It is that Festivus time of year again, which means the annual Airing of the Grievances Blog. I honestly almost didn’t do one this year because in retirement I am too tempted to cross the line and go FULL GRIEVANCE on several things and I am not sure I want to do that yet. Also, since Tay Tay ended her Eras tour I figured there was an existing void out there right now that needed to be filled when it comes to entertainment--- so why not one more blog “for the ditch”.
I would guess that most everyone who reads
this will have read one of the previous posts I have done in the past (If not
you can read them all at jbwiu.com) in the past so you know the drill already.
If you happened to be a someone that this is your first time to this
space---LEAVE NOW if you are easily offended. The whole nature of this blog
almost assures that someone will be offended, if not taking outright exception
with something I write. I had no use for people with little sense of humor and
thin skin before I retired. I assure you that feeling has only grown since that
time.
This blog was originally created to
have a little fun. It wasn’t to intentionally hurt anyone’s feelings. I can’t
control that last part---that is a you thing. So, if you are a “Cancel Culture”
kind of person that likes to play “Gotcha” I would suggest that you get a life
(and maybe some therapy) and promptly exit this entry right now. It is really
easy to delete people on social media so that may be an option you want to
explore at this point if you are going to get goofy about some fake holiday blog.
Last chance to leave. As our man Frank Costanza said----“Now begins the Airing
of Grievances—I have a lot of problems with you people, and now you are going
to hear about it.”
I have traditionally had a handful of
bigger topics each year. I have also allways try to include something about the
Holidays and maybe a few little things at the end that piss me off or make me
shake my head in everyday life. I will try to follow that script as best I can
again this year. Let’s get going.
Many of you know I “divorced” Direct
TV several years ago because they just kept raising prices, the equipment was cumbersome,
and there was very little flexibility afforded to me across platforms. I was also deeply frustrated that as
long-time loyal customer they were always giving a better deal to someone new,
that had never been with them. This led to annual arguments that rose to a
level that barely kept me out of jail and the emergency room. I have no doubt I
was on their security/HR watchlist and was probably used as an example at many
training seminars on how to deal with unreasonable customers.
Fast forward, I moved to the new and
innovative concept of “Streaming”. I became a “Cord Cutter” and landed on
YouTube TV as my main streaming service. Little did I know (Because I never
read the small print) that streaming is just another way of saying TV options---not
to be confused with TV Buffett. It is all you can eat at a buffet but streaming
is more like one of those fancy restaurants where you pay ala carte for absolutely
everything. Because cooperate Hollywood is as greedy as you would expect them
to be, they don’t dare put all the tv shows, movies, sports, and viewing
entertainment you want in one place. That would be too easy and wouldn’t allow
them to grow revenue by nickel and diming you all periodically along the way.
If you really want to watch the
latest, coolest show coming out on CBS they are likely going to drive you to
purchase Paramount Plus (Their streaming service) to see it. All the big
companies are doing it. NBC, ESPN, ABC, Disney--- you name it. Trust me if it is a popular show or sporting
event they companies are putting on a streaming platform you will need to
purchase in order to see it. Very few of
the “Best” offerings can be seen now days on local channels without paying for
an additional service. The same can be said for sports. This year on Christmas
Day if you want to watch the NFL you need to have a NETFLIX account. This is
becoming a common practice across all major sports leagues and the streaming services.
They don’t discriminate about what time of year it is -it is during regular
season and playoffs and there are very few legal ways you can watch sports now without
subscribing to multiple platforms.
God forbid we get a one stop shop
where we can have everything in one place. Now they have gone and monetized all
of it for their profit machines, leaving the customer and their wallet extremely
inconvenienced. It is a fast-moving transition from regular cable TV, so it
will be interesting to see who survives and who doesn’t. Maybe they will start
eating their own. Really, they will just be buying each other out and charging
us more and call it a bundle. It is bad
enough that Hollywood has given us the Oscars, as well as hypocritical
activists actors and actresses (who don’t believe the rules apply to them), now
they are lifting their collective legs to piss on the very people trying to
watch their product, who make their exorbitant salaries possible. I guess that
is why they call this new service “Streaming”.
