Opinions in the Shorts: Vol. 261

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I know there is a long way to go, but for whatever reason, I have an uneasy feeling about Hillary Clinton’s campaign. Just a perfect time for Vice President Biden to sit on the sidelines.

Although the Republican presidential field is many and growing, how these candidates pander to the right will continue to be a problem in a general election.

I wonder if the television ads by former Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX) warning of economic have any effect on his son’s candidacy, Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY).

Given the situation in Iraq , here’s the question I’ve asked before and one that I haven’t notice anyone else asking: Would ISIS/ISIL be a problem if Saddam Hussein was in power?

We recently saw D-Day: Normandy 1944, an Omnimax film at the Cincinnati Museum Center. It’s very well done, so I encourage everyone to see it if you get a chance. To learn more, here’s the film’s website, which includes Find a Theater on the Menu.

The On Satire Bits finale was a lot of fun. Many thanks for the chuckles you gave me in the 134 posts. After all, I’m probably the only person who read every combo! One more series finale to go.

Meals: The Musical – Act 5: Ingredients provide many ingredients. Well done … but no eggs, mustard, ketchup, butter, barbecue sauce, peppermint, chili sauce, cheese, hot sauce, mayonnaise, flour, or coriander … and (as of this time), no buzzers from the producer!  Act 6 should be in two weeks – which means I will announce the theme in next week’s Opinions in the Shorts.

This week has had some unexpected turns, so no Explore or cartoon feature this Saturday, but I’m hoping to toast the new month next week. After all, two more months to go (June and July), and then all 12 months will have a tribute – which is something I didn’t intentionally try to do.

To lead you into this week’s headlines from The Onion, here’s their profile on newly announced presidential candidate Rick Santorum.

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On This Week’s Headlines from The Onion
Complete idiot forgot to shave between mouth and nose
Toyota recalls 1993 Camry due to fact owner really should have bought something new by now
Amusement park adds sleeper cars to its roller coaster for passenger who prefer more restful ride
Wedding guest blissfully unaware she barely made the cut
Long-time coffee shop employee thought customers would care more about his last day
Toddler adjusting to society after serving 2-minute timeout

Interesting Reads
Negative views of Congress crossing party lines
Changing size of bathing suits
Europe’s next cheap travel destination?
New ancient human species found
An inspired inventor
Gases We Emit

For the last time in OITS, here are Your Weekend Celebrations
(Fri) Gnocchi Day, Put a Pillow on Your Fridge Day, Day of UN Peacekeepers, Learn About Composting Day, Hug Your Cat Day, Bats Day, Paperclip Day, Coq Au Vin Day, Heat Awareness Day, Pink Flamingo Day

(Sat) Mint Julep Day, Water a Flower Day, Macaroon Day, Wicket world of Croquet Day, My Bucket’s Got A Hole In It Day

(Sun) Save Your Hearing Day, What You Think Upon Grows Day, No Tobacco Day, Speak in Sentences Day

Here’s a 2-fer to send you into the weekend – two classics, including an unused song from Act 5. Have a safe weekend and in the words of Garrison Keillor, Be well, do good work, and keep in touch.

On Tasty Wrinkles

Hey hey hey … another weekend is done and gone. Tell us something about your weekend?

I had an evening of ballroom, dinners with sister-in-law and father-in-law, a going-away party, work, and Quickstep formation practice. We also attended a Reds baseball game. It was eventually cancelled due to rain, but we received our bobble head commemorating the 25th anniversary of the last time the Reds won the World Series (1990).

Meals: The Musical returns this week, but this act may be the most difficult. Act 3 featuring Sides, which means side dishes for the meal. Because of the broadness, there is a wide opportunity for creativity, and the producer understands that he needs to be somewhat flexible. Because the producer is the way he is, below are a few guidelines:

• The producer still has discretion
• Vegetables, which includes tomatoes, corn, and beans
• Grains, products of grains, nut, kinds of nuts
• Pastas, Soups
• Unacceptable: Fruit, any fruit, meat and any meat, any dessert, any beverage

I admit that I’ve been anxiously anticipating the opening act. Curtain time will be Wednesday, 9:30 PM (Eastern US).

