Big Blue Huddle

I have a complete set of Encyclopedia Americana and a complete set of The Book of Knowledge. In the office, it looks sophisticated as a lawyer's office...yet they take up half a wall and are totally worthless, not to mention, there's no way to even get rid of them 





Anyone have an idea what to do with these encyclopedias? Together they weigh about 500 lbs. Can't burn them, can't sell them, can't donate them...

One of my favorite ads from the past:

I've been going through a variety of bodily changes the last two days. First, I thought maybe I was having a heart attack, as I could feel pain deep inside my chest to the left. I worried all day that I might need a stint, but the pain moved to a different part of my body and seem to be subsiding. Then I started into coughing and sneezing and I woke up in the middle of the night trying to figure out what was going on inside my body - I could feel things going on, but I couldn't identify it because I have no memory of such feelings going through my body like that. I got up this morning with a terrible cold, blowing my nose all day, coughing, hacking, and feel like I'm freezing even though I have it at 80 degrees in the room and am draped in an electric blanket turned all the way up. Took two extra strength Tylenol capsules, which seemed to help. I've spent more time in the jacuzzi the last couple of days than I have in weeks...and as soon as I'm through typing this, I'm going back in

I didn't really consider COVID because I've had all the vaccinations and boosters, plus the RSV shot, plus the regular flu shot. I got my last booster only 4 or 5 weeks ago. Anyway, I have two different types of home tests for COVID. The first was fairly complicated. After 15 minutes, the lines on the test module were clear as a bell - COVID Positive. I had my doubts, so I tried a different test given to me by my doctor. It was a little easier than the one mailed to me by the government. I went through all the steps and read, "even if the lines are very light, almost too light to read, look carefully because it's positive". Well, once I took the strips out, the two lines were so clear you can see them across the room

My biggest worry is that my 92-year-old mother will catch it, so I've wiped down the whole house with alcohol, and I'm wearing a KN95 mask and keeping my distance from my frail Mom. I'm not worried about me, but extremely worried about her

Anyway, I just read an article a few days ago about the new variant JN.1 which surprised a lot of experts about how fast this has spread across the northeast since Thanksgiving...faster than any other previous variant. I still wash my hands like a madman, wipe down shopping carts, get all the latest boosters, etc., and I still got it
Damn 

A lot of concern about injuries due to the "hip-block-tackle", which could become a penalized tactic in the NFL next year. It is the cause of many injuries and is called the "cousin of the horse-collar tackle"

It has come into focus as a serious problem after Roger Goodell mentioned the other day of the possibility of banning the tackle...most likely because of the tackle by Isaiah Simmons on Geno Smith as well as the injury to Tyreek Hill last game by the hip-drop-tackle that will force him out of upcoming games

Basically it is defined as: "defender grabs player by the hips, the turns the offensive player sideways, before 'flop-dropping' on the offensive player's legs with dead weight - particularly the lower part of the leg near the ankle"

It has already been banned in Rugby, which defines it as:





This next play shows Isaiah Simmons using the tackle method on Geno Smith and it made Smith outraged

As I'm studying potential draft prospects for the Giants, I came across a name that gets precious little attention and nearly every board fails to even include his name in the top 300 or even 400

I was thinking this guy is a great "sleeper pick" (he actually has risen 294 spots in the last week on one board), but the more I researched, the more I realized the Giants would NEVER take a guy with this much baggage

Anyway, the guy's name is Shemar Turner, a 6'4, 290 lb DE for Texas A&M. He leads the team in every category including tackles, TFLs, QB hits, and sacks. He's a monster at DE who brings terror to the offense. Sounds like a perfect pickup to replace our loss of Leo. But hold on...he was ejected from the game with Ole Miss a while back when he took a cheap shot after the play (ok...crap happens, and he apologized). I can deal with that, just needs discipline from a strong coach like Wink. But then I looked deeper, and he's been arrested for reckless driving while going way over the speed limit...and (and this is a big "and") was found with a little less than 2 oz of pot AND "possession of an illegal substance ranging from four to 400 grams - the latter charge is a second-degree felony". In short: takes cheap shots at other players, speeds, has drug issues, and is bankrupt in character (at least it seems)

My first thought: Giants would never go for a person with that much baggage. My second thought: SOB, the Cowboys will draft this guy in the 7th round, typical of Jerry Jones, and he'll be a star and a mainstay like Micah Parsons (and a dozen players in the past with shady history) 

The guy who got this buck has been tracking him for two years with multiple trail cameras. He spent months plotting his paths, times, etc. Finally got him

