Although reporters love to ask Sarah Palin (R-AK) if she’ll seek the presidency in 2016, I declare that Nincompoop will not run because doing so would ruin her diminishing brand. Besides, her recent speech in Iowa even caused conservative media pundit Sean Hannity scratched his head. Then again, Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) stated, She’do great. She predictably blamed the lame-stream media for pre-planning any criticism of her speech. Good night Nincompoop, turn out the lights as the party is over.
Given the topic, I expected yesterday’s post about Congress’s operating budget wouldn’t get much traction … then again, my purpose was to increase awareness.
Here are two outstanding interactives
Earlier this week marked the 70th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, yet the reports of this human embarrassment remain chilling. As the survivors dwindle in number, I can only hope that humanity never forgets. Here’s a story about a survivor on his return trip this year – actually, his first.
Here’s a strong opinion about an upcoming Supreme Court ruling about housing.
If all goes as planned, Life: The Musical comes to an end. I’ll announce the final act’s theme on the next Monday Morning Entertainment.
Several ideas are vying for the next musical, but time will tell the choice.
Online comments in posts and articles are in a world of their own – especially at the major publications. I like the invitation to comment by Barry Ritholz.
Please use the comments to demonstrate your own ignorance, unfamiliarity with empirical data and lack of respect for scientific knowledge. Be sure to create straw men and argue against things I have neither said nor implied. If you could repeat previously discredited memes or steer the conversation into irrelevant, off topic discussions, it would be appreciated. Lastly, kindly forego all civility in your discourse . . . you are, after all, anonymous.
Sunday is Super Bowl XLIX. Did you know that next year will be the first Super Bowl using standard numbers?
No Saturday Morning Cartoon or Explore post this weekend. Given a new month lies ahead, Saturday’s post is dedicated to February. After all, given only 28 days in the month, time is valuable.
To lead you into The Onion, here’s their blizzard survival tips and a list of the least inspiring biographical movies.
On This Week’s Headlines from The Onion
Family lets cars come inside during snowstorm
Nation’s historians warn the past is expanding at alarming rate
Man’s area code provides exciting glimpse at past life
Postal Service unveils new stamp honoring Americans who still use Postal Service
Republicans address income inequality with middle class hot stock tip
Study links negative Tweets to more heart disease
Interesting Reads
- No black cars in Turkmenistan
- The Atlantic’s look at potential 2016 US Presidential candidates
- Evolution and status of Jihadist groups (a summary and the full report)
- Billie Holiday and the Federal Bureau of Narcotics
- Something for Downton Abbey fans
- (Infographic) Left brain vs right brain
Your Weekend Celebrations
- (Fri) Inane Answering Message Day, Yodel for Your Neighbors Day, Escape Day, Jazz Day, Snagglepuss Day (a Saturday honoree), Fun at Work Day, Croissant Day, Pre-School Fitness Day
- (Sat) Inspire Your Heart with Art Day, Seed Swap Day, Backwards Day, Hell is Freezing Over Day, Brandy Alexander Day, Street Children Day, Child Labor Day, Appreciate Your Social Security Check Day
- (Sun) Working Naked Day, Serpent Day, Spunky Old Broads Day, Popcorn Day, Rare Disease Day, Car Insurance Day, Change Your Passwords Day, Decorating with Candy Day, Baked Alaska Day, Hula in the Coola Day, Women’s Heart Day, Freedom from Slavery Day, G.I. Joe Day, Royal Canadian Mounted Police Day, Skippy Peanut Butter Day, Girls & Women in Sports Day, Face & Body Art Day, Robinson Crusoe Day, Super Bowl XLIX
To send you into the weekend, here’s a classic from a classic artist who needs no introduction. Have a safe weekend and in the words of Garrison Keillor, Be well, do good work, and keep in touch.
Damn…there were so many things I needed to do before hell froze over.
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SK,
Today will be a busy day!!!!
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I heard bits of that Palin speech. Very bizarre. Talking about the man riding our backs and if we’d just straighten our backs, he can’t ride us. And to think she was almost one step away from the presidency.
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Carrie,
Bizarre in multiple ways. The strenthening back analogy was quite weird, but given the statements on each side of it, whew! I really think that many top Republicans hope she would simply go away.
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Yes, I think her absence from politics would receive wide bi-partisan support.
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… but I’m empathetic for the Palinistas – her loyal follwers
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Rockin’ Stevie and Jeff…
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Jim,
I was hoping you would see this one because I knew you would love it!
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I always get a kick out of Beck. He dresses the same for every performance. I think he ought to try something different. Lots of old-getting-older rockers out there. What will they be like in 10 years? 🙂
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I used to work with a guy who adored Jeff Beck! … but a new, younger guitarist will emerge.
