The Weekend Concert Series returns this weekend with Journey taking to the stage. Concert time is this Saturday at 1:00 AM (Eastern US).
Week 2 of Dancing With The Stars revealed a new way of eliminating contestants – which to me is a result of the trend of viewers making goofy choices. Meanwhile, even though one contestant is typically eliminated each week, those who need to go early are identified – therefore, gives others time to develop into contenders.
Because I just mentioned television, I didn’t watch the Emmy Awards, but from what I’ve seen, gotta love Zendaya Coleman fashion statement.
A Cincinnati Reds legend had his final game this afternoon. Marty Brennaman has been the play-by-play radio broadcaster for 46 years. He’s not only a local legend, but is also enshrined in the broadcaster’s wing at the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown. Maybe the first inning of his first game served as an omen. That’s when Hank Aaron tied Babe Ruth as the all-time homerun leader. Marty – thanks for all the memories!
About the game today. I didn’t watch on TV, I listened on a small, transistor-like radio beyond the final out through the post-game show. I turned on the television to watch the post-game ceremony. Yes – I shed a few tears.
Benevolent Impalers (my football fantasy team) lost it’s first game last week falling to 2-1. We got thumped. The opponents, the lowest scoring team in the league the first two weeks (and I the highest), achieved the highest scoring week of the season by far. My week was OK, but the opponents were on fire.
Did you know Popeyes is the official chicken of the Vatican? ( know Marc knows!)
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President Trump can no longer surprise me.
House Democrats have started an impeachment inquiry. This is the first step in the impeachment process, and it could also be the last step.
Although the US Constitution provides a mechanism for impeachment, there should not be any doubt that impeachment is a political process driven by party-first politics on both sides of the aisle. Unfortunately, what is best for the country cannot overcome tribalism.
A well-constituted court for the trial of impeachments is an object not more to be desired than difficult to be obtained in a government wholly elective. The subjects of its jurisdiction are those offenses which proceed from the misconduct of public men, or, in other words, from the abuse or violation of some public trust. They are of a nature which may with peculiar propriety be denominated POLITICAL, as they relate chiefly to injuries done immediately to the society itself. The prosecution of them, for this reason, will seldom fail to agitate the passions of the whole community, and to divide it into parties more or less friendly or inimical to the accused. In many cases it will connect itself with the pre-existing factions, and will enlist all their animosities, partialities, influence, and interest on one side or on the other; and in such cases there will always be the greatest danger that the decision will be regulated more by the comparative strength of parties, than by the real demonstrations of innocence or guilt. (from Federalist Paper: No. 65, Alexander Hamilton, 7 March 1788)
The end of the third quarter is a time for my latest odds.
- President Trump being nominated: 97%
- President Trump receiving my vote: 0%
- Democratic nominee receiving my vote: 10%
- President Trump winning re-election: 55%
To lead you into this week’s satirical headlines, The Onion provides a glimpse of what is happening in a high school science class. I wonder who will look here.
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Weekly Headlines from The Onion (combos welcome)
Every ingredient in recipe substituted for to avoid trip to store
Child concerned parents might never amount to anything
Nation perplexed by 16-year-old who doesn’t want the world to end
Obsessive-compulsive baseball player has to touch all 3 bases before going home
Man struggling to accept the fact that he’ll never move beyond medium salsa
Interesting Reads
Time with Turkish militants
Keeping working satellites safe
Death of Alexander the Great
Apps and the battle in Hong Kong
Mac & cheese and Mars
(Graphic) America’s political divide since 1994 (I love this one!)
(Photos) Milky Way photo contest winners
(Photos) Running of the wieners
To send you into the weekend, time for a bit of old school Frank style from Blue Man Group. In the words of Garrison Keillor, Be well, do good work, and keep in touch.
A Frank Angle 
Looking forward to the concert tomorrow (yeah, yeah, it will be officially the day after tomorrow…)
Still early in the season for your Benevolent Impalers (such a great name).
We don’t even have Popeye’s up here. Is it any good?
Will be interesting to see how far this impeachment thing goes.
And it’s funny, my friends went to see Blue Man Group recently and I declined to join them… Their exuberance over the show almost made me regret not going.
