tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-56639644645923831482024-03-05T02:47:44.336-06:00Joe Gartrell - God Knows PhysicsOutlaw Ph.D. Media - Open inquiry and open discussion rather than suppression of speech.Joe Gartrell - Outlaw PhDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17609494426614528964noreply@blogger.comBlogger77125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5663964464592383148.post-38578071409318198412023-08-16T08:44:00.002-05:002023-08-16T08:44:50.142-05:00<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfUmyCZw-XdpDNxVKi6VBIT7dGKT1rRS8lf-5behhjgoCzYWxlf8cQQqzAFx9G-Me8upRnSipCt5l7AYs6ADy8Wmwn3fiTCLRUl0x-qV0LKOBzd_AiNid_aKmchOoN8VfVG0H8cHWX7Ylm8xVOcPitY1YSTr8I359AKEJNpEDb82Xg_bjhMniRh3kfFR8/s964/A%20Question%20Per%20Week.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="964" data-original-width="964" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfUmyCZw-XdpDNxVKi6VBIT7dGKT1rRS8lf-5behhjgoCzYWxlf8cQQqzAFx9G-Me8upRnSipCt5l7AYs6ADy8Wmwn3fiTCLRUl0x-qV0LKOBzd_AiNid_aKmchOoN8VfVG0H8cHWX7Ylm8xVOcPitY1YSTr8I359AKEJNpEDb82Xg_bjhMniRh3kfFR8/s320/A%20Question%20Per%20Week.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; line-height: 1.6em; margin-top: 0px;">I have a friend that I meet at Applebee’s every Friday (yes, I am one of those guys, I’ve heard the jokes). He’s 80 and I’m 62, so we have a lot in common though we have some generational differences. He also has become more liberal as he ages while I have become more conservative. We mostly talk sports amongst ourselves and with other regulars (cut it out with the jokes!); however, there is something unique every week that adds spice and wisdom to our conversations - he always has a question for me, just one question. This past week he asked me how I define the term “woke.” In its original parlance, the term applied to people who are aware of political and social issues and have open minds. He said that in the original definition, I am woke and he is correct. That said, when a conservative uses the term woke, and this is his inquiry, it’s more narrow in scope. Woke refers to any ideology that forces not only the acceptance of that ideology but coercing the celebration and participation in that ideology. Woke compels approved speech and seeks to suppress and censor those who disagree and woke is generally very much at odds with nature and science - in essence, it’s at odds with the truth. He understood where I was coming from since I was able to define what I mean by the term woke.</p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;">He seeks to understand my thoughts and positions and I seek the same. He absolutely hates Donald Trump and thinks he is evil incarnate; however, he is interested in my opinion of Trump (which is that I will vote for him if he is the Republican nominee, but I have other candidates that I prefer). He wants to know why I would vote for Trump and the answer is simple - sans COVID, Trump’s presidency produced fantastic economic results, no new wars, energy independence, Supreme Court nominees who eventually overturned Roe v. Wade, and a halfway coherent border policy - my family and I were better off. Also, Biden’s presidency has been a dumpster fire on top of a landfill fire in the middle of an apocalyptic wasteland.</p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><br /></p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;">The bottom line is that we disagree on several fronts, but agree on many others; however, we seek to understand the other. Isn’t this the way it should be? This isn’t the only friend that I have who disagrees with my positions and vice versa, but the rub is that we respect each other, love each other, and can make intelligent, evidence based arguments without harming our friendships.</p>Joe Gartrell - Outlaw PhDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17609494426614528964noreply@blogger.comSan Antonio, TX, USA29.4251905 -98.49459221.1149566638211539 -133.6508422 57.735424336178845 -63.3383422tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5663964464592383148.post-63063010456485706032023-08-08T12:12:00.006-05:002023-08-08T12:16:01.589-05:00The Approved Orthodoxy - Why it's useless to debate the woke left<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgAVMgAjOyM3p9RIN-Vmf23WjxlB-rd2JMjcqyBOJNYBaO9FYG8kdivJ5tKWLk_9uIEJoBb1QTHEsiNI33mwNhXK87Yb61tel7kj2ZO3CwOI7MZkX-146Um-46NRnOMUbiSor_ZfZUXAwqKSlC1BQQjwy92xuN2QvqJtDx6rl7ah_1C1cPWbWGtwNSb9U/s964/The%20approved%20orthodoxy.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="964" data-original-width="964" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgAVMgAjOyM3p9RIN-Vmf23WjxlB-rd2JMjcqyBOJNYBaO9FYG8kdivJ5tKWLk_9uIEJoBb1QTHEsiNI33mwNhXK87Yb61tel7kj2ZO3CwOI7MZkX-146Um-46NRnOMUbiSor_ZfZUXAwqKSlC1BQQjwy92xuN2QvqJtDx6rl7ah_1C1cPWbWGtwNSb9U/s320/The%20approved%20orthodoxy.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; line-height: 1.6em; margin-top: 0px;">A little while ago I was having a conversation with an acquaintance and the subject of climate change came up. This person is intelligent, has an undergraduate degree and has almost completed her graduate degree, and is well-spoken; I admire and respect her. But when it comes to certain subjects that are part of the woke orthodoxy, all reason heads out the window, the conversation devolves into a senseless babble. I asked one question just to set up a basis for the discussion - what percentage of the atmosphere is CO2? There is rhyme and reason behind the question as the climate alarmists focus on a single gas CO2 model for their arguments on global warming and their perceived inevitable catastrophe. By the way, the answer is .04%. This set off a downward spiral of degraded oratory. She did not want to answer my question and intimated that I don’t know as much as I think I do and other ad hominems. I again tried to re-establish a baseline for discussion by trying to tell her that part of my Masters in Aeronautical Science education was Advanced Meteorology; I know more about weather and climate than the vast majority of the population and I am a trained researcher (Ph.D.). What’s more, I am very interested in the subject, so I spend time on it. The conversation continued to devolve with more attacks on my education and knowledge without any basis or contrary evidence, only the attempt to make it about me rather than the subject at hand.</p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;">This is just one example of many personal experiences that I have had in trying to have discussions around subjects that the woke left has determined to be their approved orthodoxy. This also applies to government and media narratives. There is no ability to debate since, in their minds, the narrative/science/politics, etc., has been settled. Their only tactic is to shut down or shout down dissenting opinions, or any discussion for that matter. It is useless to try to have a conversation in this environment; however, there is a large swath of the population that would really like to hear the arguments from both sides and this is where the conversation should happen, even if the woke left refuse to participate. The science and art of debate center on the ability to recognize the opposing viewpoints in question.</p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><br /></p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;">The most insidious result of this refusal to debate is censorship and suppression of speech that opposes the approved orthodoxy. Worse, opposing viewpoints are being punished through various social credit mechanisms such as job loss, deplatforming, debanking, and, in some cases, jail. Yes, it is actually happening. What do we do about it? The first line of defense is to keep the truth alive, keep up the conversation, publish evidence, and engage in the arena. The second line of defense is to utilize legal means - force the woke left to defend their actions, a defense that requires evidence. The third line of defense is to vote for the right representation at all levels of government who will fight for freedom and stand by the truth. We can win this if we consistently resist and employ tactics that will bring down the woke left ideology.</p>Joe Gartrell - Outlaw PhDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17609494426614528964noreply@blogger.comSan Antonio, TX, USA29.4251905 -98.49459221.1149566638211539 -133.6508422 57.735424336178845 -63.3383422tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5663964464592383148.post-46831351066139193342022-08-11T15:46:00.001-05:002022-08-12T08:06:23.403-05:00You're Doing It Wrong<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF1zjeYMz4vn99U7sxubm11arjfAJnX1D_Dl1CbQr6s0vY-J96kt1ZyKTcrQfxDLV6zRC31qcwFZmRk_Ncq-xiXgH6vCpgVBRBYRxU8HwE24ye5WO7Veo60wsXzhKT6pPc5AY72P9eFS23DqZqYd2XTWT4sbl7bZp_YoYoWv8ZJmukdifwUMzqltKX/s402/No%20bull.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="369" data-original-width="402" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF1zjeYMz4vn99U7sxubm11arjfAJnX1D_Dl1CbQr6s0vY-J96kt1ZyKTcrQfxDLV6zRC31qcwFZmRk_Ncq-xiXgH6vCpgVBRBYRxU8HwE24ye5WO7Veo60wsXzhKT6pPc5AY72P9eFS23DqZqYd2XTWT4sbl7bZp_YoYoWv8ZJmukdifwUMzqltKX/w258-h237/No%20bull.jpg" width="258"></a></div><br><span style="text-align: justify;">This is a longish post, but I hope it's a beneficial read.</span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Most organizations have very talented individuals who can accomplish tremendous things; however, that talent generally goes to waste because employers are essentially <i>doing it wrong</i> resulting in sub-optimal performance. Yes, there are very successful businesses out there by conventional standards, but underneath the success are several anchors dragging them away from being the best that they can be. </p><p data-pm-slice="1 1 []">Here is the original sin - In 1968, Dr. George Land and Beth Jarman conducted a longitudinal study of 1,600 3-5 year olds using a standard assessment test. The results: 98% of 3-5 year olds tested at the “creative genius” level. Five years later, the same children with the same test – 32% tested at the “creative genius” level. Five years later, the same kids with the same test – 10% tested at the “creative genius” level. Only 2% of adults test at the “creative genius” level.