Bag of Randomn
Monday, July 6, 2026

I saw this and thought it was worth sharing, even if it’s a bit hokey.

Hate To-Do lists? Tilt your perspective a bit and rename it a Get-To-Do list. So many times in life, we feel like we “have to” do something. But in reality, we don’t have to; we get to.

It might not seem like it makes a big difference to see
life as something you have to do versus get to do, but there is. A huge, magnificent difference.

This was a fun Twitter thread to read through. And his stats are interesting.

I’m surprised that, as overweight as President Trump is, he hasn’t been taking any GLP-1 type of medication.

Also, I need to check if any of the prediction markets have odds on whether he wears a military uniform before the end of his term. I’m not talking about a flight suit like George W. Bush wore; I’m talking about some sort of decorative military outfit.

The Atlantic republishes JD Vance’s Trump op-ed from 2016

The Atlantic on Saturday republished Vice President Vance’s essay, originally published exactly 10 years ago on July 4, reviving some of the more biting comments Vance made about President Trump prior to becoming his second vice president.

In an editor’s note, the magazine said it was republishing the story “on the occasion of its tenth anniversary, so that our readers can judge for themselves how well his assessment of the man he now serves as vice president has stood the test of time.”

The original essay was written during Trump’s first presidential campaign while Vance worked at Peter Thiel’s venture capital firm, Mithril Capital Management.

Klyde Warren Park’s next phase: An ice rink and indoor pavilion

Klyde Warren Park is getting a two-story pavilion, a terrace overlooking the Dallas skyline and a lawn that will double as an outdoor ice skating rink in the winter.

Random factoids

  • John Adams is being played by William Daniels, known by many as Mr. Feeny on Boy Meets World, the voice of KITT on Knight Rider, and, for us older folks, a regular on St. Elsewhere.
  • Despite the setting being Philadelphia, this was shot on the backlot of a Burbank studio in California. The fountain in the scene is the one in the Friends intro, even though many have mistaken it for the Cherry Hill Fountain. Actually, the fountain has been in a plethora of things you are familiar with. Here’s a secondary reference if you’re interested.

And to think I thought the Philadelphia Museum of Art’s staircase’s only tie to cinematic history was the Rocky films. But it was used to test out the first steady-cam two years before the release of the film.

Hegseth recently unceremoniously booted the Army’s commander of its forces in Europe and Africa — who was famously the last American soldier to leave Afghanistan in 2021. That decision even divided his party (GOP lawmakers divided over Hegseth’s ouster of top Army commander).

You can tell he was loved and respected by those he commanded as well as by their families.

The father of five had one heck of a military career.

Born on August 13, 1969, in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, Donahue graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1992 and was commissioned as an Infantry officer. He holds a master’s degree in national security and strategic studies from the U.S. Naval War College and completed an Army War College Fellowship at Harvard University.
Donahue deployed over 20 times, participating in operations in Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, and Libya. His command history includes: 
    • Delta Force: Served in and commanded squadrons for the elite 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment-Delta. 
    • 82nd Airborne Division: Commanded the division during the final stages of the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021, where his iconic night-vision departure made headlines worldwide. 
    • XVIII Airborne Corps: Commanded the corps at Fort Bragg, North Carolina (2022–2024), overseeing early military coordination following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. 
    • U.S. Army Europe and Africa: Confirmed as a four-star general, he took command of U.S. Army Europe and Africa in December 2024 

Awards & Recognition
Donahue’s awards include two Bronze Stars with “V” device for valor, among numerous other military decorations.

I’ve enthusiastically been enjoying HBO’s Life, Larry, and the Pursuit of Unhappiness. The last skit in the latest episode features the late, un-bearded Rob Reiner in his final screen appearance as George Washington. Here’s part of the skit, and here’s a language warning.

 

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Monday, July 6, 2026

Thanks to the World Cup
There's a John Denver reemergence

And I, for one, am grateful. Most of the credit should go to Amy Hopfinger (read the article).

Why is everyone singing John Denver’s ‘Country Roads’ at the World Cup?

Denver did not write the song, and neither he nor the writers had ever been to West Virginia when it was created. The lyrics were inspired by a scenic drive along Clopper Road in Montgomery County, Maryland. “West Virginia” fit the four-syllable rhythm of the chorus much better.

A few interesting tidbits about John Denver, who, contrary to popular belief, is not full of crap.