Taken in Tioga County, NY

Can you tell I'm bored this Sunday evening...babbling about everything

Anyway, splurged and bought a new car...2024 KIA Seltos SX...every option under the sun including the turbo engine and a non-CVT 8 speed transmission...and it comes with a 20-year, 200,000 mile warranty (only get that at KIA East Syracuse) which kind of blows me away. Anyway, this is my first experience with a "smart car" at this level. The first issue I had was driving in Syracuse traffic on 690. I couldn't believe how easy it steered, but how hard it was to change lanes. It took me awhile to figure out that the car was basically driving itself. I got curious and on my way home on route 81, I let go of the wheel to see how far it would go and how well it handled turns. It drove perfectly for about 5 miles before warning me to put my hands on the wheel...so I touched the steering wheel and it drove itself for another 5 miles before warning me again. I got thinking, "if I had a heart attack and my lifeless hand was resting on the steering wheel, I'd either end up in the Thousand Islands or in Knoxville or until the car ran out of gas, and my family would wonder why I went there and died". Sorta like Payne Stewart

Then there's the cruise control that has different modes - one that adjusts your speed exactly the same as the car in front of you...that was different. But just like with the driver assist that keeps you in-line on the highway, as soon as you hit your turn signal, the "driver-assist" as well as the speed of the car in front of me is turned off

That was just the beginning. The entire dash is one long monitor. I can have digital or analogue gauges and can control everything with buttons below the screen, or buttons on the steering wheel, or touch screen, or I can hit a button on the steering wheel that allows me to tell the damn car what I want and what station on the radio I want. It's like driving a computer

When I got home, I got a message on my phone so I checked it out. It was my car calling me to tell me that my door was unlocked and asked me if I wanted to lock "press 1"...dang. I can push a button while I'm in the grocery store so that when I come out with grocery bags and come within 6 feet of the car, the rear gate opens for me. Last night on my way from my Saturday Night watering hole in Binghamton, I was going to dim my lights for an oncoming car, but the computer beat me to it...WTF

I've read that "in general", men are better drivers than most women because they both approach a vehicle differently. For men, they feel as if the machine is part of them - intertwined as one; hence, usually only have one hand on the wheel and do things like down shift to save brakes, etc. Whereas, most women tend to think they are piloting a machine that they don't entirely trust - both hands on wheel 10 o'clock and 2 o'clock. Don't know if that's true or not, but driving tractor since I was five, and being a biker, I understand how one feels like a machine is part of me. Well, all that is taken away from me with the "smart car". I'm still up in the air how I feel about it. I hate cell phones and only use them to call, take calls, or message...and take pictures or use the flashlight...oh, and I also have one app that I use and that's Shazaam that if I push the app, it will tell me the name and artist of a song being played somewhere. Actually comes in handy. But generally speaking, I hate smart phones...and now I can do anything from my phone from starting the car, adjusting the heat or air conditioning, fiddling with the radio, etc., all from the comfort of my couch and could be ten miles away from my car. The one good thing is if the car was stolen I can track it and even shut it off...friggin weird if you ask me. I guess I'm just getting old, although I like my smart tv

Anyone else like or dislike the "smart cars"??

Anyhoo - here's what I bought

23-year-old kid from Hungary. Name is Peter Buka (sometimes calls himself Alan Walker...or maybe that's the name of the person videotaping...I don't know). Mostly a street musician, but has amassed 1.5 million dollars in wealth, so it must be working for him. Not only is the kid ridiculously talented, but he chooses songs that are perfect for the 21st century. He takes many modern songs and puts his own twist on them

As a pianist myself, I never reached any level worth having an audience, although I can hammer out some fairly difficult songs...never mastered "Malaguena" or "Rhapsody in Blue", my two favorite piano pieces, but not because I failed to log in hours practicing. I tried to mimic Floyd Cramer's "Last Date" and was getting pretty good at that "outside-in chord roll" that has a unique sound. Then I had a stroke that shut down my right side and I no longer have the dexterity or quickness in my right hand to do some of the things I used to do and take for granted

I know Bob in PA is also a pianist, but he's never let on how accomplished he became. One of the things I did while raising four kids, was to make them take an instrument, but they had to take a year of piano first...they should at least be able to walk up to a keyboard and know where middle-C is and should be able to know which keys are which, which is a flat or sharp, a chord, getting the timing down, etc. I never expected them to become concert pianists, but if they are anything like me... trying, struggling, and coming to the conclusion that I'm never going to be another Liberace makes me appreciate those who have mastered an instrument. I'm not sure I could ever have such a deep appreciation for talented musicians had I not tried to be one myself...and failed 

Surprisingly, people walk by - and those who stop, tend to ruin it by getting out their phones as if they are going to relive a magic moment. As for me, I'd stop in my tracks and just soak in the moment. I put a play list together of Buka's playing that I play on the computer (has a great sound system attached) when I'm cooking or working around the house

Check him out:





He does Carol of the Bells about as good as anyone I've ever heard


Another Christmas song (medley)


And for those who don't know who Floyd Cramer is (may he R.I.P.), he was a country music star and developed a unique sound with the piano. Song is fairly easy to play, but getting that unique sound is not as easy as one would think