</p><p>We’re actually born <em>creative geniuses</em>, it’s how we’re originally wired; however, schools and work beat it out of us. Our brains are quite capable of maintaining that creative genius as we age, but, in most cases, we’re literally re-wired to not be creative. Though our education system is largely to blame for destroying our innate creative genius, employers finish it off. </p><p>One of the issues in organizations is that we ask the wrong questions that lead to decisions that muffle optimal performance, but larger than that, because we ask the wrong questions, we implement processes and systems that institutionalize de-humanizing practices. Here are a few examples of the wrong questions and alternative questions that will result in better decisions for everyone:</p><p>Wrong: Where do I cut costs? (This leads to bad decisions, chief among them - layoffs)</p><p>Right: Where are my dollars most effectively spent to achieve my goals? (This leads to correctly allocating resources toward true priorities that usually retains employees)</p><p>Wrong: Is this a good investment? (This leads to speculative analyses that are often out of context when comparing against alternative investments)</p><p>Right: Does putting money here more effectively meet my goals? (This aligns priorities with resource requirements and it includes the correct context for a decision)</p><p>Wrong: Do I have the right staff? (Again, context. Right staff for what?)</p><p>Right: Have I effectively matched my staff's talent, skills, training, education, willingness, and philosophy with my goals? (Aligns priorities with people and context)</p><p>A few lifetimes ago, I was a district manager for a large convenience store chain where my contrary approaches to business resulted in outstanding results, often by asking the right questions. District managers and store managers were bonused on year over year growth in operating profits (adjusted for uncontrollables like street construction in front of the store, etc.). If this was the case, what was the right question to ask to get to the most beneficial course of action? In my case, I asked the question, "what is the cost of an additional dollar of revenue?" The costs were always operational costs since the "below the line" costs were outside of our control, things like corporate cost allocations against each store, taxes, insurance, and the like. I taught my store managers to do a marginal cost analysis that revealed the true cost of a new dollar. Some stores had a marginal cost as low as 74 cents, which meant it cost 74 cents to bring in an additional dollar. On the other hand, I had a store that had a marginal cost of $1.14, meaning that it cost a $1.14 to bring in that additional dollar, not a good deal. The good news is that we could easily identify which P&L line items were the culprits and fix it.</p><p>I won awards for best operating profits though my zone (district) had the highest in-store salary costs. This runs counter to what most leaders are taught and what they practice in their businesses. Why did I have the highest in-store salary costs? Because I fully staffed my stores and paid well for assistant managers and third shift staff. Assistant managers were hard to come by because of evening and weekend hours and third shift employees set up the stores for the next day. Back then, there was no paying at the pump, you had to come into the store and that's where we made our money; margins on gasoline were razor thin. If the store was set-up properly and clean, the per transaction average was higher, thus higher revenues against a fixed cost of labor equaled a greater operating income - in finance this is called operating leverage. Most leaders don't get this - spending more on labor to INCREASE profits. </p><p>Layoffs can only be seen as a total failure for several reasons. A lack of planning and foresight, the wrong priorities were pursued, employees weren't utilized correctly, and so on. Yes, external factors can severely affect a business; however, it's really just a priority shift requiring a countervailing strategy to offset the external factor. If the only reaction is layoffs, then the priorities were never correct. Repurposing talent and skillsets should be happening all the time, but is not the case in most organizations, which results misaligned missions, strategies, priorities, and worst of all, sinking employee morale and engagement. </p><p>The job of a leader is <i>people</i>, not the work. Hiring and development of staff is at least 50% of a leader's job, at any level. My proudest moments as a leader were when I was able to coach, mentor, and develop my employees out of their jobs and provide a higher path that suited the trajectory of their careers. I hired a project manager who actually came out of HR's reject pile (another sad story of corporate America, the abdication of hiring to sterile applicant tracking systems) who eventually became a VP in a few short years. I was able to get another team member his VPship in two evaluation cycles in which he became the youngest VP in the division (over 5,600 people). I had three contractors who were completely unfamiliar with banking upon their hire with whom I taught banking and we put together a very accurate second line of defense risk model for our credit portfolios. But, that's not what made me the proudest. What made me proud was that all three contractors landed full time positions in the company.</p><p>My philosophy has always been not to force fit people into roles, but to create a role around their particular talents, skills, experience, and most of all, their aspirations. My job as a leader, whether a formal role or not, is to fully support people...and the work will take care of itself. I don't prescribe how to do anything (unless there is something specific like compliance and regulatory requirements), I give the mission parameters and let the boots on the ground make the real time decisions and trust their judgments. </p><p>If we transformed our organizations to truly be about people, not in a slogan or mission statement, but in the day to day business, we would see a tremendous uplifting of human beings and oh, by the way, profits. We can do better, by a long shot. </p><p><br></p>Joe Gartrell - Outlaw PhDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17609494426614528964noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5663964464592383148.post-38031051452315273122021-08-16T09:56:00.000-05:002021-08-16T09:56:12.029-05:00What I believe<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXN4ltTYt0v6CIvhiDWhU99cORF2cqCn3XG068nSc81v1n51VW-jcqiPRIRO6GKur6loj_qlIW5Er65QUCOICewWrJfjm5PWAF7gLnI-7l-2tqfbdXwhuytez2xDqR2drGAM-_47qTzz4/s1024/What+I+believe+word+cloud.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="634" data-original-width="1024" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXN4ltTYt0v6CIvhiDWhU99cORF2cqCn3XG068nSc81v1n51VW-jcqiPRIRO6GKur6loj_qlIW5Er65QUCOICewWrJfjm5PWAF7gLnI-7l-2tqfbdXwhuytez2xDqR2drGAM-_47qTzz4/s320/What+I+believe+word+cloud.png" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><div class="kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">I think that we are too cynical and we put too much emphasis on what we are against (I am guilty of this), so here is my statement of what I believe - </div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">I believe that Jesus Christ is my redeemer and died a cruel and horrific death as salvation for my sins.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">I believe that all lives matter; therefore, abortion as a form of birth control is inhuman and wrong.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">I believe that the United States, even with all our warts, is an anchor for the world and has kept humankind from self-destruction.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">I believe in the wisdom of our Constitution and its intent to limit government, not individuals.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">I believe in science, the rigor of the scientific method, and open scrutiny of scientific results. </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">I believe in open dialogue on any subject free from any form of censorship.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">I believe that education (free from political bias) and skilled trades are the great equalizers of socioeconomic disparities. </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">I believe in the power of individuals; therefore, I believe in equal opportunities, not equal outcomes.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"> </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">I believe that our planet is precious and should be protected from harm but based on reasonable (non-political) and evidence-based solutions.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">I believe that humans are explorers by nature and we should always endeavor to reach for the stars (both in space and here on Earth).