Summertime is definitely here. After a long streak of rain, we could use a good dose of water from the sky. I don’t care for this hot, muggy weather.
This Weekend Concert Series returns with Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young. Because of the way these artists have mixed and matched, songs must be credited two at least 2 of the 4 musicians. Solo songs are not acceptable. Stage time is Saturday, 1 AM (Eastern US).
Norah O’Donnell debuts Monday as the anchor of the CBS Evening News. I wish her well and look forward to watching. On the other hand, I recall feeling bored watching Katie Couric’s heralded debut.
I enjoyed the IMAX film about Cuba, so I encourage others to see it if/when it comes to a local theater near you. Future locations and dates are not listed. Here’s a link to the film’s website, which includes a list of current theaters. The trailer is below.
Congratulations to the US Women’s Soccer Team for winning the World Cup.
I’m a baseball fan, but All-Star Game bores me – so if I watch it, I only see snippets.
Earlier this week I substituted in my old golf league. It was good to see people I haven’t seen in 4-5 years. As we were sitting around after golfing, a few were complaining about Nike and Colin Kaepernick. I couldn’t resist the chance to use my explanation: “I hate to tell you but Nike isn’t marketing to anyone at this table. Their target market isn’t old white guys who generally vote Republican and wear New Balance shoes they bought from Target, WalMart, or Kohls.” Some nodded, others laughed, and the majority were speechless.
Embed from Getty Images
I’ve mentioned the Biden Dilemma (my term) several times since I initiated the thought. Here’s the original thought.
- His age
- Voters may be looking for a fresh face (as they did with Jimmy Carter (1976), Bill Clinton (1992), George W Bush (2000), Barack Obama (2008), and Donald Trump (2016)
Not Left enough - If nominated, the party will force him left, that is forcing him to be who he isn’t (Similar to what happened to Hilliary Clinton (2016), John McCain (2004), and Mitt Romney (2008)
- His tendency to say the wrong thing at the wrong time
- Kate Smith Syndrome – Anything in the past can be placed into today’s standards and context
- Ties to the Republican Boogie Man: Obama
Although there is a long way to go, if Joe Biden does not get the Democratic nomination, I would not be surprised to see a strong independent candidate enter the presidential race.
On July 4th, Rep. Justin Amash (R-MI) declared his independence from the Republican Party. This action may cause him to lose his committee seat(s) and will unquestionably threaten his re-election. Consider this as a prime example of member of Congress doing the right thing to the expense of losing their position.
While the Republicans can’t do anything more about health care than criticize Single Payer and Obamacare, the Democrats also continue to miss the mark by not addressing the issue – including improving Obamacare (the Affordable Care Act).
To lead you into this week’s satirical headlines, The Onion lists pros and cons for sharable electric scooters.
Embed from Getty Images
Weekly Headlines from The Onion (combos welcome)
Area man always thought he’d squander his life differently
Fork section of cutlery drawer overrun by invasive soup spoons
Craftsman confirms new hammer backwards-compatible with previous generation of nails
Weary, cynical woman knows better than to bring a tomato plant into a world like this
Area 8-year-old formally rescinds hunger complaint following mother’s insulting banana offer
OSHA special ops team raids local office after receiving intel of expired fire extinguisher
God orders all followers to swallow cyanide capsule in preparation for voyage to Alpha Centauri
(My Combo) Cynical 8-year-old orders weary man to swallow nails
Interesting Reads
The mission of Apollo 11
Plants and climate change
About Einstein
For those who like quirky
Chernobyl: fact and fiction
Demographics and the US political parties
(Photos) New UNESCO World Heritage Sites
(Graphic) Housing by countries over time
(Infographic) History of life
To send you into the weekend from hot and muggy Cincinnati, here’s one of my favorite heat songs. In the words of Garrison Keillor, Be well, do good work, and keep in touch.
#nolaheat just laughs at Cinncy’s mugginess. 🤦♂️
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ray,
Touche … and if our roles were reversed, I would say the same. Heat & humidity is a matter of as compared to what. Worst I’ve ever felt was mid-August in Houston. Gads that was horrible. Good luck with the storm blitz on your doorstep.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Houston’s heat and humidity is about like ours. We are a little more “goopy,” then they are. We are the land of 5 showers a day in the summer. Thank you. We are pretty well prepared and the latest NOAA forecasts are a little encouraging. Current situation… outer bands are hitting. 10-15 mph wind with rain spitting.
LikeLike
You’re right about Nike and Kaepernick. Not only Nike doesn’t really sell it’s product (overpriced sneakers) to older people, getting older people outraged about their product will help Nike sell more of their product to the young people.
LikeLiked by 1 person
X,
Yep – but I’ve also heard it about any Nike product – and my trial explanation worked.
LikeLike
Looking forward to the next concert. So many choices!
Will be interesting to follow what happens in your crazy election schedule that lasts three times longer than it should…
LikeLiked by 1 person
You are so right about the campaign/election schedule. It should be limited to a few months, as it is in other countries. Of course, dt’s term has been one, long (WAY TOO LONG) campaign.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Not only way too long, also way too expensive! … and to think that money could do something good!
LikeLiked by 2 people
It’s ridonkulous.
And that is another truth.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Dale,
The US election format lasts WAY to long …. Exhausting!!!! … and expensive! See you at the concert. 🙂
LikeLike
Yes, yes and yes!
😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
I would say summertime is “hear” 🙂 from the storms we’ve been getting, along with the phone alerts–tornado alert last Saturday, flash flood alert yesterday. . .It’s hot and humid here now, too.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Merril,
Our weather patterns are similar … and oh boy… seems we are stuck in a hot pattern of YUK! … but my immediate area has avoided rain & storms. Hoping for Tropical Storm Barry comes my way. …. Corrected hear … thanks … that’s what I get with the last-minute addition.
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂
LikeLike
I sent the read “For those who like quirky” to the I.U. basketball crazy relatives in Indiana. They took it personally!
Speaking of personal, the Real House Prices graph spoke to the challenge my nieces and nephews scattered around the world are facing while trying to make ends meet.
A splat occurred while pondering “Craftsman confirms new hammer backwards-compatible with previous generation of nails.”
Speaking of pondering, I’m doing that while scratching my head over the final paragraph of the read ‘Demographics and the U.S. Political Parties.’
LikeLiked by 1 person
Tim,
To me, the final paragraph is saying the Dems are moving left whether the party likes it or not.
I’m thrilled any time I get a splat – although I find it difficult to predict the one delivering the direct hit.
As for your Indiana relatives, they’ll get over it.
LikeLike
Cincy,
I’m not uber familiar with CSNY, hmmm.
As for the All Star Game, I watched snippets as well. I actually watched more of the HR Derby, which I only did because of Vlad Guerrero Jr. And holy batman, he did not disappoint.
Biden is just too old, I think. Ten years younger and he wins, I think, without needing to go left in order to appease the party. But I know one thing. If Trump wins in 2020, certain members of the democratic party are gonna have some explaining to do.
Remarkably, the Yankees are not willing (thus far) to give in to the Madison Bumgarner trade demands that “begin with Clint Frazier”. They’re looking at other options.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Marc,
A friend of mine is a lifer Red Sox fan, and he is already conceding to the Yankees. Maybe they should go for Vlad Jr! Great point about the Dems explaining if they lose. The current plan has them missing another layup.
LikeLiked by 1 person
My son texted me last night and made an interesting point. He said the Rays and Yankees feels like the bitter rivalry that the Sox and Yanks used to be. It makes some sense, seeing as how Boston and New York are mirror images. The Rays are the small payroll darlings who are looking to knock off Goliath and the teams really don’t like each other.
Vlad Jr is special. I watched that kid hit during the Derby. He doesn’t just hit the baseball, he pulverizes it.
I would love to see a legit third party candidate, but alas, not getting my hopes up.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I too would love to see a legit 3rd party … maybe even a 4th and 5th. But it’s possible that the grip is too strong.
Interesting perspective about the AL East …. then again, it could be a 1-2 year model.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I would love to create a third party. But I fear my name for it would be confusing to voters, who are looking to throw the bums out. I would name it the House Party.
The Rays are a sound organization. They have good baseball people and the results have been hard to argue. Problem is, they get zero support in Tampa. Put them in a baseball hotbed and this would be a team to be reckoned with. As it is, the Yankees have a tough time with them.
LikeLiked by 1 person
House Party … now that’s a hoot! Bravo!!!!
Here in Cincy, Reds are losing support to a last-place kickball franchise … and others to apathy. Tired of losing.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Buahahaha!
Maybe you need to ‘adopt’ a franchise in the interim.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Adoption not good for me because I’m such a loyalist.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I hear you. The Reds are where the Dolphins have been. Not horrible, not competitive. The middle sucks.
LikeLike
Love muggy in Cinci. You will be getting some rain shortly. (maybe more than you want) Have a good weekend, Frank. Biden also suffers from the demographic profile you described to your golf buddies. (180 degrees from Nike targets)
LikeLiked by 1 person
John,
The muggy stuff is still here and it seems the bulk of Barry seems to be going to our north – therefore minimal rain so far. Hopefully tomorrow is different because he need it. Regarding Biden, still a long way to go, but I believe he faces an uphill journey.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Now that the Dems have something to pass (A rebuke of the President) Biden may just be ignored by the young hot bloods. He should thank Trump for the distraction. Nice to see all those Dems show up to vote on something.
LikeLike
I think the Dems are passing gas.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ha haha
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for the link to Cuba. Will watch it.
Have a great weekend. Looking forward to the concert.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Drew,
Because you enjoyed the Cuba info, my current post is about Havana. Thanks for participating in the concert.
LikeLike
Interesting reads as always. I am cheering for Joe but I fear he will have a struggle against another old white guy. Thanks for the clip from “Cuba” – would love to see it and visit Cuba. Stay as cool as possible. Humid is normal for us.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Jo,
Glad you enjoyed the Cuba trailer – so I hope it comes to your area in the future. BTW – My current post (up Tuesday evening) is about Havana.
LikeLike
Nice OITS, and see you tomorrow at the concert!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Resa,
Late to getting to this … and thank you … and cheers to your active participation in the concert!
LikeLiked by 1 person
This week’s video selection is always a guarantee to move but not necessarily from a oversized truck from one of the back doors.
P.S. The good news about watching baseball is you can get by with seeing an inning here or there and still ‘figure it out’ with no loss. Happy weekend. I’m with you on the heat and have begun the countdown until the official start of Autumn (71 if you’re inclined to track as well).
LikeLiked by 1 person
Monika,
Oh yes – this songs gets one moving. Then again, I typically pick faster songs for going into the weekend. Good point about baseball. Speaking of it – I must check the Reds score after this comment.
LikeLiked by 1 person
⚾️ Good luck.
LikeLike
At my Reds aren’t totally out of it yet!
LikeLiked by 1 person