Since the time I started doing this
blog eight years ago I have always stayed away from Higher Education because it
felt too close to home for me. Now as I see almost daily that Higher Ed is
spiraling into this rapid twenty first century free fall all across the country
(not just here in Illinois) I feel like its time to air some things out on this
topic. I have MANY friends in Higher Education across the multiple spectrums it
encompasses from Administration to Academics to Athletics and beyond. I know
there are very strong opinions that substantially differ about what the problem
is and how to solve it. I am undoubtedly doing myself no favors by including
this topic but I think leaving it out would just wrong.
You would have to be under a rock not
to see that over the last eight years more than one hundred colleges across the
nation have closed their doors. Hundreds more have done some substantial
reduction and restructure. This is led primarily by the private for-profit
sector but everyone is feeling the pressure regardless of institutional demographic
or geographic location. I think the one (and maybe only thing) you can get
people to agree on, is that Higher Education as a whole has some serious problems
to solve.
I do know at the end of the day if you
want to keep the lights on you have to pay the bills. Higher Education is a business.
A very big business. That is a fact. A fact that certain parts of the Higher Ed
community like to challenge, if not outright deny (They probably would refer to
it as an “grand idea” or a place to pursue intellectual pursuits and help enhance
civic duty). Some even refer to it as “The
Academy”. That doesn’t sound haughty at
all does it? Although it can be all those lofty things it was intended to be in
the beginning there can be no denying it has turned into a business (Whether
one likes that or not).
For many years Higher Education has
not done the best job of focusing on the business side of the house because of
healthy enrollments and more robust government support. This allowed academic
programs and services that are important (but may not balance out on a
spreadsheet’s bottom line) to continue to exist even when they didn’t necessarily
pay for themselves. Recently, constricted government funding and dwindling
enrollments have now put pressure points on these programs and services.
In an ideal world you would hope that you
could have all the academic offerings and student services possible. The
problem is we aren’t in an ideal world and Pablo Escobar didn’t leave all his estate
profits to the great folks running Higher Learning institutions. Bill Gates and
Jeff Bezos are paying off divorces so they can’t help either. People are having fewer
kids as we continue to experience a national enrollment decline that hasn’t yet
seen the cliff and programs and services have continued to expand over the
years. You don’t have to be a mathematician to understand with more programs
and services and few students Bottom that Higher Ed can no longer be everything
to everybody. It really comes down to a very simple math problem.
As a recently retired Administrator I
know that there is an increasing number of “Low Enrolled” programs that students
and potential students no longer gravitate towards, making them sustainable
long term very difficult. NO academic areas are immune, including Fine Arts and
Business, but Liberal Arts is seeing some of the most drastic downward trends
across the country. As a very proud holder of a liberal art degree (Political
Science and History) I know the importance of those sorts of programs and the
life long impact they have on people like me. It makes me sad but it is very
real situation.
Higher Education is being for forced react
rather rapidly (since it didn’t properly prepare strategically) in order to
adjust to this new landscape. Traditionally, Higher Education has done “rapidly”
well so this is uncharted territory. It
is all very painful with lots of collateral damage. Unfortunately, it will affect
some really, really good people and professionals nationwide. It is also a necessity
for survival.
It is not just academic programs that
are being affected. Services across campus in areas like Facilities Maintenance,
Counseling, Health Centers, and Residence Halls to name a few, are going
through far-reaching restructuring efforts in order to continue to provide services
for students. Libraries (A cornerstone for campuses) have also been in the
center of the crosshairs. They are in fact one of the best examples of how we
turned a blind eye to how students are changing.
