Bait and Switch......................OR?

 Along the Ohio shores of Lake Erie, the climate can zip from Chiily Willie to Hotsie Tottsie in the blink of one or more eyes.  This morning's newspaper, which always provides half a page of local conditions, along with a spoonful of worldwide statistics, all very nice in its encapsulated form, waited until page A7 to introduce us to a, new to me, change of title.  The short but welcome warmth betwixt 100 plus days of Chilly Willie was forever referred to as, "Indian Summer."  Whence the title is unknown in the spot between my ears, therefore, I merely accepted it because the nick-name was used by all I knew.  Page A7 surreptitiously sneaked it in, under the fold, (lower half of the page), below the top half, filled with 4 color, scary car prices!  "Second Summer" was used 13 times in the short article.  "Indian Summer" was nowhere to be seen.  Was the new moniker's repetition the plan?  New world order backers say if something is said over and over, the people will believe it.  I refuse to lose any sleep over the new term.  On my ratings meter, it registered a resounding, "Meh."  Question is, what happens when the cancel culture meets?  Will they demand the name of "Guardian Summer?"  OR...do the lime green shirt, outdoor laborers push for their version called, "When it ain't real hot."  Stay tuned.

Driving down Center Road last week, I saw a sign in the window of an auto repair shop that read, "Free Belt Checks!" I walked in, raised my shirt, exposing my 2-1/2" wide, black, leather belt and asked, "Whatcha think?"  Two quite large men hurdled the counter, each cradling an elbow, gently escorted me to my car.  Opening the driver door, it was requested that I never, EVER, enter the shop again.  Recalling a 2 word phrase oft used by my now heavenly ex-pat Mom, I whispered, "Well, FINE!"

From the Cook Book Department:  Howse come there's no "H" in sugar?  

Twice in awhile, I heard a person can quickly become insanely rich on the "Dark Web."  Following 3 consecutive HMMMs, I jump-started the desktop and entered.  Thank God, my pacemaker was in peak condition!  I honestly thought I was experiencing the final minutes on this 3rd rock from the sun.  Stretching my right arm, I finally hit the "X" at the monitor's upper right and breathed several sighs of relief.  What a scam...that web was so frikkity-frakkin dark, I kept tripping over boxes, furniture and Lord knows what else!  I'm staying on the light web!

   Where millionaire dreams go to die

Food For Thought

 In the Olde West, there were gunslingers who settled disputes in a heartbeat.  Fast forward to the 21st century where, in political campaigns, we witness mudslingers, who spend countless hours attacking their opponents.  It seems there's more effort spent on "word wars" than extolling accomplishments!  When candidates are questioned regarding unkept campaign promises, note how they avoid answers by turning to another non-issue or the typical blaming it on the other party.  Gone are the days of discussions that result in bi-partisan solutions.  What happened to, "by, of and for the people?"  Today, we have broadcast programs and networks designed specifically to attack "the other side."  Insanity, thy name is politics!

If you incumbents and candidates need to witness a mixed gathering of successful teamwork, you should study the newly named Cleveland Guardians baseball team.  Read, learn and practice the meaning of that 4 letter word, T-E-A-M!  Take a moment and allow gravity to permeate.  Isaac Newton's discovery tells us things flow downhill as we've been told by others, although they use a word I need not specify.

Consider the front office folks who get together---No Kidding!---spending a very high percent of time to address needs.  Yes, the budget is not large and yet, they are able to build a team from a mix of age, experience, talent, race, color, creed and the willingness to work together by doing what's necessary to achieve a common goal.  The system works!  And it will work anywhere.  As in the Olde West saloons, participants need to "leave guns at the door."  (Ego being today's metaphor)

We don't see all and hear all.  What we DO see and hear is the final product, players and coaches in the dugout and on the field, playing together.  Again, the system works!  Lose the attitude and the me-me-me.  Embrace the family and its virtues.

Enough of that.  Let's talk fun.  If you pay any attention, you've seen how Terry Francona loves to use nick-names.  Based on what I've seen, watching nearly every game, I hereby, herein take pleasure in suggesting a formal baptism of sorts for one member of the hardest playing team in baseball, that being our left-fielder, Steven Kwan.  Suggested moniker is "Obi-Kwan-Obi," the last 3 letters to signify, "On Base Incessantly."

