CURRENT EVENTS (Well Not Always So Current)

Alimony

By Weird Al Yankovic

Mony Mony

By Tommy James & The Shondells

BOOK OF THE WEEK

I’ve read about half this book so far and I have learned so many things about the civil war in a very readable and entertaining way. Plus, the book has plenty of pictures (my kind of book).

From my readers perspective, other than an introduction and using his name in the title, that seems to be the extent of Bill O’Reilly’s involvement in the writing of this book.

Bill O’Reilly’s Legends & Lies: The Civil War

Written by David Fisher

From the birth of the Republican Party to the Confederacy’s first convention, the Underground Railroad to the Emancipation Proclamation, the Battle of Gettysburg to the assassination of Abraham Lincoln, Bill O’Reilly’s Legends and Lies: The Civil War reveals the amazing and often little-known stories behind the battle lines of America’s bloodiest war and debunks the myths that surround its greatest figures, including Harriet Tubman, Abraham Lincoln, General Robert E. Lee, Frederick Douglass, Stonewall Jackson, John Singleton Mosby, Ulysses S. Grant, Jefferson Davis, John Wilkes Booth, William Tecumseh Sherman, and more. (Source: Amazon)

MOVIE OF THE WEEK

I thought this series on Caligula was the most tasteful version of Caligula that I have encountered, and I learned more about this period of Roman history.

Netflix Roman Empire Season 3

Caligula The Mad Emperor

MUSIC OF THE WEEK

This is the result of attending a birthday party for a two year old.

Baby Shark Dance

By PINKFONG Songs for Children

ART OF THE WEEK

Black Madonna of Częstochowa, Poland

The Black Madonna of Częstochowa  is an icon of the Virgin Mary housed at the Jasna Góra Monastery in Częstochowa, Poland. Several Pontiffs have recognized the venerated icon, beginning with Pope Clement XI who issued a Canonical Coronation to the image on 8 September 1717.

The icon of Our Lady of Częstochowa has been associated with Poland for the past 600 years. Its history prior to its arrival in Poland is shrouded in numerous legends which trace the icon’s origin to St. Luke who painted it on a cedar table top from the house of the Holy Family. The same legend holds that the painting was discovered in Jerusalem in 326 by St. Helena, who brought it back to Constantinople and presented it to her son, Constantine the Great.

Art historians say that the original painting was a Byzantine icon created around the sixth or ninth century.

I was surprised that I was permitted to film the Black Madonna and did so because I could not take a still photo as I had to keep moving past, no stopping as there were many behind me.

  EXTRAORDINARY PERSON OF THE WEEK

Since I have been reading about the Civil War this week, I selected President Lincoln as this week’s extraordinary person.

Abraham Lincoln

Abraham Lincoln (February 12 1809  – April 15 1865) was an American politician. He was the 16th President of the United States. He was president from 1861 to 1865, during the American Civil War. Just five days after most of the Confederate forces had surrendered and the war was ending, John Wilkes Booth assassinated. Lincoln was the first president of the United States to be assassinated. Lincoln has been remembered as the “Great Emancipator” because he worked to end slavery in the United States.

Lincoln has been consistently ranked both by scholars and the public as one of the greatest U.S. presidents. He is often considered the greatest president for his leadership during the American Civil War and his eloquence in speeches such as the Gettysburg Address. (Source: Wikipedia)

THIS WEEK’S JOKE

This week’s joke is in honor of teachers. However, I apologize in advance for this PG or perhaps R rated joke.  I thought it has something to say, plus it was rather funny. 

PHYSICAL TRAITS

I tend to think self-control is a illusion, your best bet is to stop the wait staff from bring you a basket of rolls or anything else you are trying not to eat. if it sits on the table, you will probably end up eating it. The same is true for bad food choices that you bring home from the supermarket.

CHARACTER TRAITS

Creativity

Creativity comes in many forms, here is one form.