</div></div>Joe Gartrell - Outlaw PhDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17609494426614528964noreply@blogger.comSan Antonio, TX, USA29.4241219 -98.4936281999999891.1138880638211539 -133.6498782 57.734355736178841 -63.337378199999989tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5663964464592383148.post-66139011256760529142021-05-15T12:41:00.000-05:002021-05-15T12:41:21.323-05:00The Growing Undeserved Arrogance and the Facts<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-bg_f7t3XU_nZcjXkDaTenv5hGvkhch_YowaOnnAL55QWUv2DH1NmGtOv5R4dmfGeSGoXPl7dLPbr9XYwwsDpwp6JdHjltn6SCvLtKgA2Rl5iIJU3bM6bNtrtXcQJkjg7pjdTVPWD7G0/s266/COVID-19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="190" data-original-width="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-bg_f7t3XU_nZcjXkDaTenv5hGvkhch_YowaOnnAL55QWUv2DH1NmGtOv5R4dmfGeSGoXPl7dLPbr9XYwwsDpwp6JdHjltn6SCvLtKgA2Rl5iIJU3bM6bNtrtXcQJkjg7pjdTVPWD7G0/s0/COVID-19.jpg" /></a></div><p></p><div class="kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: times;">I have always stated that getting the COVID vaccine is a personal choice as are ALL medical decisions. That said, I have also shared evidence-based information with regard to several aspects of the pandemic. This does not make me “anti-vax” or a conspiracy theorist, it makes me a critical thinker trained in science who questions a forced narrative and the suppression of facts that are contrary to that forced narrative – I do this with the intent of helping others make informed decisions, something they are not getting from “official” sources and the media. </span></div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: times;">It is becoming apparent that there is a segment of those who have chosen to be vaccinated that are taking a misguided, uninformed, and sometimes arrogant position against those of us who choose not to participate. I have seen comments that are completely reprehensible – “I will avoid those who are not vaccinated like the carriers of the plague that they are”, “people who are not vaccinated should not receive treatment for COVID if they become ill”, and “then you will die if you contract the virus” among others. The last example is from a former friend of mine directed at me. This former friend actually called data that I cited from The Lancet, a highly respected, peer-reviewed medical journal, “inane” and “obtuse.” That’s where we are – evidence-based clinical research being called inane and obtuse. For that reason, I give up on people like him. </span></div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: times;">I am tested for COVID every week at work, I have an optimal serum vitamin D level, and my immune system has always been robust (I rarely get the flu, once every 5 or 6 years, so I opt out of that vaccine also). The bottom of my left ventricle is dead and I have moderate kidney damage, both due to my heart attack four years ago. There is no data on the long-term safety of the vaccines and the true efficacy based on absolute risk reduction is quite low (less than 2%). Too many people are having bad reactions to the vaccine, which IS NOT normal. For those reasons, I choose not to participate. I have been out and about since the initial lockdown and have not contracted COVID. Does that mean that I will not contract it sometime in the future? Not by any means, but I choose to live my life free of fear and free from government and societal intrusions into my personal liberty.</span></div></div>Joe Gartrell - Outlaw PhDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17609494426614528964noreply@blogger.comSan Antonio, TX, USA29.4241219 -98.4936281999999891.1138880638211539 -133.6498782 57.734355736178841 -63.337378199999989tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5663964464592383148.post-65282363836263638692021-03-10T09:39:00.009-06:002021-03-10T10:05:12.471-06:00The Collective Lie<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpuSxxtd9fHz3M2ByH6ADTIosnpxq4E1GhEs6_gPAOH3NrqBQDxFwNasSqD4CY2lNfGiSsCSylXEsVWo2fVrEYQx25rk3SOAnam3rC8eJZAb_qrPggnbmp4UeBN3HmisQh0-IS6aRlZAM/s500/Truth+and+lies.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpuSxxtd9fHz3M2ByH6ADTIosnpxq4E1GhEs6_gPAOH3NrqBQDxFwNasSqD4CY2lNfGiSsCSylXEsVWo2fVrEYQx25rk3SOAnam3rC8eJZAb_qrPggnbmp4UeBN3HmisQh0-IS6aRlZAM/s320/Truth+and+lies.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">I have a unique approach to interviewing job
candidates that gets to the meat of the process immediately.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But more than that, my process gets to the
truth which allows me to trust the remainder of the interview. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Prior to the interview, I will pick out a small
part of their stated experience in their resume, most often something obscure
and long ago.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I will ask the candidate
to expand on that experience.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As they
speak, I ask them to go further.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If they
can keep going down the rabbit hole with me, I now know that I can trust the
rest of the resume as being true.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This
allows me to shelf the resume and spend the rest of the interview actually
discussing the job and their thoughts on what they bring to it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It has been a highly successful process for
me and the quality of my hires has been top tier. I have successfully applied
this approach to other areas of my life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">An article was published in the January 2021 issue of
the American Journal of Medicine, a respected peer-reviewed journal, that indicates
hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) is a very effective component of an early intervention
protocol for COVID-19 patients (<a href="https://www.amjmed.com/article/S0002-9343(20)30673-2/fulltext" target="_blank">https://www.amjmed.com/article/S0002-9343(20)30673-2/fulltext</a>).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The article details a treatment algorithm for
ambulatory patients (the vast majority of COVID-19 patients are ambulatory)
where HCQ is a core component of the protocol.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Early on during the pandemic thousands of doctors worldwide were
discussing the success of HCQ as an early intervention treatment, but those
voices were shut down by a concerted effort between the mainstream media, big
tech, governments, the CDC, and the WHO.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This suppression and censorship continued until this article was
published.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Uneducated and uninformed
citizens across the globe took to social media in droves to denounce those who
touted HCQ as a treatment for COVID patients.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>President Trump was derided for mentioning the treatment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By July 2020 there were at least 65 studies
worldwide indicating the efficacy of HCQ as an early intervention treatment,
yet the suppression and censorship continued.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Now, apply my approach to discerning the truth to the COVID-19
situation and tell me what is believable when it comes to information coming
from the mainstream media, big tech, governments, the CDC, and the WHO?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If what we were told about HCQ was a concerted
lie, what else is a lie?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Can we trust
anything else being told to us about COVID, the lockdowns, the masking, the
numbers of cases and deaths, the cause of deaths, the origin of the virus, and biggest of all, the
vaccines?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What about the riots, the election,
the events of January 6<sup>th</sup>?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
are living through a collective lie that millions, and maybe billions, have
bought into in a big Orwellian way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><b>Epilogue –</b> The initial lie was the most open and outrageous.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Early last year we were shown videos from
China of people collapsing in the streets and being treated by emergency
workers in hazmat suits, and dead bodies lying on the sidewalks of Wuhan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We now know these videos to be false and out
of context.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The collapsing people and
emergency workers were from training films having nothing to do with COVID-19.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The dead bodies were actually people sleeping
in a city 600 miles from Wuhan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
purpose of this deception was to scare you into submission.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a purposeful and willful lie meant to
ensure that the masses would comply with the oppressive policies fueled by the
lies to come.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Image copyright rishikajain.com</span></span></p><br /><p></p>Joe Gartrell - Outlaw PhDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17609494426614528964noreply@blogger.comSan Antonio, TX, USA29.4241219 -98.4936281999999891.1138880638211539 -133.6498782 57.734355736178841 -63.337378199999989tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5663964464592383148.post-80352141233833574722020-11-25T10:37:00.001-06:002020-11-25T10:37:45.225-06:00A Brave New World?<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="369" data-original-width="402" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPpWVX6yToYxz2JYYskRQ0lbxF9MvqGCxgWKMW8-ER8uX640PtqSu4fqG4Rds2bFWDvd71uHNpL5AYTki1Clh7RDIyz6UjT6vBcLkte52tj4ZTRzRUWQpISH6l3F6bzJqIiLWiaLwrfOg/s320/No+bull.jpg" width="320" /></div><p class="MsoNormal">2020 represents the beginning of the world’s spiral into a dystopian
abyss, the death of a republic, and the creation of a purgatory where truth is
dead.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Leftists, globalists, and technocrats
may believe that this is the beginning of a brave new world but, in reality, it
is a world of cowards and snakes who will prosper in agreed upon lies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>SARS-CoV-2 is but an excuse to create a world
run by deep state fundamentalists whose only goal is self-aggrandizement at the expense of yours and my freedom and labor – we are serfs to be used and lied
to.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Big tech giants and the mainstream media seek to silence the
truth in alliance with these technocrats; they seek to create a world of social
control where freedom is mocked and the voices of reason are silenced.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The newspeak of 1984 is not only here, it’s
