This from the March Madness news: “Michigan State are struggling to hit shots from range, which is hindering the Spartans’ offense.” — CNN – Are? As in, “Are you kidding me?” Does this person get paid to write CNN headlines? You could say “Michigan State players are . . .
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It is Sunday as I write this, which means it is “Film Noir” night on one of the TV channels we get. Usually, this means about a 1952 movie, like our last one, with Robert Ryan and Barbara Stanwyck. Or Dana Andrews. Or Marilyn Monroe. Usually, but not always, involves a murder.
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On March 15, the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM) terminated RFE’s (Radio Free Europe) federal funding grant, along with that of its sister organization, Radio Free Asia, and placed the vast majority of Voice of America staff on administrative leave—effectively gutting the organization and silencing its work. The justification? Cost-cutting.
But this isn’t just a budget cut. In the words of RFE President Stephen Capus, “It would be a massive gift to America’s enemies, the dictators” who have spent decades trying—and failing—to silence RFE. – and who told Trump this would be a good idea, Putin?
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Things (mostly) not taught in schools anymore:
Shorthand
Latin — I took four years of it, starting in 8th grade. I recall that I did poorly on a “mechanical ability” test, so my counselor put me in pre-college studies!
Shop – I was taken out to take Latin and Algebra, which is, of course, why I am not so handy with tools and lumber.
Home Ec and learning the Food Wheel
Cursive, although it is making a bit of a comeback and 20 states now teach it.
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A man pardoned by President Donald Trump for his role in the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol attack announced Wednesday that he plans to run for a U.S. Senate seat.
“Today I am blessed by God to officially announce my candidacy for US Senate in the great State of Florida!!” Edward “Jake” Lang posted on X. Lang was caught on video using a bat to strike police as he attempted to enter the U.S. Capitol. – maybe God also told him to beat up cops?
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With over two dozen regularly erupting volcanoes, Iceland is one of the most volcanically active spots on Earth. Provided by FactRetriever.com
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From CNN on 3/24: Epic misfire. Top national security officials sent war plans to journalist by mistake. Classified info on messaging app. Apparently by Hegseth.
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3/25: Today is the 114th anniversary of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire in New York that killed 146 people, mostly women seamstresses who were trapped in the building with no way out (doors locked from the outside). Gee, why did the Ladies Garment Workers Union emerge from this? Hint: Most labor unions were started to improve workplace safety. I have belonged to a union since June of 1968, and although inactive for about 40 years, I am still a member! I get a small pension from it.
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I consider those self-checkout machines at the grocery to be anti-worker, and I don’t use them.
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The Florida state legislature on Tuesday is set to debate a bill that would loosen child labor laws, allowing children as young as 14 years old to work overnight shifts. Yes, in 2025! If the new law is passed, teenagers would be able to work overnight jobs on school days. They are currently prevented from working earlier than 6:30 am or later than 11 pm per state law. This is in response to a growing labor shortage due to anti-immigrant efforts in the state. Why does this feel like we/they are going backwards in time? DeSantis, of course, supports this. I wonder if he has teenagers who would work like that?
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Los Angeles International Airport emits approximately 19,000 tons of carbon dioxide—a month. The roughly 33,000 planes that fly in and out of the airport each month release about 800,000 tons of carbon dioxide (I guess this means over their whole flights). Provided by FactRetriever.com – Another reason we need more trains!
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In case you were wondering: The average salary in the U.S. is $66,621 according to the SSA’s national wage index.
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Can we outlaw $$#@!!**!! Styrofoam? We just got a package full of it. I hate it. Isn’t there something better and environmentally good? Could we grow reusable sponges? Recyclable cardboard?
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In sports: St. Francis (college) will move all sports down to Division III next year. Its statement cited “changes” in the national landscape. The NIL demands and forthcoming revenue-share model could prompt more schools to make the same decision. – College sports, especially football and basketball, becoming more like the pro$ all the time. Money talks.
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Stupid Dad joke from “history:” A Roman walks into a bar. He holds up two fingers and says, “Five beers, please!”
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I looked for some reheating help online and saw this: “This may mean cooking one or two pieces at a time, but trust us, being the patience pays off.” Really, I have to BE THE PATIENCE, not just have patience? What mystic wrote those directions?
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Huffpost, March 25th: The Trump administration is stripping funding for legal representation from tens of thousands of children who are unaccompanied migrants in the United States, a move immigration lawyers warn violates their legal rights and will leave minors vulnerable to abuse. The Trump administration has decided to cancel $200 million in annual funding for legal representation for unaccompanied minors, ABC News first reported. Yeah, pick on poor kids again, especially if they don’t speak English.
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Maybe don’t go snorkeling here: Maritime accidents have killed hundreds of people in Indonesia in recent years. Boats are often overcrowded, and safety regulations are poorly enforced.
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03/26: Three of my four published books are now available as audio-books on Amazon – The Bucko Mate, One Fine Summer, and Murder on the Rocks. The memoir is not, because it is only a paperback and they create the audio-books, with AI, from the eBook version. Murder on the Rocks is also an audio-book on Apple, and I have listened to that one.
It is good, but the program did not understand a couple of nautical terms and pronounced them differently than I would.
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Not as foggy here today as it was yesterday. Tomorrow, Thursday, is a big day here. We are getting our new fireplace delivered and hopefully installed. It is also Opening Day in baseball, and we think we will get the Dbacks on our TV package!
All take care,
Kevin
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