Briefly. (kinda)
Fun fact: I do my best proofreading after I post.
Wife: While going through her wardrobe (all smiles), “look at this, it still fits after 25 years!”
Husband: “It’s a scarf!”
Trivia #1: What state’s motto is: Audemus Jura Nostra Defendere (We Dare Defend Our Rights)?
Trivia #2: What part of a knight’s armor protects the hands? – Hauberk, Gauntlet, Spaulder, Glove, Greaves
Trivia #3: What two teams had the best winning percentage (.500) against a team with Tom Brady starting at quarterback? Denver & San Fran, Denver & Kansas City, LA Rams and San Fran, Buffalo & Indianapolis, Philadelphia Kansas City, New Orleans, & Denver
On this date: August 16, 1858, Britain’s Queen Victoria telegraphs US President James Buchanan for 1st time by transatlantic telegraph cable, he replies “it is a triumph more glorious, because far more useful to mankind, than was ever won by conqueror on the field of battle.”
August 16, 1906, an 8.6 earthquake destroys Valparaiso Chile, fire kills 20,000.
August 16, 1965, American Football League’s 9th franchise is officially awarded to Joe Robbie and television star Danny Thomas; Miami Dolphins start play in AFL’s Eastern Division in 1966
August 16, 1974, American punk rock band “The Ramones” concert debut at CBGB’s in New York City
Go away: LeBron James (he’s been here before)
Don’t cling to a mistake just because you spent a lot of time making it.
Monday’s 4.4 magnitude earthquake that jolted the Los Angeles area is part of a broader trend of increased seismic activity in Southern California that is likely to continue, according to the region’s leading seismologist. 2024 has had more earthquakes than any year since 1988. Since 1932, Southern California has averaged 10 to 12 earthquakes of magnitude 4.0 or greater per year.
This week’s sign of the apocalypse: The alphabet song has changed! The original song most of us grew up singing was set to a sing-song melody with pauses between “G,” “P,” “S,” “V” “X” and ended with “Y and Z.” The song closed with the line, “Now I know my ABCs, next time won’t you sing with me?” The newer version takes the same tune but restructures the phrasing, instead placing the pauses after “G,” “N,” “Q,” “T,” “W” and ending with “XYZ.” The closing lines are also different, now sung, “Now I never will forget, how to say the alphabet.” The reason for the change seems fairly apparent to the average listener. There is no more rushing through the mess that was “LMNOP,” which often came out sounding like nothing more than mush mouth. It also removes the “and” between Y and Z, eliminating another potential source of confusion. “Source of confusion??” Puh-lease!
Good news: Another year, another highly successful NESN Jimmy Fund Telethon. During this year’s event, pitcher Garrett Whitlock as named Jimmy Fund Captain, while NESN’s Tom Caron and former Red Sox Brock Holt were named Co-Chairmen. Brock Holt, a former Captain while with the Red Sox, has stayed involved ever since he left the organization.
The little league team from local Salem, NH was this close to pulling a huge upset over the team from Hawaii in the Little League World Series. They play again tomorrow (ESPN) in the double elimination tournament. And I’m not plugging them just because my cousin’s kid plays for them! He’s their shortstop.
So, the Red Sox make multiple deals at the trade deadline, most targeted at relief pitchers. They have been dreadful since. Case in point, Luis Garcia, since being traded, has appeared in 6 games, 6.2 innings pitched: 12.14 ERA, 1.95 WHIP, 1BB, 5K, 3HR. Dreadful. The Sox are 2.5 games out of a wildcard spot and spiraling downward, on the fast track.
Back to the Olympics… I don’t think I could walk end-to-end across a balance beam.
Olympic track & field is the best, in general, but table tennis (ping pong) is incredible to watch.
Thankfully, for me, my wife also enjoys watching women’s beach volleyball.
Sometimes, when your golf league gets rained out, it’s a drag. Other times, it’s a lot of fun!
Article I’ll skip: Country reports first case of highly infectious virus as outbreak spreads
R.I.P. This just in… Former President Jimmy Carter is still not dead.
R.I.P. Peter Marshall (98): Game show host for 16 years (more than 5,000 episodes) of “The Hollywood Squares.”
R.I.P. Juan “Chi Chi” Rodriguez (88) – World Golf Hall of Fame with 30 career victories between the PGA Tour and PGA Tour Champions. He took as much pride in his Chi Chi Rodriguez Youth Foundation in Clearwater, Florida, that helped at-risk youth achieve academic, social and economic success. Rodriguez’s memory will live on at his Youth Foundation, which each year brings in 600 children from low-income families or broken homes to its municipal course to develop skills like responsibility and work ethic. His altruistic nature culminated in 1989 with the USGA’s highest honor, the Bob Jones Award, and later his acceptance into the World Humanitarian Sports Hall of Fame in 1994. Cool.
Remember Popeye? That guy was awesome!
Trivia #1 answer: What state’s motto is: Audemus Jura Nostra Defendere (We Dare Defend Our Rights)? – Alabama (Alabama’s state motto was inspired by the poem “In Imitation of Alcaeus” by Sir William Jones, specifically the lines “Men, who their duties know, / But know their rights, and, knowing, dare maintain.”)
Trivia #2 answer: What part of a knight’s armor protects the hands? – Hauberk, Gauntlet, Spaulder, Glove, Greaves – Gauntlet
Trivia #3: What two teams had the best winning percentage (.500) against a team with Tom Brady starting at quarterback? Denver & San Fran, Denver & Kansas City, LA Rams and San Fran, Buffalo & Indianapolis, Philadelphia Kansas City, New Orleans, & Denver – Denver & San Francisco
Don’t give up, don’t ever give up.
Be careful out there. (It’s a jungle!)
Happy National Roller Coaster Day!
– The Contours (Do You Love Me)
Bonus (The Ramones)
Ed's Head On Friday 