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• Spoiler Free – ‘Game of Thrones’ – I’m n0t sure I’ve ever watched a television show in which I felt more suspense and tension than last night’s episode. Heck, I think I had five strokes sixteen heart attacks, one aneurysm, and countlessly loss bowel control towards the end. It was like watching an NFL playoff game between two teams you like and wanting both to somehow win.
• We watch ‘Game of Thrones’ using our Amazon Fire device using our HBOGo account. The quality and sound from the Fire device is better than our DirecTV satellite device and it will automatically show you a behind the scenes segment of the just watched episode.
• Tomorrow I’m going to get a second opinion on my back with the chief of neurosurgery at Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas. When I made my appointment and told the office I was getting a second opinion, I asked if they needed my orthopedic’s information to get his notes or whatever else they may need. They said they would only need a CD of my MRI and like to avoid any prior diagnosis information so the doctor can make an unbiased diagnosis.
• I have a neighbor who works for LaDainian Tomlinson as the head for one of his foundations. He took his wife and four kids to Canton, OH for all the Hall of Fame events. On the way to Canton, Michael Irvin was on their plane. On the way home, Emmitt Smith and the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders were on their plane. His teenage son must have been on cloud nine. It was fun following him and his wife on social media seeing all the people they rubbed elbows with at parties and events. The younger me would have been jealous, but the older me is just really happy for him and his family.
• Jerry Jones’ speech was about what I expected and I was happy to hear all the verbal bouquets he threw towards Jimmy Johnson. The only thing that did surprise me was the custom Hall of Fame sneakers Nike founder Phil Knight sent him to wear. He threw a lot of accolades towards his wife and children, but what he said about Jerry Jr. was noticeably short. It’s funny how no one thought anyone could out ego or over do things than the fictional Dallasite J.R. Ewing, but Jerry totally has the edge on him. At least Jerry is a better family man, maybe not a man of morals, but at least he’s a family man.
• I’m surprised this part of Kurt Warner’s speech hasn’t gotten more traction, it has challenged me to be a better father. And while my father may have had me late in late and didn’t do a lot of atheltic type activities with me, he certainly always was there and gave me his time in many other ways.
  • “As a father of seven I’ve come to understand the selflessness and patience it takes to parent a child who is always asking for something. This made me respect my dad more because I was one of those children. I rarely asked for the newest toys or the latest video games or the coolest shoes. My greatest ask was always for my dad’s time. Dad, will you play catch with me in the backyard? Dad, can you take us to the park so we can play one-on-one-on-one? Dad, will you drive us to the gym and spend your whole afternoon rebounding for me? I’ve come to appreciate that the greatest gift any parent could give their child is saying yes to spending with them. Dad, I know there were plenty of times you would have chosen to do something different, something you enjoyed more, but thank you for all the times you said ‘yes’ because your ‘yes’ expanded my spark into a flame and your yeses kept me going when everyone else was saying ‘no’. I love you.”
• WifeGeeding’s father was once a high school coach and one of his former students is now his doctor. His name is Dr. Hand. Dr. Hand is married to a Dr. Hand. It’s a bit funny referring to the husband and wife as “the Hands” and all the puns that could ensue. Dr. Hand, by the way, still refers to WifeGeeding’s father as “Coach”.
• Anyone remember that old show ‘The Banana Splits’? Remember the intro? Six Flags over Texas was a part of it.
• You can confuse self-driving cars by altering street signs
• You know my love of presidential history and trivia, so a picture like this amazes me.
  
• This tweet got my attention and I examined the results on the left seeing Lloyd Bentsen winning the U.S. Senate race, Jim Wright winning U.S. Re. Dist 12, Jim Mattox winning the Attorney General race,  Bob Bullock winning the Comptroller race, and Ann Richards winning the State Treasurer race. Oh, and some guy named “Woody Glasscock” (giggle) loss the race to be the Commissioner of General Land.

