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Opinions in the Shorts: Vol. 422

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Happy 2020! Welcome to the first OITS of 2020. On the other hand, I still don’t know how many more OITS there will be – but I know at least one! … but I’m guessing two.

The last Weekend Concert Series is this Saturday featuring Duets – two people together who normally are not together. The Producer says Simon & Garfunkel is not a duet for this concert – but Willie Nelson with Luiciano Pavarotti would be. Duets take the stage this Saturday 4 January at 1:00 AM (Eastern US).

Why Duets as the theme? Easy – This is a tribute to those who have interacted with me here at my little corner of the world. We have been a duet – and this is a way for me to say thank you!

My holiday period has been too hectic – and to the point of no fun. Plus, I missed many of your posts.

Being that I am on the final leg of my blog journal, the Q&A page/tab is an opportunity to ask questions. Not much activity. Hmmm …. wondering …. Should I take it down?

The Benevolent Impalers won the consolation game – therefore securing third place – but a disappointment after being the top seed. The Yahoo algorithms are a bit screwy. They rated my draft as a C and predicted my final record to be 5-7 in the regular season. After finishing 12-2, they gave me a C+ for the season. An odd analysis.

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Impeachment and the people involved continue to embarrass me.

The impeachment process continues to be a political spectacle while delivering a severe black eye onto the Founding Fathers. This article explains why 88 of the 100 senators should be disqualified as jurors.

This link made me laugh – 9 things President Trump says all the time.

I keep thinking about that America is more divided than in a long time, and we have a group saying “Keep America Great: …. Which to me means Keep America Divided.

To lead you into this week’s satirical headlines, The Onion provides tips for displaying artwork in your home.

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Weekly Headlines from The Onion (combos welcome)

Miracle dumbbell found in proper place on rack
Woman knows husband just acting affectionate because he wants food
All of area man’s positive qualities stolen from past friends
Man watches video about habits of effective artists so he too can be effective artist
Town hag getting in pretty good day of shaking jangly bell-covered stick while pointing and screaming ‘You Will Die!’
Fox News condemns 2020 election as partisan witch hunt orchestrated by Democrats to unseat President

Interesting Reads

A gene-editing experiment
Mistakes by science fiction
Can science rule out God?
Event that changed the course of Saudi history
The transition of St. Nick to Santa: A brief history
(Graphic) Space-Race History
(Pictures) BBC Readers’ Picks of the Year
(Pictures) National Geographic: Favorite Space Pics of 2019
(Pictures) BBC: Best space images of 2019

To send you into the weekend, let’s start 2020 with a bit of Lindsey Stirling. In the words of Garrison Keillor, Be well, do good work, and keep in touch.

57 thoughts on “Opinions in the Shorts: Vol. 422”

    • Patti,
      Happy New Year to you, too! My 2020 record is perfect because I haven’t heard him lie for two straight days. Of course not having heard anything helps! Meanwhile, can believe I didn’t put anything in this post about what I observed about 10 days ago. Guess I better put it in next week’s draft now as I’m thinking of it!

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  3. I love all the photo and article compilations that come at the end of one year, beginning of another. I think I like lists! The photos from space are genuinely marvelous, emphasis on “marvel.” If we could keep the awe in our minds and maybe remember we really are a speck compared to vast universal space, maybe we could keep our egos in check and get our collective act together. But we’re all flawed, limited human beings and I’m not waiting for group enlightenment any time too soon. LOL! I love your posts, Frank, and I’m trying to get myself prepared for your “retirement.” It won’t be easy!

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    • Debra,
      Interesting thought because we are far from an Age of Enlightenment. Maybe closer to a modern Dark Ages.

      Oh my … another thing we have in common – that is the end of the year lists! BTW – The Onion has some wonderful ones! Meanwhile, thanks for the kind words and thoughts.

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  4. So looking forward to the concert, Frank. Can’t believe it’s the last one.
    Trying to understand your desire to leave the blogosphere but respectful of your decision… sniff, sniff…
    Those pictures were all amazing!
    Trump’s vocabulary is “outstanding”…
    Holiday periods are often too hectic. Why we feel the need to cram so much into so little time…
    Happy New Year! xoxo

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  5. I’m really bothered by how the Dems approach the impeachment inquiry and ultimate impeachment of Trump in the House. They weren’t serious about making the case for his impeachment. And if they weren’t, they never should have done it.

