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Happy Saturday morning, and I am lucky to be with you. Yesterday morning started as most others. Coffee was poured. Sat back sipping happily and got caught up with the morning happenings and news. Then mug two was poured and I filled a bowl of cereal.

That’s when it all happened. Actually, it was really a case of me outsmarting myself. See, I mistakenly bought a case of Almond milk. It tastes OK, just has about 0-gms of protein. Here is where it all started.

To add protein, I got a scoop of protein powder and put it in the cereal and stirred. I just didn’t stir it enough. One bit was still full of very fine, very dry, protein powder. The stuff exploded in my mouth. The choking, sneezing, coughing, along with a flob or two continued well over 5-minutes (a glass of ice water got me back to normal).

A shortie – Ramblings this week. A variety of reasons for this. A heat wave which kept us indoors in the A/C. Then a clogged A/C drain stack which affected our place – this required me to set the alarm throughout a night and a chunk of the day at 90-minute intervals so that I could dump each collected water bucket (it took 2 plumbers 3 hours to rectify the situation). The plumbing guys were loud middle easterners; I am now almost fluent in a ‘motivational’ Arabic language variant.

Also, as soon as I post I’ll be heading for the Riverfront for a 5K race. It’s the WEBN (radio station) Froglegs event with $$ going to our local Epilepsy Foundation.

WEBN also is the sponsor of this Sunday evening’s Fireworks, set to music display at the riverfront. The Riverfest is nationally recognized as one of the top single-day festivals in the country and draws more than half a million people divided equally on the riverbanks – Ohio and Kentucky. Ribbbbbit!

Quote – this from Franz Kafka, author from Prague, (1883 – 1923)

“One idiot is one idiot
Two idiots are two idiots
Ten thousand idiots are a political party”

That quotation came back to me seeing Thursday’s softball (or was it T-ball?) interview wielded by CNN’s Dana Bash.

Murder in the drive-through – Will the police come? No, I seriously doubt it. But what Dunkin Donuts serves as their “Pumpkin Swirl Frozen Coffee” is a killer – and not in a teenager’s good sense. With not a single natural ingredient and 185 grams of sugar this stuff is a killer.

If you’re a diabetic, it’ll kill you sooner rather than later. If not, you’ll climb onto a steep downward slope. To give you a hint, a pre-diabetic should limit their sugar intake to 5 grams or less per meal.

Talking the importance of food to our health, do yourself a favor and get a hold of this book – Good Energy: The Surprising Connection Between Metabolism and Limitless Health – on audio or paper. It’s written by whistleblowers brother Calley Means and sister Casey Means, MD who expose “how Big Pharma has co-opted government agencies and the food industry to poison America and keep us sick.”

Casey is a Stanford educated MD (class President) and trained as an Ear-Nose-Throat surgeon. Rather than read, listen to their discussion on the Joe Rogan Experience (click on this name-link); It’s definitely well worth a listen.

Driver’s Ed – 2024 and this year two of our grandchildren crossed that magic age where they’re eligible to try for a driver’s license. This crossing of that Rubicon caused Marcia and I to embark on a ‘discussion’. This whole ‘Driver’s Ed’ business we yammered on, over two cups of coffee. Me stating that I remember that schools all had mandatory Driver’s Ed. Marcia was just as steadfast saying that; “no it was parent’s having to hire a private firm.”

Ok, she went to private school and that probably was what it was. However, according to the Institute of Education Sciences public schools had Driver’s Ed from the mid-1930s to 1965. During that time more than 13,000 schools had classes, and 1,700,000 students were trained.

My learning years were in Canada and there I had my father sitting in the passenger seat giving me guidance. What I do remember were any number of TV bits and movies where the driving instructor was either a coach or a Barney Fife lookalike. Any of you readers have any remembrances?

The weather – The climate – OK, this week we’ve been experiencing a heat wave. Not as hot as some we’ve had, but with the humidity causing it to feel around 105 was horrid.

Luckily, I haven’t really heard any of that old “Global Warming” or “Climate Change” business. In other words, it’s been a hot summer and somewhere down the road we’ll have a cooler one seems to be the consensus.

