It’s been a tough week. My boss at the golf course had a back operation, so I took on extra hours. This week is a club event, which means extra hours. Next week is a major club event, which means more hours, plus two of my coworkers won’t be there – which means more hours. Tough – but hey – they suck it up when I vacation.
Working has cut into my blog writing and visiting; plus delaying the next Weekend Concert. Maybe the dominoes of life will align so I can announce the next concert in the next OITS.
James Holzhauer’s run on Jeopardy was interesting. Sorry to see him lose, but hey – it was bound to happen.
I’ve enjoyed watching the first four games of the Stanley Cup finals. Go Blues!
No celebration – but the next post is a milestone – # 2,200.
Marina (a blogger from Greece) and I have interacted for many years here. Although her blog has focused on her art, he’s also a very talented musician (piano is her primary instrument). She has been on a long blog break because of a work project, an art show, and more. Her recent post features a video of her art to her music. It’s wonderful. I encourage readers to visit … tell Marina I sent you.
The last post about bias sparked interesting thoughts. The Media Bias Chart I used is the version 4.0 (August 2018). The first was done in December 2016.
Earlier this week marked the anniversary of three contrasting events: 75th anniversary of D-Day, the 100th anniversary of women voting rights in the US, and the 30th anniversary of Tiananmen Square. Those three events tell quite a story.
Embed from Getty Images
Really? I never knew this: “We are celebrating the anniversary, 75 years of D-Day. This is the time where we should be celebrating our president, the great achievements of America, and I don’t think the American people like the constant negativity.” (Ronna McDaniel, Chairwoman of the Republican National Committee)
I was disappointed earlier this week by President Trump closing the door to US citizens desiring to visit Cuba.
I continue to be astonished by the difference between what Attorney General Bill Barr says that counters the statement and report by Special Counsel Robert Mueller.
Congress actually tried to do something good this week when several Republicans actually supported a Democratic initiative challenge President Trumps authority. However, the majority of Republican senators remained loyal to the party and spineless in their oversight responsibility.
While many complain about the way various media attack President Trump, I must do my due diligence and state the following: 1) President Trump brings his problems on himself, 2) Just because the news media is bashing on him does not mean the media is as biased as it may appear. He brings it upon himself and they are calling him out (as they should).
To lead you into this week’s satirical headlines, The Onion provides information about the most significant US trade wars.
Embed from Getty Images
Weekly Headlines from The Onion (combos welcome)
Mood of sex dungeon undercut by sight of plug-in air freshener
Depressed monkey throwing shit at himself
Bee practically blows its load after seeing purple coneflower in full bloom
Man who has been in a bunch of buildings figures he would be a good architect
Apple CEO torn limb by limb by mob of mothers demanding to know whether iTunes gift cards still active
Interesting Reads
Eid: An Islamic festival
About the euro
Bees using plastic
Thoughts about America’s global role
Linking Irish, Catholicism, and Vaudeville
(Interactive) Take a good 11-question science quiz, and then analyze the results to demographics
(Photos) Women’s Suffrage
Photos A few D-Day landmarks 75 years later
(Video) The Pompeii of Mexico (4+ minutes)
To send you into the weekend, here’s a summer song (actually when we enjoy hearing by our favorite duo at the Flora Bama in the winter). In the words of Garrison Keillor, Be well, do good work, and keep in touch.
The Trump situation never ceases to provide further shock and disbelief, even from thousands of miles away…
On another note, tried to get tickets to see U2 play here – was on the ball the moment they were released and … nada!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Rachel,
If you get that feeling from thousands of miles away, imagine we living it! Then again, the number of Americans who love it and unconditionally adore the man is hard to believe. Bummer on the U2 tickets. I imagine there is some sort of priority system to got the tickets. Guess I should host a U2 concert. 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
You should definitely host a u2 concert! Sounds simple enough 😳😂.