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  6. I’ll read your blog posts as long you keep posting, and then miss you when you stop. Duets – how about a duet by a Republican and a Democrat? A love song? Your links are fun. I just finished reading an amazing historical fiction novel called MY DEAR HAMILTON that includes so much information about our founding fathers – who argued intensively, didn’t like each other much at times, and then of course, some of them even dueled to the death. So not sure THAT much has changed….

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    • Pam,
      Oh yes – the Founding Fathers were tough on each other – but also get enough others together for agreement.

      Thanks for the kind words. One of these days I have develop my plan – but I also know that will happen naturally. Hope to see you at the concert!

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  7. I love all those space images.
    It’s interesting that the Trump article is from 2016, and his vocabulary has not increased (possibly decreased). Some of the phrases are still the same, but I guess he doesn’t talk about Jeb Bush now.
    I agree about the holiday period. Though I got to relax a bit over the New Year’s end of it. I forgot to tell you that we finally watched The Kennedy Center honors somewhere in that week. I was couch dancing to it. 🙂

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    • Trent,
      Happy New Year … and best wishes for your 2020. You read it correctly … I’m closing down after 11+ years. Decision first entered my thoughts last winter. Kept thinking about. Finally threw something in a post that I was thinking about it. While vacationing in the fall, I tested myself by drafting the exit posts. Because it felt right, I announced it in the fall – but have been posting a lot of unfinished posts and ideas (cleaning out the blog closet). But I’m not there yet … stay tuned.

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  9. Loved the BBC Readers’ Picks of the Year, especially the misty one of Crater Lake, Oregon, which I plan to see this year on a trip to the Pacific Northwest.

    Bummed that I can’t figure out how to get the National Geographic: Favorite Space Pics of 2019 slideshow to advance.

    Also bummed that you plan to shut down afrankangle in 2020 ☹️. I can’t imagine finding a replacement that holds a candle to your eclectic feast. Of course one plus will be that my golf bag will be lighter. Speaking of that, I just got through removing one of the 17 golf clubs (plus two training aids) I carry in my bag to make room for a hardcopy of “Can Science Rule Out God?”

    A splat from “Fox News condemns 2020 election as partisan witch hunt orchestrated by Democrats to unseat President.”

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    • Tim,
      Interesting about the Space Pics …. Don’t know what to say. I see advance arrow on far right with an arrow. Maybe you need to rollover it to get it to appear.

      Thanks for the kind words and glad to know I will help lighten your golf bag. Then again, that means for room for clubs and gadgets.

      Regarding your trip to Crater Lake, remember this – French is not their native language there. Cheers for the splat!

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      • OK, I got the Nat. Geo. space pics to work by holding down the curser and sliding it completely across the screen. Hard to choose a favorite since they’re all so spectacular. The U.S. Cygnus space freighter approaching the International Space Station is pretty cool, but from the photo I can’t imagine anybody orbiting Jupiter and not questioning just what God’s creation is all about?!!!

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  10. First off, love the doggie pictures. Second, Trump, embarrassed? Come on. Someone wrote that for him trying to instill some humility he thinks is some guy that worked for him…non union.
    He’s not exactly Teddy, in the quote department.

    Sigh

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  11. Cincy,

    The duets is one to which Imma have to do some homework. It’s not my wheelhouse, but I’ll bring something. Not sure I’ll be up tonight to contribute, but if not, I’ll have something in the AM.

    As for your Impalers, that’s why I don’t pay attention to that stuff. It makes zero sense to me. They give you a C plus for a solid A work? No idea what that’s all about.

    Thank you for the Stirling tilt. I loves her so.

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    • Marc,
      There are so many options for Duets … tons. Meanwhile, I know the Yahoo! grades are computer generated – but that grade is just plain weird. Nonetheless, a good season and a good time. Glad you enjoyed a bit of sterling Stirling.

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      • Tons! I have people come up to me all the time to let me know just how MANY options there are. It’s huge . . . HUGE! Unlike my hands . . .

        Oooooooh. Yahoo. That explains it.