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Dale,
Good morning. Time to proceed through your list. 🙂 I wonder if my opener will steal your song. I got the name idea on our river cruise. When in Romania, one will hear about Vlad the Impaler – hence the idea was born. But I wanted to add an adjective to form a contradiction. 🙂
Popeyes? Well … I been there, but can recall the last time. Impeachment? … well, the inquiry stage satisfies many House Democrats, but I’m not convinced it will go any farther.
What!!!!! You had a chance to see Blue Man Group and declined!!!! Oh boy … I’ve seen them twice – once in a outdoor concert venue and one in a small theater venue. Love ’em!
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Love this! The squirrel images are delightful. I, too, am dismayed by the impeachment process being so and solely political; I doubt anything useful will come of it. I did check into The Onion’s Science Class Project–I would hate to be the lab partner for whoever dreamed up that experiment. Thanks for posting and cheering the start of the weekend.
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Patti,
Glad you enjoyed the squirrel images. I first thought about focusing on nuts, but then passed those for a future OITS. Oh thanks for checking out the Onion link. 🙂 As for impeachment, I firmly believe the Founding Fathers are rolling over in their grave.
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Your odds on Trump being re-elected are far too depressing.
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Mark,
For me, a strong part of the odds are in the fact on the Dems – their actions and their voters. (I won’t vote in either party’s primary in Ohio.)
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I agree.
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Cincy,
That is some great trivia on Brennaman’s first game right there! And what an institution he has been for a great baseball town. He was a young broadcaster when those Big Red Machine teams were winning titles. I dig that you listened to it on the transistor radio, very old school.
I’m in fourth place heading into this week in my football picks group. But only three games out of the lead. It’s some tough competition, and I lost tonight by picking Green Bay.
I wonder if Popeye’s will roll out an “Impeachment Pie” dish. 😉
So basically what our founders were saying is, when impeachment proceedings begin . . things get real. And in our case, stupid.
Journey is a great choice for a concert, and speaking of great choice . . Blue Man Group . . they rock.
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Marc,
Not only did I listen to the game on an old school radio, every fan attending the game got a radio to listen during the game. Unfortunately, I had to work.
At Brennamen’s postgame ceremony, they showed a great video of a collection of clips from other broadcasters. Perfect! After all, that’s an exclusive club. Hope the fans give his replacement a chance like they gave him. After all, he replaced a popular announcer who was only here for a few years … Al Michaels.
I’ve been fortunate to see Blue Man Group twice … once in a large venue, once in a small theater. Different shows – but love ’em. I recommend the small theater. Boston or NYC?
Seems your pick ’em tactic is to build up the confidence of the others while staying close enough … then lowering the hammer! Bam!
I can’t see Popeyes introducing an Impeachment Pie because that may threaten their Vatican endorsement.
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How cool is that?! And yes, I heard mention of the fact he replaced Al Michaels when watching his farewell to the fans. He cracked near the end.
I am NYC all the way.
My tactic was the same last year. I finished second by a lousy game, and that was after missing a week! It broke my two year winning streak and signalled the end of the dynasty, LOL.
It brings to mind the football picks group me and my ex put together way back in the day. She’d found a statue that looked remarkably similar to the Heisman trophy at a yard sale. I dropped the thing, of course, breaking off the arms. After which it was referred to as the Venus De Lombardi trophy.
I forgot! Separation of church and state . . . now if we could do something about Twitter, that would be . . . wait for it . . . peachy.
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FYI: Astor Place Theater is Blue Man’s regular venue. If you get the chance, GO!!!!
Venus di Lombardi? That’s a hoot!
This link has some great tributes. Toward the end, a must watch is the video that you see Bob Uecker.
https://www.cincinnati.com/story/sports/mlb/reds/2019/09/26/thanks-marty-coaches-fellow-broadcasters-praise-reds-brennaman/3776702002/
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Good to know.
It was! We had a ball with that one. We would take it out with us to the local sports bar. The Waitresses adorned it with beads. Drinks all around, LOL.
Bob! He’s still kicking it, stogie and all!
