Wednesday, July 31, 2024
The pommel horse classic
Americans aren't used to getting excited about bronze medals, but there was an exception a few days ago for men's gymnastics, in the team competition. If you watched it, you know, but if not... check it out!
Tuesday, July 30, 2024
How dumb ARE academics?
Much as I appreciate their attention, I'm wondering what the deep impression was, exactly, left by my research article titled "Article Title."
This is part of a new and strange form of scam I see once in a while, aimed at academics desperate for a place to publish. And I guess even well-educated desperate people can fall for things....
Monday, July 29, 2024
On the track and field..
We only had two haiku this week (on the topic of Olympic sports), but they were great!
Jill Scoggins covered gymnastics:
Whirling spangles catch
the light. Gravity defied.
U.S. Gymnastics.
the light. Gravity defied.
U.S. Gymnastics.
While Christine chose a more ancient sport:
An Archer steps up
to their mark, bow raised, arrow
ready, aim, release.
to their mark, bow raised, arrow
ready, aim, release.
Sunday, July 28, 2024
Sunday Reflection: On the hillside
In John 6, we find this:
Jesus went to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, also called the Sea of Tiberias. A large crowd kept following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing for the sick. Jesus went up the mountain and sat down there with his disciples. Now the Passover, the festival of the Jews, was near. When he looked up and saw a large crowd coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread for these people to eat?” He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he was going to do. Philip answered him, “Six months’ wages would not buy enough bread for each of them to get a little.” One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to him, “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish. But what are they among so many people?” Jesus said, “Make the people sit down.” Now there was a great deal of grass in the place; so they sat down, about five thousand in all. Then Jesus took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated; so also the fish, as much as they wanted. When they were satisfied, he told his disciples, “Gather up the fragments left over, so that nothing may be lost.” So they gathered them up, and from the fragments of the five barley loaves, left by those who had eaten, they filled twelve baskets. When the people saw the sign that he had done, they began to say, “This is indeed the prophet who is to come into the world.”
There is so much going on here!
First of all, Jesus sees a bunch of strangers coming at him, and his first thought is of hospitality: How will we feed all of these people! And note that they are coming to him for healing, but he starts with the immediate need-- how often to do we (me) forget that?
And notice the subtly of the miracle-- that is no magic incantation or dramatic moment; just, somehow, there is enough. I feel like I have seen that miracle in my own life over and over.
And you?
Saturday, July 27, 2024
Did you know....
The 2024 Olympics has an official song, and it's not terrible!
Friday, July 26, 2024
Haiku Friday: Olympic events
We all have a favorite event, and then there are those that we just didn't know about. Let's haiku about those this week! Here, I will go first:
Wait, trampolining
Is a real Olympic sport?
Backyard practice pads.
Now it is your turn! Just use the 5/7/5 syllable pattern and have some fun!
Thursday, July 25, 2024
The Olympics are almost here!
And can the opening ceremonies in Paris hope to match this moment from London in 2012?"
And that's all good, because learning is good.
Wednesday, July 24, 2024
Oh, yeah, I'm ready
As mid-summer passes, the minds of Minnesotans go to the same place: The State Fair is coming!
A lot of states have a fair, but nothing quite reaches the level of what goes on in Minnesota. It's profoundly old school-- the primary activities are eating weird food and looking at stuff-- but it's also different every year. Here are some highlights:
-- All-you-can drink milk stand
-- "Ye Olde Mill," which is basically a train through a dark building where you can make out
-- The Seed Art exhibit
-- Various political party booths where the politicians show up
-- The Dairy Barn, where Princess Kay of the Milky Way is enshrined in a butter sculpture
-- Misc. arts competitions involving pretty much anything
-- The Univ. of Minnesota's newest apple
-- Things that are fried and placed on a stick
Tuesday, July 23, 2024
Flashback! Conversations with IPLawGuy
Monday, July 22, 2024
It's Recipe Week!! First up: Make your own popsicles!
Sometimes you just want to have a popsicle, but are mad about the high price of store-bought popsicles, so you just do without and get in a really bad mood because you are hot and hungry and really wanted a popsicle. Well, no more! Here is a great recipe for making popsicles at home.