SOCIAL TRAITS 

LEARNING TRAITS

MISCELLANEOUS

Cats are so cool, hence the expression “cool cat

LAST WEEK’S POLLS

CURRENT EVENTS

2019 APF Nationals in Grand Rapids, MI

 

I received first place in the Masters 7 (70 to 74 years old) 90 Kg (198 lbs.) raw bench press and raw deadlift. I’m really not much of a deadlifter, but it seems to help my shoulder from a 2004 operation. Plus, I enjoy being part of the competition.  Better still, getting a liftoff from my trainer and long-time friend Art.

When it comes to the deadlift, for my age I am a serious lifter. My final lift was 363.7 lbs. and in August I hope to break the AWPC world’s raw deadlift record for my age and weight.

 

BOOK OF THE WEEK

I’ve read or reviewed my highlight notes in this book many times over the years and again before the APF Nationals last week.

Samurai Strategies

By Boyé Lafayette De Mente

The most famous combat strategist in Japanese history was Musashi Miyamoto, a warrior who lived from 1584 to 1645. Just before he died, Musashi recorded his philosophy, strategies, and tactics in a short treatise entitled Go Rin Sho “The Book of Five Rings”.

Samurai Strategies has extracted the fundamentals of Musashi’s tactics and explains them here in the modern context. Musashi’s strategies for winning are as valid today as they were in seventeenth century Japan and provide valuable insights for anyone in any field of endeavor–from business, war, and sports to the fields of art, love, and politics.

MOVIE OF THE WEEK

If you have been looking at this blog very much, you are aware that I have been on a Spartacus kick for a while now. I just finished watching the first of this miniseries and I thought it was very well done.

Spartacus 2004 TV miniseries (Disc 1 of 2)

Goran Visnjic stars as the gladiator in this TV miniseries that’s adapted from the same 1951 Howard Fast novel that spawned Stanley Kubrick’s 1960 film classic. Living as a slave in Egypt, Spartacus is bought by gladiator trainer Lentulas Agrippa (Alan Bates, in his final screen role), and forced to fight for the amusement of the Roman masses. But he soon spearheads a slave uprising that rocks the very foundations of Rome.

MUSIC OF THE WEEK

I think all of us can use some “Happy”

Happy

By Pharrell Williams

ART OF THE WEEK

It has been years since I’ve been to the Bellagio on the Las Vegas Strip, where I saw a fine collection of Chihuly glass sculptures, so it was nice last week to see some Chihuly Glass Sculptures at Meijer Gardens y Sculpture Park in Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA.

Chihuly Glass Sculptures

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Dale Chihuly (born September 20, 1941) is an American glass sculptor and entrepreneur. His works are considered to possess outstanding artistic merit in the field of blown glass, “moving it into the realm of large-scale sculpture.” The technical difficulties of working with glass forms are considerable, yet Chihuly uses it as the primary medium for installations and environmental artwork.

  EXTRAORDINARY PERSON OF THE WEEK

I could say more about this person, but the following was what made me decide Keanu Reeves should be the extraordinary person this week. I verified enough of the following to just accept what I didn’t verify.

Keanu Reeves

THIS WEEK’S JOKE

PHYSICAL TRAITS

So many aliments can be prevented and sometimes cured by lifestyle changes.

CHARACTER TRAITS

This a great way to handle criticism.

SOCIAL TRAITS 

What could be better than having some friends come out to support your efforts.

LEARNING TRAITS

MISCELLANEOUS

I finally found the answer to something I have been wondering about for a very long time. 

LAST WEEK’S POLLS

CURRENT EVENTS

If you have a koi pond like I do, you certainly don’t want Blue Herons visiting your pond. However, they are a magnificent bird, something that appears to be from prehistoric times when you see them flying above you.

I have some plastic Blue Herons around my pond to indicate to the real Blue Herons that the pond is already taken.

BOOK OF THE WEEK

The Longest Trek

By Grace Lee Whitney with Jim Denney

I almost stopped reading this book because of Grace’s description of the assault she experienced as well as other bad experiences. But there is enough interesting material in this book to make it of interest to a Star Trek fan. If you are not a Star Trek fan, you may want to pass on this book.

She opened for jazz great Billie Holiday, shared the set with Marilyn Monroe, and flirted on-screen with Jack Lemmon. In her dream role, Gene Roddenberry beamed her aboard the Starship Enterprise as Yeoman Janice Rand in the original “Star Trek” series. But a terrifying sexual assault on the studio lot and her lifelong feelings of emptiness and isolation would soon combine to turn her starry dream into a nightmare.

