Bag of Randomness for Friday, July 15, 2016

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  • Another week, another tragedy. Actually, it’s more than just weekly.
  • I was watching the ‘CBS Evening News’ when the French tragedy in Nice was developing. I have to hand it to Scott Pelly for stating several times that “the information is not as reliable as we’d like‏.” Too often, it seems the news, especially CNN, likes to roll with whatever they get and throw it out there.
  • I’ve gotten to the point that I don’t like wearing sandals when I got out in public. I tend to make sure I wear good shoes that give me the ability to quickly move around if something crazy should happen.
  • This may be a first for product placement, but DC Comics threw in a Snickers in the middle of a Batman and Superman fight against Doomsday.
  • It wasn’t until earlier this week that I knew what to call that thing when people stick out their tongue and blow to make a sound of flatulence causing saliva to spray. I was informed it’s called a “raspberry”. It never occurred to me it had a name. I also thought a “raspberry” was when you press your lips on a kids belly and blow, tickling them and making the sound of flatulence.
  • The more I look at this picture of the Bushs and Obamas, the more I smile and laugh.
  • Well, I was totally wrong about Trump picking Newt for his VP. Overall, I think he made a real solid choice in Indiana Gov. Mike Pence. I’m not saying I endorse the ticket, but with Pence’s experience in Congress, as a governor, a  calm demeanor, and a Tea Party like candidate before it blew up, it’s good politics. It was also good politics, and simply the right thing to do, for Trump to cancel the announcement with the tragedy in Nice.
  • I’m curious to know if Pence is required to wear the red “Make America Great Again” hat or if that was a potential sticking point.
  • A new Pew Research Center survey conducted June 7-July 5 finds that about six-in-ten Americans (59%) feel exhausted by the amount of election coverage, while 39% say they like getting a lot of coverage about the election.
  • How the Windy City became the doughnut capital of the country
  • The folks at Comedy Central must be depressed – The Daily Show Fails to Net Emmy Nomination For First Time in 15 Years‏
  • Homeless teen bikes 6 hours to get to college, sleeps in tent
    • Officers found the teen sleeping in a tent over the weekend outside a local college. Instead of giving him a ticket for trespassing, the officers listened to his story – and that’s where this amazing story begins.
  • When It Comes To Sports, Photographers Train Almost As Hard As The Athletes
  • On the local news, I saw that one of the slain officers will be buried in Detroit. The news stated Southwest Airlines was going to add an extra flight from Dallas Love Field to Detroit, and any police officer that wanted to attend could fly for free. They also allowed cops in other cities to fly to Dallas for free to attend any local funeral. Gosh, I love that company.
  • After the Orlando shooting, JetBlue and Southwest Airlines both offered free flights to Orlando for families of victims.
  • Bereavement fares have disappeared on most U.S. airlines
    • Among the largest U.S. airlines, only Delta Air Lines and Alaska Airlines still offer so-called bereavement fares. Those tickets, however, come with a big caveat.”They are a very small discount off the walk-up fare” — a costly unrestricted ticket, said George Hobica, founder of the airfarewatchdog.com site. “Even if you can find one, they are not any cheaper.”
    • A spokesman said Virgin America offers 40 percent off, but the policy is not listed on the website of the smaller carrier, which flies to only 21 U.S. airports.
    • American Airlines and United Airlines ended bereavement fares in 2014. Southwest Airlines, JetBlue Airways, Spirit Airlines and Allegiant Air don’t offer them.
  • I miss those old cartoony looking maps you’d see of cities and amusement parks, here’s one of Dallas from 1985.
    • The map shows two Cityplace towers so I’m guessing it’s a map of what was projected to be.
    • Before Hurricane Harbor, there was Wet ‘n Wild, before that there was White Water.
    • The map was from the Old San Francisco Steakhouse, which I hear was quite a thing back in the day, something about a trapeze performer while you ate.

