Month: September 2026

COLUMBUS, Ohio: The United Nations opened with speeches by President Trump, Israel’s Netanyahu, and someone from Iran. Depending on who was speaking, different countries took turns getting out of their chairs and walking out of the building.

The UN is supposed to be a peace-keeping outfit where diplomats sit around a table, discuss disagreements, and try to avoid war. But the UN has turned into a money-grabbing operation where the poorest 80 percent demand money from the other 20 percent, especially us.

The United Nations occupies 18 acres in the middle of Manhattan that was donated by John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Those 18 acres could be the most valuable and productive commercial property in the world, but the occupants treat it like an ATM.  They are less interested in promoting world “peace” than in gathering a huge “piece” of the Trillions in banks around the world.

China’s president for life, Xi Jinping, visited the White House for discussions about the Economy, Artificial Intelligence and Taiwan. The main decision seems to be agreement to delay decisions. Xi did offer to buy more soybeans, but he is not pleased that we continue to support Taiwan. Perhaps it’s ironic that we have successfully opposed Communism invading Taiwan, but may not be able to keep it out of Congress.

Do you think China cares about the UN? Not a chance. China and the U.S. are the two powerhouses in the world. The UN couldn’t slow down China any more than the League of Nations could stop Hitler in 1933. (see quote below)

Last week my schedule was packed. Officers of the Ohio Professional Engineers organizations met for a strategy session on Monday, followed by a Toastmasters Club meeting that evening. Then the annual Ohio State University Farm Science Review was Tuesday to Thursday. Wet fields and chilly, cloudy, drizzly weather limited activities and attendance. Met and talked with many old friends and saw new technology demonstrated.

On Wednesday I skipped Farm Science Review to attend my high school class reunion in Weston, West Virginia (we met at Jackson’s Mill). You know the old joke about how everyone else looks so old at reunions. But my classmates have taken care of themselves and they look mighty good for their age. On a serious note, health issues were a main topic of discussion. And health problems kept several others from attending.

On Saturday, my daughter and I attended the Ohio State football game. Sat with a fellow retired faculty member and his wife. It was great to share experiences from 40+ years of friendship. The Buckeyes beat Illinois 42-19.

Historic quotes by Will Rogers:

          “Diplomats are just as essential to starting a war as soldiers are for finishing it.” Saturday Evening Post, June 9, 1928

         “So Germany left the League [of Nations]. The poor old League never had a chance, for it had no power. It tried to keep everybody good by having ‘em sign a pledge, but there was nothing they could do to you if you broke the pledge.” DT #2246, Oct. 15, 1933

Weekly Comments: What’s Opposite of Super Intelligent? (And a Personal Note)

 #1327    Sept. 20, 2026

COLUMBUS, Ohio: This newfangled AI (Artificial Intelligence) has a lot of people concerned, especially old Democrats in Washington (and a few Republicans). Most of them, even the ones living in a city, remember when AI was an animal husbandry term meaning Artificial Insemination. That “AI” has sent a lot of bulls out to pasture, and made superstars out of a few others. It was never a threat to human life. And it has made our steaks tastier and milk cheaper.

What has our leaders in Washington worried is that Artificial Intelligence has gotten super intelligent. My concern is kinda the opposite; American voters have gotten super stupid.

I read that only two-thirds of us know our Constitution provides for three branches of government: Executive, Legislative and Judicial. Every fifth grader learns that. But this knowledge must get washed out of their brains by the time they reach adulthood.

So many young folks think that socialism is better than capitalism. They not only don’t know the Constitution; they don’t know world history. For years after World War II, Russia was the USSR. They may remember USSR, but don’t know that it stands for “Union of Soviet SOCIALIST Republics.” Putin is determined to return Russia to its full “glory” as a Communist nation no matter how many Russians and Ukrainians die in the process.

And Cuba and Venezuela. Ask any family with roots in those countries about the fantastic lifestyle of socialism. You don’t see any Americans cobbling together a makeshift pontoon boat and sailing to Havana.

Remember the $5000 checks President Trump is offering? I saw a cartoon indicating that if the Democrat-Socialists win in November they will require that every American mail a $5000 check to them! That won’t happen either. I guess regardless of who wins, we’ll be lucky to break even.

On a personal note… you’ve heard me joke about “my” great-granddaughter Jennifer Rogers. I have to change now, no joke, because I have a great-granddaughter. Giana Katherine Bonavita was born Sept. 18 in Plymouth, Mass. She and mom are healthy and home today. When she gets into school, I bet she wins any contest for the name with the most syllables.

Historic quotes by Will Rogers:

        “You can’t legislate intelligence and common sense into people.” DT #2377, March 16, 1934

        “In schools they have what they call intelligence tests. Well, if nations held ‘em I don’t believe we would be what you would call a favorite to win it.” DT #2773, June 25, 1934

“The $5000 Question” may never reach the popularity of “The $64,000 Question” 70 years ago on CBS.