Name this famous person...picture taken last week

This is a story of my family's business for several decades

It starts with my 13 yr old younger brother who started selling and trading guns at school (yup, back in the 60's, guns in school were common, and we even had a rifle range in the school and a rifle club...those days are long gone). By the time he was 15, he had all kinds of shotguns and rifles that he got from trading with other kids. At the same time, my father knew one of the executives at Ithaca Gun Company and they offered to give my brother a hundred guns on consignment. So my father turned our old "milk house" into a temporary gun shop with bars on the windows and a security door. It actually looked like a real gun shop

Back at school, dozens of kids were getting off the bus carrying their long guns to school and heading for classes. So many kids brought their guns to school that the Principal in the morning message over the loudspeaker advised, "If you bring your guns to school, make sure they are unloaded and keep them in your locker. Do your trading between classes". Within a few months, my brother had amassed about 20,000 dollars. He talked my father into tearing down the barn and extending the milk house over the width of the old barn and he would pay for it







Meanwhile, my father had gotten a federal firearms license in order to make it a legitamate and legal business, but we started getting pressure (more like harassment) from the ATF who said, "we cannot allow a 15 year old kid sell guns" (as he was selling several guns a day and signing the application for each sale). So my brother would sell a gun, then have my mother sign the paperwork as my father had a full time job in Syracuse at the time. The business grew and we had hundreds of long guns and hand guns in the shop (which was about 1,500 sq. ft.) as well as archery equipment, thousands of boxes of ammo, reloading equipment, etc.

We had grown to becoming a major seller in Upstate New York. Our only real competition came from a gun shop in Binghamton (Dick's Guns) who would run Sunday flyer deals and cut prices. So we would undersell him, and then when we had deals, he would undersell us. This went on for several years. Buyers would go back and forth between us to work the best deal they could

Then...one day, we read in the Binghamton paper that Dick was going to start selling clothing, sneakers, golf clubs, ball gloves, etc. We cheered...we high fived...we celebrated and said, "WE WON!!!"

Well, Dick changed the name of his shop to "Dick's Sporting Goods" which is now a multi-billion dollar business with over 750 stores across America and Canada and are dabbling in other countries. Dick passed away a few years ago, but when he sold out his ownership, he became rich beyond his wildest dreams. He was a good guy and a respected competitor. But we "didn't win"...he did

After that, my brother continued to get us in trouble with the ATF. First, he accidentally fired a .38 Colt in the house that ended up shooting me in the leg. They wanted to know why a kid was carrying a handgun in the first place. They let it slide. Then later, he loaned the high school drama club a handgun for a play that was loaded with blanks. As most know, when shooting blanks from a real gun, there is a cardboard plug instead of a bullet. Anyway, to make a long story short, the first time they used it with blanks was during a play, and it was pointed at a girl on a couch and the plug hit her leg causing it to bleed. She panicked, the play was closed, and the ambulance took her away. ATF was furious and threatened to close us down for good, but they didn't

A couple of years later, my brother sold a can of FFF Black Powder to some kids on bicycles who had a note from their father. My brother (who only cared about money) sold it to them, knowing it was illegal. The next day, we read an article in the paper and said, "oh no...we're done". The story was about two kids who drilled a hole in a can of black powder and put a fuse in it. They made a bomb out of it and blew a door off a car in front of the police department. The article went on to say, "authorities are looking into the ease at which the children acquired the black powder". Long story short - the ATF shut us down

I was going to college at the time and applied for an FFL and got it. My brother meanwhile, decided he needed to get out of the gun business and went to college to become a pastor. So my Dad and I ran the business for a while before I went my own way and my father ran the business by himself. He was also an excellent gunsmith and always had 15–20 guns in queue that needed fixing. He also had built blueing tanks and reblueing guns had become big business for him

Fifteen years later, a group of crazy survivalists who lived in the woods of Pennsylvania, broke into the shop by cutting through the back wall, avoiding the security doors that could not be opened. They brought tools to cut through wood, insulation, and sheet rock and stole every single gun, all the ammo, reloading equipment, etc., essentially putting the shop out of business for good

Several of the thieves were caught, and over the years, a gun or two comes back...even 30 years later. But the handguns have the serial numbers ground off and we turn them over to the police. My parents turned the gunshop/barn into a Bed and Breakfast and ran that successfully for the next 25 years. The end

This in only my opinion...and we all know what that means

I'd move Evan Neal to LG next to Thomas. Neal excelled on the left side of the line in college, so his natural instincts fit well on the line (he could also be the backup LT where he excelled in college). I don't think he's quick enough with his feet to play tackle at the NFL level at RT, besides possibly backup LT, but he's talented and has rare size, strength, and athleticism...just maybe not a perfect fit on the right side and as a RT. We probably should have drafted Charlie Cross in the 2021 draft who was not a bulldozer/run blocking type of OT, but heads above all others in pass protection. He only has a PFF grade of 64 for his first two years, but he's done pretty well in Seattle