far more pervasive and dangerous than George Orwell could ever imagine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">What do true patriots who believe in the innate freedom of
the individual over the body politic do to combat this slide into horror?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We continue to believe in the truth, we keep
speaking the truth, we keep living the truth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Unlike the cowards who vainly ridicule us, we have the strength of faith
– faith in our Lord, faith in individuals, and faith in the incredibly
prescient ideals of our Founding Fathers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">More to come…<o:p></o:p></p><br /><p></p>Joe Gartrell - Outlaw PhDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17609494426614528964noreply@blogger.comSan Antonio, TX, USA29.4241219 -98.4936281999999891.1138880638211539 -133.6498782 57.734355736178841 -63.337378199999989tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5663964464592383148.post-4704269306742819412020-10-14T09:52:00.000-05:002020-10-14T09:52:04.339-05:00The Trades, Talent, and High Value Work<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHrtHwbj44SLOlSrKruRZ90lSccbM4kuRdOv-tevXK2aWD3psX0VYFjlDxRB70KzEfxt5BfQ_BOzv_4siIwG5-XXg6d70QGSQfG3vot2aCFUf-9cawRqEF4P18yYwByzKHa7RfvtdWO1A/s499/scaffolding-erection-500x500.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="316" data-original-width="499" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHrtHwbj44SLOlSrKruRZ90lSccbM4kuRdOv-tevXK2aWD3psX0VYFjlDxRB70KzEfxt5BfQ_BOzv_4siIwG5-XXg6d70QGSQfG3vot2aCFUf-9cawRqEF4P18yYwByzKHa7RfvtdWO1A/s320/scaffolding-erection-500x500.png" width="320" /></a></div>I returned to the office in June as part of a "Return to Office" pilot program because I am, in no way, set up to work from home. During this time, my employer has been doing renovations to prepare for the workforce to return after the pandemic. As part of the renovations, there is work being done on the escalator banks that require scaffolding. All of the escalator banks are 4 floors in height with the exception of one which is five floors in height. I am completely awestruck by the work it takes to build the scaffolding and the talent and skill that goes into it. There are several other trades in the building doing renovation work and I admire and value them all.<p></p><p>The skilled trades have not become irrelevant as society grows in technical sophistication, nor will they, but there is going to be a shortage of skilled trades workers if we don't do something about it. High school curricula and guidance counselors push college as the future of choice for students; however, it is not the only route to professional success. I had two fathers involved in racing (both were mechanics) and so was my brother, but I never got involved...and I wish that I had. I wish that I had learned to build racecars, engines, transmissions, rear-ends, etc., but I was too involved with football and other not so healthy endeavors. I took shop classes, but I sucked at them, thus never tried to become proficient (FYI - you always suck when you first try something). </p><p>Getting back to the trades, we need to start following the lead of <a href="https://www.mikeroweworks.org/" target="_blank">Mike Rowe</a> and re-emphasize the skilled trades in schools and trade schools and apprenticeships after high school. I am a proponent of having degree programs that integrate professional programs with trades. For example, combine a computer-aided machining trade with mechanical engineering or combine carpentry with architecture. I want to partner with the states' boards of higher education and colleges and universities to make this a reality. </p>Joe Gartrell - Outlaw PhDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17609494426614528964noreply@blogger.comSan Antonio, TX, USA29.4241219 -98.4936281999999891.1138880638211539 -133.6498782 57.734355736178841 -63.337378199999989tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5663964464592383148.post-47788771829510591272020-10-08T13:02:00.011-05:002022-06-08T11:42:47.759-05:00I beg to differ Joe Rogan<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh30W8kGog1XxbtURfWYM3wpZWcbPBBQdWSdqa85kWTlw27e9O_46Kk1CiJ4QoT3ze7uFBexi6e7chlUHN4qeTUnQEG-_Qxm9-xeb0uLCfaX18XY4J0k1_FH18-5dtLt-AQ38nb6719MF4/s271/Martyr.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="271" data-original-width="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh30W8kGog1XxbtURfWYM3wpZWcbPBBQdWSdqa85kWTlw27e9O_46Kk1CiJ4QoT3ze7uFBexi6e7chlUHN4qeTUnQEG-_Qxm9-xeb0uLCfaX18XY4J0k1_FH18-5dtLt-AQ38nb6719MF4/s0/Martyr.jpg" /></a></div>I am a huge fan of <a href="http://podcasts.joerogan.net/" target="_blank">Joe Rogan</a>; however, he has repeatedly stated something in which I have a differing opinion. Joe Rogan, and I am paraphrasing here, says that the difference between a cult and a religion is that in a cult the leader is alive and in a religion the leader is dead. I would like to offer my apologetics for Christianity to the discussion. <p></p><p>My indefatigable truth - <b>nobody would ever willingly die for a lie.</b> Most people's argument against that statement has been that Muslim terrorists die for their religion. That's fallacious reasoning and here's why. Muslim extremists have no idea if their beliefs are a lie or not. For that matter, neither do modern-day Christians, we have faith in the truth; we will not actually know until we die, which is the same for any other faith. </p><p>In the case of Jesus, there are several differences. There is no arguing that the physical man existed and that there was a crucifixion. Two historians, both of which were alive in the natural lifetime of Jesus, wrote about Jesus and the crucifixion (a natural lifetime being a period in which Jesus would have lived had he not been executed). Josephus, a Jewish historian, refers to the execution of Jesus by Pontius Pilate. Tacitus, a Roman historian, referred to the same as well as referring to the early Christians in Rome. The natural lifetime context is important because people who actually knew Jesus were still alive during Josephus' and Tacitus' time. There is no argument that the man Jesus existed during the timeframe that the Bible references and that he was executed (crucified). The argument is over Jesus' divinity. </p><p>Now, let's get to the point of nobody willing to die for a lie. Of the twelve Apostles, who actually knew Jesus, all but one were martyred for their faith, some with more historical clarity than others. Other prominent disciples outside of the twelve who also knew Jesus were martyred. Here is my argument - all of these men knew the truth, they knew whether or not Jesus was actually who he said he was, they were there during Jesus' life and resurrection. Can you honestly say that these men would willingly be tortured and executed in very cruel ways if they knew that who they claimed Jesus to be was, in fact, a lie? I have a hard time believing that, personally and intellectually. Would you die for what you <b>know</b> to be a lie? No, you wouldn't. The early Christian martyrs died because they knew the truth. And that is my truth. </p><p>EPILOGUE</p><p>There has been no credible anthropological or archaeological research that has disputed or dispelled the Bible, only confirmational findings. To Joe's point that the early Christian bible was a product of the Church three centuries after the fact (the fact being Jesus, though the bible refers back many more centuries before Christ, mostly through the Jewish Old Testament), the church actually studied the documentation to determine authenticity and veracity just like scholars do today. There were points of disagreement within the church; however, they came to a general agreement regarding what should be scripture and what shouldn't. And yes, they knew how to deal with the multiple translations (Hebrew, Aramaic, Greek, and Latin).</p><p><br /></p>Joe Gartrell - Outlaw PhDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17609494426614528964noreply@blogger.comSan Antonio, TX, USA29.4241219 -98.4936281999999891.1138880638211539 -133.6498782 57.734355736178841 -63.337378199999989tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5663964464592383148.post-32577337008478529142020-08-19T05:33:00.002-05:002020-08-19T05:35:40.925-05:00What I Believe.<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMshqLtXSSL5RbVUtXgBOzUPe2qgfGq92eMDwCOGvqF_cT2AoSe7HoZq461iF1lYsOMtJipByZ4oCH108re-84hWHbfwIEsvwl5zNSmPJ5QYRFNuRz65cUNtDPMS5GYiRs2qXtRfDksS8/s255/Beliefs.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="197" data-original-width="255" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMshqLtXSSL5RbVUtXgBOzUPe2qgfGq92eMDwCOGvqF_cT2AoSe7HoZq461iF1lYsOMtJipByZ4oCH108re-84hWHbfwIEsvwl5zNSmPJ5QYRFNuRz65cUNtDPMS5GYiRs2qXtRfDksS8/w319-h246/Beliefs.jpg" width="319" /></a></div> <span style="font-family: verdana;"> In this cynical world, it is easy to expound on the things that bother us, what we're against, what we'll fight (and I am guilty of this). However, here is my statement of what I believe:</span><p></p><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I believe that Jesus Christ is my redeemer and died a cruel and horrific death as salvation for my sins.</span></div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I believe that all lives matter; therefore, abortion as a form of birth control is inhuman and wrong.</span></div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I believe that the United States, even with all our warts, is an anchor for the world and has kept humankind from self-destruction.</span></div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I believe in the wisdom of our Constitution and its intent to limit government, not individuals.</span></div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I believe in science, the rigor of the scientific method, and open scrutiny of scientific results. </span></div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I believe in open dialogue on any subject free from any form of censorship.