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One of my favorites is Derek Trucks. http://youtu.be/GBbRrvJt8G8 He gave a concert here a few years ago.
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I don’t know him … but I didn’t expect too. 😉 … quite the young talent with a bluesy style … and I guess you enjoyed his concert. Thanks for the introduction!
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Seems like the good fellows of Turkmenistan have very strong black and white opinions. Not so, the Russians, as this video will attest: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=LP3w-oJjH8I
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Cynthia,
OMG … now that is awesome and one that I’ve never seen before … and it’s prime for future use on these pages.
Glad you are doing well after the blizzard! Hang in there!!!!
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i think miss nincompoop should just plain run in some nikes and let animals hunt her and see how she likes it. did she not she her own movie about how dumb she is….she’s so dumb, that woody harrelson from cheers had to tell her what to say. he was smarter than miss nincompoop
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Rachael,
I’m not sure about her referring to herself as dumb in her movie because I haven’t seen the movie. Someone encouraged me to watch it, but I laughed responding about wasting time. For sure, she is a piece of work! … and to think she has followers!!!!
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i was answering you and then my wireless went off this afternoon & i’ve been trying to go to sleep ,since 9 am and now it’s 16 hours later,lol…okay i said , she would never refer to herself as dumb, but if she watched the movie, she would realize how dumb she is……..
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Raechel,
Ouch … a double whammy – no wireless and you couldn’t sleep! In some ways Palin is smart. She’s been playing her brand well for monetary gains. I maintain she has no interest in running in 2016, so when asked, something like “I’m thinking about it” keeps her brand in play, even though she’s not thinking about. After all, a campaign disaster could ruin her brand. Then again, the bits in her last speech were more than weird and incoherent – so it will be interesting to see what she says on her next major speech.
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Great video with a terrific Jeff Beck guitar solo, Frank! And I loved it when Stevie began ad libbing the lyric, “jamming in New York”!
I will make sure that my colleague, Godsend, is fully aware that tomorrow it “Fun at Work Day”, especially since The Boss will not be in.
Unrelated: if you have not seen “20 Feet from Stardom”, the film that won the Best documentary Academy Award last year, I think you might enjoy it.
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Lame,
I imagine Godsend will be grateful for the news. Is The Grind closed Sunday?
Thanks for the movie tip. I have not seen it, but just watched the trailer, so yes … I’d be interested … and it seems to be available on Netflix. Regarding Superstition, I decided one the song, then I discovered this live version, so cheers to you enjoying the special version!
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The Grind is always closed on Sundays. And The Boss made a sneak appearance today! It’s far from Fun at Work Day! We’ve been foiled!
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Ouch on the foil!
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Big ouch. Her presence really cramped our Friday style.
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Maybe she was celebrating Curmudgeon Day a day late.
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I think this means that on Wednesday I have to do all the things I said I’d only do when hell freezes over. It might be a very busy day – but luckily it seems I can also do it backwards!
Love Jeff Beck!!
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Pauline,
Warning Warning Warning … Do all the “When hell freezes over things”, plus doing them backwards, is not Wednesday, but Saturday … thus for you – in a matter of a few hours – well, at least you can get some sleep before the tasks at hand. So, do you have to work Sunday? 😉
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Oh geez – and I slept late! Gotta get started ……
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Big smiles over Sarah P.. and I think I will choose the Saturday.. simply as its our Ruby Wedding Anniversary Day 🙂 It rained on the actual day.. Looks like maybe ‘ it will be a ” Hell is Freezing Over Day” as we have snow and ice and freezing temps…
Enjoyed the Music too Frank..
Enjoy your weekend
Hugs Sue 🙂
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Sue,
First and foremost, cheers celebrating your 40th anniversary – and I raise my glass of red wine to the occasion! … and I’m confident the weather won’t curtail the celebration. You are a handful of years ahead of us, 🙂 … Enjoy!!!!
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Many thanks Frank.. and yes the weather will not stop us celebrating 🙂 Many thanks for your toast! 🙂
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Hi Frank! So entertaining! You cover so much in one post! Agree re Sarah Palin – she’s done…(?!) And maybe I’ll write a post on negative tweets and heart disease since I saw it here first – ha! Cool video as well – great work 🙂
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Kelly,
Being a newbie here, I’ve been referring to her as Nincompoop for some time, … and I explain here … https://afrankangle.wordpress.com/2010/11/11/on-nincompoop/ … meanwhile, we look forward to your post relating negative tweets & heart disease.
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Thanks for the link! I’ll read it and get back to you. Better start my research on that post now! 🙂
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FYI … It’s not a long post … but thanks goes to conservative columnist Peggy Noonan for inspiring it.
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Too funny! I never knew there were so many definitions! I think my fav was the French “elle ne comprend pas!”
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Glad you enjoyed it … and you can see how it fits … and that post was in January 2010!