Students simple don’t use the library
at the same rate they did 30 years ago. They have access to more information on
their phone than my generation had in an entire four-story building. For them, Siri
and Alexa may as well be librarians. Chat GPT has given them the luxury of not really
being challenged to try and improve their writing skills. I assure you they don’t
care about the Dewey Decimal system or having any interest in how it works. Don’t
believe me sit down with a group of kids that are college age in a casual
setting for an hour and talk life. You will probably come out somewhere between
fascinated and mortified.
AI runs the show for them when it
comes to resourcing information or anything else for that matter. All of this technology
is changing very quickly and getting faster by the day. It is the culture they
know and have grown up with during their lifetime. We are now witnessing the
head on collision of their culture with the one Higher Education has
historically hung its hat on through the years. Let’s place a bet on that outcome.
I say all this in this space because
Higher Education (and all of us that make it up) have to quit putting our heads
in the sand. Denial and hope are not strategies or plans. Being pissed off
because things aren’t the way they were in Europe in the Middle Ages when this
all started with the pomp and circumstance isn’t going move anything forward. It
is pure hubris to think it can be the way it always was in world that is moving
faster than it ever has in history. Yelling the loudest, name calling, and
finger pointing in meetings is not only absurd, immature and childish, it
doesn’t solve anything. This is why people outside the Higher Ed bubble make
fun of us and why we can’t have nice things. They think we are the dumbest
smart people they have ever known. Lots of days we prove their point. Institutions all over this country are dealing
with these issues and it is extremely painful to watch for an entire industry that
has a long and proud history dating back centuries struggle to adjust and correct
course.
Tough decisions will continue to be
made. Hopefully, coupled with true strategic plans as well as with quick
adaptability and adjustment we can achieve positive results. The future can be very bright if we not only
think, but act differently. Nostalgia is a powerful feeling, but it is very
clear at this point that the future is not feeling sentimental. Change is hard
but it is also the answer. So, buckle up Higher Education, it’s going to be a
bumpy ride.
Let’s move on to this years Holiday
rant. I have been in conversations with many of my parent friends over the last
month as we run up to Christmas. Through those experiences It is very clear to
me the amount of stress gift giving is causing on those that I love and care
for during this holiday season. I actually heard on the radio today that 35% of
people believe picking out the right gift is the most stressful thing about this
time of year.
One of the things that I can’t seem to
get over is the demand/expectations of kids today. Parents telling me stories like --“If I can’t get the lululemon leggings”
then I just don’t want them. “No Air Jordans or no shoes at all”. “If I don’t
get the Louis Vuitton everywhere belt bag, I won’t be able to face my
classmates”. It is worse than the “Cabbage Patch Doll” craze back in the day. In
listening to these parents, it feels like to me that this is no longer the
season of giving and charity. It appears more like a hostage situation with a
list of demands. Though, I think it might be simpler to get hostages back than
fulfill the wildly entitled expectations of today’s youth.
When I was kid, we weren’t rich but
looking back I feel like our Christmas were nice with pretty good presents. At
no time though did I ever think I was entitled to anything or thought for a
minute I could make demands surrounding gifts. I remember getting $2 bill every
year in my stocking form my Great Grandfather (of which I still have several)
or a Zero candy bar because it was my favorite. My grandma sold Avon so we
always received deodorant and nick knacks from her sold by Avon. The one year when
Mom and Dad bought us an Atari 2600 (we about fainted and thought we were rich)
it was for BOTH my brother and me.
I feel like in today’s world it is
more materialistic and brand driven than ever. There seems to be no sense of
nostalgia or sentimentality left. I almost feel sorry for parents. Although I
am certain some have brought it on themselves. I think more of it comes from
kids talking to other kids where peer pressure and judgement are front and
center. I do think that parents have the ability to put some guard rails and
structures up for what the season is all about, and in particular what giving
and receiving gifts looks like in a civilized world. What happened to the gifts
of time and love. I would trade about anything I own to sit with my
grandparents at a Christmas table with some hand cut homemade noodles and Grandmas
baked beans. I guess you don’t truly understand those until you get older and
start losing people.