</span></div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I believe that education (free from political bias) and skilled trades are the great equalizers of socioeconomic disparities. </span></div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I believe in the power of individuals; therefore, I believe in equal opportunities, not equal outcomes. </span></div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I believe that our planet is precious and should be protected from harm but based on reasonable (non-political) and evidence-based solutions.</span></div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I believe that humans are explorers by nature and we should always endeavor to reach for the stars (both in space and here on Earth).</span></div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></div><p><br /></p>Joe Gartrell - Outlaw PhDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17609494426614528964noreply@blogger.comSan Antonio, TX, USA29.4241219 -98.4936281999999891.1138880638211539 -133.6498782 57.734355736178841 -63.337378199999989tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5663964464592383148.post-49590555992572095512020-07-10T13:29:00.005-05:002020-08-12T10:16:48.584-05:00Stop the Recurring Negative Tape in Your Head<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivB8MfpxonOOufJbhbwkDu4ELOMbTa5ksl8aGdqupb7uT42gI8rk0nL5USTE06L44Rh19BYtB2fd-tc3B5rV1yfg83gwqdilVCkLNFh1mqjIgNT19W2zVx5Gphl0ztHZiFDmqu1Rvmykw/s1600/No+bull.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="369" data-original-width="402" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivB8MfpxonOOufJbhbwkDu4ELOMbTa5ksl8aGdqupb7uT42gI8rk0nL5USTE06L44Rh19BYtB2fd-tc3B5rV1yfg83gwqdilVCkLNFh1mqjIgNT19W2zVx5Gphl0ztHZiFDmqu1Rvmykw/s320/No+bull.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">There is a process in our brains called neuroplasticity whereby the brain reorganizes itself based on learning, experiencing new things, and even brain injuries. Now the bad part – neuroplasticity is in action with our thoughts. If you are obsessed with COVID-19, politics, etc., your brain is rewiring to think this way and you become a running, recurring tape of negativity that will damage you, physically and mentally. And neuroplasticity happens fast. Research has shown that the brain can start to reorganize neurologically in hours! </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Put a stop to this rewiring of your brain toward negativity. One way to do this is to completely eliminate reading and writing negative posts on social media. Do not respond to negative narratives whether they are something aligned with your views or not. Even if you are responding to something that you're allied with, if it is negative the result to your brain is the same - you keep rewiring the negative tape </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">that eventually sets up a harmful pattern of conceptions that have very real mental and physical consequences.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Turn off the news! I realize that in this </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">24/7 </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">world of </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">digital information streaming to all of your devices it's almost impossible to not see the bad things that are going on. But you can filter info out on these platforms. I just went through my Google account preferences and eliminated all news sources. Most of the news now is not news anyway, it's not journalism - it's a narrative slanted toward a particular orientation. Worse, it's usually a negative spin on whatever storyline is being presented - and that just keeps that negative tape rolling and reinforcing your brain's unhealthy rewiring. </span>Joe Gartrell - Outlaw PhDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17609494426614528964noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5663964464592383148.post-57730703748987749622020-06-26T08:50:00.008-05:002020-08-21T09:20:03.064-05:00Hiring the Right Person (the system is broken)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRnM36QCUFRoCkQO3-8xOu30ZkekMwQ2QfWQmLu74Yi36tYkvGLWyRVImLzrip1uQp5H_nd9PDKRVo-LbdiTQk9i2Ykg3faifNNek0uZIJAHdHujCV_YE810KQOMMnzAMAH-m4qvp-AlE/s1600/No+bull.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="369" data-original-width="402" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRnM36QCUFRoCkQO3-8xOu30ZkekMwQ2QfWQmLu74Yi36tYkvGLWyRVImLzrip1uQp5H_nd9PDKRVo-LbdiTQk9i2Ykg3faifNNek0uZIJAHdHujCV_YE810KQOMMnzAMAH-m4qvp-AlE/s320/No+bull.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>When I was a Vice-President with JPMorgan Chase I had a need for a junior project manager on my team. I put in the requisition and business case to HR and they went to work. I started receiving resumes that had been vetted through their application management system and I was receiving junk as though the wrong job had been posted. The recruiter was a friend of mine and I called him and asked him to send me ALL the resumes received. He told me that there were over 80 and I told him "that's OK, I want to look at them all." <br />
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As I went through the discarded resumes (the applicants had no doubt already received the obligatory "you suck" letter), I realized it was the application management system that sucked. My eventual hire came from the discarded resumes and he went on to, not only be my "go-to" project manager, he eventually became a Vice-President with JPMC before moving on to bigger and better things. <br />
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Most hiring managers abdicate their responsibility to HR and their broken application management systems. My advice - don't. For professional positions, a hiring manager should go through every resume received and not rely on HR to vet the applicants. It's another subject, but when I wrote curriculum for the University of British Columbia, I taught that 50% of a manager's job is the development of their staff and that includes the hiring process. I do not listen to the malarkey of "I don't have the time", BS, it's your job (notice that my moniker is "no BS", you will get that a lot in my articles and lectures). <div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Joe Gartrell - Outlaw PhDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17609494426614528964noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5663964464592383148.post-18819297392991785652020-06-17T11:14:00.003-05:002020-06-17T11:17:52.657-05:00The Rarity of Greatness<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAZ6KJ1Z_NVhHffgjR20aoeh9aljitB7Nh4cc0pJluwaz7v83XnsE8a4r1iIFTAIOwRUk3ZZqps6CK6kN3AVZpY3NyYdvhdZHzULJR4_djFstKYhYnQVuoAnNB3JbPrSRz39LJmT_6A6U/s1600/Champion+wreath.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="512" data-original-width="512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAZ6KJ1Z_NVhHffgjR20aoeh9aljitB7Nh4cc0pJluwaz7v83XnsE8a4r1iIFTAIOwRUk3ZZqps6CK6kN3AVZpY3NyYdvhdZHzULJR4_djFstKYhYnQVuoAnNB3JbPrSRz39LJmT_6A6U/s320/Champion+wreath.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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"And greatness, no matter how brief, stays with a man." - Gene Hackman at the end of the movie <i>The Replacements.</i></div>
<div class="ii04i59q a3bd9o3v jq4qci2q oo9gr5id" style="color: var(--primary-text); font-family: inherit; font-size: 0.9375rem; font-style: normal; line-height: 1.3333; white-space: pre-wrap;">
</div><div class="ii04i59q a3bd9o3v jq4qci2q oo9gr5id" style="color: var(--primary-text); font-family: inherit; font-size: 0.9375rem; font-style: normal; line-height: 1.3333; white-space: pre-wrap;">I recently watched a replay of the 2013 ESPN E:60 program where they profiled pitchers that have thrown a perfect game in baseball. This feat is a rarity, only 23 official perfect games have been thrown in major league baseball in the last 151 years (218,400 games as of mid-2019). <span style="color: var(--primary-text); font-family: inherit; font-size: 0.9375rem;">This got me thinking about winning championships. Though I don't have the data to back this up, winning a championship is also rare. Considering the number of athletes competing in EVERY sport throughout time, winning a championship has to be rare. The Tom Bradys, Michael Jordans, and Dale Earnhardts of the world are a rarity, the vast majority of people who have participated in sports have never won a championship. </span></div>
<div class="ii04i59q a3bd9o3v jq4qci2q oo9gr5id" style="color: var(--primary-text); font-family: inherit; font-size: 0.9375rem; font-style: normal; line-height: 1.3333; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></div><div class="ii04i59q a3bd9o3v jq4qci2q oo9gr5id" style="color: var(--primary-text); font-family: inherit; font-size: 0.9375rem; font-style: normal; line-height: 1.3333; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: var(--primary-text); font-family: inherit; font-size: 0.9375rem;">In the many years of multiple sports that I participated in, I only have one championship to my name, the 1974 Copper Bowl (Tucson) in youth football where we beat Montebello, CA 40-14. We were undefeated (9-0-2) and a motley crew of misfits with a coach who, in only three years of coaching, won 3 straight championships; he knew what he was doing, he knew how to win a championship. The team I quarterbacked was his only undefeated team (it was also his last). </span></div>
<div class="ii04i59q a3bd9o3v jq4qci2q oo9gr5id" style="color: var(--primary-text); font-family: inherit; font-size: 0.9375rem; font-style: normal; line-height: 1.3333; white-space: pre-wrap;">
</div><div class="ii04i59q a3bd9o3v jq4qci2q oo9gr5id" style="color: var(--primary-text); font-family: inherit; font-size: 0.9375rem; font-style: normal; line-height: 1.3333; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: var(--primary-text); font-family: inherit; font-size: 0.9375rem;">The point to all this is that nobody can ever take that championship away from me; I will forever be a champion and to paraphrase Gene Hackman, that will always stay with me. I have achieved something rare and it does mean something all these years later. The feeling never goes away and it's a good anchor for anything in life - I know how to win. This applies to any endeavor that I take on. I have been on top many times in my life and that lone championship so long ago taught me how to get there and continues to do so. </span></div>
