Recent articles by Jim Whelan.http://www.trcb.com/en-Us60Fri, 10 Feb 2012 00:31:31 ESTCopyright 2012 Jim Whelan, TRCB.com All Right Reservedhttp://www.trcb.com/news-and-society/pure-opinion/there-are-worms-living-in-their-brains-2492.htmMaybe you've read the story about the Arizona woman who thought she had a brain tumor; but when doctors went in they found a parasitic worm chowing on her brain.Tue, 25 Nov 2008 18:17:33 ESThttp://www.trcb.com/news-and-society/pure-opinion/there-are-worms-living-in-their-brains-2492.htmTRCB.comNews and Society / Pure Opinionhttp://www.trcb.com/news-and-society/pure-opinion/raise-the-roof-2482.htmI'm back on the proposed bailout of the auto companies today, because I don't think we should be giving these dunderheads any dough.Mon, 24 Nov 2008 15:17:54 ESThttp://www.trcb.com/news-and-society/pure-opinion/raise-the-roof-2482.htmTRCB.comNews and Society / Pure Opinionhttp://www.trcb.com/news-and-society/pure-opinion/the-return-of-the-porkasaurus-2469.htmA year ago she was on the endangered species list, and many assumed she drifted off the continental shelf, which may have caused that tsunami on the west coast of South America.Sun, 23 Nov 2008 21:30:12 ESThttp://www.trcb.com/news-and-society/pure-opinion/the-return-of-the-porkasaurus-2469.htmTRCB.comNews and Society / Pure Opinionhttp://www.trcb.com/news-and-society/politics/the-left-goes-on-the-rampage-2441.htmWell, I predicted that it wouldn't take long before the President elect started taking fire, and that the bullets wouldn't come from Republicans. In the past few days the embers have started to grow into fires, and the far left bloggers are having a hissy fit.Thu, 20 Nov 2008 16:01:05 ESThttp://www.trcb.com/news-and-society/politics/the-left-goes-on-the-rampage-2441.htmTRCB.comNews and Society / Politicshttp://www.trcb.com/news-and-society/news-and-society/move-over-alec-the-chairman-is-here-2435.htmEarlier today someone sent me a little news item where Alec Baldwin said that kissing Jennifer Aniston was painful. He was joking of course, because if he isn't, I'm willing to fly to wherever "30 Rock" is being filmed and stand in for him.Wed, 19 Nov 2008 16:56:36 ESThttp://www.trcb.com/news-and-society/news-and-society/move-over-alec-the-chairman-is-here-2435.htmTRCB.comNews and Society / News and Societyhttp://www.trcb.com/news-and-society/politics/once-you-reach-the-top-theres-only-one-way-2399.htmOver the weekend I spent some time at a family gathering where almost everyone voted for Obama. I can understand the vote, but I can't understand the religious zealotry and hypocritical blame game. Whatever subject that was brought up, it was George W. Bush's fault. And whatever the problem, Barack Obama was going to fix it.Mon, 17 Nov 2008 18:14:32 ESThttp://www.trcb.com/news-and-society/politics/once-you-reach-the-top-theres-only-one-way-2399.htmTRCB.comNews and Society / Politicshttp://www.trcb.com/news-and-society/pure-opinion/dont-give-the-automakers-any-money-2350.htmAs I predicted, the hogs are all lining up at the trough, and at this point it doesn't look like there's going to be enough feed for everyone.Fri, 14 Nov 2008 17:25:39 ESThttp://www.trcb.com/news-and-society/pure-opinion/dont-give-the-automakers-any-money-2350.htmTRCB.comNews and Society / Pure Opinionhttp://www.trcb.com/self-improvement/motivation/how-to-protect-and-defend-yourself-2238.htmA few moons back, like around the time I was born and before, fathers taught sons how to defend themselves. This usually involved some rudimentary boxing lessons, or fast strike "finishers", as my old man used to refer to them.Thu, 13 Nov 2008 16:08:14 ESThttp://www.trcb.com/self-improvement/motivation/how-to-protect-and-defend-yourself-2238.htmTRCB.comSelf Improvement / Motivationhttp://www.trcb.com/news-and-society/pure-opinion/dont-be-afraid-to-be-dumb-enough-to-succeed-2185.htmI had a very interesting conversation with a friend of mine over the weekend. I was in Beverly Hills, staying