I have no doubt in the world that
parenting is the hardest job out there. That said, if feels like in this
generation the animals are starting to run the zoo and not just at Christmas.
At some point the accountability is with the parent in these things. The
problem with that is there are so many parents now that want to be their kids’
best friends or they are helicopter parents that insist on protecting them
(which is a kind way of saying smother) from everything, when they are really
doing just the opposite by not letting them learn to fail and become
independent. I get that kids are the most precious cargo you have in your life.
I also have a front row seat of how the over-protective/best friend strategy is
going on the parenting front. Here is some Breaking News for you----Its going
really poorly. Trust me. If you don’t trust me, ask any teacher friend you know
dealing with kids (and now their overbearing parents) every day. For my money
it is at a critical mass situation.
I know there are great kids and great
parents out there and I know navigating all these kinds of issues is awful.
That said, it scares me how common this idea of “Brand or nothing” or just the
overall entitlement game in general concept is becoming. Don’t get me wrong. I am not Anti-Brand. I get
it and I am ok with anyone having a preference for something branded. My beef
is with the idea of the expectation and entitlement of all of it. That is
simply not healthy.
There is so much fun in gift giving
and receiving if its done right. I love sentiment and nostalgia when it comes
to gifts—especially the ones I get. I am almost too scared to be sentimental giving
a gift in fear it will likely disappoint them these days. I guess I just wish this
generation would get some of that nostalgic pixie dust on them before they
become insufferable adults.
A note of caution is to remember that
when you attempt to buy a kids love there is an extremely limited warranty on
that purchase. It’s not too late to give the gift of a lesson in love and
humility by returning that latest edition of Fort Night, the iPhone 18, and
designer jeans (with the ripped holes in them) that you just bought. Instead give
them a $2 bill and a candy bar with a handwritten, sentimental message. If they
go ballistic you can blame it on Uncle JB. Bottom line: “Don’t negotiate with
Teenage Christmas Terrorists”.
From time to time over the years I
have used this space to point out and pick on a famous individual to be the
most annoying person of the year. We have had some fun ones in the past. I am
sure if I did a poll, I would get lots of ideas. I am guessing many of them
would be political. I have worked to mostly keep politics out of this blog and
there are so many worthy jackass celebrities out there that I don’t need to
pick a politician. I think there are
some great potential fits meeting the criteria this year for my Most Annoying
Celebrity.
Among the really great choices this
year (and every year really) is my girl T. Swift. As much as I would like to
select her (Just so I could fit her into the blog again this year) I am going
to give her a year off. She is tired from her big tour. P Diddy could be fun
but he feels more pathetic and nasty than annoying. He will be more interesting
to write about this time next year anyway---we may even have video we can attach.
The Kardashians seem like low hanging fruit but I feel like they are finally
becoming yesterday’s news. An individual I dreadfully loath and think is incredibly
annoying and an excellent candidate will have to settle for runner up this
year. Sorry Meghan Markel---maybe next time. She is the leader in the club
house for next years award.
That leaves us with this guy. Drum
roll for this year’s Most Annoying Celebrity coming straight from the Big Apple. Aaron Rodgers come
on down you are this year’s big winner. Could this guy be any more annoying?
Leaves Green Bay after holding the entire organization hostage. Gets a
sweetheart contract worth Fifty million dollars a year with the Jets even
though he is 40 years old and clearly over the hill. Tells us how great he is at
rehab with his new found insights to all thing’s health. Goes on this crazy ass
dark room retreats to center himself. The guy goes through relationships like
he is a contestant on the Bachelor (and screws it up with Danica Patrick). He misses
mandatory workouts and training sessions in the preseason so he can go
somewhere exotic with little or no explanation to his team.