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Joe Gartrell - Outlaw PhDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17609494426614528964noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5663964464592383148.post-23675032085159425142020-05-08T10:30:00.001-05:002020-05-08T10:40:51.809-05:00Using My Credential<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgyq3A3NPsXvps8Xq04c8ZkPqq1SjPJuN19iHsL5TtYSkni2dXNqeY0X1cu1Bp-t-DB_qIk4Iut6pYMxJsxgJuPPX3WDS_tX7Rpl3G2ujXS0bXAuUlhIvjGHAomkWaRgnyOvLuD9kmqMw/s1600/Grand_Canyon_University_Arena_-_Dusk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgyq3A3NPsXvps8Xq04c8ZkPqq1SjPJuN19iHsL5TtYSkni2dXNqeY0X1cu1Bp-t-DB_qIk4Iut6pYMxJsxgJuPPX3WDS_tX7Rpl3G2ujXS0bXAuUlhIvjGHAomkWaRgnyOvLuD9kmqMw/s320/Grand_Canyon_University_Arena_-_Dusk.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
I have been the focal point of some criticism about my use of "Ph.D." after my name on social media. Most comments are by people who vehemently disagree with my opinion on various subjects, namely the current COVID-19 overreaction and corruption. I am not giving these walking comic books any of my time, I am just clarifying why I use my Ph.D. credential.<br />
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Earning a Ph.D. is no easy feat. It took years of hard work, dedication, and focus to go through the program which included doctoral-level classes in psychology and statistics (a Ph.D. is a research degree); classes in which the doctoral learner begins to understand the discipline of academic writing. There was also a residency required. I was in the program for over seven years and the dissertation itself took four and a half years. During the dissertation itself, I went through two divorces, the birth of a child, and a major heart attack. My dissertation was a meta-analysis, which is considered an advanced research methodology, that required me to defend it to the College of Doctoral Studies before I ever started my primary work. GCU recently hit the milestone of conferring 1,000 doctoral degrees - of those, my dissertation was the only one using a meta-analytical methodology (GCU is 71 years old and started offering graduate programs in the late 1980s when it transitioned from Grand Canyon College to Grand Canyon University). <br />
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People use credentials all the time, both academic and professional, to convey their standing. Earned credentials vary in value depending on the field and profession, but they are valuable to the person who holds them. Some use an alphabet soup of credentials while others use their most advanced degree and everything in between. I choose to use my Ph.D. credential because it defines my aspirations and endeavors. It also sets me apart because it is a terminal research degree held by only 2% of the population in the U.S. I only use the salutation "Dr." in the academic world, which is standard practice; students, other faculty members, and administrators call me Dr. Gartrell. I definitely don't correct people when they call me Mr. Gartrell, that would be pompous and rude, and frankly, it isn't me. <br />
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So, I use my Ph.D. credential and I do not apologize for doing so, it was well earned and I am proud of my accomplishment. For those who criticize me for using my credential, well...I would put up my life accomplishments against yours any day, any time, but life is too short and time is too precious to waste on your insecurities. If anyone is interested in pursuing a Ph.D. in any field I would be happy to discuss it with you. If you are considering it, be prepared for the most intense work of your life and to go through many ups and downs. In the U.S., Ph.D. programs have about a 50% drop-out rate because it is HARD, very hard. That said, all it takes is the determination to finish and you'll get there.<br />
<br />Joe Gartrell - Outlaw PhDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17609494426614528964noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5663964464592383148.post-25428683899145043652020-04-01T11:18:00.000-05:002020-04-05T20:27:20.465-05:00Science, Statistics. Misinterpretation, and Missing Data<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjUdeMeIA9wrlD-fr8IUzIGhhDsG40RJ2EdlSiF1YwmkNwWHxBFqWBwBUKalQ8MZ-nuSBhoPhU7J-UafPlh4ebbmftBC32pSfNWVCDl4OUN3v0pKVPXIujtshn6P19_V2r5aGgYRXHt8w/s1600/COVID-19+in+China.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="772" data-original-width="1296" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjUdeMeIA9wrlD-fr8IUzIGhhDsG40RJ2EdlSiF1YwmkNwWHxBFqWBwBUKalQ8MZ-nuSBhoPhU7J-UafPlh4ebbmftBC32pSfNWVCDl4OUN3v0pKVPXIujtshn6P19_V2r5aGgYRXHt8w/s320/COVID-19+in+China.png" width="320" /></a></div>
From a medical and immunological standpoint, we know a great deal about the latest strain of the coronavirus (COVID-19). We know how it works, how it puts the body's immune system into high gear, how it kills, and how it's primarily transmitted, etc.<br />
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What we don't know, or refuse to know, is the true data behind the outbreak. We know in science that statistics, when misapplied, can shield the true nature of the data and worse, they can lie. Statistics can be misinterpreted leading to false conclusions and actions taken that are based on bad data. Missing data will, to varying degrees, skew statistics and the inferences made from those statistics. In hypothesis testing, there are two errors - Type I and Type II. Type I is a false positive, seeing an effect in the data that is not actually present. Type II is more insidious and generally carries a greater consequence - it's when there's an effect present and you missed it Let's say that you're being tested for antibodies that indicate cancer may be present. If you get a false positive (Type I error), it may scare you and cause an emotional reaction, but you don't have cancer and subsequent tests will reveal that. However, if your test comes back negative, but you actually have cancer (Type II error), the consequences are potentially very bad. When hypothesizing and estimating the impact of the coronavirus, we have no clue if we are committing either type of error or are not committing errors because we are not scientifically testing the data; there is just not a reliable data source yet from which to draw samples.<br />
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We are seeing lots of statistics from many different sources on the coronavirus outbreak, some are confirmatory with other data and some are contradictory to other data. So which statistics are correct? The long and short of it is that we don't know. There is no single source of the truth. The numerators and denominators for basic rates and ratios are inconsistent at best and completely wrong at worst...and everything in between. We do not know the actual transmission rates, we do not know the rate of natural immunity in the population, we don't even know how many true cases that we have in the population because not everybody is being tested. We just started to reveal data on recovery rates, so our understanding of the true impact of this virus in the population is not yet known.<br />
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What does the data tell us that we can trust? Not much; however, there is mounting evidence (though still anecdotal) that the transmission rates are not as bad as we thought. The story of the Grand Princess cruise ship is a case study in bad data, but the data that we do have indicates that even in a closed environment like a cruise ship the rates of infection are low. There were over 3,400 people on that ship. It was isolated for a time at sea and then the passengers were quarantined in close quarters at Travis Air Force Base. Of those passengers, there are <strike>103</strike> 712 (updated 5 Apr 20) confirmed cases and two confirmed deaths; however, half of those who tested positive did not present symptoms. Albeit, only 1,103 of the passengers and crew were tested (again, giving us missing data), but the transmission rate does not appear to equate to what we are hearing from various sources. The death rate doesn't seem to be much higher than a serious influenza outbreak and neither do most estimates of the death rate. Some estimates are based on untested models, so here again, we have issues with the data. <br />
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In the end, keep up the social distancing, keep up with the recommended hygiene practices, and don't panic; there is nothing in the data to suggest that this is the end of the world. Our behaviors and reactions will determine how long this will last and when we can expect normalcy.Joe Gartrell - Outlaw PhDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17609494426614528964noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5663964464592383148.post-36147353706185416972020-03-21T09:56:00.000-05:002020-03-21T09:56:29.025-05:00Coronavirus and the Future<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht4iEcrTKSG5fKqBpWZAft8mmImlQwKq_XNMGbxSFNKKSAkwVAykyO1uLaLOARGxb2HZAnv3HUwdwSBccifPeUszgW8ZcZBEQLtNv-fel5QIFy0vroV38p75ee8e_RCAV0h9o6is9BS-s/s1600/COVID-19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="190" data-original-width="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht4iEcrTKSG5fKqBpWZAft8mmImlQwKq_XNMGbxSFNKKSAkwVAykyO1uLaLOARGxb2HZAnv3HUwdwSBccifPeUszgW8ZcZBEQLtNv-fel5QIFy0vroV38p75ee8e_RCAV0h9o6is9BS-s/s1600/COVID-19.jpg" /></a></div>