We need an agile RT who can pass protect at the NFL level. This is a loaded draft class for tackles, none better than Fashanu, but someone like Kingsley Suamataia [6-6 / 324] is incredibly agile and quick, yet is ranked 10th among OTs, and still in the top 30 overall (tells you just how stacked this years OT class is). From Walter Football: "In 2022, Suamataia transferred to BYU, where he broke out, including not allowing a sack all season. Suamataia has shocking speed and athleticism for an edge blocker of his size. Another big season could make Suamataia a high first-rounder in his draft class." Walter Football has Suamataia ranked 2nd best OT behind Mims, and ahead of Alt and Fashanu https://walterfootball.com/draft2024OT.php

But look at how absolutely stacked the OT class is: https://www.nfldraftbuzz.com/positions/OT/1/2024 and   
https://www.nflmockdraftdatabase.com/big-boards/2024/consensus-big-board-2024?pos=OT

This is also a stacked class of OGs, and we could probably get a Zac Zinter, Tate Ratledge, or Christian Mahogany in the first three rounds (https://www.nfldraftbuzz.com/positions/OG/1/2024)

LT Thomas / LG Neal / C Schmitz / RG Zinter / RT Suamataia

With such a loaded class at OT and OG, it would inexcusable for the Giants to not finally fix that line!

Nice article in today's NY Post

https://nypost.com/video/giants-young-defenders-get-recognition-for-being-elite-in-key-area/

Thanks to AI, and some master technicians, they were able to piecemeal an old non-professional singing of Lennon playing piano and singing his latest idea...more than a quarter century ago. Then they found Harrison's playing of the song (again, a practice piece and an unprofessional recording), and mashed it up with Lennon's piano and singing. Then they had McCartney play bass with Ringo on the drums to create a professional new release from none other than the Beatles. We live in amazing times

So far I don't love the song, but I am really impressed that they (the technicians) could actually pull a song out of two dead guys and a couple of octogenarians to release the first new song by the Beatles in about 50 years

Here's the song:

Injured for the Jets game:

Starting QB Daniel Jones out
Backup QB Tyrod Taylor out
no.1 TE/Receiver Darren Waller out
no.1 OT Andrew Thomas out
no.2 ER Azeez Ojulari out

It's amazing to me we were even close to winning the game with an undrafted QB and crappy play calling

Imagine Kansas City playing with Mahommes and his backup out, Travis Kelce out, and LT Donovan Smith out...in the pouring rain. I understand the "next man up" rule, but some players are irreplaceable with a weak bench

8-year-old girl is very talented...not to mention, cute and sweet-hearted

https://nypost.com/video/train-station-pianists-surprising-duet-with-8-year-old-violinist/

First off...let me explain what I'd like from the Giants. To put a competitive team on the field so I can be entertained. Win or lose...at least entertain me! I'm not one who believes winning the Super Bowl every year is entertaining, but it is nice to get one now and then, even if only once a decade. Trouble is, right now the team is not competitive, nor is it exciting, nor is it entertaining. But hope springs eternal...or so they say. The only sport where hope never dies no matter how often one fails is "fishing". You cast a hundred times and not even a nibble, yet with the very next cast, we have absolute renewed hope as great as our first cast. Unfortunately, it feels like we're fishing in a fish-free zone in a backyard swimming pool with the current state of this team

So I'm trying to put a list of positives together (short as it may be), especially considering we don't get many breaks in the upcoming schedule (at Miami [coming off a smarting defeat], then at the Bills, etc) so there could be more than a fair share of bitching on here for the next couple of weeks. I'm prepared for that anyway

Okay...the list

1) I still believe in Schoen and Daboll to execute corrective measures (that might include dumping Bobby Johnson and bringing in a proven OL coach). I guarantee that Schoen and Daboll are more upset that any of us fans...and a lot smarter
2) We have a lot of young players that are going to be getting valuable field time, and they will be better next year and the year after...barring serious injuries...knock on wood
3) Our draft position will most likely garner a top ten pick and put us near the front for each round
4) If I understand correctly, we are going to have plenty of cap room to fix some serious problems
5) I expect some coaching turnover (although Wink might not be so hot a candidate if he doesn't get our defense turned around) which should bring a less predictable game plan...knock on wood
6) "At least we ain't the Cowboys". I had a technician at my house a couple of weeks ago, and we got to talking football. Low and behold, he was a life-long, die-hard Cowboy fan, and this was on the heels of a complete ass-whooping on our own field, under the lights for the whole world to witness. He asked me if I wanted to compare records. My response, "only if you want to talk Super Bowl victories in the last quarter-century"...which made him laugh. He said, "HA...nooo!...best comeback I've ever heard from a Giants' fan...let's not go there...LOL"