Anyway, it did get me to hunt up this old CNN interview with John Coleman who died about 6 years ago at the ripe age of 83. Coleman was a trained Meteorologist and the founder of The Weather Channel. Enjoy listening to someone who won’t kowtow to the myriads of political power grabbers
wanting more and more:

Lastly – This week Marcia made a reference remarking something about my vision. I’ll close this Rambling with one of Ruth Buzzi’s Poems:

“My face in the mirror’s
Not wrinkled or drawn.
My house isn’t dirty.
The cobwebs are gone!
My garden looks lovely,
And so does my lawn.

I think I might never
Put glasses back on.”

Happy Labor Day to all workers (even slackers like me). And to Vai a happy, happy. You’re turning into a beautiful grownup lady; and becoming First Alto drummer in the school’s Steel Drum band this year is quite an honor.

Life is AMAZING!

May Peace prevail! Shalom.

Dirk

BONUS POINTS:

We have a new Postal delivery guy who wears a Pith helmet (kinda cool). Anyway, which of these is NOT a Pith Helmet?

1)   salacot
2)   topee
3)   kippah
4)   safari helmet
5)   bowler
6)   topi
7)   Panama
8)   deerstalker
9)   sola topee
10) Balmoral bonnet

Hamlet

Happy Saturday morning, and a Recognition of a ‘successful’ (mostly except for the fringes) DNC week –

If memory serves, the time has come to (as was so fervently chanted throughout the halls) “toss away those picture IDs”.
If memory serves, the time has come to (as President Reagan so famously could have said) “break down those walls ‘fences’”.
If memory serves, the time has come to (as Pink Floyd once sang) “Leaving just a memory, A snapshot in the family album”.
If memory serves, the time has come to (as Hilary Klug, “the Arkansas traveler”, could have said) “pack up your bags and head for your promised lands”.
If memory serves, the time has come to (as Tennessee Ernie would be wont to sing) “let your hearts swell in song.”

Safe travels to the delegates (may much of what was spoken sink quickly into oblivion)

So yes, a wee bit of a sweat this week. While watching the happenings in Chicago it had me wringing my hands. The most salient thing being that it dawned on me that much of what I saw as being akin to characters from high school years who were now busily at work trying to run a country. I wasn’t quite sure if we were watching a Ferris Bueller, The Big Lebowski, Clockwork Orange, Arrested Development, or a compilation of all.

All culminating with a wild and unnerving speech last Thursday evening.

But hey, ‘C’est la vie’ (loosely translated into English as; “Sh– happens”)

Hamlet – Thursday evening was the grand finale of the ‘clown show’ in Chicago. As an 180° opposite to that, I discovered that I had the perfect antidote! It just so happened that Thursday evening I could attend a Cincinnati Shakespeare Company staged a performance of the Bard’s classic; “Hamlet”. A pretty dark drama. Perfect!

A number of lines jumped out. Example; “The lady doth protest too much, methinks.“ – Gertrude, Hamlet act 3 scene 2).
Or, “That one may smile and smile and be a villain.” – Hamlet, act 1 scene 5).
Or, “My words fly up, my thoughts remain below: Words without thoughts never to heaven go.” – Claudius (act 3 scene 3).

But in the thick of drama, there was humor. This from the clowns (the play’s gravediggers)

First Grave Digger — “What is he that builds stronger than either the mason, the shipwright, or the carpenter?”
Second Grave Digger — “The gallows-maker; for that frame outlives a thousand tenants.”

Dirk?, you ask. Again, what’s with all this Shakespeare drama? The answer, again is simple. Thursday evening, I was on the grounds of our Spring Grove Cemetery. There to enjoy our area’s esteemed Cincinnati Shakespeare Company as they staged an outdoor performance of the Bard’s classic; “Hamlet”. This made it impossible but to sit back and just enjoy. I had a blast!

“Alas Poor Yorick! I knew him well”

Roy Beck – Decades ago Roy and I were acquainted through children, church, and his background. At the time Roy was an editor at the Cincinnati Enquirer – then a major well-respected newspaper, but prior to that he’d been an editor at the Grand Rapids Press especially on environmental issues; we had stuff in common.

