No concert this weekend. Actually, the next artist taking the stage must change due to unforeseen extenuating circumstances. James Brown (the Godfather of Soul) will be rescheduled. Next up: Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Journey. Date TBA (possibly 28th Sept).
This weekend our handbell choir starts the season with a fun rendition of Children of the Heavenly Father. For those interested, listen to a studio recording here.
Benevolent Impalers (my football fantasy team) rolled to 2-0 record with a convincing victory over a personal rival (a friend since my first day in college) who is also a perennial power in this league. I remained cautiously concerned because no team has ever made the playoffs with only two wins.
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Allegations against Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh recently surfaced. Contrary to many others, I refuse to judge the man on the merits of college-days behavior.
Although I haven’t watched any of the Democratic debates to date, plus I don’t plan on watching any in the future, columnist Maureen Dowd (New York Times) offers this interesting perspective.
Not only does President Trump wants to ease air quality standards, he wants to block states from setting clean air standards. Hmmmm …. Seems the Republican call for “States Rights” is not surprisingly silent.
An obvious contradiction. Polls show that Americans want fuel-efficient vehicles. Yet, in practice, Americans purchase many large SUVs and trucks. Wonder how that correlates with partisan voting.
How’s this for logic? Socialism offers free health care for all. Joseph Stalin was a Socialist. Stalin killed millions. Say no to Medicare for All.
To lead you into this week’s satirical headlines, The Onion provides a timeline of capital punishment in America.
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Weekly Headlines from The Onion (combos welcome)
Huge box of extra organs left on curb outside hospital
Adoption agency gives couple who waited long time an extra kid free of charge
“Flatbread means pizza,” man explains to visiting father
Nike recalls sweat-wicking shirts that pull gallons liquid directly from wearers’ bodies
Philadelphia to become DirectTV, Pennsylvania after cream cheese manufacturer loses naming rights
Grizzled beer can used as ashtray watches another headstrong 12-pack come and go through patio
(My Combo) Headstrong grizzled man waited long time to pull extra cream cheese from huge box
Interesting Reads
Spreading misinformation
Why big data continues to get bigger
Losing at Waterloo
Why school buses are yellow
How Americans view China
(Graphic) World economy by countries on one chart
(Photos) EyeEm Photo Awards
To send you into the weekend, my favorite video by The Cars. R.I.P Rick Ocasek. In the words of Garrison Keillor, Be well, do good work, and keep in touch.
It is all so depressing….
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Cindy,
Although their is much in the news to get one down, the majority of the world is still good!
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This is great stuff, Frank.
Firstly, stay away from anything Miami Dolphins. They just released the top 100 for college football and the Dolphins . . did not make it.
Something about Kavanaugh irks me, but I agree with you.
I am in love with how Maureen Dowd writes.
Trump messing with Cali? Say it ain’t so!
Joe Stalin played shortstop for the Reds, didn’t he?
Yankees clinched the division. Which isn’t supposed to excite us Yankees fans, but seeing as how they ain’t done it since 2012(!!!???!!!) . . I’m kind of stoked.
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Marc,
Congrats on the Division title. One thing at a time – and that’s in the books. Let the others fight over the Wild Card spots.
You are correct – Not only was Joe Stalin a Red, he played a mean SS who killed the ball!
Dolphins are a mess. Bengals are bad, but not a mess – well … not yet. Week 17 of this season could be an Instant Classic – Fins/Bengals … Woo hoo!!!!
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I had no idea it had been seven years!
He sure did! Yikes!
Believe it or not, I was encouraged by a lot of what I saw yesterday in Dallas. Rosen showed some things and the defense had several moments. The Kenyan Drake fumble at the three as they were driving in for the lead before halftime was a killer. But overall, they didn’t quit.
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Not quitting is a good sign. Hopefully that continues in the dog days of the season.
Benevolent Impalers took it on the chin. The lowest scoring team in the league had (by far) the best weekend of the season. Crazy … and I through up a number that was decent.