I am just getting back to fishing in a big way. I live alongside the beautiful Tioughnioga river and live just a few miles from a big reservoir teaming with walleye, bass, and tiger muskies. Also, I like fishing Oneida Lake which is a premier walleye lake in the country because it has a sand bottom and shallow (about 20' on average which also makes it treacherous when wind picks up) for drifting with Jixie spinners or jiggin, as well as it has the largest Walleye hatchery in the world on its shoreline that dumps 150 million Walleye fry in the lake each year. The hatchery also stocks lakes from here to Minnesota with Walleye. I'm close to the Finger Lakes (17 miles from Cayuga Lake, 14 miles from Skaneateles Lake), but rarely fish them, although I used to go at night to Owasco Lake for smelting, but haven't done that in 40 years. For fly-fishing for trout, it's about a 40-mile jaunt to the West Branch of the Delaware, and if I want to travel for another hour, I can fish the Beaverkill or Willowemoc near Rosco, NY (the best trout fishing in the world). I used to fish for Salmon on Lake Ontario when my father-in-law had a big boat up there, but he no longer does, so my buddy and I go up to Pulaski or Oswego with our noodle rods and fish the Salmon River or Oswego River

Anyway, there are two things in my arsenal that are changing:

First, I've picked up two bait casting reels along with a light and a medium rod (thinking bass with these). I've never cast a bait casting reel, so this is new to me

Secondly, I've re-lined most of my spinning rods (I have 9 set-ups) with braided line instead of Monofilament (stronger, no twisting or line memory, etc.). I have discovered that braided line is really a bitch to work with when tying off and especially getting knots to keep from slipping. Some articles insist you put a drop of superglue on the knot... Now, instead of my old faithful clinch knot, I'm learning how to tie the vaulted Palomar knot

I'm a catch and release guy except for Walleye and Perch, which are downright delicious. And in the rare occasion that I actually reel in a Salmon...I eat it!

So...any advice on bait casting reels and dealing with braided line would be much appreciated. I hope to show some nice catches on here before winter sets in

One of the pressing problems that Barkley faced during negotiations, was he made a huge mistake (like many NFL players) by taking his entire 2021 salary (10M) in bitcoin. It dropped 5.9M so he only got 4.1M for the season

I have to believe that he put himself in a financial bind with a poor decision and is trying to recoup a huge loss that is probably irredeemable and should just be chalked up as "big mistake...hard lesson learned"

Crypto has burned a lot of high-end athletes looking to make a killing while their talents are at their highest level (albeit for a short time). Getting burned playing the "high risk / high reward" game is NOT the fault of teams who agree to payout salaries (and portions thereof) to their players

And it's not just NFL players, others like NBA's Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson (who lost 20M for his investment in crypto) have been hit hard. Even Michael Jordan lost at least 10M, but for him that's not big deal...like me dropping a penny and not bothering to pick it up

In short, bad investment choices are part of life. Trying to recover those losses NEVER work, but that's not going to prod players to try. I've always felt Saquon's crypto loss has been the driving force behind his standoff with the front office

https://frontofficesports.com/crypto-crash-costing-nfl-players-millions/

https://cointelegraph.com/news/7-nfl-players-that-chose-crypto-over-cash-salaries

This is bizzare 

Absolutely stunned that these beautiful horses are dying...four of them in four days, all Kentucky Derby Entrants 

Wild on Ice was put down after breaking his leg after coming up lame in practice (Sunday)
Take Charge Briana a 3-year-old filly was also put down after coming up lame (Monday)
Parents Pride died unexpectedly during practice (Wednesday)
Chasing Artie died unexpectedly after practice (Wednesday)

Never heard of such a thing. I remember a few years ago immediately following the main Kentucky Derby race, that a horse was limping afterward, and they shot her on live TV right on the track before tens of thousands of stunned fans after about a 2-minute analysis of what to do, which really made me shake my head and go WTF??

It would seem there could be some way to salvage a horse if for no other reason than breeding stock where horses of that status get tens of thousands of dollars for a single vial of sperm...dittos with filly's eggs. On the other hand, the owners probably have millions coming in insurance claims

Reminds me of the old Far Sides joke that is funny, yet alarming and dismaying at the same time  

"Membership of Mensa is open to persons who have attained a score within the upper two percent of the general population on an approved intelligence test that has been properly administered and supervised."

I find this interesting, so I thought I'd share. Note: I am NOT a Mensa member...lol

1) Goldie Hawn

The most successful go-go dancer in history. Always played the role of a bit of a ditz, but has an IQ over 140 and is a card-carrying member of Mensa. She's a lot smarter than the roles she's played...especially in Rowen and Martin. Smart girl!