1. Collect almost anything that even nominally counts as food-- Strawberries, raspberries, donuts, Burger King's original chicken sandwich, gummy worms, Funions, corn, leftover goulash, it really can be anything-- and put it in a blender.
B. Now add honey, vanilla extract, yogurt, and some apple juice.
3. Run the blender until it looks about right.
4. Pour the goo into popsicle molds. I love this cheap option available at Amazon.
5. Freeze for 5 hours and 25 minutes.
Now you are ready for summer!
Sunday, July 21, 2024
Sunday Reflection: A quiet place
Today I want to focus on this one little part of Mark 6:
The apostles gathered around Jesus, and told him all that they had done and taught. He said to them, “Come away to a deserted place all by yourselves and rest a while.”
Yeah, in the end it doesn't work out (they are swamped with people) but I love this advice. So often we take the time we have to get away to go someplace more hectic! I know I do-- New York, for example, is always attractive. But it is not a deserted place.
I do love actual deserted places, too, though. West Texas. The Boundary Waters. That part of Pennsylvania just south of the New York border that is all forests and mist. The empty spaces of Nevada (as opposed to that one super-busy part of Nevada).
But what do we make of Jesus being kind of wrong? He gives them this advice, and then this happens:
And they went away in the boat to a deserted place by themselves. Now many saw them going and recognized them, and they hurried there on foot from all the towns and arrived ahead of them.
Didn't Jesus know his advice wouldn't work out? Or was there a lesson in that, too?
Saturday, July 20, 2024
JD Vance
If you are curious, you can check out newcomer (relatively) JD Vance's speech as the Republican National Convention below. Comments welcome!
Friday, July 19, 2024
Haiku Friday: Summer Kids
There I am (at right) with my brother & Jenny and Jeffery Plansker, probably somewhere in Indiana on our way to a bluegrass festival. Summer is special for kids because it is so different than the rest of the year-- remember? Let's haiku about that this week. Here, I will go first:
Fishflies and baseball
Trips in an old Microbus
Summer's a rocket.
Now it is your turn! Just use the 5/7/5 syllable pattern and have some fun!
Thursday, July 18, 2024
PMT: The Attempted Assassination of Donald Trump
It's been a been a bad few weeks for President Joe Biden. The debate was a disaster, his party is divided on the issue of his candidacy, and now he has COVID-- but at least no one tried to kill him.
The attempt on Donald Trump's life, which resulted in an innocent death and several injuries (including Trump's), was a vile act. What's with American's 20-something White guys? It seems like too many of them are intent on making their mark in the world in the worst possible way. As I've argued before, I think the American conception that one's life has to be famous in some way to be significant or meaningful is part of what drives this.
Well, that and the way pretty much anyone can get an assault rifle.
I do think that the assassination attempt will be a turning point in the race and in history. It turned Trump into a more sympathetic figure for many, I suspect, and the iconic imagery from the event will reinforce the image he seeks to project. In no way, though, do I think Trump or his people had anything to do with the shooting; really, who would say "ok, shoot me in the head, but only a little?"
Biden's circles, inner and outer, are shrinking. He seems angry that people care about his abilities. None of this bodes well for him.
Wednesday, July 17, 2024
Thomas Matthew Crooks
Here is what we know about Crooks, the man who shot Donald Trump and several others:
-- He's a 20-year-old white man
-- His father had about a dozen guns, including the assault rifle Crooks used
-- He was a loner, who was pretty good at school but not active there
-- There is no sign yet of any kind of deep political ideology, though he was conservative
-- He was bullied at school
It is odd how often these shooters turn out to be young white men. In The NY Times, Michelle Goldberg writes that the dangerous combination of attributes is "humiliation and an obsession with firearms."
We probably should work to make sure there is less of both of those things.
Tuesday, July 16, 2024
It's JD
Is it just me, or does JD Vance look kind of confused about how he ended up in the Senate in his official Senate photo (above)?
Anyways, I've looked a lot more confused in photos. Here are some facts about the man Donald Trump has chosen to be his running mate:
-- He's from Middletown, which is oddly in Southwest Ohio rather than in the middle of Ohio.