Celebrations for Your Week

• (Week) Karaoke Week, Lingerie Week, Mattress Turnover Week, Air Quality Awareness Week, Library Preservation Week, Jewish Heritage Week, Reading is Fun Week, Forest Week, Intergenerational Week, TV Turn-off Week, Volunteer Week, Consumer Protection Week, Playground Safety Week, Teacher Appreciation Week, Big Brothers/Sisters Appreciation Week
• (Mon)  Drug Take Back Day, Tell a Story Day, Babe Ruth Day, Mantanzas Mule Day, Morse Code Day, Prime Rib Day, Woody Woodpecker Day, Childcare Professionals Day, Playground Safety Day
• (Tues) Biological Clock Day, Day for Safety & Health at Work, Workers Memorial Day, Blueberry Pie Day, Brave Hearts Day, Kiss Your Mate Day, Poetry Reading Day, Astronomy Day
• (Wed) Dance Day, Zipper Day, Peace Rose Day, Guide Dogs Day, Day of Remembrance for all Victims of Chemical Warfare, World Wish Day, Shrimp Scampi Day, Rebuilding Day, Greenery Day, Gnocchi Day
• (Thurs) Bugs Bunny Day, Jazz Day, Adopt a Shelter Pet Day, Poem in Your Pocket Day, Honest Day, Animal Advocacy Day, Sarcoidosis Day, Oatmeal Cookie Day, Mr. Potato Head Day, Hairstyle Appreciation Day, Raisins Day

Honoring the last celebration listed above and the Act 2 of Meals: The Musical, here are three classic commercials to jump-start your week. Which is your favorite? Have a good rest of the week.

Opinions in the Shorts: Vol. 242

Because of the Thanksgiving holiday, this is an abbreviated and prerecorded edition of Opinions in the Shorts. More importantly, I hope all those celebrating the holiday had a wonderful day!

New York City’s Thanksgiving Celebration at Rockefeller Center

A Republican-led House of Representatives committee report about the attack at Benghazi debunks notions of a conspiracy. Because the conclusions don’t fit the party’s narrative, the people deserves another report. After all, this was only the seventh committee.

Cheers for … CNN returning to my home! … Receiving this year’s mystery wine from my Secret Santa from Texas!

Last week, Cincinnati-based global consumer product giant Procter & Gamble issued a statement in support of same-sex marriage as a “statement of support for our employees.” Since reported (and as one can imagine), the local letters to the editor have provided interesting commentary. Cheers to P&G!

How can anyone not appreciated NFL player T.Y. Hilton’s reaction after scoring a touchdown last Sunday and his television interview after the game. (Watch)

Congratulations to Alfonzo Ribeiro for winning Dancing with the Stars. We thought the Monday night show was one of the best ever.

Hooray for everyone participating in Act 13 of Life: The Musical. Life is full of ups and downs, so start thinking about the next act. After all, I’m sure readers can determine what follows positive emotions.

A shout-out to Pauline (in New Zealand) for this outstanding post about blogging, which is a good read.

 Interesting Reads
At Issue: Interfaith marriages in Egypt
Columnist Nicholas Kristof on immigration
Humorist Dave Berry’s Holiday Gift Guide
Athletics and neurons
The fall of the humble spud
Robots and creativity
(Graphic) Common Mythconceptions

Headlines from The Onion
Report: None of good cousins coming to Thanksgiving this year
Man had no idea what to do with visiting friends between meals
Family revels in height difference between mother and tall son
Man tentatively takes shot at bad mouthing girlfriend’s family for the first time
Americans enjoying Thanksgiving tradition of sitting around the airport
Turkey pardon mishap results in release of serial murderer

The celebration list mentions French Toast Day (Friday) … so here’s a unique toast to toast.

Celebrations for your weekend

• (Fri) Leftovers Day, Buy Nothing Day, Red Planet Day, Flossing Day, Gone-ta-Pott Day, Maize Day, Black Friday, Day of Listening, Letter Writing Day, Native American Heritage Day, French Toast Day, Your Welcomegiving Day, Fur Free Friday, Make Your Own Head Day
• (Sat) Gnocchi Day, Electronic Greetings Day, Small Business Saturday, Day of Giving, Square Dancing Day, Chocolate Day, Throw-out Your Leftovers Day
• (Sun) I Feel Well Day, Computer Security Day, Play Hooky Day, Meth Awareness Day, Mousse Day, Stay Home Because You’re Well Day

In the spirit of “Positive Emotions” from Life: The Musical – Act 13, here’s a song that will be a surprise, yet send you into the weekend with a smile … Smiling Happy Monsters by REM with the Sesame Street gang.  Have a safe weekend, and in the words of Garrison Keillor, Be well, do good work, and keep in touch.