2) Steve Martin

Has played many roles from "The Jerk" to his current role in "Only Murders in the Building" (142 IQ)



3) Sharon Stone

Most famous for her role as a psycho mistress in "Basic Instinct" going commando and giving Michael Douglas an open leg shot in her seduction scene. Interesting woman. She said she was never asked out on a date in her high school career. Probably too smart for the guys...that would be my bet...lol (152 IQ)



4) Lisa Kudrow

Most famous for her role in the television series "Friends" as the blonde ditz singing "Smelly Cat" (154 IQ)



5) Ashton Kutcher

Made his start playing the role of a stoner teenager as Kelso, in "That 70s Show". Interesting guy. Has a twin brother in which Ashton got the bulk of the pretty genes. The two are very close (160 IQ)



6) Dolph Lundgren

Most famous role was as the opponent of Stallone in "Rocky". Shouldn't come as a surprise as he earned a degree in chemical engineering from the Royal Institute of Technology, an MS in the same field from the University of Sydney, and scored a very rare Fulbright Scholarship to MIT (160 IQ)



7) Mayim Bialik

Became famous as Amy Farrah Fowler (Sheldon's girlfriend) in "Big Bang Theory" playing the role as a neurosurgeon...interestingly, was a neurosurgeon in real life before electing to go into acting. Currently sharing host duties on "Jeopardy" (163 IQ)



8) Rowan Atkinson (aka Mr. Bean)

This one blows me away, but that's easy to do I guess. He is one of the smartest people on the planet with an IQ of 178

I heard there was a storm coming, but I just got home from a drive and there's more than a dozen white trucks lined up along the road less than a mile from my house - the ones that say "Electrical Services" on the doors and have booms on the back...ready to pounce on downed poles and lines. Probably going to lose my electricity tonight 

So I turned on the radio and this storm has already killed 5 people today and stretches from Texas to Michigan and is moving in a northeast direction fast. Lots of tornados touching down, and we can expect severe lightning and 60+ mph winds along with rain. The Yankees/Orioles game for tomorrow is already canceled "due to weather", which is really strange when the weather there is fine right now and they're basing it on weather reports

Anyway, batten the hatches and get out your candles/emergency lights/generators if you have them because it sounds like we're about to get walloped. Supposed to hit my area between 11:00 and midnight. Stay safe everyone

I'm pretty set in my ways, so once I find something I like, I rarely change. A few brandnames that I trust and always buy are things like Thomas English Muffins/Bagels, Samsung TV's and peripherals to the TV, Samsung phones, Lee jeans, Dawn dish soap, Channel Lock pliers, Duracell batteries (although, after reading some reports, that's likely to change soon), etc.

I'm a bit like Imelda Marcos when it comes to shoes. I have too many and I still buy more. I have become addicted to Merrill shoes after years of buying Rockports (primarily when I worked in an office). They are ridiculously comfortable while being more stylish than most casual shoes. As far as sneakers go, I don't really wear them much at all and I never had a favorite brand. I was wondering if anyone else buys Merrill shoes and what their thoughts are on them

I'm also a collector of knives. The only brand I have bought for years (for small pocket knives) are Case and I probably have 20 - 30 around the house somewhere collected over the last 50 years. The newer pocket knives that have the clip and are automatics, have taken over as "best" pocket knives IMO. I have several Benchmade that I love as well as some Kershaws, but now will only buy Benchmade

Just curious what other people on here have fixations on certain brands. I wish I could say a certain car brand, but that's changed so many times in my life that it changes by the minute

I read an article that there is an "Ice" skating rink in the tallest building at Hudson Yards (30 Hudson Yards) and that it uses artificial ice. It is not frozen water and is actually a special blend of polymers (plastic). I've read that some hockey players practice on it and like it. The big advantage is upkeep (no need for extensive cooling equipment, can skate in the summer, don't need a Zamboni, etc) The largest ice skating rink in the world is in Mexico City and they use Glice https://www.glicerink.com/what-is-synthetic-ice/

Anyway, just wondered if anyone has ever skated on it and what it's like

Question: During WWII, two NFL teams merged together to fill out a complete roster and they were called the:

A) Cowphins
B) Steagles
C) Packaneers
D) Broncskins

I already guessed and was wrong, but I now know the answer

Anyone want to take a crack at it?

It's funny, but I listen to far more AM radio than they myriad of options available in my car. Once I've heard a song several thousand times, I don't really need to hear it again. I listen to music in the car when all I want to do is think about some issue on my mind that is unrelated to sports or news. I listen to AM for sports talk, political talk, news, weather, road reports, etc. I must not be alone because according to a Nielsen Company media survey, 47 million Americans listen to AM radio, which is only about 20% of all radio listeners, but a lot of people

Here's the issue. EVs are no longer including an AM radio option due to some kind of electrical interference that causes bugs in the vehicles electrical operating system. As more and more EVs hit the road, the AM stations that work within a tight budget will not be able to sell air time to local (and national) companies and will fade out over time

What a shame 

I grew up as a kid listening to 1430 WENE (Weenie) and was introduced to the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, the Four Seasons, Marvin Gaye, Mamas and Papas, Tommy James and the Shondells, Three Dog Night, the Turtles, Paul Revere and the Raiders, the Doors, even one-hit wonders like Strawberry Alarm Clock, Circl, the Troggs (who is the real band that started "power chords" with "Wild Thing", unlike Green Day which gets credit for it in music publications  ), etc

It's a weird thing, but my desire to get an electric vehicle is diminished simply by the loss of the option of AM in the car

For those who don't know what I'm talking about with the Troggs starting the "power chord" movement, I'm sure you will recognize their hit because it was used in the movie, "Major League"

Lenn always posts on the Wordle thread, usually the last one. And when he's going to be away, he always lets everyone know he's going to be gone. But he hasn't posted in eight days and I'm beginning to worry. Did I miss something? Is he off on vacation again or something else?

