I invite you to try something different today. The video contains segments of a wonderful orchestra piece: New Beginnings by Peter Boyer – which provides a grand sound that is very me. So, please launch the video to serve as your background music for this edition of Opinions in the Shorts.
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On Politics
A friend of mine wanted the FactChecks from all the Debates. Here ya go, Jim!
Debate 1, VP Debate, Debate 2, Debate 3
FactCheck recently did this campaign summary
I will have an interesting post that will go live Election Day evening.
Senator John McCain declared that the Libyan embassy event is the great incompetence he’s ever seen regarding national security. I have a question for Senator McCain: Greater than 9-11?
Regardless the results of the presidential election and assuming the Republicans keep control of the House of Representatives, it will be interesting to see who they select as Speaker of the House. In case they don’t know, I am Constitutionally qualified and available.
Some pundits are discussing the increased possibility of neither presidential candidate having enough electoral votes to win.
I find it interesting that some newspapers endorsements have been tepid.
The ad from Randall Terry is so bad that stations have disclaimers before showing it.
Each political party is actively fund-raising for legal challenges of the election. Oh boy – better brace for the possibility of no winner come Wednesday morning.
Here are two early states that could spell trouble: If Romney loses Florida, or if Obama loses Pennsylvania. Yet, NY Times columnist Gail Collins focuses on Cincinnati as she writes here something that we already knew – it’s all about Ohio.
Because of the political ads, we’ve limited the local evening news to the weather – thus switched to local classical radio station for dinner music – which is easy the using the Mute button.
On This Week’s Headlines from The Onion
- New High-Tech Voting Machines Lets Voters Manipulate Candidates
- Misinformed Man Riding Out Storm in Bathtub Filled with Batteries
- 20 Idiots Evacuated from Times Square M&M’s Store
- Man Throws Man at Problem
- Birthday Card Discretely Passed around Office like Covert CIA Operation
- Mom Calls to Make Sure Son not Under Dangling Crane
- Weird Couple has Greatest Sex after Announcement of Disney-LucasFilm Merger
Interesting Reads
A pipe organ builder
Race baiting and the election (by an editor, not a hack)
Benefits of practice
The Rise of Asian-Americans
God and science
Who needs facts
Image: Fibonacci and Hurricane
My past post about Fibonacci
On Potpourri
Strength to all those affected by Superstorm Sandy; thus I encourage those who can to donate time, goods, or money to the relief efforts. Please consider the American Red Cross or the charity of your choice.
Baseball’s World Series is over, so congratulations to the San Francisco Giants and their fans. Meanwhile, the series enjoyed one of the low TV ratings ever, thus another reason to hate Commissioner Bud Selig.
A reminder to the U.S. readers that this weekend we switch from Daylight Savings Time to Standard Time – so don’t forget to set the clocks back.
With the cool weather here and cold not far away, it’s flannel sheet season in our house. Is anybody else a fan of flannel sheets?
There will be a Saturday Morning Classic Cartoon post this weekend.
Thanks for everyone for making October 2012 my third best month ever.
Ginger Ale Report
Natural Brew Outrageous Ginger Ale: Good ginger with a hint of spice that lingers – Fits my taste well.
Fresh Ginger Ale by Bruce Cost: This one looks funny with the ginger sediment that one sees in the clear bottle – thus it’s unfiltered. Mild ginger taste, not a lot of carbonation, but there is a lingering spicy kick. This is a pleasant surprise.
Have a good weekend! In the words of Garrison Keillor, Be well, do good work, and keep in touch.
If they end up tied House selects and Romney should win,they select by state and each state has one vote. However if the House votes 25 to 25 neither wins and Boehnor becomes President and Senate selects Biden
Larry,
Let’s get it over because the young girl Abigael represents many adults! Thanks for stopping by.
New High-Tech Voting Machines Lets Voters Manipulate Candidates
I want to try one!!
I love that extra hour of sleep we get. Flannel sheets are the best. And the best ones are from Land’s End.
Spinny,
That voting machine would be a fun role reversal! And yes – cheers to flannels from Land’s End because that’s where we buy ours!
I’m really hoping for an out right winner on Wednesday. A long legal battle just seems pointless. Loved the 20 idiots in the M&M store. I do love M&Ms.
TBM,
No kidding …. meanwhile, being an M&M faithful, you must understand why they wouldn’t leave the store! Thanks for commenting.