Thoughts From the Rocking Chair

 Major League Baseball playoffs are exciting, yes?  YES!  TV announcing is well done, for the most part.  An avid fan for many moons, I miss the flavor of hometown announcers' play-by-play and color input.  Aggravating is the TBS upper left stats box showing pitch speed for less than 1 second.  By the time your eye reacts, the image is gone!  Wake UP, control!!!  NL box is at the lower right and their pitch speed was an extravagant TWO seconds.  Sheesh!

I get the brouhaha regarding the recent upper case "Black" for African-Americans, SO, why the promos on my teevee screen touting upcoming shows wherein the channel's logo as, "allblack?"  Yup---all lower case!

"What If" Department:  Cancel Culture to monitor all political debates.  Disallow all mud-slinging and and finger-pointing.  Demand reasons for not living up to campaign promises.  Most corporations have this item in annual employee reviews.  It's way past time where we allow the constant lying, while blaming the other party!

Seen on a T-Shirt: "I see what the problem is here---I'm talking in English and you're listening in Dumbass"

While Popes continue the office's Catholicism, the Charmin bears have stopped going in the woods

Homer Simpson logic(?) "Who'd pay $500 for a wood stove, when you could use it only once?"

A pragmatic's cornucopia of a kaleidoscopic, enigmatic amalgamation

 Beginning tonight: Yom Kippur is marked by abstention from food, drink, and sex. Among Orthodox Jews, the wearing of leather shoes and anointing oneself with oil are forbidden.  (I couldn't find a penalty for those 2 "crimes")

You're not forgotten, good buddies:

Last century, since I could not find accreditation, I thereby, therein and thereafter dedicated today, 10-4, as Worldwide C-B Day

In case you forgot: 

Chronicled in wikipedia, The three Galapagos Island tortoises brought back to England aboard HMS Beagle by Charles Darwin in 1835, as documented in his book, The Voyage of the Beagle. They were named Tom, Dick, and Harry. It was later discovered that "Harry" was female, so she was renamed "Harriet" and lived in captivity in Australia until her death in 2006, aged 175 years.

Well, waddaya know?:  "It is what it is" is the new, "Que sera sera"

From Gertie B in Hootin Holler: Her grandson asked, "Grammaw, why can't I hear the full moon burp?"

Keep that prayer chain hooked up for those who lost and those doing repairs in the wake of Ian

Don't let your week-end become a weak end

Original 8-30-2022

 If you've been in solitary confinement until yesterday, you probably noticed in tonight's baseball game, the strange looking patches on umpires' shirts.  They're actually sponsor paid advertising, similar to auto racing.  Might not be too long before you wonder if you're watching a baseball game or a cameo appearance by one of the Earnhardts or maybe even Ricky Bobby!

I don't begrudge any vet's receiving compensation for exposure to chemicals, toxic water, etc.  Marine Corps Camp Lejeune is the most recent.  Lawyers galore are posting ads faster than a Russian soldier's retreat!  The AVA Law Group has what is presented as Brandon Keeton, a retired officer of the Marines and another as a registered nurse with 40 years experience.  In pretty darn small print at the bottom of the screen, you'll see, "Paid actor.  Not an actual client."  Nurse Colleen Murphy's ad says the same, in small print.  How about paying a REAL veteran?  Odds are, they need it more than than an "un-real."

You can't go too long without seeing a plea to aid starving animals, sick children, starving people, etc.  Tons of people, including those with not much to spare, will dig deep to help.  You'll also see political ads, urging you to call your congressman, rep, etc., to pass a bill and other concerns.  Why can't there be never-ending ads that advocate peace?  I have to believe a campaign would gather attention and hopefully put an end to such ignorance.  Please, no placating us with those Public Service Announcements running at 2:19AM.  Run them prime time, as is done with the families at St. Jude's!

Study for the upcoming elections.  Vote with knowledge...not the opinions of others!

Do what you can for Ian's victims...prayer is good anytime

Dis, Dat and Dothers

 Nightfall this evening marks the end of Rosh Hashana and the beginning of the Jewish New Year, SO, when you write your apartment rent check, make sure you date it 5783.  10 days later is Yom Kippur on October 4-5.

Greetings and good will to those who observe!