        A very good season Frank. Whereas I took home the bronze in my pool. Eighteen games back of the winner, but it still counts. 😉

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  12. I’ll really have to put on my thinking cap for the upcoming concert. There’s so many wide open possibilities. LOVED that musical video. Very Clan of the Cave Bear tones and so beautifully shot. She’s quite the talent. Thanks for sharing her.

    Me thinks Yahoo really dropped the ball on your score [pun intended]. What the devil?! Well know you’ll be always be a champ in our books!

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  13. It really feels sad reading about you leaving the blog, but then mind pushes it away to a very distant future…
    So, is it this weekend?!!!! …as in, tomorrow?!!!!!! Got to get working! 😉
    Of course your last concert theme makes perfect sense!
    Yamas! 🙂

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  14. That last Onion headline hit way too close to reality.😂

    The link about the tainted jury was interesting. I was surprised to find the junior senator from Colorado, Cory Gardner, made the writer’s cut considering he’s been a faithful Trump toady since he set foot in Washington. And a good point made about how the founders had senators as appointees, not seated by popular election. That definitely changes the whole color of the proceedings, doesn’t it?

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  15. Lindsey Stirling, remarkable! Man, can she ever play the crossbow! Heh, heh.

    I too liked the essay on “Can science rule out God?” I never tire of reading about this ultimate mystery and Alpert does a great job of exploring it. While I do not believe it will ever be solved, I find it satisfying to find confirmation from better minds than mine that I’m not alone in my own conclusions thus far. There is no convincing evidence of any supernatural supervision and it is folly to imagine some bearded, robe-wearing entity counting birds falling. Nevertheless, it is a question well worth pursuing, I submit, because for all its good works, organized religion, a.k.a. tribalism, is also to blame for much of humanity’s inherent enmity. What would a peaceful society look like if it embraced a universal agnosticism?

    Things Trump says made me laugh too. The last three years make me think that the primary benefit of a representative democracy rests on the requirement for a mandatory change of leadership every four years.

    Please don’t go, Frank. We need you.

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    • Jim,
      Now why am I not surprised that you read “Can science rule out God?” … LOL … I couldn’t resist. I simply continue to say that that’s a question the science can’t answer and isn’t intended to be answered by science. Yet, that is not a reason for religious people to discount anything that science does find – including the age of the Earth and evolutionary evidence.

      Thanks for your encouragement for me to stick around. Decision is a done deal. Yep – I’m one of those stubborn ones who makes a decision and sticks with it. Although there is a sense of sadness, I still feel it is the right thing to do.

      FYI: At this point I foresee 2 or 3 more OITS.

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  16. Follow the dogs! They’ve got it down. Great New Years choice.
    So much has changed in the blog/WP world – been pondering the universe, myself, the world, and blogville, too.
    You’ve got quite a body of work and thoughts here – always will be a tribute – and a prod to think. Now that’s something to be proud of.
    See ya, when everI see ya – always interesting and smiles to be found in your arena.
    Be true to you.

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  17. I’m surprised there are even 12 senators who haven’t already made clear how they would vote before even reviewing the evidence. While I realize that for both parties this may be a partisan exercise, the GOP position of “let’s not hear any evidence before voting” doesn’t even pretend to have anything to do with justice.
    I think the only way to have a real vote with senators voting the way they think is right and not the way they think they would more likely keep their jobs, is to have a secret ballot, as some have suggested.

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    • X,
      12 is a surprising number. Then again, I find 88 proclaiming a stance to be disturbing. I considered the secret ballot thing – but nope – the senators need to be accountable for their position. Then again, will be people of a deep red state vote their senator out for supporting a pathetic person who is an even worse leader? Of course not!

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      • I actually agree with you on the secret ballot – the senators have to be held accountable by the voters. I just don’t see how else an impeachment would not be a wholly partisan farce.
        I think the fact that the president in question is as pathetic a leader as Trump makes it actually harder, not easier, to remove him. Because the GOP senators are well aware that if hell freezes over and enough of them vote to remove Trump from the office, he’s not going to to let that go and quietly retreat into one of his towers in shame. No, he’s going hold rallies, have TV appearances, make speeches, all in the effort to make those who “betrayed him” pay for it, and he’ll remain popular enough in the party to make many of them to lose their primaries.

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