On Politics
The decision of the potential bombing of Syria seems like a damn if you do – damn if you don’t proposition.
I have never heard of Rep. Jeff Duncan (R-SC) until Wednesday while I was watching the House Hearings regarding Syria. Congratulations Rep. Duncan for demonstrating that you are clearly a partisan ass.
I recently saw this bumper sticker: God is NOT Government. My response: Who says it is? Jeff Duncan?
On This Week’s Headlines from The Onion
Nation annoyed about spending long weekend away from work
FAA installs 36,000 foot air-traffic light
Local dad tells child “Tech is the future”
Majority of Americans favor sending Congress to Syria
Jellyfish falls short of dream to kill Diana Nyad
Royal baby already making new friends
Interesting Reads
String music
Infographic about minimum wages around the world
Psychology and Bidding on the Price is Right
The US Power Grid and Green Power
Faith and Doubt
On Potpourri
Friday is Iguana Awareness Day. Did you know that male iguanas are bulls and females are cows?
Other celebrations for this weekend include
- (Fri) Great Egg Toss Day, Do It Today (I’ll celebrate Sunday), Lazy Mom’s Day,
- (Sat) Feel the Love Day, Fathers’ Day (in Australia), Salami Day, Neither Rain nor Snow Day,
- (Sun) Date Nut Bread Day, Fight Procrastination Day (I celebrated Friday), Hug Your Hound Day, Drive Your Studebaker Day, and Grandparents’ Day
Time: The Musical – Act 7 faced turbulence. Although the special prosecutor (asked for by the critical left) is now on the case, but has not filed the final report, I’m getting information for an undisclosed source. YUK!
My college football teams got off to a good start last weekend with impressive wins. With big games again this weekend, Go Bearcats, Beat Illinois – Go Falcons, Beat Kent.
As Dancing with the Stars announced their cast, I say “Ho hum” … but I’ll watch, although I sense the end is near – but we did see comedian Bill Engvall’s funny act many years ago.
I will be starting my fall break from blogging very soon, so I will be fading away from regular posting for a few weeks. But, I won’t be totally absent.
Saturday will feature an archival selection of Saturday Morning Cartoons..
Being that September is piano month, here’s some interesting entertainment to send you into the weekend. Have a safe weekend and in the words of Garrison Keillor, Be well, do good work, and keep in touch.
A Frank Angle 
That is a cool piano dance, I call it! Syria is a really tough one, Frank. It’s hard to sit back and not do anything, but it could be a disaster, too. All of it is horrible. Just needing a blogging break or have you got lots of stuff on your plate? Well, I’ll miss ya!
LikeLike
Bumble,
Just taking a break because I think blogging breaks are like normal vacations – they re-energize! If I remember, I’ll explain for tomorrow or Monday morning.
LikeLike
Oh don’t leave us Frank!! Syria is a problem. I mean a problem as to what to do or what not to do. Who knows? I sure don’t. I love the piano dance. That’s some cool playing.
LikeLike
Jackie,
The Syrian situation isn’t as easy as some tend to believe, and seemingly a lose-lose. Sad … very sad. Otherwise, I’m just taking a break – but not totally gone! 🙂
LikeLike
Hey – I have missed your blogs – busy with work and my reader on my phone app has been crashing for 3 straight days. I thought of you today – got doe dbl chocolate chip Graeters for Peyton tonight at the store. I understand if you gots to take a break – but keep in touch:). Us Bearcats must stick together!!!!!!!!! xx
LikeLike
Kimberly,
Hope the Bearcats don’t lie and egg tomorrow! Meanwhile, crushing is no fun …. and gotta love Graeter’s!
LikeLike
On the drive up here to Maine, I saw a church sign that said: “Trust God, Not the Guv’ment.” Lordy.
Have a great, well deserved break, Frank. But be nice to that special prosecutor!
LikeLike
Elyse,
I swear, some people don’t get it, which makes them scared to death of their own thoughts. I wonder what was on their sign during the last election!
LikeLike
When we drive anywhere out of our liberal bastion city, we see signs like those. They are especially thick in the south. Many say to vote repub.
LikeLike
Hope all is well with you. Will miss you~
LikeLike
CIndy,
Many thanks …. and thanks for the great work you do!
LikeLike
I hope everything is fine there dear Frank, will miss you too. I wanted to dance on this piano 🙂 I wonder what kind of music I could make! Thank you dear Frank, have a nice break and weekend, love, nia
LikeLike
Nia,
Trying that piano would be fun … then again, to be good at it would take a lot of practice. Hope your time in the village is well!
LikeLike
I think we would all send our politicians to Syria Frank
LikeLike
GFB,
Brilliant … absolutely brilliant.
LikeLike
With sausages on their heads!
LikeLike
They don’t deserve that distinction.