  • Born in Roswell, New Mexico.
  • Birth name: Henry John Deutschendorf Jr.
  • Country Roads is played after every West Virginia football home victory. Has Denver, who died in 1997, ever played the song at Mountaineer Field? You bet he did, when it opened on September 6, 1980.
  • Huge Local Connection: His father was an Air Force pilot and was stationed at Carswell Air Force Base in Fort Worth, Texas. Denver is a graduate of the geographically confusing Arlington Heights High School in Fort Worth.
    • Aviation enthusiasts have recalled seeing John Denver flying his experimental, home-built aircraft out over Mineral Wells, Texas, years prior to his tragic fatal crash in 1997. But I can’t find any substantial source to back this claim.
  • Denver attended Texas Tech University.
  • His final concert was held in Corpus Christi, Texas, at the Selena Auditorium on October 5, 1997.
  • We once sent him and Kermit the Frog to Moscow.
  • Leaving on a Jet Plane is one of his most popular songs, and he left us by dying in a plane crash. Here’s a voice coach listening to the version he did with Mama Cass.

    But I’m also a sucker for these videos of younger generations listening to legendary or iconic songs for the first time, and seeing their reactions and hearing their thoughts. This girl just can’t conceive what life must have been like without being in constant contact with a friend or loved one, and she gets the significance of the song. Good for her. That part starts at the 3:18 mark.
  • Dee Snyder of Twisted Sister regrets not having met John Denver and shaken his hand. The video should be queued to that section.

 

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There's a John Denver reemergence

Bag of Randomness
Monday, June 29, 2026

One thing I didn’t like about being a YouTubeTV subscriber is that I couldn’t find a plan that worked for me which included the History channel. I’ve forgotten how much I’ve missed it, being a history buff and all.

One of the shows I’ve enjoyed watching is World War II with Tom Hanks. One reason some folks might like it over other WWII documentaries is the commentary from the people who provide it. For instance, many history buffs love Dan Carlin‘s Hardcore History podcast. He’s featured quite a bit. You also see Max Brooks (son of Mel, and a former senior fellow at the Modern War Institute at West Point) from time to time. I became familiar with him after reading his surprisingly informative and entertaining Zombie Survival Guide.

I was surprised to see a few Texas connections. For instance, Dr. Geoffrey Wawro of the University of North Texas is prominent, as is Dr. Jadwiga Biskupska of Sam Houston State University.

Of course, they have other notable and reputable professionals many of history buffs will be familiar with, such as Jon Meacham, General Wesley Clark, and Dan Snow.

It’s not every day you can get Texas A&M and the University of Texas to agree on something significant, but Senator Ted Cruz will often do that to people. I humbly admit I’m not very familiar with this bill, but offhand, I think I support it. As for this joint statement from the Aggies and Longhorns, I just wish they would have included something like, “And please do not attend any of our games, especially playoff and championship games, as it’s a known fact you bring nothing but bad luck when attending sporting events of Texas teams.

Texas A&M, Texas release joint statement to Ted Cruz opposing Protect College Sports Act

Sen. Maria Cantwell and Cruz co-authored the bill last month, which would introduce a one-time transfer rule and five-year eligibility clock for athletes. Coaches would be prevented from leaving midseason and it would ban professional players from playing college sports, including international professional athletes.

As of now, the five-for-five rule has been approved by the NCAA and will go fully into effect for the 2027-28 season. For the upcoming academic year, current athletes could apply the five-for-five or keep the old redshirt rules; whatever applies better for the athlete.

US Army gives chaplains 90 days to remove rank insignia

Plano Congressman Rep. Keith Self introduces resolution to repeal 17th Amendment

There’s no telling how much taxpayers are really paying for.

‘Rush Project at Request of POTUS’ – Money once used for crucial national-park repairs is now financing Trump’s redecorating projects.

And then there’s this:

Our Lt. Governor is just a huge embarrassment.

The New York Times is expanding in Texas. 

It’s a big state, an economic powerhouse, a cultural force; the stories out of Texas have been of great interest to the national New York Times audience. So the idea of creating a Texas hub is to use the state as a way to explain the phenomena to come or that are already happening across the country through different societal lenses, whether that’s business, culture, religion or, of course, politics.