Battle for the AL Wild Card is interesting.
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I like Flores. The problem with his situation is that there aren’t many Brett Brown’s out there- coaches who are able to see their way through the tanking and continue coaching on the other side.
Any given Sunday, that’s what they say.
I refuse to root for ANY of the AL wild card teams to make it over the other. That always comes back to bite me in the ass. LOL
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Winless Bengals face the winless Steelers next Monday night … Oh boy … how awesome would a tie be!
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Shhhhh! It’s a really good possibility.
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Wouldn’t it be awesome to have two winless teams playing each other in week 17?
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It would be a first. And Cincy is also in the market for a QB.
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O-line has got to be first.
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I agree. I am leery about Miami going for a QB when they have nothing around him.
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I hope for a Bengal OL … or a dominant LB would be tough to pass.
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OL, Pass rusher, lock down corner, all of the above?
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All are needs … draw them out of the hat.
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Hopefully we trade out of No 1 or 2 and compile more. Better odds that way.
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Oh yes … Trade down to about 8-10 to get extra high picks.
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And in FA, fortify with less expensive line help as well. No big name FA’s, they rarely pan out.
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Besides, Bengal brass seldom, if ever, dive into premium FAs. Every once in a while they find a gem – but they usually try to find reasonably-priced role players.
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That’s how to play the FA market. Let teams like the Jets buy all the big name mistakes.
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PS: There is an exhibit in my current post that may be up your alley.
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Oh yeah? Coo!
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Have a great weekend, Frank.
Love me a bit of Journey, looking forward to it
X
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Fiery,
Hey hey hey … Although unofficial, Journey could be this weekend, therefore available for your Saturday morning. Stop by your Friday morning to see if I announce it.
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You know Frank, since Ric O. passed, you’ve been on my mind so seeing the video at the end made me cry. I feel so bad over it when I haven’t really thought of him nor The Cars in a long time. But after careful thought and a running dialogue with Marc, I see he represented so much of my early life that was filled with wonder and innocence. He was a trailblazer in being just who are without apology. Susannah
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Susannah,
Oh no … I surely didn’t intend to make you cry. He lead The Cars and they gave us wonderful music that we got to experience!
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Good mourning I think we can call it Frank, well tuned.
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Good morning, Susannah. Trying to catch up at this end because I was out of town this past weekend. Hope to make if over to your new post sometime today.
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No worries Frank. It’s not a job though your efforts are appreciated. Frankly, Frank…I never expect anyone to read what I write, so when someone such as yourself does, it’s always a nice surprise. 🙂
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You are so nice …. thank you …. but I truly enjoy your writing and wit.
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That means the world to this writer…:)
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Glad I made you smile.
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Always. 🙂
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Now we need to know the why for the change. That was rather cryptic of you.
That Maureen Dowd article was a great read. And the politics south of the border scares me.
I dunno, Frank…
Great post!
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Agree, the politics south of the border are just darn frightening!
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Dale,
Glad you enjoyed the Dowd article. The lady has a unique style of making her point. The reason for the concert change is simple – James has a concert scheduled for Moses and his exiles – and I couldn’t compete with that.
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James? Moses?
Umm. OK…
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Yep … James Brown has a concert for Moses and his flock in the wilderness.
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Right. Lay off those funny cigarettes…
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Hey … James ditched me!
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LOL!
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I love the way you structure your Opinions – you give us the ordinary, depressing stuff, news and then end with things that make us smile and then music. Cheers for the weekend!
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Jo,
Thank you for the kind words. I like the variety in OITS. For a long time, I started with the political stuff first, but that I decided that was unfair for non-US readers.
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I have a big fear of Socialists. I don’t want to be marginalized for the good of the many. Quite frankly many of the many aren’t worth it. I agree on judging behavior but our PC world says you must pay for your sins even if you were young and stupid. Happy weekend, Frank
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John,
If we get Universal Health Care, I don’t know if I will be one of the ones killed.