-- His parents were kind of messy, and he was raised primarily by his grandparents.
-- He went straight into the Marine Corps after high school, and served in Iraq.
-- After that, he enrolled in Ohio State University, which is like Ohio University but bigger. Way bigger.
-- Then he went to Yale Law, where the Tiger Mom, Amy Chua, told him he had to write a memoir or she'd be mad, so he did. The memoir, "Hillbilly Elegy," was a bestseller.
-- After law school he worked for a big firm and then some venture capitalists. In 2019, he launched his own venture capital firm.
-- In 2022 he ran for the Senate in Ohio, for the seat vacated by Rob Portman, and won.
Monday, July 15, 2024
In the garden (again)...
Good stuff people, good stuff! We had two strong anonymous entries, including this:
Front yard pumpkins failed
Farmer's market sunflowers
Delight dog walkers.
Farmer's market sunflowers
Delight dog walkers.
Then this:
Pink, white, tangerine
Cosmos bloom in my garden
Grandma's spirit hovers.
Cosmos bloom in my garden
Grandma's spirit hovers.
IPLawGuy apparently grew Bok Choy?:
Lettuce almost done
Bok Choy, Blueberries are gone
Tomatoes, peps soon!
Bok Choy, Blueberries are gone
Tomatoes, peps soon!
Jill Scoggins is in the game:
Photos arranged of
kids and grandkids creates my
happiness garden.
kids and grandkids creates my
happiness garden.
As is Des (of course):
The okra isn’t
tall, but those jalapeños-
they don’t disappoint!
tall, but those jalapeños-
they don’t disappoint!
And Christine-- sorry about the heat dome!:
Water and sunshine
Heat dome bakes, flowers wither
Hoping for relief
Hummingbirds cruise yard
Seek nectar from resilient
Blooms and my feeder.
Heat dome bakes, flowers wither
Hoping for relief
Hummingbirds cruise yard
Seek nectar from resilient
Blooms and my feeder.
Sunday, July 14, 2024
Sunday Reflection: The Death of John the Baptist
I have always been perplexed by the story of the death of John the Baptist, from Mark 6:
"For Herod himself had sent men who arrested John, bound him, and put him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, because Herod had married her. For John had been telling Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.” And Herodias had a grudge against him, and wanted to kill him. But she could not, for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he protected him. When he heard him, he was greatly perplexed; and yet he liked to listen to him. But an opportunity came when Herod on his birthday gave a banquet for his courtiers and officers and for the leaders of Galilee. When his daughter Herodias came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his guests; and the king said to the girl, “Ask me for whatever you wish, and I will give it.” And he solemnly swore to her, “Whatever you ask me, I will give you, even half of my kingdom.” She went out and said to her mother, “What should I ask for?” She replied, “The head of John the baptizer.” Immediately she rushed back to the king and requested, “I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter.” The king was deeply grieved; yet out of regard for his oaths and for the guests, he did not want to refuse her. Immediately the king sent a soldier of the guard with orders to bring John’s head. He went and beheaded him in the prison, brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the girl. Then the girl gave it to her mother. When his disciples heard about it, they came and took his body, and laid it in a tomb."
The part that baffles me is Herod's offer of half of his kingdom because of some pretty good dancing. I would imagine that offering that to a daughter (rather than a son) would be pretty transgressive, of course. But that can't be the only thing we take from this.
Perhaps the lesson is not to make open-ended offers? Don't make deals with those controlled by others? Don't drink too much at a feast?
Actually, all of that is pretty good advice. I learned long ago not to drink too much at a party-- it's very fun to be the most sober person sometimes! And most of the things that seem like a good idea when drinking turn out not to be so great.
Saturday, July 13, 2024
The Fascinating "Thing"
Friday, July 12, 2024
Haiku Friday: How's the garden?
It's that time-- when we kind of know how the garden turns out. Maybe not yours, and maybe not a literal garden, but you know what I mean. So let's haiku about that this week! Here, I will go first:
I'm watching a bee
Its task is to find flowers
Same color as it.
Now it is your turn! Just use the 5/7/5 syllable pattern and have some fun!