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Bag of Randomness for Thursday, July 14, 2016

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  • Here’s the story behind that picture. In short, a Catholic woman and her protestant husband couldn’t be buried next to each other.
  • Fox News anchor Bret Baier was a guest on Colbert the other night and was wearing an American flag lapel pin. My first thought, “What office are you running for?” He also stated that Fox News reporters in Cleveland for the Republican National Convention have all been issued gas masks in case things get out of control.
  • Yesterday I was looking at a Dallas Morning News article on my mobile device and was taken to a beta version of their website. I sure hope they don’t keep that logo, the “D” resembles the old Arizona Diamondbacks logo.
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  • I appreciate those of you who left a comment regarding President Obama’s speech in Dallas, and I’m in agreement he delved into political territory at a memorial service. Not to be an Obama apologist (though many of you see me only as such), but even though he was at a memorial service, I think he felt a responsibility to address the issues which lead to the protest, which lead to the shooting. Many will see that as opportunistic, and others will see it as an act of courage or service. That’s one thing about being president, can’t make everybody happy, you’re damned if you do and you are damned if you don’t. There’s no way he can get any meaningful legislation passed with his time left in office, so I’m leaning on the side that he didn’t do it for political gain.
  • The Atlantic Weighs In on George W. Bush Dancing to ‘The Battle Hymn of the Republic’
    • I’ll save you guys a click and post their response here. Ready? You may want to be seated for this . . . .
      • Eh, let the guy be.
  • Hip-hop icon Chuck D on why Public Enemy won’t play in Dallas Saturday
    • “It was the perfect storm,” the man born Carlton Douglas Ridenhour said Wednesday. “The worst thing that ever could happen happened after the worst thing that ever could happen happened after the worst thing that ever could happen happened.“
    • Ridenhour said the decision was made — by the promoter  — to stay away from Dallas simply to give the city and the police department time to catch their breath. 
    • “There’s nothing can be said here. We have to let it rest for a while. It’s beyond music and a concert. To go in there Saturday? It would be inappropriate.”
  • Yoko Ono gives Dallas a gift: ‘Imagine Peace Forever’
  • PatGraph is a tool designed to help patent lawyers, entrepreneurs, and other IP enthusiasts better find patents in the topic they’re interested in.
  • On her Facebook page, WifeGeeding posted a picture of me wearing her jean shorts.
  • I was surprised to see Morgan Fairchild in a new commercial. But then again, I was also surprised to see Dominique Wilkins in a new commercial.
  • I haven’t read nor watched “The Man in the High Castle” but it gave me an idea for a story. Instead of the U.S. dropping the bomb, the Soviet Union invades mainland Japan along with the other allies and Japan becomes split just like Berlin.
  • I think I’m a much different person than what this blog makes me out to be. If you really got a chance to know me, I’d surely disappoint you.
  • NBC will have a ‘Shark Tank’ like show but with Tyra Banks.
  • Tempting GIF of the day – A bug coming out of a person’s ear
  • Half of all US food produce is thrown away, new research suggests
  • All the Presidents’ Watches – From pocket watches to sporty digital watches to special edition Jaeger-LeCoultre timepieces, U.S. presidents have always had time on their side.
    • George Washington, Thomas Jefferson (favored fine French timepieces), and Abraham Lincoln (a big customer of Tiffany and a lover of engraving) all carried pocket watches, of course, as that was the fashion.
    • George W. Bush wore a Timex Easy Reader with both gold and silver crowns, and Bill Clinton wore an early model of the Timex Ironman to his inaugural ball. Barack Obama wore a relatively inexpensive (under $2,000) TAG Heuer 1500 Two-Tone Diver watch while campaigning in 2008, and afterward his Secret Service detail gave him a $200 stainless steel Jorg Gray 6500 Chronograph, which he wore during the inaugural proceedings.
    • Gerald Ford, Franklin Roosevelt, Harry Truman, Dwight Eisenhower, and John Kennedy were all fans of the Swiss Hamilton Watch Company
  • “Too often we judge other groups by their worst examples while judging ourselves by our best intentions.” – Former President George W. Bush
  • FiveThirtyEight – The Ultimate Workout Playlist
    • I declare any workout playlist without one song from the Rocky IV soundtrack is not worthy of using the “Ultimate” moniker.
    • It just doesn’t get any better working out and pretending you are Rocky with this music blasting. I don’t get to run in the snow often, but when I do, I always pretend I’m going to lose a couple KGB agents.

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