Every inch of that front page from 1982 is worth reading https://t.co/3R2bY1b50R

— Aman Batheja (@amanbatheja) August 6, 2017

• Mel Blanc and Frank Oz – there’s a lot of childhood greatness in that picture. And in case you never heard of the time Mel Blanc was in a car accident and was in a coma for two weeks only to respond to the doctor as Bugs Bunny, here you go.
• Maybe it was the stadium lighting or it was the first game of the season and I’m not used to seeing them, but the Cowboys’ blue numbers looked like they were a bit of a darker blue. And all the blue stripes (middle of helmet, pants, sleeves) slightly wider. However, the black border on the shoulder stripes looks a bit thinner.
• I bet a lot of local youths think the phrase “keeping up with the Joneses” originated with Jerry Jones and family.
• For those of you who live in the area who want to try something a bit different for $28 – Dallas Axe Throwing (there’s even league play)
  • You and your best mates will spend 2-2.5 hours becoming intimate with a 1.5lb piece of whirling wood and metal as you learn, practice and then finally square off toe to toe in a group tournament that will result in the crowning of an Axe Throwing Champion. Our Axe Throwing sessions are run by trained Axeperts who will show you how to safely handle an axe and chuck it with accuracy while giving you tips on how to capture that illustrious Bullseye!
• Every month for the summer I have a goal to keep the electricity bill under $300. I’ve been doing this for the last seven years or so, and sometimes it’s tough. I think electricity rates have fallen or I’ve changed my habits because it’s been fairly easy to accomplish this summer. And with the first week of August having lower than expected temperatures, I might be in the clear. In case you are wondering, GeedingManor is two stories and somewhere between 225 and 14,000 square feet and is located inside an old missile silo under Lewisville Lake.
• LastPass doubles premium tier prices to $24 a year, and some users aren’t thrilled
• For the most part, we are a forgiving society – Report: Disgraced former Baylor coach Dave Bliss hired by Las Vegas high school
• It’s a bold strategy: ESPNU to be rebranded ‘ESPN8: The Ocho’ on August 8
  • On that day, ESPN8 will feature an array of unconventional sports programming, such as disc golf, ultimate trampoline dodgeball, championship of bags (cornhole/beanbag toss), and an esports “Street Fighter” championship. The lineup plays off the fictitious network’s tagline in the movie: “Bringing you the Finest in Seldom Seen Sports.”
• It appears Tesla cars are now being used to help U2 spy planes take off.
• For those of you in the ministry, a podcast episode you might enjoy.
  • Recently a member of my congregation asked if she could interview me about pastoral ministry, calling, and Church History. I decided to record it and include it in my podcast feed.
• He has told you, O man, what is good;
  And what does the Lord require of you
  But to do justice, to love kindness,
  And to walk humbly with your God?

• Scaramucci to hold online event Friday

  • Following his departure from the White House after less than 11 days as communications director, Scaramucci will be hosting an online event on Friday where he will address the American people directly. Scaramucci said this daytime event — which will be broadcast on various live platforms with help from former Fox News co-president Bill Shine — will give him the opportunity to reach and communicate with the President’s base.

• A few tidbits from my book. Presidents Nixon and Ford were born in 1913, the same year the modern zipper was invented. Nixon introduced Ford as his replacement for Spiro Agnew in much the same way President Trump announced his Supreme Court pick.
• Nixon thought upgrading the White House’s uniform guards uniforms was a good idea, but it didn’t last long. Those uniforms ended up being worn by the Southern Utah State marching band.
  
• Slowly but surely, Hope Hicks is being brought into the spotlight whether she welcomes it or not – Golf.com – The story behind our Trump golf story (and a certain explosive quote)

  • MICHAEL BAMBERGER: I got a call the other day…it was kind of a hectic day and I got an email on my phone that said, “‘Call me. It’s urgent.’ Blah, blah, blah.” I read it quickly and it said [from] Hicks. Well, I figured it was [NBC broadcaster] Dan Hicks. I figured he must have been mentioned in the story. There must have been some sort of problem, so I called back and got a young woman’s voice. I said, “Oh, hi. It’s Michael Bamberger. Is your dad around?” I was confused, because I thought I was calling Dan Hicks. Ms. Hicks said, “No, you haven’t called Dan Hicks. You’ve called Hope Hicks,” who is one of President Trump’s longtime advisors and spokespeople. Anyway, she was calling to complain about two words in the story that are getting a lot of attention where Donald Trump is quoted as saying “The White House is a real dump.” Ms. Hicks told me that that was a “lie and that Sports Illustrated is not in the business of publishing lies.”

  • ALAN SHIPNUCK: Yeah, I had a conversation with Ms. Hicks as well, which was quite enlightening — the confrontational and rude tone of the phone call. They definitely don’t waste any time trying to be charming or friendly, these people in the White House communications department. She tried the same line on me, “That’s a lie and needs to be retracted.” I explained to her: It’s not a lie. The president said this in front of eight or nine members and staffers at [Trump] Bedminster. It was his first visit to the club after he had been residing in the White House. It was a moment of candor.
  • And this should sum up the over-reaction of the “White House is a dump” quote.
    • Trump has a sense of humor; he’s got a sort of wise-guy, New York sense of humor. He doesn’t really think the White House is a dump. The White house is not a dump. He’s comparing it to the gilded greatness of Bedminster, which is his idea of beauty. He’s sort of trying to be funny, but whether he’s trying to be funny or not, he’s the President of the United States and people have such passionate feelings about the White House and the presidency.
• The Wall Street Journal – Millennials Unearth an Amazing Hack to Get Free TV: the Antenna – Cord-cutters accustomed to watching shows online are often shocked that $20 ‘rabbit ears’ pluck signals from the air; is this legal?
• Little Girl’s Tearful Meeting With Gal Gadot Shows Why ‘Wonder Woman’ Matters

  • In the footage, Gadot reaches across the table and takes the girl’s hand. “There’s no reason to cry, all right,” Gadot said. “Here we are together.”  One of Gadot’s “Justice League” co-stars joined in. “You’re a warrior,” said Ezra Miller, who plays the Flash in an upcoming film. “Your ability to cry is what makes you such a warrior. Come join the Justice League whenever you get ready.”