Election nearly over? Yippee! This one is a great example of how to spend multi billions of dollars and inspire no one. Good luck all you Ohio swingers.
Re the Onions, I like “20 Idiots Evacuated from Times Square M&M’s Store” but the winner is “Misinformed Man Riding Out Storm in Bathtub Filled with Batteries” as the SABs demonstrate once again their inability to cope in a crisis. .
Fasab,
We can only hope it will be over soon. To throw a wrench into Ohio, our legislature is one of the states that enacted a Voter ID law … so, I anticipate a mess. Meanwhile, Bathtub Man is a great pick. Thanks for stopping by.
Great piece of music. The LSO is fantastic, and Peter Boyers gets a good aerobics workout into the bargain.
The M&M store saga got my attention. Love those things; does that make me an idiot too? I loved flannel sheets as a child growing up in England. Those cosy sheets, and my hot-water bottle were so comforting.Have a great weekend, Frank.
Paradise,
… and glad you enjoyed the video! Thanks for commenting.
Woo hoo … another flannel sheets person! Well, when applicable.
Good orchestra this morning. I look forward to talking with you about the piece.
Also, last night while packing to temporarily leave the country, and having admittedly reached the end of my endurance over the closeness of the presidential election polls, I came to the following decision: If Romney loses Florida and Obama loses Pennsylvania, and Obama wins North Carolina but loses Wisconsin, and in this area Romney wins Over The Rhine but loses West Chester, I will be OK if I hear on CNN International Wednesday morning that the election came down to your voting precinct, at your address, and with the decision you made on who had EARNED your vote.
Tim,
Glad you appreciated the music. Meanwhile, if all stays the same, NC and Wisconsin will hold serve for the respective candidates. Meanwhile, enjoy your trip and let’s hope there is a winner before your return. Thanks for commenting.
I wasn’t sure if the election would go ahead given the devastation of the hurricane. But it does seem to have been going on for an incredibly long period of time. I guess the sooner it’s over the sooner the focus can be on other things xx
Spiced,
Fortunately, the storm came with a week buffer. Meanwhile, I’m sure local election officials are scrambling to figure out what to do with various what-if scenarios. The election has gone on far too long, and let’s hope it has a swift, easy ending. Thanks for commenting.
As always, a great read, Frank. And yes, the Fibo shape of Hurricane Sandy was readily apparent. The shape holds power, doesn’t it?
Oh, and great music too – love hearing new pieces!
Lynn,
I figured you would enjoy the Fibonacci reference … and if memory serves me correctly, that was one of our early connections. Glad you enjoyed the Boyer piece! Thanks for visiting.
Good morning Frank, and thanks for sharing some very interesting music. As usual, no comment on the politics other than to say the numbers coming in from early voting are quite surprising….at least locally. As for the uninformed man in the bathtub full of batteries, isn’t this exactly what one should do? That’s how I rode out Katrina
Have a great weekend Frank!
Alex,
Glad you thought the music was interesting … but more importantly, thanks for your public service for giving a testimonial about storm survival. Thanks for commenting.
Do you think with this machine (New High-Tech Voting Machines Lets Voters Manipulate Candidates) we could manipulate Mitt into telling the truth?
Don’t cha just love Gail Collins?
Elyse,
I don’t know if the machine is that sophisticated! Meanwhile, Gail Collins is a good one, thus one of the many I like to read at the NY Times and Wash Post. Thanks for stopping by.
I’m just afraid what will happen if somehow Romney wins. God help us. Have a wonderful weekend, Frank.
Hugs,
Kathy
Kathy,
Well … the question is which Mitt shows up … Moderate Mitt would be tolerable if he can control the loud and arrogant ones in his party. Then again, both questions are subject to wonder. Thanks for visiting.
Nice music, if a bit slow. I’m more of a swing man myself – I have several recoding collections of Glenn Miller (what a surprise, knowing my mania for all things WW2, eh?).
Flannel sheets, not really a big fan. Thick comforters, you betcha. And they serve as pretty good armour for long cat claws!
I’m tellin’ ya, if we ain’t got a Prez come Wednesday morning, I’m gonna need a new TV!
Gotta love the guy in a tub with a bunch of batteries. Give him a “D” (cell) for intelligence, a “C” for ingenuity, but definitely a double “A” for his foraging abilities in finding enough batteries! Though I would think that a bunch of discharging batteries in a dry bathtub would leave you feeling doubly drained…
John,
Sounds like you’ll do anything for a new TV! Meanwhile, gotta love you description of the battery guy in the tub! Thanks for sharing!
