For today’s Rockin’ Thursday, I’m featuring "Hotel California" by the Eagles and a Spanish version performed by the Gipsy Kings, which I love because of its Flamenco music style. "Hotel California" is a song by the American rock band Eagles, released in 1977.1 It reached the number one spot on the U.S. Billboard charts that same year. The Gipsy Kings were founded … Continue reading Rockin’ Thursday LV
Author: Edward Ortiz
The Tariffs Debate
"There is no better teacher than history in determining the future. There are answers worth billions of dollars in a $30 history book.”— Charlie Munger I’m not sure how much the state of Illinois paid for the history book my son is using in high school, but I found a copy for $6.79 on the … Continue reading The Tariffs Debate
Rockin’ Thursday LIV
This month is Women's History Month, so I wanted to do something special to highlight the enormous contributions women have made to Rock & Roll. During my research, I discovered four pioneering women who were early influences on the genre. These four women were Sister Rosetta Tharpe (the Godmother of Rock & Roll), Wanda Jackson … Continue reading Rockin’ Thursday LIV
Why Strategy Without a Good Coalition Is Doomed to Fail
The subject of leadership has always fascinated me—from the different theories behind it to the implementation of those theories and how to rally people behind change. Being an effective leader is incredibly difficult because you must demonstrate that you genuinely care and that following your lead is in the best interest of the organization. When … Continue reading Why Strategy Without a Good Coalition Is Doomed to Fail
Rockin’ Thursday LIII
With everything going on in the United States—the attempts to disrupt the pillars of democracy and the unique diversity of our people—it feels right to share this song today. I know there are those in this country trying to erase the concept of diversity, equality, and inclusion. And while, for now, they may remove the … Continue reading Rockin’ Thursday LIII
MY CHERUB “CHERUBERO”
Last week, I shared the poem Miriam Celeste by my grandfather-in-law, Pedro Rodríguez Miranda. Today, I’m sharing another of his poems, a continuation of Miriam Celeste, dedicated to his granddaughter Melody, Miriam’s only daughter. In Miriam Celeste, you read the following lines: "And a cherub was born to me... An intelligent cherub indeed!" So, in honor of this wonderful … Continue reading MY CHERUB “CHERUBERO”
When Leadership Fails: A Diplomatic Disaster on the World Stage
Last Friday, the world witnessed one of the worst interactions between leaders in recent memory on national television. The behavior of this country’s leaders was, without a doubt, an example of counterproductive and poor leadership. Counterproductive leadership falls into five categories: abusive behaviors, self-serving behaviors, erratic behaviors, leadership incompetence, and corrupt behaviors.1 Last week, we … Continue reading When Leadership Fails: A Diplomatic Disaster on the World Stage
Rockin’ Thursday LII
The sun is finally here in the beautiful Quad Cities. We've enjoyed a nice week of sunlight that melted all the remaining snow around the neighborhood, so it felt appropriate to feature Here Comes the Sun by The Beatles. I’m sure the whole universe knows The Beatles and that it’s an English rock band that … Continue reading Rockin’ Thursday LII
Miriam Celeste
Today, I’m sharing another poem by my grandfather-in-law, Pedro Rodríguez Miranda. The poem, Miriam Celeste, was dedicated to his only daughter. The name has a divine connotation, as you will see in the poem. Miriam is of Hebrew origin and is believed—among other meanings—to signify “beloved.” Celeste comes from the Latin Caelestis, meaning “heavenly” or "celestial.” Miriam CelesteUn día Cristo me … Continue reading Miriam Celeste
My Military Boots
Last week, I saw an interesting prompt asking: "Tell us about your favorite pair of shoes, and where they’ve taken you.” I thought, "This is actually a good prompt, and my boots have a story to tell.” As you can see from the title, my favorite pair of shoes is actually my military boots. My … Continue reading My Military Boots
Thoughts about leadership, history, and more 