As the world is practicing social distancing, mandatory quarantines, and more to combat the spread of the coronavirus, I find myself reflecting on what the future will be like. My first thought is that life for Americans will permanently change just as it did after 9/11. The social fabric will undergo a transformation, but what that will look like I don't know. We can go in a positive direction where we become more neighborly, more helpful to others who are at risk, and more prepared as individuals and as a country for disruptions of many stripes. Or we can become more cynical, less trustful, and more controlling over personal freedoms. <br />
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South Korea has provided a glimpse of what a positive transformation could look like (<a href="https://www.aier.org/article/south-korea-preseved-open-infection-rates-are-falling/?fbclid=IwAR2rwNeVMurwOyxBlgEF1Zuw9t-j22f7NSy8v9TbgdmKjz8DsIsVfT1Lwto">https://www.aier.org/article/south-korea-preseved-open-infection-rates-are-falling/?fbclid=IwAR2rwNeVMurwOyxBlgEF1Zuw9t-j22f7NSy8v9TbgdmKjz8DsIsVfT1Lwto</a>) by maintaining an open society that is prepared and optimistic. Is this a model for the United States? It certainly could be; however, like all societies across the globe, there are nuances and circumstances that make cookie-cutter solutions difficult to implement. <br />
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On a personal note, though healthy (especially for a man about to turn 59 years of age), I am in a high-risk category because of my heart attack that destroyed the bottom of my left ventricle. I have "heart disease" for the rest of my life, I am on blood thinners, and I have moderately reduced kidney function (a result of the heart attack). All three issues put me at a higher risk of death if I contract the virus. I am also currently living in a hotel that no longer serves food and finding an apartment is more difficult because leasing offices are closing down. I am working remotely, as are millions of Americans, so I am practicing social distancing. Regardless of my personal circumstances, my aim and focus are on the future - building a better world centered on love and using my talents, skills, experience, and education to help others on many fronts and in all aspects of life - personal, professional, and spiritual. Having an aim narrows one's life to the important things and helps in the avoidance of the trivial. <br />
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God Bless, good luck, and keep in mind that we will get to the other side of this crisis. Human beings have a HUGE capacity for resilience and perseverance. Joe Gartrell - Outlaw PhDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17609494426614528964noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5663964464592383148.post-22913637474326425492020-03-11T13:53:00.000-05:002020-03-11T13:53:11.521-05:00The Meaning of Outlaw Ph.D.I have had some looks of concern when I mention my brand - Outlaw Ph.D.; however, most have thought it to be a pretty cool moniker. I would like to take a moment to explain what it actually means. At the age of 58 (almost 59), I am too old to leverage my Ph.D. for a tenure track faculty position at a college or university, so I am, through my brand, creating my own tenure, thus "Outlaw." It's that simple, no big backstory. That said, we plan to do some cutting edge, but tasteful photo shoots for the brand.<br />
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What will Outlaw Ph.D. do? First and foremost a media company to get my words, teachings, and philosophy out to the world. But, more than that, to contribute to science and education using many different platforms to advance knowledge in a variety of fields. <br />
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And yes, I use the traditional "Ph.D." with periods. Either way is correct, but I like the old school version better. Joe Gartrell - Outlaw PhDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17609494426614528964noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5663964464592383148.post-78603578459589923232020-03-10T10:01:00.001-05:002020-03-10T10:01:17.774-05:00Reboot of God Knows Physics PodcastBack in 2009, I made an impetuous decision to end my podcast, God Knows Physics. At the time, it had over 17,000 views and who knows where it would be now if I had continued the broadcasts. The podcast was essentially an extension of my book, Life is Simple. The book is trifurcated into three sections - personal, business, and spiritual. The primary point of God Knows Physics is that science and God are not mutually exclusive. In fact, they are complementary, thus the moniker, God Knows Physics.<br />
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The broadcasts will be eclectic, covering a broad and diverse spectrum of subjects. I will also kick-off at least three more separate podcasts - one with my wife focusing on relationships, a sports podcast (because sports are a passion of mine), and a podcast dedicated to statistics reform, namely ending the misguided practice of Null Hypothesis Significance Testing (NHST) and providing more applicable alternatives. Joe Gartrell - Outlaw PhDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17609494426614528964noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5663964464592383148.post-11217243368223402752016-01-16T10:16:00.001-06:002016-01-16T11:07:30.828-06:00Why I'm a Roadrunner<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFIkt4KYPUFEronP0OBGZ7OapBxTsuK_-psWnUlXT6o1JNldkJLTmC8g0ivNnSR6a89EdCd3eX9T2ZnFkqbyR8YEPKod6mCquDfp2W5QKZsY_j1KdE_zX_1yijJi5Ag8zCumzxn7ytf4E/s1600/Joe+Alamodome.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFIkt4KYPUFEronP0OBGZ7OapBxTsuK_-psWnUlXT6o1JNldkJLTmC8g0ivNnSR6a89EdCd3eX9T2ZnFkqbyR8YEPKod6mCquDfp2W5QKZsY_j1KdE_zX_1yijJi5Ag8zCumzxn7ytf4E/s320/Joe+Alamodome.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me during UTSA's first season in 2011 - in my element.</td></tr>
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I did not attend, nor did I graduate from, the University of Texas at San Antonio (<a href="http://www.utsa.edu/" target="_blank">UTSA</a>), so why am I a Roadrunner? First off, out of all the cities in the United States, I <i><b>chose</b></i> San Antonio. I have been drawn here since I first visited in 1988 and I finally moved here in 2010. Secondly, my daughter will graduate from UTSA this year with a degree in Biology. Third, and most powerful, I have been part of UTSA's football program (as a fan) from the beginning; UTSA didn't field a team until the 2011 season and I was one of the first season ticket holders (600ish out of 13,000).<br />
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There is something special about being a part of something from the very beginning, there's a kinship between fans and between the football program and the fans. The (now old) number 11 jersey that you see in the photo accompanying this post may seem like just another jersey; however, fans who have been there from the start know the significance of that jersey.</div>
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I'm proud of where this program has been and where it's going. I have had the pleasure to speak with <a href="http://www.goutsa.com/ViewArticle.dbml?ATCLID=613789" target="_blank">Lynn Hickey</a>, the Director of Athletics at UTSA, on several occasions and I couldn't be any prouder of the job she has done and continuing to do. The recent hire of <a href="http://www.goutsa.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=13100&ATCLID=210638991" target="_blank">Frank Wilson</a> to replace Larry Coker was in her words, a "coup" for the program. I look forward to the Frank Wilson era at UTSA.</div>
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I also respect UTSA as a top tier educational institution and I hope to have some sort of professional affiliation with the university when I finish my PhD this year. The UTSA graduates that I've seen in the workplace have consistently impressed me.</div>
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Last, but not least, I met my wife Jessica tailgating at UTSA games and she'll be the first to tell you that the Alamodome is my favorite place to be (as long as she is by my side). </div>
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Go Runners!!!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUp4WtwglGqOphyZeC1bg5DwWrMETNpHD0hC-PE4kv8-wg9Cr2Qr2IpXK3GFQKfXlbltj3vWWLsA2KMKYC6gvqNE7OR0KLxJfIBYLLvnA-ZBpEyAG-w_hEqEDvfdxxaEF-uW0NTC31NfI/s1600/Joe+Jessica+tailgate.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUp4WtwglGqOphyZeC1bg5DwWrMETNpHD0hC-PE4kv8-wg9Cr2Qr2IpXK3GFQKfXlbltj3vWWLsA2KMKYC6gvqNE7OR0KLxJfIBYLLvnA-ZBpEyAG-w_hEqEDvfdxxaEF-uW0NTC31NfI/s320/Joe+Jessica+tailgate.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me and my beautiful wife Jessica.</td></tr>
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Joe Gartrell - Outlaw PhDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17609494426614528964noreply@blogger.comSan Antonio, TX, USA29.4241219 -98.49362819999998928.5394974 -99.784521699999985 30.3087464 -97.2027347tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5663964464592383148.post-3357651285151459722015-08-30T11:38:00.001-05:002015-08-30T11:41:47.448-05:00Living without fear<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQzRaGBYXfqWJ0jydrZVLiVKykZJEQZoYraSjEtyUQzcVYXfKpNKkBibHLDad63X-VWGjMEDEUj6WYVYQFRHGIPCOGZBzm1Yp-K9PcXm1lzyRlnk4n1hU6f4n7l8tYfpC0R_ztOZPisu8/s1600/Fear.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQzRaGBYXfqWJ0jydrZVLiVKykZJEQZoYraSjEtyUQzcVYXfKpNKkBibHLDad63X-VWGjMEDEUj6WYVYQFRHGIPCOGZBzm1Yp-K9PcXm1lzyRlnk4n1hU6f4n7l8tYfpC0R_ztOZPisu8/s1600/Fear.jpg" /></a></div>
Though we'd like to think that we don't, most of us live, to varying degrees, out of fear. We fear what people will think about us, we fear that something bad will happen, we fear that if we don't conform we'll be left behind, and so on. This is not how to live a meaningful life and it certainly doesn't help you fulfill your purpose.<br />