LikeLike
Agreed – perhaps something else – but this is a family show
LikeLike
Oh my … I was thinking something similar.
LikeLike
Great minds and all that……!
LikeLike
I agree with Jim, not just the Congress but all politicians!!! What a great idea it is indeed! 🙂
About time we had some news about the royal baby, too! [mind you I expected that IT is already graduating from Harvard by now 😆 ]
Happy weekend, Frank! 🙂
LikeLike
Marina,
GFB’s idea is outstanding! Love it. In terms of the royal baby, I read he is on target to graduate in December. Would you have liked that piano? …. BTW …. Monday’s piano is really funny … well, at least to me.
LikeLike
Ah, yes I would! As for Monday’s piano, brilliant!!!! 🙂
Relieved to hear that about the royal baby! 🙂
LikeLike
yeah, but can they do Stairway to Heaven? Just kidding — this was great–enjoy your sabbatical Frank
LikeLike
LouAnn,
I can’t imagine the practice they had to do. Whew … thus a good workout as well. Breaks are good and (IMO) necessary. I’m trying something a little different this time, so it will be interesting to see how it works.
LikeLike
Hey Frank
I won’t know what to do during your hiatus from blogging. Maybe I will take a trip.
About Syria, there were some good comments on the Rachel Show last night from both sides of the fence. And, Jon Stewart is back! His guest was from Amnesty International. The humanitarian crisis is very bad. Millions are homeless and have moved to neighboring countries. Refugee camps is not a good way to live.
The U.S. needs to formulate several alternatives as a response to Assad. It is not an either/or of bomb them or not bomb them. That should be a last resort, imho. The black and white choice is making many in congress and the senate hesitate. I agree.
One more thing, the power grid piece was interesting. I would like to have some PV panels on our house. Our ancient grid needs an update before we drop into a massive outtage covering most of the country. Can you imagine the finger pointing?
Bye…
LikeLike
Yeah, that.
And yes, if the special prosecutor needs witnesses for my side, let me know. I am ready to testify.
And damn, Frank! I just started following you. But I’ll just add you to the incredibly long list of people who’ve stopped talking to me in the last few months. I must smell bad…
And hey, don’t be a stranger. Drop by any time.
LikeLike
Melanie,
As you can tell … I just visited about your hiking trip. Meanwhile, my team advises me not to comment on the investigation.
LikeLike
Okay on the investigation. I can be very patient. And thanks for dropping by the hike.
As to my comment above, I managed about 4 hours of sleep last night, so that wasn’t my most cogent self…
Thanks again!
LikeLike
Semi-cogent is OK.
LikeLike
Jim,
I’ve had other articles here about the US infrastructure that needs an overhaul, but that doesn’t seem to be a concern for the decision makers … sad to say!
Meanwhile, as a relative newbee, I hope to have something here for you. Thanks for your thoughts on Syria, which is just a mess.
LikeLike
It’s a problem needing attention, like many. They don’t fix themselves.
http://www.sciencefriday.com/segment/06/10/2011/building-a-better-electric-grid.html
http://www.sciencefriday.com/segment/07/12/2013/trying-to-energize-the-push-for-a-smart-grid.html
LikeLike
Well said … and thanks for the links, which I will check!
LikeLike
Interesting infographic re the minimum wage, but the star of today’s show has to be this from the Onions – “Majority of Americans favor sending Congress to Syria” – finally an opinion poll result you can believe in!
LikeLike
Fasab,
We could collectively tie them together as one missile, but it would be a dud.
LikeLike
Good thinking – a kind of multiple air head missile 🙂
LikeLike
… that is a dud. 😉
LikeLike
Bravo to those dancer musicians!! I bet that took a lot of practice. One foot wrong, and everybody knows about it. 🙂 Enjoy the weekend, Frank.
LikeLike
Sylvia,
This is something that piano players as yourself can have extra appreciation! Besides, September is Piano Month.
LikeLike
Every year I plan to do something for Fight Procrastination Day, but I never get around to it. (Sorry, obvious, but somebody had to say it!).
LikeLike
Vanessa,
That a way! Stay the course!!!!
LikeLike
jellyfish!!!
LikeLike
Rich,
I thought about not using that one, but couldn’t resist.
LikeLike
too funny to pass up
LikeLike
Wonderful articles this one Frank. I think I especially loved the Price is Right, there were some links that were quite funny. The Real Minimum Wage Infographic is not actually right as some posters pointed out, funny how these work.
Yes, I knew about Iguanas, I use to have a bull his name was Julius and he was quite large and friendly. My boys gave him to me as a baby for my 35 birthday after I repeatedly told them they could not have one (I would end up taking care of it). Finally when he got to the size and age of wanting to breed (you can tell because of color changes) I found a nice place with many cows and he had a new home.
Loved the very cool piano act, shades of Big.