I can only imagine how intense the political climate feels in the US…
LikeLike
Frank, I was in the process of finally visiting Cuba (late in the Fall) to visit my parent’s homeleand. This was a very disappointing decision. Very disappointing and borderline heartbreaking.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Drew,
With Cuba in your blood, your degree of disappointment must be overwhelming. Hopefully, some day you will make it! Keep the faith!!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks
LikeLike
Family visits are still allowed as are visits under the support for the Cuban people category which in essence says to stay away from state and military-run events. The people to people category was the one most affected. That was the category used by cruise lines etc. I may be wrong but a visit is possible under any one of eleven categories. I would check it out. Here is the link to the Embassy in Cuba https://cu.usembassy.gov/u-s-citizen-services/local-resources-of-u-s-citizens/traveling-to-cuba/
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank for the link, John. But all of my known family here in the U.S. has passed. As far as I know I have no family in Cuba. And if I do, I have no way of finding them or proving it. I will look into this link. Thank you so much. Appreciate your kind effort to resolve my broken dream.
May have to do it the old fashion way via the Dominican Republic and ask that my passport not be stamped.
Thank you.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Look into the support Cuban people option. Don’t need family connection.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Great. Gracias John
LikeLiked by 1 person
John,
Excellent sharing of info!!!! Thanks for encouraging Drew. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I thought he needed some advice. He sounded very disappointed. There is hope.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You did well despite Obama.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Or in spite of.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Swoosh and I are very grateful! Thank you, my dear friend for the mention! ….”many years” indeed!!!!! How fast they go! Cheers to our friendship! Cheers to you!!!!! clink clink 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Marina,
My pleasure …. and I hope readers will visit to see you wonderful work. Yamas!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think that was a typo. You meant “Bruins”, not “Blues”, right 😉 Yeah, I’m in the Boston area, but truthfully, I don’t give whit about hockey. Not that I really care about any of the sports, but that’s besides the point….. I won’t say anything about politics except that I think there should be a quiz on the Mueller report for US congresspeople and Senators. Fine them $100K for every question they miss. Life in prison if a lobbyist or the party or anyone else picks up the bill. I doubt if any of them really read it…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Trent,
Thanks for catching the typo! 😉 Love your idea regarding Congress & the Mueller Report. As in the college admission scandal, our elected officials would pay to have someone take the test for them.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I agree with your comment about trump–and also, it is so embarrassing to see him abroad as our president. I can’t imagine being a leader or representative of another country and having to meet with him. It must take enormous self-discipline to not roll your eyes all the time.
Good luck with the work. I had forgotten that you worked at a golf course. My husband is still waiting to be called back.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Merril,
I can’t imagine what other leaders are thinking when they are in conversations with our president …. of even the other experts on both sides of the table. He has to make his own people cringe.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I agree. Every time he says or tweets something, his team has to spin it–like his moon a part of Mars remark yesterday.
LikeLike
Yes, the Trumpet does bring it on himself. Regarding all the work you have to do just brings to mind the saying, “Work is the curse of the drinking class.” Your boss and co-worker absences are Obama’s fault after all.
LikeLiked by 1 person
John,
Not only does President Trump bring it upon himself, he also has the luxury of blaming Obama for that!
LikeLiked by 1 person
So true. lucky man. 😁
LikeLike
It’s funny how the right continually hammers away at the left for being socialists and yet, McDaniels comments sound like something pulled from the pages of the former Soviet Union. We should just call him the General Secretary then. There . . that’s settled.
My problem isn’t how the media covers Trump, because you’re right, he does bring it on himself. It’s the endless programming devoted to him. You can’t turn on CNN at night any more. It’s all Trump, all the time.
Keuchel to the Braves. I’m not sure how to feel about it. On the one hand, I thought he could definitely fill a role on the Yanks. On the other, he can’t come back to bite us in the NL East. Not unless they play Atlanta in the WS, which is unlikely. But imagine this . . the Yankees . . pinching pennies instead of punching them.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Marc,
Thanks for sharing. Another forgotten fact is that during the 2016 primary season, Trump got more coverage and air time that any candidate … and not even close! The media still covers him so much, that when I recently saw international news, I couldn’t believe how little I know about what is going on in the world.