MOVIE OF THE WEEK

I’ve watch thee episodes of this series and found it entertaining, although like most films they either take some liberties with the facts or simply make some up if we don’t know what actually took place. Still, I found it entertaining.

THE Spanish Princess

The Spanish Princess is a British-American historical period drama television limited series developed by Emma Frost and Matthew Graham for Starz.

It is based on the novels The Constant Princess and The King’s Curse by Philippa Gregory and it is a sequel to the miniseries The White Queen and The White Princess.

The series premiered on May 5, 2019, with an initial eight episode order. On June 3, 2019, Starz ordered an additional eight episodes to premiere in 2020 and conclude the story. (Source: Wikipedia)

MUSIC OF THE WEEK

Let’s Dance

By Chris Montez

Here is an early 1960s version from American Bandstand

ART OF THE WEEK

I think it isn’t art, unless it says something. I took these photos of these chairs while I was recently in Krakow.

Memorial to victims of the Krakow ghetto

 

The Memorial shown in the above photos, was designed by Krakow architects Piotr Lewicki and Kazimierz Latak, and opened on 8 December 2005.

This square was the place where the Jews had to assemble before being transported to the concentration/death camps.  The Jews who were able to work were sent to the Plaszow forced labor camp just outside the city of Krakow, and the rest were sent to the death camp at Auschwitz-Birkenau.

According to information given by the Auschwitz Museum, March 13, 1943 was the day that the gas chamber in Krema II at Birkenau was first used when 1,492 women, children and elderly Jews from the Podgorze Ghetto were put to death immediately upon arrival and their bodies were burned in the ovens.

 As horrible as you can imagine these camps to be, seeing them was even more horrible than anything I could have imagined. I think everyone should see these absolutely horrible places one, but I never want to see such places again.

  EXTRAORDINARY PERSON OF THE WEEK

Willie Nelson

Willie Hugh Nelson(born April 29, 1933) is an American singer, songwriter, musician, actor, producer, author, poet, and activist.Nelson [is] one of the most recognized artists in country music. He was one of the main figures of outlaw country, a subgenre of country music that developed in the late 1960s as a reaction to the conservative restrictions of the Nashville sound. Nelson has acted in over 30 films, co-authored several books, and has been involved in activism for the use of biofuels and the legalization of marijuana.

In 1990, Nelson’s assets were seized by the Internal Revenue Service, which claimed that he owed $32 million. The difficulty of paying his outstanding debt was aggravated by weak investments he had made during the 1980s. In 1992, Nelson released The IRS Tapes: Who’ll Buy My Memories?; the profits of the double album—destined to the IRS—and the auction of Nelson’s assets cleared his debt. (Source: Wikipedia)

Last Man Standing

By Willie Nelson

I wish I did not understand so well what Willie is singing;

on second thought, maybe I do.

THIS WEEK’S JOKE

PHYSICAL TRAITS

I’ll be benching and deadlifting this Thursday, June 13.

Here I am with my Rogue Ohio Deadlift Bar that I was taking to the gym to use for the first time. It worked great, I did a 345 lbs. deadlift with it and put the big wheels on it to do a 365 lbs. deadlift.

Just in case you don’t know what big wheels are, here is a photo I took a couple of years ago.

CHARACTER TRAITS

I think one is always better off in the long run being honest on their resume.

You certainly don’t want this to happen to you.

In addition to being honest, some student advisors tell their students to try to figure out what the interviewer is looking for and try to position yourself as that kind of person. Personally, I think this is a mistake because you will either have to  be someone you are not your entire career or you will disappoint your employer. Neither is a winning outcome.

SOCIAL TRAITS 

Corrective lens can be so annoying.

LEARNING TRAITS

Advertisers and politicians know the importance of selecting a clever name or phrase, so try not to be fooled by them.

MISCELLANEOUS

Not only does it feel better, but often your attitude can influence the outcome.

