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