I post a weekly diary of historical notes, arts & science items, foreign news (often receiving little notice in the US) and whimsical pieces from the outside world that I often feature in "Cheers & Jeers".
OK, you've been warned - here is this week's tomfoolery material that I posted.
CHEERS to Bill and Michael in PWM, our Laramie, Wyoming-based friend Irish Patti and ...... well, each of you at Cheers and Jeers. Have a fabulous weekend .... and week ahead.
ART NOTES— a photography exhibition entitled Iké Udé: Nollywood Portraits— reflecting the success of Nigeria’s film industry — is at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African Art in Washington, D.C. through February 28th.
PROGRAMMING NOTE #1— due to recent events: I have two separate polls this weekend. Below is a second consecutive TrumpWorld poll, and last night I posted a standard Who Lost the Fortnight?!?" poll (necessitated by Programming Note #2). If you have not seen that non-Trump poll: have-at-it.
CHEERS to Robert Pope, a forty-four year-old British ultra-marathon runner who just ran the width of Ireland (the first person to do so in under 24 hours). He started his 211km (131-mile) run with a glass of Guinness in Galway, and finished it with another pint of the black stuff in Dublin. In 2018, he paid homage to the film Forrest Gump by running more than 15,000 miles (24,141 km) criss-crossing the US.
THURSDAY's CHILD is named Bandit the Hero Cat— a twenty year-old Mississippi kitteh who awoke an elderly man (around 3:00 AM) so that he could see … two actual bandits trying to break into his home (who fled when they saw the man).
PROGRAMMING NOTE #2 — I will neither be posting Odds & Ends (nor any poll) next week — as I will be attending Netroots Nation in Pittsburgh (and weather permitting, plan to take-in the Thursday night baseball game). If you are planning on attending, I hope we have the chance to meet — ask for the Cheers & Jeers contingent. Will be returning the week of Aug 25th-28th.
YOUR WEEKEND READ is this essay by the American Prospect’s Harold Meyerson — suggesting that states emulate Nebraska and institute a unicameral legislature (based upon population).
FRIDAY's CHILDREN are named Blaze the Dog and Satin the Cat— two Vermont pets where Satin alerts the (blind) dog Blaze by meows to keep him safe.
BRAIN TEASER— try this Quiz of the Week's News from the BBC ...… and the usually easier, less UK-centered New York Times quiz.
THE OTHER NIGHT yours truly hosted the Top Comments diary with a look at three topics: one tribute (Dr. Magnus Pyke of the Thomas Dolby video "She Blinded Me with Science", one rant (cash registers of today without a price total screen that customers can see) and one mystery (whaddya call the the sheet of paper that, say, a football team crashes through upon entering the field)?
SEPARATED at BIRTH— Academy Award winner Steven Spielberg and Supreme Court justice Sam Alito.
...... and finally, for a song of the week ...........................… super busy at the office (and packing for Pittsburgh) … so just enough time for this 1966 tune by The Who, Run Run Run… dedicated to Josh Hawley’s mad Capitol dash.
You'd better take my advice A black cat crossed your path twice The moon came out next to the sun Then you opened your umbrella in a roomYou ain't the luckiest girl I know And you won't get luckier the way you're going Your horseshoe's rusty and your mirror's cracked You walk under ladders, then you walk right back
When you dropped that little pin Never thought what a mess it'd get you in Little pin, little pin, bring me luck Because I stopped to pick you up
Now I'm helping you I hope you believe what I say is true Whenever you run, I'll be running too Whenever you run, I'll be following you
You better run, run, run Run, run, run