Then he moved to the DC area and Booth Newspapers. In 1996 he founded NumbersUSA. NumbersUSA was started to bring common sense to the immigration issue – both legal and illegal.

It didn’t take long until NumbersUSA was designated as a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center; awkwardly, the SPLC itself was not immune to its own designations.

To counter, Beck ‘hooked’ a quote by the liberal Texas Democrat, Representative Barbara Jordan, who became a “spiritual godmother” to NumbersUSA (wiki) after she chaired the bipartisan U.S. Commission on Immigration Reform committee. They used this quotation from her:

“We decry hostility and discrimination towards immigrants as antithetical to the traditions and interests of the country. At the same time, we disagree with those who would label efforts to control immigration as being inherently anti-immigrant. Rather, it is both a right and a responsibility of a democratic society to manage immigration so that it serves the national interest.”

All this leads to the reason for all of this. Recently I came across a long-forgotten video Roy made. For a period, it was a very popular visual on immigration and its results. It brought back memories from years ago and thought I’d share. Especially considering what has been happening on our southern border these last years and continuing to this day.

Mom ‘n em – mid-week it was the place Marin, and I met up. Great coffees and wonderful sandwiches and therefore the perfect place. It occurred to me that the only time I ever saw Marin was in the presence of family or his girlfriend. It also dawned on me that there needed to be a better way to ‘catch up’, a one on one.

Catch up we did, and it was the best hour+ I had spent in a long time. He starts school next week and this was my seeing him before he begins a new school year. Thanks for joining Marin!

Normalcy – After all the massive hubbub of this week it’s back to normalcy. This morning starting at 10-am our energy company, Duke Energy, has its annual; “Touch a Truck”. It’s a golden opportunity for an “interactive experience” for those who love service vehicles.

If there is any stress remaining it might just slink away with “Touch a Truck”.

Lastly – our baby, Adrianne, is celebrating a birthday today. Time does fly, but for Marcia and me she’s making the aging thing both a great experience and super fun.

Last evening we had a celebratory dinner at the new “Factory 52” complex. Built on the former home of US Playing Cards it’s now been “reimagined as a lifestyle destination, a city within the city”. The developers hit ‘bullseye’.

Happy Birthday kiddo – LOVE you!

Life is AMAZING!

May Peace prevail! Shalom.

Dirk

BONUS POINTS:

Which two of the following words do not describe a “maelstrom”?

1) system
2) bedlam
3) flap
4) fuss
5) method

Sic Transit Gloria Mundi

Happy Saturday morning, and a Happy Baby Boomers Recognition Day – “Better start writing things down before I forget” Day is what it should be called, cause that time is fast approaching.

Yesterday ‘it’ started up. Thinking about ‘it’ will require a fresh mug of fresh coffee.

Recently it began again, Marcia’s slow start of the “it’s time you get a haircut” song.

Haircuts, I just never know what to do. So, I just postpone. Do I ask for scissors? Or, and I can never remember which, is it a number 3 or a number 4 on their little buzzer machine? Or possibly skip the cut altogether and just go for a scalp massage?

Maybe I’ll just let another week slide by. But since it’s an important decision I probably should just ease back a bit with my coffee and think it through.

Meanwhile, as I ponder, brood, and agonize, Marcia actually seems calmer.

Celebration – This is not any lesson in a foreign language – please understand. It’s just a video of the Taliban’s 3rd Anniversary celebration of the gift of Bagram Airfield (‘celebrated’ this past week). They’re thanking their friend ‘Joe’ for giving them this wondrous gift along with the $-billions of military equipment – “Let’s go Brandon”.

When watching you will not find any reference to the 13 military killed with this simple transfer. Also missing is mention of the hundreds of US citizens and even more of the native helpers which ‘Joe’ also tossed into the mix – question, were these merely labeled Collateral Damage as we closed the books on Afghanistan?

I wonder why this major anniversary fest has not been plastered on our newscasts.

