What's on YOUR clock?

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

Should Daylight Savings Time be made permanent?

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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!

Hers/His Terical History

Prior to the rest of today's message---

I set up a, "Help Blow Out the Candle" fund for brother-in-law Dave, 

who celebrates his birthday today.  

The hope is to break his Guinness world record for well-wishes of 19.

I can't remember his email address but you can google it.  

After all, how many Daves can there BE?  C'MON, people!

History's cornucopia:  Cupid's origin is mythological.  

Not the 1st fake news, but long-lasting, nonetheless.  

Next up, there's the actual, "not fake news," being Saint Valentine's beheading...yikes!  

Later on, came Al Capone's competitors choosing this date for a shoot-em-up.  

However, as love wins out, Don Gibson crooned, "I Can't Stop Loving You" in1957. 

Shortly thereafter, 1959 brought the world together, 

when Connie Francis released her song, "Stupid Cupid."

More recently, amore lost a few steps when co-vid hit the streets.  

Face masks hid smiling faces, while handshakes and hugs were eliminated.  

Social contact became isolation.  

Worst of the worst was the denial of empathy by medical institutions, 

not allowing death-bed family contact.  Say what you want, my mind will not change!  

Lest we forget, there is absolutely nothing more comforting and warmer than a hug---

and all accomplished without a single word!  

This being the day wherein American Greetings makes a ton of $, I submit we say, 

"to hell with enforcement," and take time to hug SOMEone/ANYone!  

As for the perpetual maskers, lower it for a moment to show a full smile!

On to other Mischief in the Missive!  

Singularity of Pluralism:  Why izzit we have grooves, but no houses with rooves?  

Octopus = octopi; cactus = cacti; hippopotamus = hippopotami.  Why not Viri?    

(I'm sure you can come up with some of your own exampli.)

Have you ever noticed how the carpal tunnel pain increases 

when you try to remove the cap from the pill container?

Has anyone ever seen a copy of the invoice issued to Mexico for "The Wall That Didn't?"

I caught a few minutes of, "Special Forces: The Ultimate Test," the other evening, 

in between 94 stations carrying never-ending re-runs of, Forest Gump's Green Mile baptism at the church of Shawshank Redemption.  

The program is shot somewhere in the desert of Jordan.  

I guess the producers weren't aware of USA deserts.  Whatever.  

Nothing to be seen, save for a sleeping tent, mess hall, assemble area, 

gas chamber and small critique room.  

Those not measuring up are taken there with a hood over the head, 

then taken out in the same fashion.  Why the secrecy?  There's nothing there, so, 

what the hell?!?

That's it for now,  so, enjoy the day...OR...if you have a doobie, enjoy the daze!

Oh MY---How times have changed!

 The really tiny print in my local newspaper's sport section:

ON THIS DATE 

FEB. 6 1958 — Ted Williams signs a contract with the Boston Red Sox for $135,000, making him the highest paid player in major league history. On my calculator, Ted earned $1025 per game for a 154 game schedule.  

Today's $15 million contract for a 162 game schedule pays $61728 per game.  

$15 minimum wage grosses $31200 annually, meaning, it would take almost 2 years to pay for said player's 1 game.

And yet, at a "fan-o-rama," you'll have to wait in line to pay upwards of 20 bucks for an autograph!

As the song sings, "Nice work if you can get it"

Logic 101

 1. You're any color, sitting on a bridge rail or the roof a a multi-storied building, considering that "final step."  From nowhere appears at least one concerned person who tries to understand your frame of mind, thereby perhaps convincing you to reconsider.  Often, that person is a trained mediator, employed by the local municipality.  A soft, understanding conversation is used to instill a calm state of mind into you prior to that "final step."

2. You're any color, in a structure, holding 1 or more people hostage.  The local authorities have dispatched necessary personnel to the scene.  Included is an experienced negotiator as mentioned in the above situation.  Because a weapon is involved, step 1 is a concerted effort to calm the perpetrator via a loudspeaker from a safe distance.  All efforts are used to hopefully prevent harm.  If any hostage is released, that's a success, regardless of the final outcome.

3. You're a non-white, driving home from work, dinner or a date, when you see flashing lights in your rear view mirror.  A quick glance proves you're not speeding, you didn't disobey the most recent traffic light and you don't drink, smoke or do drugs.  As the flashing lights come closer, you hear an amplified voice ordering you to, "Pull over, shut the engine off and put your hands where I can see them!"  Confused, you do as ordered.  When the officer approaches, you ask if there's a problem.  His response is, "Shut up and get out of the vehicle!"  You are now officially confused and scared!  Still confused, you begin to ask the reason for the pullover, but the voice gets more demanding.  Dispatch was most likely notified because more police vehicles arrive and you're now surrounded.  What happens next can be anyone's guess.

1 & 2 above prove positive results of remaining calm.  

No.3 is not always possible because police departments can't afford a negotiator to be in every vehicle; officers can't always know what to expect in every encounter; officers are trained for possible circumstances based on history and new, impending probabilities.  Not an easy task when instant decisions might be required!

Sadly, video games promoting damage, mayhem and killing without remorse are available everywhere and are purchased by parents for gullible youngsters, with some of those parents seeking to disband those sworn to uphold the law.  Consider  school shootings brought on by video games.  Additionally sad are the TV programs, movie theaters and streamers showing the same mayhem, damage and killing.  The public is conditioned to enjoy/demand the thrills of it all.  More often, the authoritative side is depicted as violent.  A "go figure" moment indeed!

These days, the hurdles are "higher," as drugs erase common sense, thereby permitting explosive adrenaline to chart a damaging course the user cannot control or distinguish.  

Add to that the rising incidences of suicide bombers!  Although extremists purport a necessity, how can anyone justify bombing churches, temples, mosques, etc.?  Hardly any of these are predictable or preventable.  If you didn't already know, none of the organized religions condone the taking of another life.  Radicalism incites the insanity!

Considering all the above, I submit: If not already in place...For police academies and those already "on the job," training by negotiation veterans to address those alleged in a more calm/peaceful manner.  When you think about it, most of us have seen how a harsh moment or environment does nothing but produce high fences and nobody wins.