The perfect intro! Great find!
Nice post – but I prefer donations to the Salvation Army than the Red Cross Many solid reasons based on facts going back as far as WW II and their treatment of soldiers at the front.
All the way up to the funds from Katrina scandal used to redo their offices and put into other funds rather than distributing to K’s victims…
And there was your yelling at Houston’s public who brought out good clean clothing and bedding for victims and you said Stop – those hurricane victims don’t need clothes or blankets – WE are handing out vouchers…But the victims were grateful to have something to clean to wear while they all had to stand in line to filled out all the paperwork and forms for the Red Cross …..
And really Red Cross – handing out cookies and hot chocolate in NYC now when people need blankets?
Sorry. They have gotten themselves a bad reputation by their own bad choices, self importance, and arrogance.
Maybe they have gotten better – I hear they have started handing out something other than cookies today.
Perhaps shamed by media coverage.
We all need to help those in trouble. This was a terrible storm and now it’s getting cold.
Bless the volunteers and runners who are helping.
Karen, you brought a smile to my face with a memory. My father served in Korea in 1952-1953, and he was VERY vocal in his support for the Salvation Army over the Red Cross. He actually forced his office branch of Illinois Bell (partial forerunner of Ameritech) to allow selection of a charity OTHER than the Red Cross for their yearly drives. He stated that he had never seen the Red Cross anywhere near the soldiers, but the Salvation Army had been within walking distance of the replacement depot he served several months at. Thanks for a great reminder, and I’ll second your blessings for the volunteers helping out the survivors of Sandy!
Mouse,
Thanks for your plug for the Salvation Army. My intent was to plug giving, thus why I added or the charity of your choice. I also have a tendency to avoid plugging organization with a religious bend, although they are generally very efficient distributing disaster relief. Nonetheless, thanks for sharing your thoughts.
That Onion headline can
t ber right – only 20 idiots in Times Square? In their defense though, the M&M store is pretty cool.
Didn’t realize we needed more reasons to hate Bud. I mean. infinity + 1…
I’m looking forward to going through the potpurri links later. And finally, love the music, and the look at a behinds the scenes orchestra. Don;t know that I’d have picked this as you,but yeah, I the music does fit my impression of you.
Have a great weekend Frank!
Guapo,
Regarding the music … I would say that it’s a good description of the type of orchestra music I like – grand and magestic … but those adjectives are not my personality!
Thanks for your endorsement of the M&Ms store – which I will have to make sure to visit whenever I get back to NYC. Meanwhile, hope you find something worthwhile in the links … and yes – reasons to hate Bud Selig is endless. Thanks for commenting.
I love “New Beginnings” and thank you for the introduction. It’s beautiful! From the Onion…I don’t know why I think this is funny. Perhaps it borders on macabre given the situation but…Mom Calls to Make Sure Son not Under Dangling Crane–really funny to me. I’ll look forward to your election evening post. The fact-check article is so disturbing to me that I come ridiculously close to apathetic. But I’ve already sent in my ballot…now we wait on Ohio!
Debra,
I gotta admit that the Mom calling son headline cracked me up the first time I saw it. Meanwhile, I’ve heard New Beginnings several times (on the radio). The latest was earlier in the week, which sparked the YouTube search.
Meanwhile, I agree that the last FactCheck gives a dismal view. Oh well …. it will be over soon – I hope! Although all eyes may be on Ohio, I say focus elsewhere. Thanks for visiting.
I just wonder if Romney could win the popular vote, but lose in the Electoral College. I conclude that based on state polls looking good for Barack, while the national polls show Romney at least close or even a little ahead. Frank in Ohio, you should vote early and often.
Bruce,
It seems like a good probability that the national vote and the electoral vote won’t match up … then again, that wouldn’t be the first time. Just hoping that the courts don’t decide. BTW – I’ve lost track, but I think the campaign visits by the main 4 is between 70-80, Let alone the commercial time! Thanks for stopping by.
Good Morning Frank Congratulations on a busy October that’s great!
“Man Throws Man at Problem.”
“Mom Calls to Make Sure Son not Under Dangling Crane” :+)
Hope you are enjoying your weekend.
Starla,
The crane and mom headline looks like a winner for this post! Thanks for the congrats too.