Other questions they answer that might be of interest to you:

  • Texas looms large in American culture and politics. But there are distinct communities with particular approaches to civic life. How are we approaching those?
  • How do you navigate perceptions that The Times doesn’t really understand Texas?
  • What are some criticisms you hear about our Texas coverage, and how are you working to address them?
  • Why is it important to have reporters living in the places they cover?

 

 

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Monday, June 29, 2026

Bag of Randomness
Friday, June 26, 2026

BoyGeeding uses a particular shampoo and conditioner. I saw a version from the same brand on sale that combines shampoo and conditioner in one bottle. When I asked BoyGeeding about getting the combo bottle, he told me he read that shampoos and conditioners that come combined in one bottle cause baldness, so he was out. Well, I guess I now know how I became bald.

I think those car magnets that ask you to be patient because the driver is new and just learning are a good thing. But I detest any parent who doesn’t remove those magnets when their child isn’t driving. I’ll extend grace and patience to a 15-year-old behind the wheel, but I’m not going to do it to an adult under false pretenses. It ain’t that hard to remove that magnet before you get behind the wheel. I did it every time. If you’re a bad driver, own it, but don’t hide behind a magnet. And, don’t tell me you forgot, it just shows you are lazy and inconsiderate. And, if you have a sign stating that a baby is on board, well, there better be a damn baby on board.

It’s interesting to see our World Cup visitors take in our culture. But I also hope they get to experience a real Texas thunderstorm and a few days of 100-degree temperatures. It’s been a rather mild June in terms of heat, and while we’ve had a good amount of rain, I don’t think any major thunderstorms have hit the area.

Here’s (YouTube) an hour-long audio-only recording of Robin Williams interviewing George Lucas.

I saw a photo of George Lucas recently and thought he looked elderly and a bit feeble, though I have a feeling it’s just a lot of weight loss from a GLP-1-type medication. But then again, he is 82.

San Antonio Express-News:

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick is doubling down on his controversial comments that James Talarico, a seminarian running as a Democrat for U.S. Senate, is going to hell.

Fewer people are naming their baby Donald than at any point in US history, report says –The popularity of the name Donald has been falling for nearly a century, but has hit a new low during Trump’s second term

Social Security Administration data shows 2025 was the lowest point in recorded history for the name, with Donald only ranking 690th among the most popular names in the U.S, NOTUS reported Tuesday.

The 690th most popular American girl’s name in 2025 was Khaleesi, the Dothraki word for ‘queen’ in HBO’s Game of Thrones. President Trump was born in 1946, 12 years after his name peaked in popularity and it remained in the top 100 baby names through the 1990s.

When I first heard about this Universal resort theme park in Frisco, specifically designed and developed for families with young children, I thought it was an interesting concept aimed at an untapped market. However, I questioned the location. Not that it was in Frisco, but that it was in Texas, where the summer heat is scorching. One of my initial thoughts was that it would be built with ample shade and cooling stations. I mean, that would be obvious, but it looks like I’m wrong, and it’s already a major complaint, and they don’t even officially open until July 1.

Posting this only because I know it will drive Aggie fans irate.

Hints of the movie Minority Report.

British Police Built a Sprawling Crime-Prediction Machine. Some Results Couldn’t Be Trusted – As UK police embrace the AI revolution, a WIRED investigation reveals the messy inside story of one region’s experiment with predictive analytics.

Fulfilling the purpose for which it was built almost 2000 years ago, football fans packed the Roman Theatre of Amman to watch the Jordan v Algeria World Cup match.

The administration will not tolerate this:

But offer full presidential pardons for this:

ICE agents track down Syracuse woman, demand she remove Instagram post about ICE

  • Two U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents issued a Syracuse woman working at a polling station on Tuesday a warning to remove a social media account they said threatens federal agents.
    • “This notice officially informs you that it is unlawful to threaten to assault, kidnap, and/or murder a federal official or that federal official’s immediate family member with the intent to impede, intimidate, and/or interfere with the federal official’s duties or retaliate against a federal official due to the performance of their duties,” the document said.
  • Gonyea said she does not consider it doxxing to quote a news story and call for an indictment. “I didn’t dox his personal information, such as address, phone number,” she said.

Ryanair drops policy of charging adults to sit with their children on flights – Airline says it will ‘reluctantly’ permit families to opt for free random seating after coming under pressure from UK regulator

Deputies in Kentucky took two people into custody after finding drugs in a bag labeled “definitely not a bag full of drugs.”

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Friday, June 26, 2026