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Can’t believe weekend is already here!!!!!!! …and I’m in trouble with Journey…. Hope to find something… Enjoy Friday, my friend and a relaxing weekend! 🙂
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…love your squirrels by the way!!!!!
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I too loved the squirrels. Forgot to mention that.
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Marina,
Journey had many hits … See their Greatest Hits. Glad you enjoyed the squirrels! Cheers to your weekend.
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😉 …will do!!!!
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I won’t be joining in this weekend, but have a fun Journey! 😉
I’m convinced that dt has committed high crimes and misdemeanors numerous times. Maybe Dems are not doing the right thing politically, but I think they are morally. So, no, probably nothing will come of impeachment because the GOP is going to stand behind him and will not convict him. Many in the public will continue to believe his lies and the sound bites because they do not know how to think critically, and they only see news filtered through a right wing lens. It is so depressing. My two cents.
Official chicken of the Vatican? Uh. . .OK.
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Merril,
i’m sure you agree that a sizeable swath of the public has no idea the meaning of high crimes and misdemeanors. Personally, I don’t think the Dems are doing what is morally right. It just so happens that morally right happens to be on their side.
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The Dems need a tutorial on how to do their job. One taught by John Quincy Adams whose noble bones are shrieking from the ether.
It’s like one of those mock trials every time they convene, the kind they pay you 100 bucks for.
In their way, they’re as bad as Trump in their capacity to stun and make one shudder. Nancy’s gavel needs some smoothing on one side, sharpening on the other, and this is all from a girl who doesn’t consider herself political, just plain old-fashioned American.
Let Freedom Ring needs a rewrite. sigh
Susannah
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Susannah,
For my taste, the entire Congress should receive a scolding from the Founding Fathers followed by a stern education of their purpose and role. Meanwhile, I’ve never been a Pelosi supporter, but I’m glad she didn’t step aside as the younger flock desired.
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They just act like screwballs. I don’t quite get it.
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It’s simple … it’s a team activity … all about the party – not the country or the people. Take the current situation, but flip the president’s party … that’s it … members of Congress will take on the behaviors the hate of their opposition.
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When they asked John Quincy Adams what party he belonged to when he went back to the House, after serving as President, he said…I BELONG TO NO PARTY. I SERVE THE PEOPLE. You know Frank, that always makes me cry.
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That’s a great one … thank you for it! The Founding Fathers were wise … both individually and collectively.
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Noble, dignified, gallant. What happened Frank. Those traits have gone out of style. Sigh
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All gone … they have sold their souls to the party.
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I guess. It’s so disheartening.
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Very much so.
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sigh
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I am sleepy after enduring a family visit for a year and a half (read: 6 days). I read the Popeyes line as just Popeye, singular, and was all, Why is Popeye thought of as chicken at the Vatican?
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Tara,
Thanks for stopping by while still being sleepy. Regarding Popeyes, looking at the name bring everything into light.
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My pleasure. As soon as the negative nellies were on their way this morning, my energy reappeared. People really can be energy vampires.
If the church had been all about the Popeyes when I was in Catholic school, I might have stayed. 🙂
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Now Nancy Pelosi can sleep well. She has given herself the opportunity to believe she is actually doing something. The American people deserve much better than our elected members of government,
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John,
Because of the divide within her party, I’m not convinced Speaker Pelosi is comfortable. America people deserve better than most of the 535 because the elected represent the party – that their constituents.
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Hear Hear. Nancy Schmancy.
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😁
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Frank, I’m sorry to learn that you pledge not to vote Democratic next year. Every vote for a third-party candidate is a vote for Trump because his base seems impregnable. Yes, I know some of the candidates are too far left, too socialistic. That worries me as well. But, I submit that the current president represents the greatest danger in the history of our country to our form of government. Personally, I like Michael Bennett for the nomination but am not hopeful he can prevail. Not flashy, low charisma. Nevertheless, I can not think of a single one of the 20 who would be likely to:
Disavow the value of NATO and threaten to breach the treaty.
Deny that climate change is real.
Unilaterally cancel traditional military exercises with South Korea.
Cancel a treaty preventing a theocracy from developing nuclear weapons.