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Yep you called it! At first I was interested to see what she would bring to the table, but then she just got so “you betcha” on everything
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Her folksie style helped her … but only with the base because she wasn’t able to capture the middle … but it also got old, thus is now working against her. Then again, I continue to believe she wants to stay in the limelight because it’s good money for her.
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Couldn’t agree more
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Loved loved loved the interactive maps. Also found fascinating the story of Billie Holiday, she is one of my singing icons though her life and death were tragic, her jazz sounds were and remain the stuff of magic.
I am taking Saturday as my own. I will leave it to you to guess why.
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Val,
Hooray for your endorsement of the interactives – they are good, but I never know at this end if anyone actually goes to these links … although I know you and several others commonly do. 😀
I’ve got the feeling you’ve stated “When hell freezes over” in your life … but, I’m thinking that you’ll inspire your heart with art tomorrow.
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You know me so very well Frank. I am thinking of visiting a gallery or two tomorrow. But also thinking I would like to start to paint again, now that I have a room in my house returned to me.
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Well … the choices made it easy … plus, Brandy Alexander Day was the only competition.
Regarding painting, have you ever attended this place (or a place like it)? http://www.paintingwithatwist.com/dallas/ … it a fun night – especially with a group.
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I have not, but it looks fun. I have now bookmarked to investigate further. thanks
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I did it once … my wife just attended her fourth … thus she did it with work, twice with family, and the latest as a girls night out.
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PS: There are other businesses that do the same thing … I imagine some locally owned.
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You know, in the future, area codes will be an indicator of the past. I’m quite sure my son will never give up his beloved (703) for anything!
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Elyse,
Just another example of when good satire meets reality. 🙂
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I think Sarah Palin is an alien from an alternate universe, Frank. That’s the only explanation.
And: “Republicans address income inequality while honoring Americans who still use Postal Service”
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Cathy,
I’m not sure which I like best … the alien explanation or the new GOP campaign line!
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We have a Super Bowl dinner on Sunday. I don’t understand the rules of the game, but the food is always great. 🙂 That John Drysdale image is quite surreal. I won’t try this pose. 😯
Thanks for the ‘Superstition’ video. Two super cool artists, and Jeff Beck’s guitar work is so fantastic. Have a great weekend, Frank. I hope Hell would have to freeze over, before Palin makes it to the White House. 🙂
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Sylvia,
You may not understand the game, but you realize that parties are about the food and fellowship … and the commercials! I’ve got the feeling you enjoy yourself!
It seems the Beck-Wonder collaboration has received many praises … thanks .. and glad you enjoyed it. Meanwhile, no way about Palin making it to the White House because such an event would only be from an invitation.
Glad you enjoyed the Drysdale pic!
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I once again have my work cut out for me this weekend to digest the plethora of fascinating topics and information laid out in your Vol. 249 Opinions in the Shorts. In order, are the Top 5 that sucked me in first:
1. (Infographic) Left brain vs right brain
2. The invitation to comment, by Barry Ritholz
3. Appreciate Your Social Security Check Day (tomorrow)
4. Billie Holiday and the Federal Bureau of Narcotics
5. Your comments on the latest Nincompoop eruption
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Tim,
Glad to give you something to mull over … and weather seems to be improving for your upcoming trip.
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Awesome Jeff Beck rendition of superstition Mr Frank and much more interesting than U.S. politics…actually, much more interesting than ANY politics! 😉
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Narf,
US politics causes many Americans to bang their head against the wall … but not a good topic for my foreign readers .. thus why I generally put snips in OITS with the occasional dedicated post. A bit of history for you … the primary focus of this blog when I started was US politics and US sports … but I transitioned with readers.
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Our Australian politicians are driving us nuts at the moment. A majority of the great unwashed elected the Australian equivalent of George W. Bush into office and now we are having a devil of a time getting him out again. He has nestled in like a very happy tick and even his own ranks are rumbling discontent. I can only imagine that your own condition is bigger than ours, especially if it has anything to do with Texas ;). Quite glad you transitioned as otherwise I wouldn’t have much to stick around for. Politics and sports and sex…I thought they were all taboo subjects? 😉
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Texas is interesting in many ways. Look like they are taking aim at the next election with potential candidates including a former Texas governor, a Texas senator, one with a father who was a Texas Representative, and another from Florida who has a famous brother & father in Texas.
Sex? Who said this was a blog about sex?
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Must be the only taboo subject you have avoided Mr Frank ;). My son has a Texan partner. I recently shared an article with her about how they are attempting to pass a bill that would allow teachers to shoot students “if warranted”…can someone please tell me the exact point where the world went completely mad?!
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To help understand the Texas mindset, reading the platform of the state Republican party is a tad interesting … but … I don’t recommend taking the time to read it.