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Fear has its place, we have a natural fight or flight survival instinct, but in most things, we tend to choose flight rather than fight. We don't like confrontation, we tend to conform, and we would rather deal with what's known versus the unknown. How do we break out of that, how do we confront and defeat the fear?<br />
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First, and most important, your mind generally over blows your fears; most fears are either not warranted or they're nowhere near the severity that you ascribe to them. Second, your best weapon against fear is action (and this also applies to worry, which is a form of fear). Taking action against a fear is powerful and is the best way to address and remove the fear. Inaction, which is a very common response to fear, only feeds your fear. Third, you will never be able to remove problems and stressors from your life, it's part of the human condition. So, accept reality for what it is rather than what you want it to be. <br />
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You can conquer fear by constantly challenging yourself and others. Challenge the status quo, challenge what doesn't make sense, and challenge assumptions. Your fears need not restrain your life and your decisions - take action, take chances, and take control. Joe Gartrell - Outlaw PhDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17609494426614528964noreply@blogger.comSan Antonio, TX, USA29.4241219 -98.49362819999998928.5394974 -99.784521699999985 30.3087464 -97.2027347tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5663964464592383148.post-31969398706433728312015-08-08T11:10:00.000-05:002015-08-08T11:10:03.311-05:00Outlaw PhD<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghqXo1SXB2kpQoICmHvRKwegbbmlXHRn3COymPyTYEwgarM6qP9fx2_OdRTzGI_i652PygXMPV-CB320cJR7XGH6Qxv7Be_Se6rD1qVpoLZI3mKdQ4SuonVisnR8nnOuLiYiJYrD2c_sU/s1600/Doctoral+gap+and+gown.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghqXo1SXB2kpQoICmHvRKwegbbmlXHRn3COymPyTYEwgarM6qP9fx2_OdRTzGI_i652PygXMPV-CB320cJR7XGH6Qxv7Be_Se6rD1qVpoLZI3mKdQ4SuonVisnR8nnOuLiYiJYrD2c_sU/s1600/Doctoral+gap+and+gown.jpg" /></a></div>
I'm hunkering down to get my dissertation finished by the end of the year. In doing so, I'm also re-branding all of my efforts to a new personal moniker that is more appropriate to my future pursuits - <b><i>Outlaw PhD</i></b>. The new brand denotes my propensity to not participate in group think, to be a 90 degree thinker (in a different direction, but not necessarily the opposite direction), and toward my dislike of the status quo.<br />
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I will be using this brand for all platforms including my lecture series, multimedia interviews, radio shows, book series, and the like. It really doesn't apply until I've defended my dissertation, but I am ABD, so I'm comfortable in using the moniker. Joe Gartrell - Outlaw PhDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17609494426614528964noreply@blogger.comSan Antonio, TX, USA29.4241219 -98.49362819999998928.5394974 -99.784521699999985 30.3087464 -97.2027347tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5663964464592383148.post-19163272591374255522014-04-12T16:00:00.000-05:002019-09-28T10:38:00.341-05:00Brands and "anti" brandsWith the exception of family and friends, I am not loyal to people or to organizations; however, certain brands have gained my trust (but not loyalty, they're two different things). I like taking stock of my self every now and then, so I've listed some brands that I like right now and some "anti" brands (brands that I don't like right now). I say <i>right now</i> because it may change, I may find better alternatives, or these brands may lose my trust...it ebbs and flows. Try this exercise, it helps to explain who you are at this moment.<br />
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<b>Brands that I like right now:</b></div>
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Kirkland dress shirts (Costco)</div>
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Google</div>
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Dropbox</div>
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AAA Texas</div>
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Justin and Ariat boots</div>
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Levi's (501 button up fly)</div>
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Samsung High Definition TVs and DVD players</div>
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Netflix</div>
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American Express</div>
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Taco Cabana</div>
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H-E-B</div>
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Saltgrass Steak House</div>
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Southwest Airlines</div>
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Indianapolis Colts</div>
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UTSA Roadrunners</div>
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Fender guitars<br />
Mesa Boogie amps<br />
Amazon</div>
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<b>"Anti" brands right now:</b></div>
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Apple (though I admired the late Steve Jobs' presentation skills)</div>
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Microsoft </div>
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Walmart</div>
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American Airlines (though the U.S. Airways merger will probably change that)</div>
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Joe Gartrell - Outlaw PhDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17609494426614528964noreply@blogger.comSan Antonio, TX, USA29.4241219 -98.49362819999998928.5394974 -99.784521699999985 30.3087464 -97.2027347tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5663964464592383148.post-78347564805121427942013-12-08T19:35:00.000-06:002013-12-08T19:43:08.624-06:00The right messageAs a father of a 19 year old young woman, I'm sensitive to messages aimed at her and how the world is attempting to stifle her through fear, conformity, and gender stereotype. Below are links to two commercials that my daughter immediately saw as good and bad messages for women...and I wholeheartedly agree.<br />
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The first is a TrueCar commercial and the second is a Chevy Silverado commercial. These are studies in contrast between the wrong message (TrueCar) and the right message (Chevy Silverado). What do you think?<br />
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<br />Joe Gartrell - Outlaw PhDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17609494426614528964noreply@blogger.comSan Antonio, TX, USA29.4241219 -98.49362819999998928.5394974 -99.784521699999985 30.3087464 -97.2027347tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5663964464592383148.post-21805098502483988342013-10-06T09:55:00.000-05:002013-10-06T09:55:11.147-05:00Simplicity, clarity, and focus<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcpXRBpNBTVtIHZccALVptzYoB9YnxZ_74oaCbmEDPex0P0NFSMZ20hgK172609TlAYeC2CTA6UbLBKn-v5bZCX1TClwOtF15X2Z7pov36KolieCzTJBCFmo7SKE6jx8vziAbsZ40_tUU/s1600/simple_blue.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcpXRBpNBTVtIHZccALVptzYoB9YnxZ_74oaCbmEDPex0P0NFSMZ20hgK172609TlAYeC2CTA6UbLBKn-v5bZCX1TClwOtF15X2Z7pov36KolieCzTJBCFmo7SKE6jx8vziAbsZ40_tUU/s1600/simple_blue.jpg" /></a></div>
We're in the midst of moving in to our new home and, like most people, we promise ourselves that we will get rid of the clutter. Easier said than done. <br />
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We tend to collect things over a lifetime that begin to weigh us down and make our lives more complex - clutter requires maintenance. Moving provides a unique juxtaposition of perspectives - on one hand we realize that we can live just fine with a few basic necessities, but on the other hand we see the enormity of our tendency to collect "stuff." <br />
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Eliminating clutter and living simply enables a certain clarity and focus on life that we tend to lose in the noise of the every day. It's also an apt metaphor for the rest of our lives - personally, professionally, and spiritually. Joe Gartrell - Outlaw PhDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17609494426614528964noreply@blogger.comSan Antonio, TX, USA29.4241219 -98.49362819999998928.5394974 -99.784521699999985 30.3087464 -97.2027347tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5663964464592383148.post-78702589254227860782013-06-09T16:44:00.000-05:002013-06-09T16:44:38.845-05:00Don't define yourself by your paycheckYou've probably seen this <a href="http://youtu.be/jpzvsQAtkaY" target="_blank">Chevy Silverado commercial</a> before; however, I see it as a perfect metaphor of how to define yourself...and it's not by how you make a living. When asked, "So, what do you do?", the actor can't really say, but the montage indicates that he and his family actually live life and work is just a small part of it. Actually, there are 16 total scenes and only two are work related - that's about right. <br />
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I can't think of anything so sad as a person defining his or her self as their job yet, more than 9 times out of 10, that's exactly what people do. It's not to say that someone can't make a living doing what they're passionate about, but is that really what life is all about? The pediatric surgeon or the cancer researcher are doing important work, there is no doubt about that, but that's not the sum total of their humanity.<br />
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Try to define yourself by the totality of you and if the montage of scenes are blank or full of work, create new scenes.<br />
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<br />Joe Gartrell - Outlaw PhDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17609494426614528964noreply@blogger.comSan Antonio, TX, USA29.4241219 -98.49362819999998928.539463899999998 -99.784521699999985 30.3087799 -97.2027347