Give the world’s most brutal and ruthless dictator grandstanding status in meetings with POTUS.
Ask adversarial foreign countries to assist his/her own election efforts.
Meddle in other countries’ politics.
Appoint corrupt and scandal-prone cabinet heads.
Denigrate religions other than his/her own.
Promote conspiracy theories such as birtherism.
Value loyalty over competence and experience in his/her hiring.
Value instinct over science.
Spurn with no reason the advice of the entire intelligence community.
Insult war heroes.
Give verbal support to white nationalists.
Cheat on their spouse.
Use their office for personal enrichment.
Use their office to bribe/extort a foreign leader to provide political dirt.
These are not normal times and 2020 is not a normal election.
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Jim,
A correction for you. I did NOT say I wouldn’t vote Democratic in 2020. I did note that I see a 10% chance of doing so at this time – and this percentage is subject to change.
I can also add there is a 100% chance I will not vote in the Democratic primary. According to Ohio law for primaries, a resident declares themselves part of the party for two years when they ask for a ballot – and I am not willing to do that for either party.
Sorry – I don’t buy the argument that a vote for a third party candidate is a vote for Trump. That makes no sense to me because Republicans can make the same argument the other way. My vote will be FOR someone and that’s it … and I will not cast a vote for any candidate as a vote against someone.
Yes – these times are not normal – but I am not selling myself.
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Thanks for the clarification, Frank. It seems to me that the Ohio law on primary voting is a bad one and so I understand your decision not to commit to either party. On the other hand, not voting cuts you out of the process. In the end, with this system, it is a binary choice. I wish we had a ranked-voting system.
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Ohio law is what it is … and I work within it. – so my to sit out the primary. However, I will cast a ballot in November because that is my duty as a citizens. Yes, I’ve voted in most elections – even the special (1-issue) ones. Memory tells me I’ve missed one.
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Open primaries with no long term commitment are a much better way it seems. Everyone gets a say in the bozo of the moment contest (sometimes referred to as a primary or caucus). Why limit who will be on the ballot to just party activists-I mean, talk about voting for the lesser of evils?
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Monika,
I am open to an open primary, however; at this time I am bound by Ohio law, therefore will work within it.
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Frank, I understand that, but the law seems counter-productive for maximum civic engagement. Maybe find a state rep or senator who might try to change that.
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Ohio is a Republican state leading the way in diminishing voter rolls. No chance at this time.
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Voters have the power to make the change by not reelecting these anti-democratic lawmakers. Until something changes to get folks to say enough is enough, the same outcomes will be the norm. The volume must be turned up sufficiently high enough to get people to make a change.
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Theoretically yes – but Ohio is more Red than outsiders think.
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President Trump can no longer surprise me. You said it Frank. This latest drama is embarrassing and he’d never step down like Nixon who knew enough how fucked he was, pardon my parlance, but he brings it out in me.
Sigh
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Susannah,
I have a standard response regarding President Trump: He’s a pathetic person, an even worse leader, and he brings the majority of problems on himself.
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Agreed.
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This whole impeachment thing is stupid folly and will guarantee reelection. Seems that implementing 25th Amendment would be a better alternative-at least members of his own sordid party would cast him aside in favor of mini-me Pence. then again when has anyone with a backbone from the party challenged him or his illegal or boorish behavior? WTH? We are doomed.
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Monika,
A good alternative, but not sure the cabinet and VP has the guts to do that.
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No, of course not, and it’s alarming and flummoxing that they won’t. It’s not like they’d get much different in policy positions in Pence but perhaps we would get a full size human instead of the vapidly deficient current pres.
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If Trump is re-elected, then we get what we deserve. I happen to think that election meddling is really a gross offense, but it doesn’t seem to bother everyone the same way. Since I’ll never understand that, I just try my best to steer clear of voices that rattle me! In the meantime, I have quadrupled the amount of time I spend reading, and I’d prefer my books to many people at the moment! 🙂
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Debra,
There is a lot to be bothered about with today’s elected officials, so I understand. And I agree, we get what we deserve. Enjoy your books and all the other diversions as gardening, museums, shows, and more.
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