A few weeks ago, President Trump joked that he could run as a Socialist and win. Well, promising everyone a $5000 check in case his side wins sounds like something out of Sen. Bernie Sanders’ campaign playbook.

Let’s dig into this enticing offer. Did Trump offer $5000 to EVERY adult in the U.S., including non-citizens? Or only to all registered voters? Or only the ones who vote in this election? Only Republicans? Or only taxpayers, through a tax credit?

Of course, Sen. Sanders and Representative Ocasio-Cortez would suggest the $5000 go only to the bottom half of income earners and unemployed.

My suggestion is, don’t bet your last dollar on ever receiving a free $5000 check from Trump or any future Democrat Socialist president.

Here’s a favorite economic plan by Will, “Don’t gamble; take all your savings and buy some good stock, and hold it till it goes up, then sell it. If it don’t go up, don’t buy it.” (DT #1019, Oct. 31, 1929)

A more recent TV show was “Are you Smarter than a Fifth Grader?” Now, we are worried that AI (Artificial Intelligence) is becoming so smart it can outsmart our smartest scientists.

I’m just now beginning to learn about AI systems, such as ChatGPT and Google Notebook. I want you to know I’m writing this column myself. No AI outfit can be blamed for grammar or spelling errors that a fifth grader would catch.

Historic quote by Will Rogers:

        “Kemper Military Academy, one of the finest Military schools anywhere. I was two years there: one year in the guard house, and the other in [McGuffey’s] Fourth Reader.” WA #523, Jan.1, 1933 (Will was 18 when he left Kemper. His schooling ended with about a 10^th grade education.)

Weekly Comments: Will Rogers Joins Winston Churchill and Florence Nightingale. Remembering 9/11/2001.  

 #1325    Sept. 6, 2026

COLUMBUS, Ohio: I told you I would write about a wonderful annual gathering of rather “mature” professional speakers. Our group is called the Veteran Speakers Network. The conference includes about 60 speakers and a few spouses. Ages range from 50 to 98. Yes, 98-year-old Dave Yoho is still active, still speaking in his commanding voice.

Some might refer to us as an “Over the hill gang.” However, three-fourths of us are still in the business of grabbing a microphone and holding onto an audience as long as they invite us to share wisdom, inspiration, motivation and laughter.

We meet in Herndon, Virginia. It’s close to Washington, but far enough away that we mostly avoid politics. One highlight each year is honoring a new group of “Legends of Professional Speaking.” The five honored this year are Tim Gard, Ron Karr, Scott Friedman, Liz Weber, and (posthumously) Og Mandino, who wrote “The Greatest Salesman in the World.”

You might recall that two years ago, Will Rogers was also honored, which I referred to as “post-humorously.”

We always have an hour of entertainment on Friday evening. Can you believe it, this year it was a conversation, led by Terry Brock, with Florence Nightingale, Winston Churchill, and Will Rogers.

Young folks may not realize that Florence Nightingale was the founder of modern nursing. She is portrayed by Dr. Candy Campbell, an award-winning nurse herself, an acclaimed actor, and author. Winston Churchill led Britain through WWII, enduring the constant bombing by the German air force. Randy Otto has been performing as Winston for 55 years. And then there was me, determined to keep up with these pros. The audience was fantastic. They appreciated the history and laughed with and not at us.

Friday, Sept. 11, will be the 25^th anniversary of the horrible attack led by radical Islamist Osama bin Ladin. Today, it’s hard to believe we have elected officials and candidates, including the mayor of New York City, who justify or refuse to condemn, the attacks that killed almost 3000 people.

Radical Muslims have been attacking, killing, and enslaving us and others around the world for centuries. President Thomas Jefferson sent the Navy to the Mediterranean Sea in 1801 to stop the Barbary Pirate attacks on merchant ships. President Trump took on radical Muslims in Iran to eliminate their goal of killing us with nuclear weapons. You may debate details, but no other President in 46 years took effective action against the Muslim leaders who continue to shout, “Death to America.”

Politics rev up after Labor Day. Republicans will meet this week in Dallas. The Democrat Socialists of America met last week in Chicago. In most of the contested elections (excluding the one-sided ones) for Congress and the Senate, voters will have a clear distinction between candidates.

Historic quotes by Will Rogers:

          “Tomorrow is Labor Day. I suppose created by an act of Congress… How Congress knew anything about labor is beyond us… It’s a day in the big cities when men march all day and work harder than they have in any other of the 365.” DT #967, Sept. 1, 1929

         “Democrats are attacking and Republicans are defending. All the Democrats have to do is promise ‘what they would do if they got in.’ But the Republicans have to promise ‘what they would do’ and then explain why they haven’t already ‘done it.’” DT #1917, Sept. 26, 1932