Less than 120 miles distant – Aging means that we’re observing, experiencing, and thereby learning more. Often times we’re inadvertently, or by design (think grandparent age), pressed into service as educators. Wearing your ‘educators’ hat I thought you’d appreciate this attached directive to best standardize the learning of kids in what was then one of the poorest areas in the USA. A place (a ‘hollow’ in Kentucky) much like the hollow Trump’s selected VP, JD Vance, was born in (Jackson County, KY).

The place is Bullitt County , Kentucky — 1912 — and then about as back woods as you can get. And here is what their then Board of Education required for students to graduate from the 8th grade public school.

I wonder how those requirements if given to to today’s crop of 8th graders how they’d fare – in any State or any County or any school? I have my thoughts. As a friend, a University Professor, wrote me; “I think all kids would fail, even the ones in elite private schools.”

Yet, through the many ‘ism’ fogs of the DEI, sexism, racism, equityism, climateism scams, there is sanity to be found. And along with ‘sanity’ comes Hope.

A week ago, two of our best intellectuals held a discussion.

Victor Davis Hanson, who prides himself as being a 5th generation farmer (still running the old family farm in Selma, CA). Is a Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution; a visiting professor of classics at Stanford University (1991–92), the annual Wayne and Marcia Buske Distinguished Visiting Fellow in History at Hillsdale College (2004–), the Visiting Shifron Professor of Military History at the US Naval Academy (2002–3), and the William Simon Visiting Professor of Public Policy at Pepperdine University (2010).

Mike Rowe, even though best known for the TV Show “Dirty Jobs”, is basically working hard at keeping America open and things working with MikeRoweWorks Foundation. MikeRoweWorks Scholarship Program gave away $1,000,000 in scholarships this year. ”Scholarships for hardworking men and women who will keep the lights on, water running, and air flowing–people who will show up early, stay late, and bust their asses to get the job done”.

OK, proof enough? OK? Then let’s keep on going. These two giants got together last week and discussed a variety of issues. Towards the end of the discussion Rowe brought up the subject of education in the USA.

Since it’s a 1-hour 20-minute video, I am helping you by pasting a link which is set to begin at the final segment which is the one on education.

https://youtu.be/k-bgX9eQ58w?t=3661

Be certain to stay with them till the end and their special insight. Want to listen to their complete ‘chat’, no problem, just slide the icon over to the beginning.

Socialism – My High School years were spent at a school named Winston Churchill Collegiate Institute. Not sure if it was the school, but Churchill has, as long as I can remember, been a hero of mine. His strong feelings about Socialism had him elaborate that “Socialism is the philosophy of Failure, the creed of Ignorance, and the Gospel of Envy, its inherent virtue is the Equal Sharing of Misery”.

Here’s my favorite quotation by Sir Churchill: “Socialism will only work in two places; in heaven where it is not needed, and in hell where they already have it”.

Winston Churchill & Clementime 1910

The above I’ve posted primarily so that, should we end up with a ‘cackles’ in the drivers seat — at least a few here in the hinterlands are quite happy living with capitalism, thank you very much.

Let’s go out with a song – Last Sunday, a beautiful early evening at our Washington Park (across from Music Hall). Some great music by the Cincinnati Contemporary Jazz Orchestra (CCJO), and jazz singer extraordinaire Mandy Gaines doing music by Burt Bacharach, sounds of Herb Alpert, and Sarah Vaughn: ‘This Girl’s in Love With You‘

Life is AMAZING! (especially since news just broke that the Supreme Court ruled that Title IX be left alone in a 5 to 4 decision))

May Peace prevail! Shalom.

Dirk

BONUS POINTS:

I just added my Driver’s License to my Mobile phone. Question, which 4 States listed are not yet accepting a license in your digital wallet?

1) Rhode Island
2) Colorado
3) Georgia
4) California
5) Maryland
6) Florida
7) Nebraska
8) Arizona

Maudlin?

Happy Saturday morning, and a Happy National Lazy Day – Question to my three or so dedicated readers. You’re probably wondering what would happen should I fail to write. This thought came to me after our local EMT crew rolled (via gurney) one ‘dear soul’ out of our building.