LAST WEEK’S POLLS

CURRENT EVENTS

BOOK OF THE WEEK

The Spartacus War

By Barry Strauss

I’ve watched several films related to Spartacus and they were all misleading, some a lot, and others not so bad. I don’t know why film makers feel they have to embellish the real story of Spartacus, which is an amazing tale.

An authoritative account from an expert author: The Spartacus War is the first popular history of the revolt in English. A leading authority on classical military history, Barry Strauss has used recent archaeological discoveries, ancient documents, and on-site investigations to create the most accurate and detailed account of the Spartacus rebellion ever written—and it reads like a first-rate novel.

PLAY OF THE WEEK

I saw this play yesterday at Meadow Brook Theater, in Rochester, Michigan, USA. I thought it was extremely well done.

THE IT GIRL

By BT McNicholl – Michael Small – Paul McKibbins

Here is a lighthearted tribute to silent movies and Clara Bow that reinvents her 1927 Paramount Picture “IT.”  Betty is a sassy department store sales clerk who wins an advertising contest held to find the girl with the elusive, thrilling quality known as “IT”. Among those she enchants with sexy charm is the heir to the retail empire that employs her.

MUSIC OF THE WEEK

I thought you might fine this a little different.

Clips of Clara Bow’s hit movie “It” (1927) set to a song written about her called ‘She’s Got It’ by Harry Reaser.

ART OF THE WEEK

Malbork Castle

Me & Carol at Malbork Castle

 

The Castle of the Teutonic Order in Malbork is a 13th-century Teutonic castle and fortress located near the town of Malbork, Poland. It is the largest castle in the world measured by land area and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

It was originally constructed by the Teutonic Knights, a German Catholic religious order of crusaders.  In 1457, it was sold by the Bohemian mercenaries to King Casimir IV of Poland and it since served as one of the several Polish royal residences, interrupted by several years of Swedish occupation, and fulfilling this function until the First Partition of Poland in 1772.

From then on the castle came back to German rule for over 170 years. Following Germany’s defeat in World War II in 1945, the land was assigned to Poland by the Allies. Heavily damaged, the castle was renovated under the auspices of modern-day Poland in the second half of the 20th century and most recently in 2016. Nowadays, the castle hosts exhibitions and serves as a museum. (Source: Wikipedia)

Seat of the Grand Master of the Teutonic Order

This 13th-century fortified monastery belonging to the Teutonic Order was substantially enlarged and embellished after 1309, when the seat of the Grand Master moved here from Venice. A particularly fine example of a medieval brick castle, it later fell into decay, but was meticulously restored in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Many of the conservation techniques now accepted as standard were evolved here. Following severe damage in the Second World War it was once again restored, using the detailed documentation prepared by earlier conservators.

I could not resist sitting in the seat of the Grand Master

  EXTRAORDINARY PERSON OF THE WEEK

Leon Redbone

Leon Redbone, the perpetually anachronistic, famously mysterious artist who rose to prominence as a performer on Toronto’s folk circuit in the early ’70s, died Thursday while in hospice care in Bucks County, Pa.

Redbone’s family confirmed his death through a publicist. No cause was given, and Redbone’s age was a subject of speculation for decades.

“I’ve heard he’s anywhere from 25 to 60,” Bob Dylan told Rolling Stone in 1974, “and I can’t tell, but you gotta see him.” That same year, when asked about his age by Rolling Stone, Redbone replied: “Of course I don’t know. It’s just something I vaguely recall. I can’t say for sure.” In the news release announcing his death, Redbone’s age was cited as 127.

The only things known — ostensibly — of Redbone’s origins were revealed by Toronto Star columnist George Gamester in the 1980s: that he was a Cypriot named Dickran Gobalian, who emigrated to Ontario in the 1960s and changed his name after arriving in Canada.

Redbone’s obscurantist tendencies, including his ever-present, masking uniform of sunglasses, bushy mustache and Panama hat, gave Redbone the aura of a quixotic time-traveler, someone who simply stepped onto the stage fully formed.

THIS WEEK’S JOKE

PHYSICAL TRAITS

CHARACTER TRAITS

SOCIAL TRAITS 

LEARNING TRAITS

MISCELLANEOUS

LAST WEEK’S POLLS