Yankees penny pinching? Wow …. but maybe Keuchel is declining!
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s true!
As a test, I just switched over to see what the big three were talking about. Surprisingly, CNN wasn’t talking Trump (for the moment) but Fox News and MSNBC both were. Of course! It’s mind boggling how much coverage this guy gets.
And you’re right. I’ll watch the news sometimes on Univision and they cover so much. Like . . news. Real news.
Keuchel might very well be in decline, but I just figured for the rental price of 13 mil, the Yanks could have him work his way into shape. He would really only have been needed for a postseason run. We’ll see.
LikeLiked by 1 person
At least the Red Sox didn’t get Keuchel!
LikeLike
Congratulations on your upcoming 2,200th post!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, kind sir.
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂
LikeLike
2,200 is a big deal, even if in the near future. It just means 2,199 of some great posts have preceded it. Well done.
As for the mango hued in chief and this week’s latest whinging by his party, you’re totally right. He continues to trip all over that long red tie. Jeez, he delivers a decent speech yesterday and then goes in front of the grave crosses in Normandy and criticizes a Purple Heart and Bronze Star recipient. Unbelievable! Those bone spurs must be acting up again. I can’t help but wonder what veterans groups think of this coward.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Monika,
Thank you for the kind words. It’s been an interesting 10+ year run.
Whenever President Trump goes off script, the odds of saying something goofy drastically increases. The problem with him staying off script is that he has lousy delivery.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Even when he stays on script (i.e. reading from the teleprompter) he’s lousy. The man has the vocabulary of a 3rd grader, reads like a second grader and lies whenever he opens his mouth. He is a complete embarrassment to the office he holds.
LikeLike
Your political theatre constantly amuses, amazes and aggravates me.
Go Raptors!!!
Just to show you I am back up to snuff, here’s a combo: sex still active
LikeLiked by 1 person
Resa,
3-1 Raptors! … One win away!!!! …. and I smiled at your combo. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
LOL!!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
The read about how Cardinal Paul Cullen’s brand of Irish Catholicism affected American vaudeville, filled in several blanks in my understanding of the media’s casting of the Irish immigrant wave before and after the year 1900.
I greatly admired the watercolors in Marina Kanavaki’s Art Show 2019 video.
Add me to those who think your upcoming 2200th post is a big deal!
“Apple CEO torn limb by limb by mob of mothers demanding to know whether iTunes gift cards still active” was a timely splat.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Tim,
Thanks for the recognition of the 2,200th post – of which you have read a very high percentage. Glad you visited Marina and cheers to a splat.
LikeLike
The article about Irish Catholicism and vaudeville was of interest because of my wife’s Irish grandmother who was left by her father at a Catholic orphanage around the age of 4 after her mother died. Her parents were in vaudeville. The father promised to return, but never did. Cardinal Cullen’s proscription against pleasure in general, borne of the Great Famine in Ireland, gives a poignant insight into the Irish-Catholic culture of the times. Good pick, Frank.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Jim,
For me, not only is that combination of characteristics an odd group for an article, but then to have it apply to a reader. Wow!!! Thanks for sharing.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’ve been busy and I guess so have I, just differently, so here I am quite “late” from posting date. But I did want to see what you had to share, and I’m never disappointed. I agree with your position that Trump brings it on himself. It’s a phenomena I don’t really understand, that narcissists, completely focused on themselves, are still incapable of self-awareness. He’s one for the history books, that’s for sure!
I’ve been really interested in the D-Day commemorations, and the anniversary of the events in Tiananmen Square feels like yesterday. A lot of history was indeed reviewed this past week!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Debra,
Not only does Trump bring it upon himself, the Trumpians give him a free pass. Besides, they can always maximize the blame on Obama and Hillary. Did you know that in Genesis, Obama gave Eve the apple and Hillary was the temptation snake in?
LikeLike