LikeLike
Val,
Glad you boys were able to remember you when it came to the iguana! 🙂 As always, thanks for checking the articles!
LikeLike
Have a great weekend, Frank! Cheers!
LikeLike
Kayjai,
Cheers to you as well!
LikeLike
From the article about minimum wages around the world, I’m thinking that those against raising the minimum wage in the U.S. (or even having a guaranteed minimum wage), would applaud Mexico’s worldwide low minimum of $0.80 (compared to $7.25 in the U.S. and $10.17 in France) as the best example of government staying out of the way of the Free Enterprise System.
I also plan to revisit the “Faith and Doubt” article with you.
LikeLike
Frank, I’ve been on a break from blogging almost all summer and thinking about extending it into fall and beyond. I forgot how much I like time away from the Internet. That said, I do love your videos, your terrifically research cartoon posts and your scouring the Onion for me. I LOVE this headline:
Majority of Americans favor sending Congress to Syria
Count me in that group!
LikeLike
Lame,
Thanks for the kind words. Hopefully our breaks help spread the word that it’s important to do … and most bloggers understand!
LikeLike
Sad part of the world politic is the rules out there are different. Congress is not equipped to make the decision, but like so many other things they probably won’t make it.
LikeLike
John,
Good point about all the different rules … and I take rules to have a broad meaning. Meanwhile, Congress is still too divided to make good decision … and to reinforce that point, all one has to do is listen to them.
LikeLike
Enjoy your break – but hurry back! 🙂
LikeLike
Hood,
Thanks … .but I’m phasing it in. 🙂
LikeLike
Thank you. I needed to laugh and cry today and that Onion piece about sending Congress to Syria filled the bill perfectly.
LikeLike
Malcolm,
Laughing is important … then again, laughing at a sad situation only makes it a bit more bearable.
LikeLike
Say what? Lazy Mom’s Day? Why didn’t I see this at the beginning of the day? UGH!
Happy Weekend Frank 🙂
LikeLike
RoSy,
Oh no … you saw it too late. Oh well, consider declaring your own make-up day.
LikeLike
I declare Lazy Mom Day tomorrow for me 🙂
LikeLike
That a way …. pressure is on to follow through. Good luck.
LikeLike
WOW. The only way interest kids in piano lessons these days? Very cool.
Syria is lose-lose right now. Hate the thought that the world thinks our kids/grandkids in uniforms are mercenaries for hire now. Can we all just call “You’re it I quit?” and sit down with milk and cookies instead?
Pope even says no go (but the pope also said something about the Nazi..but different Pope – so what are the chances? Besides this one looks great in sausage.)
You’d better taper off blogging gradually in order not to cause major shock to your fingers (but the tremors can always be used to tickling! Laughter is good).
LikeLike
Mouse,
The more I ponder about both sides of the Syria issue, the more I realize how complexity of the issue. Meanwhile, thanks for the fingers tip!
LikeLike
I LOVE that piano stomp! Now why couldn’t Tom Hanks have thrown down with that tune in “Big”? Okay . . maybe they would’ve had to hire Daniel Day for the role in that case. But still . .
As for Syria, I’m tired of all this wrangling. This Duncan fellow is blackmailing things, and that’s not only uncool, it’s dangerous. And for another thing, we have to stop treating our enemies as if they were petulant children and start moving real dialogue into being. The stakes are high, and this ain’t poker.
LikeLike
Cayman
Unfortunately, the world stage is an ongoing poker match with everyone wanting to win for themselves —- not for the good of all.
Because there’s been more than one reference to Big, here’s the scene.
LikeLike
Hey I’m for lazy moms day! Yay ! Can I substitute banana nut bread? Made two loaves already.
Have a great weekend! My Sox are having some fun in the Bronx
LikeLike
Audra,
Your Sox are having a good year …. and I know you enjoy anytime the Yankees lose. Oh … I like banana nut bread as well, so enjoy!
LikeLike
I like the way you take a fall blogging break! Planning ahead–always a good idea! I don’t know anything about Rep.Duncan. I will have to look into what stirred your reaction. I’ve been tied up all weekend with family affairs, yet have tried to keep at least one ear partially tuned to discussion of Syria. I also concluded it’s a ‘damned if you do/don’t’ situation. It’s a total mess. Now that Congress is returning–let’s the posturing begin!
LikeLike
Debra,
In terms of Syria and Congress, I’m starting to believe that every vote is about posturing. I wish they would debate and discuss issues on the merits instead of whose idea it is or whatever stupid reason they use. After all, the Syria issue is quite complex.
LikeLike
Loved the awesome piano piece! Hope your break is refreshing. I could use one myself. . .but must finish my book for the fall.
LikeLike
I missed hug your hound day. Miles is going to be pissed!
LikeLike
This headline “Jellyfish falls short of dream to kill Diana Nyad” I don’t think ever had a chance lol
LikeLike