Anyone know anything about Lenn? I'm getting worried

I don't know how many recently divorced, single guys are on this board, but the dating scene after you turn 40 is nothing like the dating scene one remembers from high school and college days. It's a whole different world. So I'm going to share some of my worst dates and hopefully, others will share as well. I've always thought the funniest SNL skits were the "dates from hell". Just thinking of some of them still makes me laugh...like the girl with the unibrow and Leonid Beshnev's bushy type eye brows (or in her case, eye brow) and the perpetually angry, needy, or laughing girl

Anyway, I've been single (divorced) since I was 42 yrs old (I turn 70 in a week and a half). I've been through a few bad dates in my days of re-entering the dating scene so I thought I'd share - both for laughs and to help anyone back into the scene. Back when I first found myself single again, I decided to try the new "high tech" method and try internet dating sites. It worked well if you are looking for a lot of variety and a lot of opportunities that rarely pan out to anything other than to share bad experiences. And a word of caution here, pictures lie, as do most of the write-ups that embellish the "whole package", and you don't get a feel for a person's personality on a computer screen – and man is personality important. It's a starting point though for some, but buyer beware. That sharp looking little used sports car in the ad might be filled with Bondo, have a blown head gasket, a quirky transmission that is about to go, and have a lot more miles than the 78,000 as advertised

I also tried joining a PWP club (Parents Without Partners) only to go to dances where a hundred women are laughing and dancing to the band while more than a hundred guys are standing in the corner with a long-neck beer in hand, head bowed, afraid to talk to any of the women and waiting for "I don't know what". It was almost comical to watch and sad at the same time. I discovered that it was a lot better to simply get involved with a club that aligned with my interest and not try to meet a potential partner. I joined two clubs, a ski club (which also had summer excursions like canoe trips, camping trips to the Thousand Islands, hiking, biking, etc.) I also joined a city choir because I like to sing (that didn't really get me anywhere and was short-lived). the ski club was a ball for about 12 years and I took weekend trips to Vermont, the Adirondaks, Catskills, and other places with two other busloads of mostly single, recently divorced people. I didn't join a genealogy club (one of my major interests), but did hours of research on my own and lo and behold, there are a lot more women than men with that hobby and I met a lot of wonderful women as I trekked around the country visiting historical centers, libraries, courthouse record rooms, etc.

Okay...some of my less than wonderful dates

I met this girl on-line. Long blonde hair, slender build, pretty face, no children, and a widow who lost her husband a couple years back and just looking to get back "out there". We chatted back and forth on the internet, then talked a lot on the phone, and decided to meet up for a drink. When I got there, I didn't see her anywhere because she didn't look anything like her picture. She was wearing jeans and a very low-cut blouse and was not slender...at all, and the "long blonde hair" was short and an obvious dye job because I could see at least an inch of black hair at the roots. Her picture on the dating site must have been from moe than 25 years ago. My internal alarm was blaring and I was feeling a lot of trepidation and wanted out, but I stuck it out. We finally found each other when she came up to me and introduced herself so we grabbed a table. I could tell she had already over-imbibed on a few cocktails and even before that I had already decided I didn't want to go through with this after seeing her in person, but I had driven 50 miles to get there and figured I might as well. A couple of minutes into the conversation, I asked her how she liked being back in the singles' world. She said she liked it. I asked how long before she started dating after losing her husband. She looked at me like I was from outer space and said, "what??". So I asked how long since her husband passed away. Again she looked at me like I was an alien. She said, "that XXXXXXX – he ain't dead, that piece of sh..t". Red flag, red flag – she's a bona fide liar. Then she proceeded to pull down her blouse and show me her new tattoo...completely exposing her rather large breast right there in full view...along with a sly seductive smile. My thinking was that I am in an episode of the Twilight Zone or at best, Alan Funks' "Candid Camera" and the real girl I was hoping to meet would step out to a crowd of laughter. Didn't happen. She was the epitome of trailer trash with a net spread out to catch a fish – any fish, anyway she could catch one and I was looking at the bait I didn't want a bite of. I finished my beer and told her I really had to go and it was nice meeting her. She frowned and hung onto my arm with that look, "don't go"...but I did. Practically left rubber on the highway getting out of there