I guess it’s time I came clean. What if since, say, starting with the recent June 1st post The Ramblings had been written by ‘AI’ (Artificial Intelligence). All created by ‘AI’ down to my quirky grammar stuff. So, how should we proceed? AI to infinity? Or Dirk to some finite point in time. It’s truly a maudlin thought, isn’t it?

A thought which, at this early hour, will require a mug of fresh coffee.

Temperature – The high temperatures combined with high humidity are about to disappear. Sure, we’ll bounce in and out of some short heatwaves, but I am beginning to plan for a long and very pleasant Fall season.

105 miles distant – lies the Ohio County of Scioto. Our Hamilton County (Cincinnati) is 105 miles from Scioto. Here in the ‘Nati we have at our beck and call anything that the 21st century offers; best of medical, educational, entertainment, music events, sporting, and recreation, opportunities galore.

Order groceries on line, certainly and delivered when? Yes, thank you. Dinner to your doorstep? Sure.

All to ease and enhance our lives. But, that’s life for most of us.

Then, only 105 miles to the East lies Scioto County. It sits in the midst of Ohio’s Appalachian area. An area as poor as any, and opportunities as bleak as any.

Watch the attached YouTube. Follow the work performed by this young man. This fellow was brought up Amish, left the Amish and now as plies his trade – delivery service for pre-built sheds and the nasty work having to Repo often the same ones. View the attached YouTube and you’ll be shocked when you realize that this was filmed in 2024 and in one of the world’s wealthiest nations.

Stay with the video till near the end to listen to the words from this former Amish man.

VEEP chooses VEEP – I must confess that many years ago I enjoyed the old “Mad” Magazine. One of the first ‘go-to’ pages was always the ‘Spy versus Spy’ cartoon.

This week teenage humor has finally become reality. The inane bungling from the pages of Spy versus Spy has now not only entered real life, but by many has taken on a level of reverence.

I realize the fit isn’t 100%, but the comparison just struck a note.

“The time is now. What can be, unburdened by what has been“, vp Kamala Harris.

One of Germany’s Music Noir’s best, Bodo Wartke, has a wonderful song, “Yes Dear”. These lines from that song I see as being part of our latest VEEP vs VEEP as vp pick Walz starts to see his true role in his new relationship:

“Yes, dear! You’re absolutely right!
Yes, dear! No, there’s no need to fight!
Yes, dear! I must learn to compromise
Yes, dear! I apologize!”

The Olympics and our time – It weren’t until 1948 when the Olympics made a dramatic turn. You see, the ancient Greeks saw the contests as presenting the best of muscle and mind, the arts and the athletic.

When under the vision of Pierre de Coubertin the ancients Greek Olympic arts were to be revived (1896) it was all athletics. However, Coubertin pressed on with his vision and Poetry as well as accompanying arts were finally included. These were all part of the modern Olympics until 1948 when the ‘mind’ and ‘arts’ was dropped for just all ‘muscle’ and ‘athletics’.

However, time march on, we’ve now begun to award ‘rusty’ Bronze medals (true, but they’re being reworked).

BLINK 2024 – Requires to keep your calendar open the days of October 17 through 20, 2024. BLINK 2024 is truly a spectacle to be seen, heard, and savored. It’s an unforgettable four-day, 30 city block, outdoor art experience that unites street art, projection mapping and light-based installations. Back in 2022 it drew 2-million people.

Life is AMAZING!

May Peace prevail! Shalom.

Dirk

BONUS POINTS:

Which song begins with the lyrics; “Hello darkness, my old friend….

1) Bohemian Rhapsody
2) Like a Rolling Stone
3) Imagine
4) Roll Me Up and Smoke Me When I die
5) The Sound of Silence
6) Three Times a Lady
7) Desperado

Howbeit

Happy Saturday morning. This morning nearly 2,000 paddlers are underway in Kayak and Canoes heading the 10-miles down the Ohio. This year I am not among them. However, last evening I was at the pre-paddle party at the river’s edge – and had a great time. Reason for not paddling? My boats are in Canada & the rental ones kill my back. Ok, coffee is ready, back in a flash.

Have any of you been hooked on watching the TV series, Only Murders in the Building? If not, it stars Steve Martin, Marin Short, and Selena Gomez, and is hilariously funny and captivating.

