Lowest Common Denominator

The title refers to Grade School arithmetic fractions, which was replaced by Elementary School mathematics. Early political correctness?  Then, there was, 'The New Math.'  Where did THAT ever go?  Currently, I hear of another style, giving the youngsters a bit of difficulty.

There's been a problem teaching, because kiddies can't grasp everything as quickly as others, in a given, prescribed time.

Don't get me started on book censoring/revising/outlawing by those who all of a sudden, "know better."  To that, add statue removal, re-naming of buildings and schools.  It all amounts to revising and eventually erasing history.  Please read, "1984," before that too is criminalized by those, ahem, who know better.  History, after all, is what we utilized in making a better world for our children.  We got better because we recognized and improved upon the mistakes of our predecessors!

Today's world gave birth to left, right, liberal, woke, fake, self-aggrandizement, hubris, insurrection, cancel culture, LGBTQ+., CRT, constitutional defiance, Lite/Light everything, Global warming denial, racist revival, E-vehicles, drugs, looting, suicide bombings, nations overtaking more territory when they can't manage their own and so, so much more!

Political parties refuse to pass measures merely because they are submitted by the other.  Lobbying is actually legalized bribery, accepted, even encouraged by more than a few.  

Unless unified, concerted efforts are enacted, this tiny dot in the solar system will become just another lifeless asteroid.

Remember meetings in Civics class?  That's where disparaging viewpoints are discussed and agreements are met, then enacted!

Why is that so difficult?  I'm sorry.  I forgot mega-egos are involved, along with hubris and the puerile. Look it up.  That's called, "learning."

So, what is the Lowest Common Denominator?  Based on all the above plus others, we've allowed the following mantra:

"You have the right to say, do and be whatever you please, as long as I approve."

The Best 3 Weeks

 Getting Hooked

I was about "this high" when Uncle Henry took me to my 1st baseball game as part of my catholic confirmation gift.  The game was at the old municipal stadium, which could accommodate 70,000 plus.  It was a time of talent, drawing a fair amount of seats filled with a good mix of nationalities, hoping to see good things from 9 better than good players who came from a mix of nationalities.  My then Cleveland Indians haven't played in a world series since Willy Mays pulled their carpet in 1954. when we won 111 out of 154.

Much has changed.  Back then, the American and National League each played 154 games and the winner of each league met in the best of 7 World Series, in September!  Currently, there's 162 games plus tiers of playoffs, finally matching teams, when snow drifts are commonplace, just prior to Thanksgiving!

Technology shows instant replays, arguments between players, umpires, coaches, fans dressed as if they're vying for stage time at, "The Price Is Right," you name it.  All considered, it makes for a fun afternoon or evening.

The past weeks showcased teams from 20 countries, in an elimination set-up, which, on Tuesday night past, Japan bested the USA team, 3-2.  You can watch replays at a variety of online sites, but the best time to watch was the live action.  In my humble opinion, after literally thousands of games, it was right up there with the best I've ever seen, if not THE best!

An unintended lesson presented 20 teams from 20 countries, showing how proud they were in representing their homelands, being coached beyond belief, playing their hearts out, while being so very courteous to all opponents.  Absent were arguments with umpires, temper tantrums, etc.  Confidence without ego prevailed.  Noteworthy, there was not one intentional walk in the series finale!

Summing it up:  For those who witnessed any part were shown the respect shared by such a divergent group.  In my previous letter, I mentioned how great it could be if politicians could be shown how possible it was to accomplish good things when politics and party lines are set aside.

If you could see me now, I just stood up to salute all who played and those who put it all together!!!

Tidbits from the half-baked vault of useless information

 How long since you witnessed a person operating an ice cube tray?

I haven't yet seen anyone with callouses on their cell phone screen, but I think someone is close

Can you believe it's only 270 days 'til winter?

Buried in the Department of "HUH:"   aka  Associated Press 

1952 The Moondog Coronation Ball, considered the first rock and roll concert, took place at Cleveland Arena.

2007 Former Vice President Al Gore made an emotional return to Congress as he pleaded with House and Senate committees to fight global warming; skeptical Republicans questioned the science behind his climate-change documentary, “An Inconvenient Truth.” 

