples.

The many who ran towards that disaster instead of away are justifiably held in awe, and if the NYPD and NYFD hats and shirts don’t come out as often as they did in the early years, that’s on us for forgetting.

In a simple, definitely personal and political thought, we can only hope those people we elected to represent our interests as a country, who SHOULD do something about the wrongness and despair caused by wrong-headed and often enabling inaction in Congress– based only on self-interest of a political party– somehow gets a similar ‘Let’s go” spine.

As for the hurricane, we have a spare bedroom…