for the week at the Beverly Hills Hotel, which is a pretty swank joint for a cowboy like me. I was out in La La Land for the L.A Film Festival, or whatever they call it, and I was working on fnding some new clients.Wed, 12 Nov 2008 15:45:58 ESThttp://www.trcb.com/news-and-society/pure-opinion/dont-be-afraid-to-be-dumb-enough-to-succeed-2185.htmTRCB.comNews and Society / Pure Opinionhttp://www.trcb.com/news-and-society/pure-opinion/fallout-on-the-bailout-2158.htmOn the front page of today's Washington Post was a story that should interest all fair minded folks. Mon, 10 Nov 2008 15:35:48 ESThttp://www.trcb.com/news-and-society/pure-opinion/fallout-on-the-bailout-2158.htmTRCB.comNews and Society / Pure Opinionhttp://www.trcb.com/news-and-society/news-and-society/the-littlest-firemans-last-wish-2101.htmI wrote about this story, (it's not mine), about 400 columns ago, and I got a request for it last week from three different people, so here it is againWed, 05 Nov 2008 16:37:50 ESThttp://www.trcb.com/news-and-society/news-and-society/the-littlest-firemans-last-wish-2101.htmTRCB.comNews and Society / News and Societyhttp://www.trcb.com/news-and-society/pure-opinion/what-was-mccains-big-mistake-2024.htmI voted this morning, and it was a very quick experience. I waited all of two or three minutes to have my voter ID card verified, and then I was handed a paper ballot, which took me less than thirty seconds to fill out.Tue, 04 Nov 2008 16:35:17 ESThttp://www.trcb.com/news-and-society/pure-opinion/what-was-mccains-big-mistake-2024.htmTRCB.comNews and Society / Pure Opinionhttp://www.trcb.com/news-and-society/pure-opinion/fat-al-makes-an-appearance-2011.htmFat Al and Tipper (Over) both looked like they had been eating every other meal at the Dreamland BBQ down Alabama Way. In fact, if Tipper (Over) gets any bigger Fat Al will be able to use her to ground his hot air balloon, which was on display this weekend, albeit a tad rusty, with him missing some of the messianic high notes.Mon, 03 Nov 2008 10:47:02 ESThttp://www.trcb.com/news-and-society/pure-opinion/fat-al-makes-an-appearance-2011.htmTRCB.comNews and Society / Pure Opinionhttp://www.trcb.com/news-and-society/pure-opinion/this-congress-has-the-smell-of-chicken-blood-1774.htmSome of my relatives were farmers; they had chickens, pigs, and cattle, and they also grew things like corn, wheat, beans, and fruit. I wasn't cut out to be a farmer, and as I got older I tried every trick in the book to keep from going on those family visits.Wed, 15 Oct 2008 13:41:28 ESThttp://www.trcb.com/news-and-society/pure-opinion/this-congress-has-the-smell-of-chicken-blood-1774.htmTRCB.comNews and Society / Pure Opinionhttp://www.trcb.com/business/entrepreneurialism/turn-off-your-televisions-and-burn-your-newspapers-1758.htmI just put down the phone after talking to a young real estate investor in Houston. He is making money hand over fist, in spite of the bad economy, and the recent devastation in the area by the hurricane.Tue, 14 Oct 2008 17:14:17 ESThttp://www.trcb.com/business/entrepreneurialism/turn-off-your-televisions-and-burn-your-newspapers-1758.htmTRCB.comBusiness / Entrepreneurialismhttp://www.trcb.com/news-and-society/pure-opinion/if-you-want-to-cry-call-someone-else-1707.htmBoy oh boy I'ma telling you, I have never heard so much wailing and complaining and finger pointing. Yesterday I had to kick people out of my office because the bad vibes were getting on my nerves.Fri, 10 Oct 2008 16:56:53 ESThttp://www.trcb.com/news-and-society/pure-opinion/if-you-want-to-cry-call-someone-else-1707.htmTRCB.comNews and Society / Pure Opinionhttp://www.trcb.com/news-and-society/pure-opinion/send-aig-executives-to-the-caboose-1697.htmWe don't have to look very far these days to find a "butter and egg man." In the parlance of Sam Spade that would be the guy with the big bank roll that is dishing out the money at the hotel or casino.Thu, 09 Oct 2008 14:03:42 