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Take a number. You may just pass away waiting for care.
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Oh … that’s different because I thought I would be shot or murdered in some way.
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I don’t want to be marginalized for the good of the many, either. So it’s capitalism, where we are marginalized for the good of the few.
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Hahaha, Good one.
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I also have little patience for the debates, Frank. Clever or impulsive or impertinent repartee is not a prerequisite for a good president. In fact, I think it may be a drawback. I am dismayed that those leading the polls are the most extreme. We should recognize, I submit, that regardless of who gets the nomination, none of these extreme schemes like free college for everyone is going to happen under a constitution structured to require political consensus in passing laws. Personally, I like Michael Bennett for his excellent track record in working both sides of the aisle and avoiding the limelight. I think it was Lincoln who said that it’s surprising how much you can get done if you don’t mind who gets the credit.
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Jim,
Thanks for your pragmatic thoughts – but as you know, the space for pragmatism in US politics is shrinking at an alarming rate.
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Nice video at the end, Frank. There were a number of deaths this week that surprised me and made me sad. Cokie Roberts being another. I started reading the NYT Dowd article but it started making me anxious. It’s been a bad Trump week for we Californians. Hope you have a great weekend and it’s great that bell choir has started once again. 🙂
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Debra,
Oh yes – Cokie Roberts was a good journalist and a class act. Meanwhile, President Trump continues to take pathetic to a new level as his supports cheers him on.
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Constant calls for impeachment (regardless of transgression) at this point seem to underscore the notion of being poor sports from the 2016 loss by the Dems. Some people banged the “Supreme Court” mantra on deaf ears. Looking forward to the Journey concert.
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Monika,
Health care helped elect many new to the Democratic House – and what have they accomplished on that issue? … and while favoring impeachment and the high court? I agree with you because I’m not sure they want the majority any more.
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The House has passed several pieces of legislation but without a Senate willing to take up anything, they will languish.
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True …. yet small … but they haven’t taken the battle to the public because they want their energy where the public doesn’t want it.
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An excellent OITS!
Adore that pic of the monkeys!!!
Thank you for the Cars video! It’s fab.
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Resa,
Thank you. Glad you enjoyed the pics. I put some thought into the selections ever week, so I’m glad to know someone noticed and enjoyed them! 🙂
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😀 I reblogged your Murals of Belfast. Hope you saw that!
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Yes … saw that … Liked – but comments closed … thank you!
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I just saw that! I want people to go to your blog to comment. I hope a few do.
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🙂
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That was a beautiful handbell piece!
Hope you had [and still having!] a lovely weekend, ours is almost over, so have a lovely week ahead too! Yamas! 🙂
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Marina,
Glad you enjoyed the handbell piece, and thanks for listening. We didn’t get a chance to play it Sunday because we were out of town for a family wedding. A wonderful time!
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As long as you enjoyed the day!!!!!! 😉 Yamas!!!!!!! 🙂
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Oh yes … and our niece and new hubby had a great time.
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…and may they always find comfort in each others loving embrace! 🙂
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Frank, I think you bring up and interesting point in American’s begging for fuel efficient cars and addicted to SUVs. I have long questioned this odd contradiction.
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Drew,
Yes, an interesting contradiction …. and sales numbers and just observing what is on the road supports the contradiction. … and to think some want to decrease fuel efficiency – another contradiction that shows our dysfunction.
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Perfected stated Frank
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Benevolent Impalers… Okay, there’s gotta be a story behind that name.
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Betsy,
LOL … well, a simple story. While in Romania in August, we heard about Vlad the Impaler – so he inspired the name. But I wanted an adjective to proceed it to create an oxymoron. Thanks for noticing and asking. 🙂
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Ah! Brilliant.
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🙂
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There’s no contradiction between wanting our cars to be fuel efficient but buy big SUVs and trucks. It’s the same idea as wanting to lose weight but continuing to eat pizza and burgers: we just want pizza and burgers more than kale and exercise.
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