Another date. Pretty face, brunette woman, who "liked fun". Picture only showed her face and in her writeup she called herself "fit and slender". Like before – internet chatter, then phone chatter, and then the meet up. We met the Olive Garden for lunch. Slender did not adequately define her figure. She was an 80 lb stick who appeared quite sickly. And she had an attitude of dire sorrow and seemed on the verge of crying. I felt bad for her because she was obviously depressed and had some deep issues. I got up to go the bathroom and when I came back, she was standing and had put on her coat. I said, "oh...you are leaving". She said, "no, I just figured you left and used going to the bathroom as an excuse to get out of here". I told her I would never do that. Anyway, we had lunch and I told her it was nice meeting her and walked her to her car. Never saw her again

One of the more recent dates (about 8 years ago now) I went on was kind of forced on me by some friends I hang out with. I was invited to a get together at a Japanese restaurant where we all sat around a hibachi dinner. Four couples plus me (the single guy) and another woman (the single woman) who I had never seen before, nor was I given a heads up that this was a setup. Everyone had a good time and decided after the meal to go out to another place for a drink or two. The woman was hard to read. I'm reminded of an episode on Seinfeld where the girl he was dating was either pretty or hideous, depending on the lighting. Regardless, we ended up going on a couple of dates, the first one very casual and short. The second one much longer and actually getting to know something about each other. Then came the sirens and the red flag. She said, "I might as well get this out there right up front...I've been married five times" (keep in mind, she is 42 years old). I didn't spit my drink out of my nose, but dang close. I put on a calm face that said, "okay" when it really wasn't. I asked her how long she had been divorced and she said, "about three months". I asked how long they were married and she said, "a few months". I asked, "what went wrong". Her reply that I'll never forget was, "I don't know, he just walked out and said 'I can't deal with this sh.t'" and she never saw him again. Anyway, that was the last time I saw her. She texted me a few times, but I didn't respond.

Anyway, that's a few of my dating stories. In the past 30 years, I've helped a lot of guys who suddenly became single and they are like whipped puppies and don't know what to do. My advice to them is to "stop looking for a woman and feeling sorry for yourself" - take up a hobby and pursue things that interest you or that you always wanted to try. Over time you will cross paths with a lot of women and if there's a spark, it will come naturally. If you're "in the hunt", it shows and you come across as desperate and that's a red flag to all women. Keep a happy disposition and just have fun without it being a search for a mate. You can try the internet dating thing at your own peril. Maybe it will work for you, maybe not. If they're on a dating site, they obviously are looking for someone that might turn into a partner. If you do put up a profile, don't overdo it by showing flattering pictures or stretching the truth about yourself. I got more hits by saying, "I like to golf – a lot, drink a few beers with friends, and absolutely hate holding hands and taking long walks on a beach – I'm self-sufficient, but not rich, and I can be an XXXXXXX at times,...etc". And don't hold a cat on your lap – sends the wrong message. A dog by your side on the other hand helps. 

I am posting this because maybe some on here can take advantage of my experiences in this life if they're thrust back into the dating scene. Since more marriages end in divorce than survive now...many will go through this...and most of them won't see it coming. I can vouch for that

I am currently at the end of a six-year relationship with my girlfriend. We are parting ways. We still care about each other and want nothing but the best for each other. Our problem: I'm twice her age. The circumstances or our meeting just kind of fell out of nowhere and we became close friends in spite of the fact that she was younger than three of my four children. She moved in with me and we've had a lot of fun together, but we knew it would never last because of our age difference. What was going to be a few months though, turned into six years. She's only 37 yrs old, pretty as can be, and has her whole life ahead of her. I told her that I don't want to waste her life walking me down the green mile, even though she says she would. So we are splitting as soon as she gets settled into a new place. We'll still see each other, but she needs to let the world know that she's single and available, something that would never happen living with me

For all you older single guys – keep your head up and good luck. My attitude is that if God wants me to have a woman, she'll drop out of the sky and into my lap. If not – I'm happy to live life just as I am - as a single. It's actually quite fun

https://twitter.com/espn/status/1634585250624831488

We all have our favorites...more me, Eddie Van Halen. However, two guitarists that "all" other players always mention is Roy Clark and Glen Campbell with Clark usually getting the nod. Campbell was known for his singing and personality, but great guitarists (including Eddie Van Halen) went to Glen Campbell for advice and also tried to mimic what Roy could do with a guitar, but failed

I think the biggest reason Roy Clark does not get the credit he deserves is because he was showcased on the TV show, "Hee Haw" that wasn't considered a "great" show and only watched by hayseed hicks and farmers coming in from the chores. Also, most fans of guitar playing are rock lovers and don't look at talent outside their box of interest. However, Roy Clark was incredible, whether boogie-woogie, classical, rock, or virtually any genre. He also played an incredible banjo as well as could fiddle with the best of them. A master of the stringed instruments. Here's a few examples for more than one genre:

Gene Hackman (one of my favorite actors) has lived like a recluse for the last decade or so. Here he is at 93 and a picture taken by the paparazzi that makes me sad. My Dad made it to 94 and that made me sad to see how such a strong man can deteriorate to a shadow of who he was