Thursday, July 11, 2024
PMT: This strange dialogue
It's a strange time in our nation's history, as we have two presidential candidates and neither one is making much sense.
Worse, the Democrats who might have some sway in urging Biden to step away seem to be playing a weird game. Nancy Pelosi said he needs to make a decision soon, echoing others-- but Biden adamantly has already made the decision to stay in the race. It's like they don't believe him, and perhaps they have reason not to.
In an excellent op-ed in The NY Times, George Clooney made a great argument for Biden to step away, and added an additional fact: that at a fund-raiser Clooney held recently, the Biden who showed up was the Biden of the debate, not the one who ran for office previously. That's scary, and telling.
I'm not one of those who thinks Biden has been a great president, but part of that is because of my rare focus on the issue of criminal justice, where Biden has accomplished far less than Trump did in terms of reform. Yes, that's hard to say as a Democrat, but it's true-- the 1st Step Act was a very significant piece of legislation, and Biden hasn't even tried to do anything of substance in this field. Will Trump do more of that if re-elected? Probably not, and I'm hoping that the Dems settle on a candidate who is better than either Trump or Biden on that issue.
Wednesday, July 10, 2024
Cooper Flagg?
The newest basketball prodigy in the US is a 17-year-old kid from Maine named Cooper Flagg, who hasn't even started his freshman year at Duke yet.
He was part of a scout team recruited to practice against the Dream Team of NBA stars that will represent the USA in the Paris Olympics and.... well, check out that video. Wow.
Tuesday, July 09, 2024
Me and millions of others....
As readers of this blog know, I was deeply troubled two years ago when Joe Biden decided to run for a second term-- and now my worst fears have been confirmed. Here is the piece I wrote about it for the Waco Tribune Herald. Here is part of what I said there:
We must remember what it is that Biden is campaigning for: To be the leader of the free world when he is four years older than he is today. Given that is the real question before us, Biden’s own deep morality and love for the county should tell him to step aside. His inability to understand, respond and articulate simple messages is not going to improve with age; most of us have seen this movie before with friends and relatives. Age goes in one direction. If Biden was running to be president at some point in the past, it would be different — but his case is to be the president not then, not now, but for several years into the future.
Monday, July 08, 2024
Great poems of America!
Zounds! Great work on the topic of America. I was thrilled to see the return of Gavin, with this pearl:
She is at her best
Not when we pursue greatness
But act with courage.
Not when we pursue greatness
But act with courage.
And Craig A, who taught me how to swear in Boston:
Love the Boston Pop’s
Fourth celebration on the Charles:
tunes, fire, tradition.
Fourth celebration on the Charles:
tunes, fire, tradition.
Desiree is positive:
The neighborhood loves
to celebrate the fourth with
fireworks and food.
India, Iran,
Korea, Germany born.
Melting pot party!
to celebrate the fourth with
fireworks and food.
India, Iran,
Korea, Germany born.
Melting pot party!
Amy is less so (but right):
SCOTUS gut punches,
Same old candidates, made me
Sad on the Fourth. Seems
a door's open to
A different USA. But
There are still fields of
Ripe peaches, blackberries,
Zinnias, bumblebees, white grapes.
Must remember this.
Same old candidates, made me
Sad on the Fourth. Seems
a door's open to
A different USA. But
There are still fields of
Ripe peaches, blackberries,
Zinnias, bumblebees, white grapes.
Must remember this.
And IPLawGuy has always loved the band America (and Bread), so he went in a different direction:
Sister Golden Hair
great tune; not so for Tin Man
Or the no name horse.
great tune; not so for Tin Man
Or the no name horse.
Sunday, July 07, 2024
The Curse of the Familiar
People struggle with gratitude. It makes life so much better, yet it can be hard to get there-- in part because so much of what we should be grateful for is so.... familiar. We want to be grateful for the fantastic new job or an amazing new friend instead of the good job we have or the friends who are there now.
My dad was great at seeing beauty in the familiar. He did it all the time. He did see beauty in other places, of course, and sought it out, but that didn't mean he didn't see it right there in the back yard (literally).
