I watched the Republican presidential candidates debate each other twice last week and then receive their “grades” in South Carolina on Saturday night. I tried to capture as much post-election analysis after watching my older son’s high school basketball game. Then I performed my nine to noon Sunday morning ritual watching my menu of talk shows: Fox News Sunday with Chris Wallace, The Chris Matthews Show with Chris Matthews, Face the Nation with Bob Schieffer and This Week (which is technically “last week”) with George Stephanopoulos. Somewhere during this routine, I thought “Hats off to the media!” This thought occurred to me mid-morning when someone was analyzing the upcoming Florida Republican Presidential Preference Primary and what it takes to compete here. The analysis boiled down to the observation that, thanks to myriad televised debates, a candidate’s limited campaign finances are less of a limiting factor in getting a candidate’s message to the voters. So, hats off to the media for broadcasting the Republican presidential candidates’ debates!

Hmmmm. As I reflected further on my kudos for the media, I questioned the accuracy of my proclamation. The following conversation took place with myself in my head:

Myself: On what basis can you justify your praise for the media?

Me: The media have taken the time for the past several months to broadcast the Republican presidential candidates’ debates notwithstanding the fact most of them stand accused of being left-wing liberal elites.

Myself: So the media get kudos for broadcasting the Republican presidential candidates’ debates notwithstanding their apparent bias?

Me: Well, because the media have given Republican candidates of all stripes an opportunity to be heard without having to spend lots of campaign money doing so, the media have, in effect, policed themselves and leveled the playing field against President Barack Obama’s eventual billion dollar re-election machine.

Myself: So, the media broadcast the Republican candidates’ debates because of their benevolence and fundamental sense of fairness?

Me: Hmmmm, not really. The media broadcast the debates because tons of people are watching the debates.

Myself: So, the media are broadcasting the debates because tons of people are watching them? Shouldn’t you really be saying “Hats off to the tons of people?”

Me: Yes. Hats off to the tons of people! Yes, literally and figuratively, and maybe even literally on a per capita basis at some point in the not-to-distant future. But I digress.

Myself: Whenever tons of people are focused on something, aren’t there usually masses of advertisers who want to sell the tons of people something and who will give good and valuable consideration to the media for the privilege of advertising their goods and services to the tons of people during the Republican presidential candidates’ debates?

Me: Well, I guess we have to compliment the masses of advertisers who pay the media to present commercials to the tons of people, thus providing the media the cold hard cash to retain the staff and capital equipment to broadcast the debates. Hats off to the masses of advertisers!

Myself: Are you done yet?

Me: What?

Myself: Are you limiting your praise to the media broadcasting the Republican presidential candidates’ debates and/or the tons of people watching them and/or the masses of advertisers displaying their wares during the debates?

Me: Ahhhhh. I can think clearly now my brain is on! I can see all transactions underway! (Kudos to Johnny Nash for the mental instrumentals. But I digress again.) Masses of supply and tons of demand freely meet in the capitalistic marketplace manifested in this instance in the form of the Republican presidential candidates’ debates. Hats off to free market capitalism!

Myself: Yes. Hats off to free market capitalism!

Me: Is there an echo in my head?

Myself: Yes. Hats off to free market capitalism!

Me: Gotta go! It’s time to watch the afternoon rerun of Meet the Press with David Gregory! Congratulations to Newt Gingrich on his smashing victory in South Carolina! And hats off to free market capitalism!

Wow, it’s Christmas time in the city! And 2012 is just around the corner!

As I reflect on 2011, I am very grateful for the opportunity Bill has given me to be part of Bill Mick LIVE on a daily basis. This month I celebrate five months as a co-host of BML. I am enjoying my time with you each and every weekday morning as we cruise around the Sun and observe the workings of our world. Please keep the telephone calls, Facebook posts and Area 51 text messages coming! I especially look forward to what I expect to be an exciting 2012, not only on the political and legal fronts, but also on the technology fronts that give us the opportunity to share our thoughts with each other.

I will enjoy my time off with my family and look forward to being back with you on Tuesday, January 3rd, 2012. In the meantime, I hope you enjoy the “Best of” shows that will replay during our time away along with “The Year in Review” show we recorded with Florida Today’s Matt Reed. This very special show will air on Friday, December 23, 2011 and Friday, December 30, 2011 during our usual 0600 to 0900 hours timeslot.

I wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Frank

As I write this message (December 21, 2011 at 2300 hours), December solstice will begin in an hour and a half in our Eastern Standard Time Zone. In the meantime, tonight is the longest night of the year and tomorrow brings us the shortest amount of daylight. It is a notable event for me because, from December solstice until the first day of next summer, the days will get longer. I enjoy the Florida sunshine and the complimentary Vitamin D that comes along with it.

Check out this explanation of winter solstice. If you want the rocket scientist perspective, see December solstice. Pay no attention to the mentions of the end-of-the world and the Mayan Calendar in the links! (If you observe the Mayan calendar, you are more than well aware we have a year left to live on this wonderful planet Earth. LOL, . . . I think.)

Happy December solstice! Or, from the WMMB Common Sense, Uncommon Radio perspective, Happy First Day of Winter!