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I bet Kelsey is glad to be out of there! 😉
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PS: I was wondering if Ms. Pauline told you this was a sex blog!
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Yes, actually she did. I have been waiting to be titillated for a long time now but I guess I am going to have to save my proclivities for another day 😉
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I’m not surprised that she provided that information … especially in light of the fact she doesn’t know that we know her secret persona.
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True but we had better not let her secret out of the bag Mr Frank as you know how gypsy’s are about their privacy 😉
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Well said … and because of her privacy, we shouldn’t let her know about this dialogue.
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We should remain shtum at all times…
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For a comment completely irrelevant to your blog: the superbowl is coming soon – Go Seahawks!
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LB,
Not irrelevant to the blog … besides, I mentioned it in the post. Good luck to your team! … No biggie for me because my team isn’t in it.
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Did you call her a Nincompoop LMAO. Did you see when she free styled her speech? hat was just the funniest. I had the best laugh that day lol
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Kay,
I’ve been using the term since 2011 … https://afrankangle.wordpress.com/2010/11/11/on-nincompoop/ … thanks to Peggy Noonan.
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I keep hoping some major earthquake will sever Alaska into an island ( they could be their own country…they think they are, anyway.) (I am already woozy from all the pre-election jostling and snarling. Such barren fields. I may have to hike into the mountain back country once the campaigning starts for real…no. I do not mean going to Alaska! Huge mosquitoes and other annoying creatures)
You hit it out of the park with Beck and Wonder. Now that’s entertainment! HAve a great weekend!
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Mouse,
In terms of Presidential primaries, I think of Judy Collins … you know … Send in the Clowns … but that thought ruins a good song … so how about Clown Parade! The GOP field has oh so many candidates, which is a perfect CP fit. Too bad the Dems are doing the same thing.
Meanwhile, you are in Texas, the home of 2 wanna-Bs … but when it comes to campaign ads, your state won’t come close to mine. The mere thought makes us weary.
BTW – Alaska via cruise ship is a wonderful trip!
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I am always perplexed by the raging toxicity of venom against Sarah Palin. Admittedly, she’s no prize as a political candidate, but on the other hand, people who are stupider and more vulgar than she is, are given a pass by those same people who jump all over Palin. It reminds me of herd animals who pick on the weak and wounded among them…
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Cynthia,
My history here is mild … but I’ve been using Nincompoop since 2011 … and that was after reading Peggy Noonan’s column in the Wall Street Journal, so I was following her. But yes, others have been full of venom, but many of them are probably venomous toward any Republican. Interestingly, in the 2008 election, both my wife and I were learning toward McCain … but after he picked her, that pushed us away.
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Peggy Noonan also suffered from Palin Derangement Syndrome, mentioned above…:-)
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Noonan definitely not a Palinista … but she is a respected voice within the GOP.
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I am still fascinated by the fact that Palin strikes a nerve that makes some people feel free to call her names and demean her so out of proportion to anything she actually says or does…though I don’t think she should be President, I doubt she is any “dumber” than many men who have run for the office, and she’s probably no dumber than the people who are always. calling her dumb…..yep, it’s a mystery to me, that nerve that she strikes…there’s something highly emotional about it all…
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I would say part of the venom is 2-fold … She tends to be a lightening rod, which in terms ignites the highly partisan. For my point of view, I don’t find her very credible, so I don’t give her much time.
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PS: Conservative columnist Kathleen Parker chimes in … http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/kathleen-parker-the-sacrifice-of-sarah-palin/2015/01/27/cfa46cc0-a65e-11e4-a7c2-03d37af98440_story.html
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Hi Frank, can’t believe it (was) Friday already and finally all can go crazy over Super Bowl Sunday weekend – way too much if you ask for my opinion. Hell will freeze over before I . . . relax and enjoy February and your birthday!
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Mary,
Super Bowl weekend it is … and I hope the food and commercials are good. Enjoy!!!
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Interesting about the Super Bowl using standard numbers next year. As I watched some coverage about the Super Bowl this morning, I noticed the Roman Numerals. I thought , do they even teach RNs any more? I actually know a few people who can’t read them. Are they going the way of cursive?
Hope I said that correctly! Enjoyed Superstition…. lots!
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Resa,
Which looks better in a marketing sense: Super Bowl L or Super Bowl 50? I will be interested to see what the NFL does with the one after that.
I have no clue about the status of Roman Numerals in schools. Then again, I’ve got the feeling Latin classes may cover them … well, the schools that still teach Latin.
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Hmm, actually neither looks that great. Super Bowl Fifty, maybe?
Agree, LI or 51are both odd, it will be interesting to see what they do.
Latin may be a dead language, but I do quite like Roman Numerals.
Hope you’re having a great Sunday!
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