Jesus dealt with this, as described in Mark 6:
Jesus came to his hometown, and his disciples followed him. On the sabbath he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astounded. They said, “Where did this man get all this? What is this wisdom that has been given to him? What deeds of power are being done by his hands! Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon, and are not his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him. Then Jesus said to them, “Prophets are not without honor, except in their hometown, and among their own kin, and in their own house.” And he could do no deed of power there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and cured them. And he was amazed at their unbelief.
We too often equate amazing with new. What a recipe for tragedy! The amazing is already there-- Jesus is already there-- but in the things you already know so well. Open your eyes! (and then open mine).
Saturday, July 06, 2024
Still the best
I still love this video, which stars Bucky Badger and Goldy Gopher. Surprisingly, Willie Wildcat and the Purdue Boilerhead-guy were no-shows.
Friday, July 05, 2024
Haiku Friday: America!
I hope everyone had a great 4th of July! I think it's the right time for a fabulously broad haiku topic: America. Here, I will go first:
We sit together
On blankets in the dusk light
Looking the same way.
Now it is your turn! Just use the 5/7/5 syllable pattern, and have some fun.
Thursday, July 04, 2024
Political Mayhem Thursday: The Biden Campaign Somehow Makes it Worse
Happy 4th of July! Now, let's talk about America.
I got the Facebook ad above yesterday and was aghast. Is he really trying to raise money because of the "job" he did debating Donald Trump? It's like "I did my part, you do yours!" If I performed as a donor the way he performed as a candidate I would hack into their computer and take money out.
The Biden campaign has done everything it can to alienate his supporters since the debate, and it is working. Referring to those concerned about the debate as "bedwetters" was just the start. They seem intent on gaslighting us into thinking the problem with the debate was us, somehow-- as reflected in the ad above.
Biden is talking a lot about "When I get knocked down I get back up! Then I fall down again and break my hip!" Well, actually, I added the second sentence, but you get the meaning.
Everyone knew what he had to do to recover from the debate debacle: Immediately appear in unscripted, no-teleprompter settings to show that not every night is a "bad night." They didn't do it, and are now moving towards that reluctantly and sparingly. The fact they did not embrace this obvious approach seems to confirm that Biden's mental acuity has declined precipitously, and that those around him are hiding it and lying about it.
If a diminished Biden were to be the President in 2027 (which is what he is running for), it would require a top-notch group of people around him. It does not appear that those around him right now are top-notch, or even middle-notch.
And that's truly scary.
Wednesday, July 03, 2024
The Song of the Dryer
When it finishes its work with a load of laundry, the dryer at my house plays a happy tune, which is much better than the "BZZZZZZT" of previous machines. The song is kind of catchy, and only recently did I realize that my dryer is playing "Marching to Zion," a hymn first published in 1707 by Isaac Watts, with the modern melody added later. Here is my favorite version, which is fuller and more complex than the one performed by the dryer:
Tuesday, July 02, 2024
Just remembering....
I found this piece (below) that I wrote here on February 23 of 2023-- a year and four months ago:
Joe Biden did a pretty good job with the State of the Union speech-- he made a good case for the reasonableness of recent legislation and the need for more. I was impressed.
It probably will bolster his case to run for re-election in 2024, which he seems inclined to do already. And we already know that Donald Trump is in, and that in a fractured primary his command over a broad swath of the Republican base gives him a huge advantage.
But... does anyone else find the idea of a Biden-Trump rematch kind of depressing? The debates will be two elderly guys yelling at each other about stuff, and their own grievances will come to the fore.
Some pundits seem to think there just isn't anyone else in the Democratic stable, and that is just nonsense. Just in the Senate, there are several strong Dems who would be great candidates.
But, we just may end up with those guys in the picture, all over again.
Monday, July 01, 2024
Acts of Kindness
Well, there wasn't much action on the haiku topic of "Acts of Kindness," which sort of worries me.
But we did have this intriguing and wonderful poem from Christine:
Teaching kids to swim
Afghan refugees, eager
to love the water.
Afghan refugees, eager
to love the water.
And this great suggestion from Desiree!:
Thoughtful, handwritten
notes for teachers. They make our
jobs suck a bit less.
notes for teachers. They make our
jobs suck a bit less.