Frank

Dear Frank:

As we prepare to celebrate Thanksgiving, let's remember that the holiday's name is a compound word - Thanks and Giving. Please take these few moments to consider my ideas for enhancing the celebration of Thanksgiving and the entire holiday season ahead.

Each of us has much to be thankful for - our lives, families, friendships, and hopefully, work that fulfills us. While there is no perfection in life, let’s admit that the glass is more than half full for most of us most of the time. Thanking those who we love, admire, depend upon, and have work relationships with is important, but too infrequently expressed. Find the chance to share a sincere “Thank You” more than a few times in the next few weeks.

While we're already inundated with ads for holiday gift-giving, here are Ten Thanks-Giving Thoughts to share with your family members, friends and colleagues....Gifts from the heart.

1. Let's share our bounty with those with less. Consider the gift of one week's grocery bill donated to a community food bank, domestic violence or homeless shelter, a child health charity or foster parent association, hospice, veteran's support organization or your United Way as a token of appreciation for what we have, and what others do for the less fortunate.

2. Express our gratitude in word and deed to those who care for others as a profession or as volunteers. Give compliment for the good works of caregivers for our children and frail elders.....those caring individuals who clean the bottoms of babies and the bed-ridden, and help nurture and stimulate their minds, deserve the kindnesses of family members and neighbors all though the year, but especially at holiday time.

3. Respect our elected officials for their service. While we believe in representative government, who among us is brave enough to run for public office? We don't have to agree with all of their policies, but we should respect their service, and hold them accountable for their actions....or lack of action. Silence is the antithesis of effectiveness.

4. Give time to a worthy cause. Our volunteer investments for the benefit of others builds community and creates a great example for our children. Spectatorism is relaxing, but our community's needs can be addressed, in part, by sharing our energy. Whether we choose to sing in a chorus, read to a toddler, mentor a youth, or visit a lonely elder, our time is a priceless gift which appreciates in value. Volunteerism is time and talent philanthropy!

5. Conserve resources by consuming less fuel, reusing, and recycling. Native American culture considered our planet as a parent, worthy of respect and protection. Our throw away culture is feeding our landfills with trash, and our air and water absorb the residue of fuel-generated pollutants. Preserving our environment is self-preservation, as well as a life-saving gift to wildlife, plantlife, and our children's children.

6. Slow down. Whether behind the steering wheel or in conversation with others, speed is not a good thing. Being in a perpetual hurry endangers our lives on the road, and cuts short our relationships with others. Give yourself a few extra minutes in transit to be a safe driver.....and listen a bit longer to the words in conversation with loved ones and co-workers. Actively listen and show others that positive attention is a gift worth giving.

7. Put technology in its place. We live in a high-tech, low-touch culture, governed by the beeps, buzzes, and blinking lights of technology. As time is compressed, stress grows. Immediate response raises expectations, reduces careful consideration, and makes us more prone to error. Take a breather from all the numbing numbers, and ask others to be considerate in public and private spaces by turning the "on" switch "off." Our children need to know that our eye contact and voices are focused on their needs, too. Cell phones, pagers, and e-mail should not keep our loved ones on hold.

8. Advocate with assertion, not aggression. Free speech is not an invitation to be offensive. Responsible advocacy requires thoughtful strategy, practical solutions, and effective conversation. Clear and consistent communication with allies and adversaries alike sets the stage for progress. Advocacy is the heart-felt expression of a wrong to be righted, with composure and grace. An advocate's power is in persuasive and persistent articulation, and the recruitment of others to the cause. Support advocacy organizations which reflect your values and policy goals.

9. Health is a form of wealth. Making sure we eat right, exercise, and take time to rest and relax are the keys to clear thinking and long-term effectiveness. Our bodies cannot support us unless our minds resolve to take care and be careful. Being healthy examples to our children in nutrition and behavior sends positive signals for their attitude and future actions.

10. Take optimism pills every morning....the time-release kind. Negativity is contagious. Those who believe they will make a difference can achieve their goals. Pessimism is the mind's way of giving up before the first step is taken. We who strive to make change for the better in our lives, neighborhoods, and the world around us should stop whining and start winning. The power of one, multiplied and magnified, is the only correct formula for progress.

Holidays remind us that bridges across the generations are built upon the stanchions of memory. We who recall the glow of candlelight reflecting the faces at our grandparents' table understand how vital heritage is for appreciating who came before us and who we are. For those whose childhoods were less than ideal, we have the opportunity to assist others to have a more joyous future.

As we enter the holiday season, let's realize that there are neighbors, young and elder, whose weeks ahead are not brimming with joy. For whatever reason, in whatever circumstance, we know that people in need can be helped if we choose to do so. As the Talmud asks of us....If not you, who? If not now, when?

In honor and remembrance a family member who was there for you when you needed them most, please thank and support those who illuminate our paths, exemplify kindness, teach justice, and nurture our futures. What a fitting tribute to the legacy of our ancestors.

Your work, the gifts you share, and the example you set for others are inspirational...and appreciated.

I welcome your response and am honored when you share my messages by forwarding them on, publishing them in newsletters, and for use in staff meetings and religious gatherings.

My best.

Jack

Jack Levine,
Founder 4Generations Institute
Jack@4Gen.org