Careers in data science, cybersecurity, information security, AI/machine learning, and digital marketing are forming the new workplace infrastructure. You might be surprised to learn that this infrastructure will also allow the egregious invasion of our privacy by the federal government. Your Privacy: Welcome to the Fatherland! makes it clear that without regulation, our privacy will not be protected. Barbara Lloyd McMichael writes about Dave Creek, who had a successful, full-time career, but who also discovered a demanding vocation as a bonsai practitioner. Annie Searle writes about the real boss of American culture—Bruce Springsteen. My recent trip to Amsterdam reminded me of what I had learned about the Dutch when I was growing up in Yonkers. –Patricia Vaccarino
Your Privacy: Welcome to the Fatherland! by Patricia Vaccarino Do you care about your privacy? Do you care about how information about you could be used against you? The work begun by Elon Musk and his DOGE team is rapidly moving forward to link government databases. There are no guard rails in place to stop the federal government from amassing information to build a complete dossier about you.
Building Treehouses, Sparking Wonder by Barbara Lloyd McMichael Dave Creek meticulously crafted miniature treehouses to organically nestle within the branches of bonsai trees. Dave’s first project took ten years to complete. The design of the treehouse took shape without preconceived notions – he built the structure in response to the tree’s unique framework of branches.
The Silence of the Dutch by Patricia Vaccarino In America, we have borrowed so much from the Dutch. Their footprints can be seen all over New York. If only we learned to respect our memories that should never be forgotten. If only we could embrace the silence of the Dutch.
Now Is The Time by Annie Searle Bruce Springsteen has continued to open his concerts with a statement that speaks for many of us at this juncture: “In my home, the America I love, the America I've written about, that has been a beacon of hope and liberty for 250 years, is currently in the hands of a corrupt, incompetent, and treasonous administration.”
Is a Manchurian Candidate Guiding our Defense by Nick J. Licata Recently, Foreign Affairs published two articles examining how President Donald Trump’s foreign policies impede our defense by embracing isolationist and anti-globalist beliefs, to the benefit of China and Russia’s expansionist agendas.
Global Governance: An Idea Whose Time Has Come by Dr. Peter Corning We need global governance. The idea of world government is hardly new. It’s an enduring dream that can be traced back at least to Bronze Age Egypt and the ancient Chinese Emperors. In the modern era, it has been espoused by many prominent people. Both the League of Nations and the United Nations, despite their limitations, were also incremental steps in this direction.
From My Bookshelf This month I am sharing a timeless classic. Managing Oneself by Peter Drucker is proof that even when there is insanity all around us, smart thinking never goes out of fashion. In Managing Oneself, Drucker suggests following eight practices: What needs to be done? What is right for your enterprise? Develop action plans. Take responsibility for decisions. Take responsibility for communicating. Focus on opportunities rather than problems. Run productive meetings. Think and say “we” rather than “I.” - Patricia Vaccarino