The reason I mention it, this week the series could have been shot in “Our” building. Not a murder mind you, but just about everything else. Marcia said she got beat just sitting in the sunroom watching.

Here are a few titbits; I sat with a home health nurse while she felt up one of our resident’s calves. The fire department with their ‘equipment’ knocked down a resident unit’s door. A resident was wheeled away. I ended up running to a nearby grocery resulting in me making someone a Turkey sandwich with a side of Mango juice (for my homie).

And, with most all our wine bottle cork removers either broken or missing, I managed to remove the cork from a bottle of Malbec (needle-nose pliers are amazing) – Marcia needed a glass after all the above.

Getting ‘old’? – Here are a few reminders that time and age continue to grind on. I came across these. Feel free to submit your own:

Someone said, “30 years ago”, and my mind went to the 1970s, but they meant 1994.

“I just learned that the cast of Friends is now the same age as the golden girls when they started.”

“1981 and 2024 are as far apart as 1937 and 1980 were.”

A child will ask why we say, “hang up the phone”?

I can remember having to pay 10 cents per text message.

Ok, who too can explain what this is? Hint, it’s not a printer (hint #2: I’ve dragged one of these on business trips as far away as Brazil and Singapore).

Remember when Netflix started, they used to send you DVDs? And unlike the competition (Blockbuster & later on Redbox – now both defunct) these did NOT have to be returned in 3 days.

Ask a 10-year-old what “Burning a CD” is. Observe the blank stare.

Do NOT ask a recent College graduate; “how did you feel when you heard the news” relating to 9/11. They weren’t around.

Remind yourself that there is no ‘trip-tik’ app for your mobile. Actually, a highschooler will ask what is a “trip-tik”?

Viewing the Future – this is a must see update as Elon Musk on the Neuralink. This is not an in-the-weeds explanation but is in common understandable language. It’s a where Neuralink is now, where it’s projected to be soon, and what the vision is for decades away. Powerful and fascinating short dialogue.

A Tolling Rolling Bell – 182 years ago an industry leading Bell manufacturer The Verdin Company was established here in town. About a year ago I sat in on a presentation by one of Verdin’s managers. Add to that having seen several amazing Church Carillons and bell configurations in both The Netherlands and Germany earlier this year has me take note of anything bell related.

Across the river in Newport, Kentucky sits the World Peace Bell. It was cast in 1998, weighs 66,000 pounds, and was inaugurated on January 1, 2000 with the first swing. Now, it’s being relocated, after first being placed in storage for a while.

This week, the scope and management of just moving it became a work of ‘art’ in itself.

Screenshot

BLINK 2024 – Requires that you clear your calendar the days of October 17 through 20, 2024. BLINK is truly a spectacle to be seen, heard, and savored. It’s an unforgettable four-day, 30 city block, outdoor art experience that unites street art, projection mapping and light-based installations. Back in 2022 it drew 2-million people.

The Olympics and our town – The US Olympic Woman’s Eight crew is coxed by a Nina Castagna, a young lady from Dinah’s rowing club and who also attended the same Highschool as Dinah – Walnut Hills.

This morning the Women’s Eight Final was held at 4:50 a.m. EST. However, since I am preparing these Ramblings I haven’t had opportunity to discover the outcome – so no ‘spoiler’ worries.

Weekend Highlight – Yes, I did make it to the annual Goetta Festival last weekend in Newport, KY. While there I bought four pounds of the stuff and twice this week fixed a Goetta and egg lunch. As Billy Crystal was wont to say; “mahvelous, absolutely mahvelous”

You know, my father used to say to me, ” ‘Nando, don’t be a schnook.
It’s not how you feel, it’s how. You. Look!”
He was mahvelous!
But you, dahling, hmmmm, you look mahvelous!
Absolutely mahvelous!

Life is AMAZING!

May Peace prevail! Shalom.

Dirk

BONUS POINTS:

What is the total hiking distance (in miles) of our State’s Buckeye Trail?

1)    937
2) 1,444
3)    248
4) 1,299
5)    773
6)    469

Give up? the answer is at www.Buckeyetrail.org