To the (hard swallow) Guardians, though, with 9 games remaining!  May we enjoy all the fun this group of young 'uns, who provided many edge-of-the-seat baseball game victories.  Even after we were slowly convinced they were for real, edge sitting became the norm...and such fun it all became.  Yup, even that 15 inning, 5 hour, 39 minute marathon I sat/stood for on the 17th of this month.  May they continue their surprises!

The "alleged," denied by many, global warming threat is heating up with different weather patterns is just beginning to flood us with a new style of storms with increased amounts of damage.  Droughts and floods impact our daily lives.

"Freedom" of non-permit gun carry put young children and other innocents in graves.

Greed wreaks panic amongst those with "more money than God!"  Containers of goods with expiration dates have cobwebs due to the greed factor.

Hopeful candidates throw large stones at each other, backed by questionable dollar sources.  None of those promise makers have studied a mirror lately.

Know yourself, then question each and all of them, especially those seeking re-election, why they didn't deliver what they promised the 1st time.  Do NOT accept their age old excuse of, "the other party," which leads to my question, "If all are innocent, who the hell is doing all the bad?!?"

Before you know it, the general election will be history and the weenie-whiners will be crying , "foul," so---help your friends dismount their deceased burros and make them learn and vote!!!

Have a nice evening!

Repeat of History?

 Mr. Ken Burns provides accurate PBS documentaries, with deep insight on a variety of subjects, both entertaining and educational.  I just finished watching 3 episodes of, "The U.S. and the Holocaust."  Forever a reader, throughout high school, I was drawn into the world of Adolf Hitler's biography, from his youth, education, time in the military, political aspirations, incarcerations, etc.  

Book after book and hour after hour, I "watched" his evolution of thoughts, planning, assembling a totally unquestioning loyal following, beginning with his, "Mein Kampf," ("My Struggle"), igniting the implementation of his 1,000 year empire.

During my formative years, a class in "Civics" was part of the curriculum, wherein we were taught and learned the formulation, planning and working of our government.  That in mind, it was obvious and quite disconcerting to realize the troubling nature of Hitler and his manifesto.

Just a few moments into the documentary's first episode, I was immediately taken back to the books of my introduction to one person's unadulterated evil.  Disturbing enough were his thoughts, but how he incorporated those thoughts and actually convinced his compatriots of their justification was plain terror.  The sadists Josef Mengele, Ilse Koch and countless others not only conducted vile experiments but actually took pleasure in their sickening procedures.

Impressive was Hitler's methodology of slowly convincing, one person at a time, the nature and need to eliminate what he determined to be the main cause of all problematical.  Rewards were promised for exemplary service.  Recruits were drawn by the sheer magnetism of the leader's convincing oratory.  Truth be damned.  Many forsook friends and family for the promised promotions and glamor.  Children were taught to report friends and even their own family for any suspicious talk or deeds.  Initially, they were called brown-nosers, then boot-lickers and today, we call them sycophants.

Worst of all was the casual indifference displayed by so many, worldwide, labeling it a glitch and/or a passing fancy.

Sound familiar?  I hope so!  Admit it or not, we are slowly being manipulated into a resurgence of what occurred with Hitler's jail cell occupancy, nearly 100 years ago.  

With modern technology, we are constantly fed information, both good and bad.  We are inundated with unkept promises made on campaign trails.  Incumbents spend a lot of time getting re-elected and pointing fingers at "the other side" for not getting things done.  Currently, incumbents and candidates are now refusing to publicly debate.  More deals are struck behind closed doors. Last minute riders are attached to unrelated bills that benefit those who really don't need any more money.  Many agreements are made by the big money percenters via lobbyists, which I refer to as "legalized bribery."

Please!  Take the time to analyze those who represent your needs, be it the local councilperson and all those up the ladder.  Question their decisions.  Are they keeping campaign promises?  Where are your increased taxes going?  Why are they even considering the elimination of your self-funded Social Security and other supplements?  Why can't both parties agree on almost anything and why opposition is built solely on party lines?  Have intelligence and common sense run out?

I urge you to watch, "The U.S. and the Holocaust," streaming on PBS Video App, not necessarily the outcome, but how the formula was designed and ever so carefully installed with hardly a wave of disruption.  

I also very strongly implore you to vote this November.  If you choose otherwise, then I remind you of the closing words uttered by Vincent Price in, "The Fly." "Be afraid...be very afraid."