Finally saw mid 50s temp in the back yard and Snoopy's ice skates were no longer at the bird bath.  Spring, maybe?

It's a good time to toss the bed pillows into the clothes dryer along with 4 tennis balls at high heat for 1/2 hour.

That chases away all dead skin, stratum corneum, that fell off your pretty face as you slept and fluuffs the pillow

Not a bad chore every 2 weeks or so

When that's done, put them on individual chairs to soak up some sunshine for no particular length of time.

You can do this every dry day to maintain a fresh nitey-nite

Time to sign off as I'm tres close to my allotted word usage

Good night, Mrs. Callabash, wherever you are!

Things that bump in the middle of the day

 While it's on my mind:  

Cell phones should have a  built-in usage blocker that won't activate until the owner responds to calls from their parents.

I didn't see all the games played in the World Baseball Classic series, but did watch some of most.  If you're not aware, it's conducted every 3 years.  Unlike pro player contracts, WBC payroll is a mere $300,000 per team!  No agents, no egos, no kidding!  Similar to the Olympics, it's a country vs country competition.  Difference is, teams are allowed to have players from other countries, provided the player was born in or is now a citizen of said country.  Details are more, but this is/are general rules.  The best I saw: crowded stadiums with no fights; no arguments between umpires and players or coaches; fun in all the dugouts.  Camaraderie was ever-present in all aspects, a practice needed to be adopted by all politicians!  The championship game is tonight, at 7PM, EDT, on FS1.  If you'd like to see the Get Along Gangs in motion, you won't be disappointed!

Odd Infinitum:

New Constitution Amendment---All political candidates must, with no exceptions, be water-boarded with truth serum

Truth...Wherefore Art Thou?

 My bitchcup runneth over)

Revised lyric: "I had your trust at the tip of my fingers. but I let it slip right through my hand."  Anthony Gonzales left Washington totally disappointed.  Liz Cheney was pushed aside because she refused to be just another, "Good Ole Girl."  

Let us hope more honest people surface who can see through the current mess we have allowed.  For the most part, politics has become the road to a millionaire's mecca.  They enjoy the fruits of what they have enacted for themselves.  Meanwhile, the everyday family dog-paddles just trying to make ends meet!

When the "Public Servant" died, no obituary was published, thus, no one noticed.  An old saying about automobiles breaking down was caused by, "programed obsolescence," has become the norm of our beloved country.

Food for thought:  All politicians to be annually reviewed.  Failure to improve and/or not fulfill campaign promises will invoke dismissal for just cause.

Campaigns limited to six months prior to elections.

Current office-holders are already spending more time fishing for dollars and attacking opponents than at their appointed tasks!

There are plenty more but unless action is taken, you'll spend your futures having uniformed people monitor your every move.

As the wise old someone uttered, "There's no time like the present."  To that, I offer, "Haven't you had enough of this s--t already?"

What's on YOUR clock?

 Question asked in this morning's "Man on the Street" style section:

Should Daylight Savings Time be made permanent?

                                 **********************************************

My response:

My only problem is having to slightly rotate my heavy concrete sundial to keep it accurate.

In other sidewalk trembling news~~~ If you're a baseball fan, you can see games from the World Baseball Classic tournament, showing teams from countries all over the globe.  Most teams have players who are members of our own American & National leagues. You don't get this action very often, so "catch" some if you choose!  Check your local listings.  (There's a $4 penalty if you snoop into your out-of-town family's teevee guide) No matter the weather, I still don't understand if the sky is partly cloudy or mostly sunny.  Who DECIDES that?!?

 This update was brought to you by the fine folks at Wobbleweel Shopping Carts, who always know what's shakin'

De-volution of Leader(?)ship

 The 3-7-23 edition of Ohio's Brunswick Post displayed a photo meet of DiSantis and Trump on page F8.  Considering each person's past broken promises, present pseudo promises and future plans of domination, they enhance the theory of 2 negatives, do not, cannot and will not make a positive!  

Not convinced?  List 10 of each candidate's campaign promises. Were they kept once in office or were they conveniently altered or dismissed to suit their personal agenda and/or their backers?  

Brick upon brick, the original Constitution's foundation was constructed by, of and for those who contributed their utmost, including their lives, to defend it.