On a Charlie Monday

How was your weekend? I’m sure you did something that you enjoyed, so come on .. tell us about it.

Mine was filled. It started Thursday night by attending a community theater performance of Young Frankenstein, then a college football game Friday night, ushering at Cincinnati Playhouse (Safe House, a premier run), practicing for our participation in a tango formation, and stuff around the homestead. Also, our weather was wonderful, and Monday is supposed to be super … which means the weather will be turning soon thereafter.

This week looks like a probable milestone week, The Blog Stats box near the bottom of the sidebar shows that I’m approaching 200,000.  I hope I get to see the turnover.

Last week I posted about the Arizona wine I receive from my Secret Santa. Jeff (@ The Drunken Cyclist) has organized the 2015 exchange. Although his deadline has passed, he invites my interested readers to join in the fun … but do so ASAP. Here’s the link to the post for the guidelines. Remember, ASAP.

Life: The Musical returns this week with Act 11 featuring Hope … so let your songs ready with Hope, Hoped, Hoping, or Hopeless in the title. Curtain time will be Wednesday, 9:30 pm (Eastern US).

Celebrations for your week

• (Week) Magic Week, Save Your Back Week, Rainforest Week, Red Ribbon Week, Peace Friendship & Goodwill Week, Prescription Errors Education & Awareness Week, Origami Week, Asexuality Week, Give Wildlife a Break Week, Kids Care Week, Infertility Awareness Week
• (Mon) Cranky Co-Workers Day, Potato Day, World Day for Audiovisual Heritage
• (Tues) Chocolate Day, Ghost Busters Day, Separation of Church and State Day, Ochi Day (Greece), Gone-ta-Pott Day
• (Wed) Gnocchi Day, Dracula Bites Day, Hermit Day, Pancake Day, Psoriasis Day, Basketball Coaches Day, Cat Day, Internet Day
• (Thurs) Checklist Day, Zero Tasking Day, Candy Corn Day, Haunted Refrigerator Night, Create a Great Funeral Day

I tagged this one when stats when 5 digits identified the hits … and that was early last week … so the hits are now 7 digits. Gotta love Charlie! Enjoy and have a great week.

On Rowing into the Week

What a wonderful weekend, which means we had wonderful weather, fun, and some relaxation. How was yours? Come on … tell us something!

Ours involved an evening on the ballroom floor, a neighborhood barbecue event (about 150-200 attendees), brunch with my father-in-law, and some outside work. On the downside, I spent too many hours changing our cell phone provider, (something we had to do).

Baseball’s regular season has come to the close with my Reds staying out of last place. Whew … what a disappointing season. The playoffs will start soon, but I probably won’t watch much … after all, my team isn’t playing, so I don’t care. Meanwhile, another Ryder Cup is in the books, so congratulations to the strong golfers of Team Europe.

Celebrations for the Week

• (Week) Hearing Aid Awareness Week, Chimney Safety Week, Fall Astronomy Week
• (Mon) Coffee Day, Maritime Day, Goose Day, Broadway Musicals Day, Mocha Day, Gnocchi Day, Attention to Your Grandchild Birth Day. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Day
• (Tues) Ask a Stupid Question Day (again), Translation Day, Pumpkin Day, Mud Pack Day, Chewing Gum Day, Family Health & Fitness Day, Mulled Cider Day
• (Wed) It’s a new month!, Balloons Around the World Day, Fire Pup Day, Older Persons Day, Vegetarian Day, Lace Day, Model T Day, Book It! Day, Walk Your Dog Day, Music Day, Intergenerations Day, Raccoon Appreciation Day
• (Thurs) International Day of Nonviolence, Guardian Angels Day, Custodial Workers Day, Phileas Fogg’s Wager Day, Farm Animals Day, Friend Fried Scallops Day, Name Your Car Day

Now that you are looking ahead to next week, let it be known that I will be hosting a special blog party (right on these pages) next weekend, so add that to your calendar. More about it later in the week, but bring your friends! Besides, some of your know that I’m a good party host.

Some of the celebrations above could be good launching pads to send you into your week, however, I chose the following musical treat to start your week with a smile. Enjoy … and have a good week!