Then he finally starts playing full
time again only to be found out as a fraud, in terms of the talent he has left
in the tank. After playing poorly repeatedly he rolls his teammates under the
bus as an excuse for being exposed as a has-been. To top it all off he gets
banned from the Pat McAfee show, which is almost like the devil saying they are
all full up in Hell and there is no room for you. I mean you have to be a world
class DBag to get kicked of this show. Aaron Rodgers---you are a turd (and not
even a polished one) as well as a self-aggrandizing, whiney little ass clown
swimming in a cesspool of irrelevancy. You sir are a silk stocking filled with
dung. Congratulations on being this year’s AOG MAC.
Moving on and reaching back on a topic
I touched on briefly a little last year but feel compelled to mention again in
an update is how NIL and the Transfer Portal are completely changing college
sports. Turns out it is doing it at a much more accelerated rate than anyone
could have predicted (even a year ago). It is clear you now have to have at
least eight figures of NIL money if you want to be competitive in major college
football or basketball. Coaches’ salaries are getting higher because they are demanding
it due to what they might describe as hazard pay for putting up with all the
associated bullshit that comes along with NIL and the Portal (Think parents and
kids –we have a theme going this year). We now have hedge funds discussing
buying stakes in Athletic Departments. Where does it all end?
There is a lot to hate about all of
it, not the least of which is how effects small Division 1 Athletic programs
that don’t really have access to true NIL money and are on the receiving end of
their best players being poached each year. Now any player they recruit and develop
will likely leave for greener pastures and the money that will be offered to
them. The days of getting to know our student athletes for four years while watching
them graduate and become Alumni are spiraling down the drain at a high rate of
speed. The ridiculousness of it all is truly unbelievable and incredibly sad.
This is going to get much worse before it gets better. I know we are all
counting on the NCAA to come in and save the day. #NOT
A few rambling thoughts before I close
things out this year’s blog. Dear WNBA, you have the best opportunity in your
sports history to grow your product and all you seem to do is showcase to the
world the various caddy ways you can tear each other down. If I wanted to watch
Cat Fights, I would turn on the WWE. If you can’t figure out a way to be
supportive of each other on the court and off, it is going to be very difficult to get others
outside looking in to join you in the cause. There is so much to be excited
about for you all, yet all you see in the headlines seems to be bitterness,
pettiness, and jealousy. Do better.
This was apparently the year of the
Stanley Cup for those wanting to keep their beverages cold. I missed that whole
fad I guess but God bless all of you keeping our economy going through
purchasing those high-priced bad boys. If
I am paying that kind of money for a cup there better be a genie jumping out of
it offering me three wishes. The upside is it could be the perfect stocking
stuffer for you brand conscious kids and their hostage demands (I mean
Christmas list).
Another election year so we get to
reach peak division amongst ourselves here in the good ole USA. The election is
over and we are in the holiday season. A real chance for all of us to reset, recalibrate
and find the good in people. My hopes are for folks to communicate more face to
face (without social media or keyboards). I want people to tell people they
truly care about that they love them. Try to do as many random acts of kindness
as you can with nothing expected in return. I hope over the next couple of days
your time is filled with family, friends, fellowship, food, and fun. I hope
your memories are more precious than the presents you receive. Remember too,
those that don’t have some of the luxuries we do and be extremely grateful for
the things you have even through the stress of all of it.
I am going to have a post blog victory
cigar since I didn’t think I would actually finish this one month ago. I am
then going to sit down with Captain Morgan and ask him what he would have
written if he had been consulted at the time of the writing. Coupled with some Christmas
cookies a little elf brought by should make for a good start to Festivus.
As always thanks to Frank Costanza for
giving us this incredible Holiday. Festivus has become an annual celebration
for me. Before I close and go to work out and prepare for the Feats of Strength
I leave you with my annual advice. Anyone bringing a boyfriend/girlfriend home
who is not engaged----make them take the family picture. If your mother or
grandmother insists, out of guilt, that they be in it. Make sure they are on
the end so you can crop them out when they have been dumped by Valentines Day. Continue to follow me for more life tips. Giving
you this one for free tonight. I truly
do have a lot of problems with you people.
Happy Festivus
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