In today's thinking,  by their backers, of their own enrichment and for domination, those original 3 words have been reduced to mere prepositions in your local school's English class-books. As of this moment, libraries and schools are being ordered to remove books, based on banning, by those who "know better."  

Take time to read, George Orwell's, "1984."  There are many other accounts and predictions available, but I think "1984" contains less pages.  Published in 1948, it is an astonishing presentation!  It was once required reading in many high schools.  Several years ago, I chanced upon a paperback edition at a garage sale and re-read it.  Astonishing? Still!  Shocked is more appropriate when comparing 1948 vs 2023.

Please don't allow emotion to overrule your brain's gifts of learning, comparing, questioning and sound decision making.  Otherwise, many of us will be walking around with designated identification patches on our clothes!

The Sunday Sundial is Working!

 Today's 1st cranial wandering paused momentarily to ponder: Not having anything to do with automobiles or music, why then do we consider "funny paper" offerings as, "cartoons?"  You can google my question, however, you'll end up, as I, performing a "Charley Chaplin" mime, in vain attempts at comprehending the etymology.

The 2nd is my never-ending disapproval at the barbaric treatment of our once revered English language.  Since forever, give or take, I've been a fan and ardent supporter of the late journalist/author, Edwin Newman.  I could go on all day, but by your investing 3 minutes and 48 seconds to read the highlighted L. A. Times article, my feelings are much better defined.

Have Aliens Taken Over His Brain?

Have Aliens Taken Over His Brain? There was Edwin Newman, for nearly 35 years at NBC News, reporting live on assassinations and elections and mode...

Quickly coming to mind is a football game color commentator stating, "As the coach matriculates down the sideline..."  His degree must be from the University of Lemming!"  More than one announcer has adopted the phrase.  Moving on, I'm like still, y'know, searching like for, y'know, the past tense of, "he goes," y'know?

From the Department of, "How Have We Gone This Long Without?"  

Jennifer, the late kid sister of my late first girlfriend, said, "The girl'll do just fine."  Although making solid sense, I've not heard it since.  Following 9 seconds of mega-deep thought, I tripped over, "Amn't."  I amn't going to the dance; Amn't I the one who loaned you the money?  It's just like food for thought, y'know?

Least likely causes for your insomnia: (an excerpt from today's Cleveland Plain Dealer's sport section)

ON THIS DATE MARCH 5 1924 — Frank Carauna, of Buffalo, N.Y., becomes the first to bowl two straight perfect 300 games. Carauna throws five strikes to open his third game, giving him 29 straight strikes. 

1973 — New York Yankees pitchers Fritz Peterson and Mike Kekich announce that they’ve swapped wives and children.

Odd Infinitum:

As the hungry NASA crew headed toward the launch pad, Commander Spacely asked, "So, where shall we go for launch?"

Reasons to question sanity

 I discovered temperamental dopplegangers!  #1 off the conveyor is the red-head in Fuh-lorida and "Sheldon" in the teevee sitcom, "Young Sheldon" and "The Big Bang Theory."

If you truly wonder about Young Sheldon, his brother, Georgie, is a lefty.  When the grown-up Georgie shows up for Sheldon's wedding, played by Jerry O'Connell, he TOO is a southpaw!  

After vacationing in Slovenia, the visitor posted a review as: "Just like the Smokey Mountains, but with castles!"

Observed on a new teevee commercial:  A bank says, if you sign up with them, you can get your paycheck up to 2 days sooner.  Logic says that can happen only once, as the cycle begins with 2 days early, it can't get any better, since the employer issues paychecks at the same time each cycle. (You'll still overspend at the same rate of time)

Final Friday 'cypherin: If everyone with investments on all stock exchanges did absolutely nothing for 1 day, would it be exactly the same as the prior day's close?  If none of the investors did ANY trading, might that then allow everything else to catch UP with deliveries of all goods...without scalping prices?

Final #2: It's all about the money---REALLY!  That in mind, most days have Chinese, Russian and who knows else, purchasing real estate and property IN OUR COUNTRY!  We are not allowed the same in THEIR countries!

Where might those foreign dollars be deposited?  Politicos?  NAAAH, they're all honest---right?

Contact the elected reps in YOUR district and start asking questions!!!

Have a nice day, as your new ulcer seeds begin to sprout!