ESThttp://www.trcb.com/news-and-society/pure-opinion/send-aig-executives-to-the-caboose-1697.htmTRCB.comNews and Society / Pure Opinionhttp://www.trcb.com/news-and-society/pure-opinion/fools-can-make-money-1692.htmMy mother used to say to me, "Jim, any fool can make money, but it takes a wise man to spend it." The other thing I remember her saying was "A pig bought on credit is forever grunting." I laugh every time that thought passes by, and it has passed by a lot lately.Wed, 08 Oct 2008 14:58:54 ESThttp://www.trcb.com/news-and-society/pure-opinion/fools-can-make-money-1692.htmTRCB.comNews and Society / Pure Opinionhttp://www.trcb.com/sales-and-marketing/sales-strategies/how-not-to-run-a-sales-campaign-1686.htmThe McCain Campaign has one last chance to get some traction tonight, or it's essentially over. McCain was asked last week by a woman in Missouri when he was going to start fighting like a man, and the old warrior appeared flummoxed by the inquiry.Tue, 07 Oct 2008 15:41:53 ESThttp://www.trcb.com/sales-and-marketing/sales-strategies/how-not-to-run-a-sales-campaign-1686.htmTRCB.comSales and Marketing / Sales Strategieshttp://www.trcb.com/sales-and-marketing/marketing-strategies/the-well-oiled-sales-machine-1680.htmYou might remember that old commercial that categorized people into spenders and savers. Then it made a liitle joke calling some couples "spavers." There's some smidgen of truth in that commercial.Mon, 06 Oct 2008 12:15:36 ESThttp://www.trcb.com/sales-and-marketing/marketing-strategies/the-well-oiled-sales-machine-1680.htmTRCB.comSales and Marketing / Marketing Strategieshttp://www.trcb.com/business/small-business/what-to-do-when-you-make-a-mistake-1637.htmRecently I had lunch with a Japanese friend of mine who had made a few mistakes in the beginning of a business venture. He was really depressed and down in the dumps. He also did not want to tell anyone involved in the venture about the mistakes, which would only serve to compound the issueFri, 03 Oct 2008 16:30:33 ESThttp://www.trcb.com/business/small-business/what-to-do-when-you-make-a-mistake-1637.htmTRCB.comBusiness / Small Businesshttp://www.trcb.com/business/startup-ideas/lazy-college-dropout-makes-big-money-1631.htmWhile millions of people are watching the news and crying in their beer feeling sorry for themselves, some smart young people are making a whole bunch of money by selling products on the internet.Thu, 02 Oct 2008 14:44:17 ESThttp://www.trcb.com/business/startup-ideas/lazy-college-dropout-makes-big-money-1631.htmTRCB.comBusiness / Startup Ideashttp://www.trcb.com/sales-and-marketing/sales-management/a-sales-star-is-on-the-loose-1629.htmA couple of years ago a salesman stood in my office and gave an excellent short presentation. Then a very strange thing happened. When it became time to close me, he got very nervous, and his whole demeanor changed. His hands started to shake, and his speech became halting.Wed, 01 Oct 2008 15:27:58 ESThttp://www.trcb.com/sales-and-marketing/sales-management/a-sales-star-is-on-the-loose-1629.htmTRCB.comSales and Marketing / Sales Managementhttp://www.trcb.com/news-and-society/pure-opinion/goodbye-to-a-fine-actor-1626.htmOne of the first movies I can remember seeing is Cool Hand Luke followed up a little later by Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. It's really hard to believe that 40 years have passed since I watched Paul Newman try to eat all those eggs.Tue, 30 Sep 2008 13:53:51 ESThttp://www.trcb.com/news-and-society/pure-opinion/goodbye-to-a-fine-actor-1626.htmTRCB.comNews and Society / Pure Opinionhttp://www.trcb.com/news-and-society/pure-opinion/the-inmates-are-now-running-the-asylum-1623.htmThe bailout that everybody said was going to happen didn't. 95 Democrats defected from the command of Speaker Nancy Pants, who tried to blame the entire debacle on George Bush.Mon, 29 Sep 2008 21:39:47 ESThttp://www.trcb.com/news-and-society/pure-opinion/the-inmates-are-now-running-the-asylum-1623.htmTRCB.comNews and Society / Pure Opinion