250

Happy Saturday Morning – Since this weekend is our nation’s 250th, I’ll kick it off by counting the period from the first of this year in a vigesimal counting manner. Ok, so in that fashion, I hope you’ll have a wonderful celebration, on this nine score plus 5 days. This is how President Lincoln would have expressed it.

Here’s some Black Coffee to get my (and your) morning started

GOOOOOOOOAL – I am still trying to gain my breath back from watching the team from tiny Cape Verde stay toe-to-toe with the reigning champions from the last World Cup, Argentina. !Wow

What I watched last evening had to be soccer’s version of ‘Rocky’. The way the contest is structured, there must be a winner and loser – no second chance. But sometimes the game itself is so good that to me and other spectators it was the game itself that was the winner.

Truly, it was the ‘Beautiful Game’ playing out.

“Pragtig” (as I would say in Dutch)

Psssst, Argentina 3 -2

Then, exactly one year ago I had the time of my life. Ah, for the memories.

A Reading – Today, for only the second time in 100 years there will be a public reading of the Declaration of Independence in downtown’s Washington Park. A great venue as you can see from this concert that I attended last year.

The list of readers is varied. You’d expect the perfunctory list of ‘blowhard’ politicos – and there are some. But how about Jeff Berding, co-executive director of FC Cincinnati our professional soccer team to Dr. Lakshmi Kode Sammarco, MD is, who since 2012 has been the Hamilton County Coroner and a board certified neuroradiologist. She is recognized nationally for her work, introducing the idea of “virtual autopsies” and who secured her office’s forensic investigation capability into a nationally recognized facility.

Then I must add, who my mother as a recent widow, babysat for a baby Lakshmi.

You gotta love this town.

Quotation – From an amazing elder statesman: “What exactly is your ‘fair share’ of what ‘someone else’ has worked for?”

and this
“When you want to help people, you tell them the truth. When you want to help yourself, you tell them what they want to hear.”

Dr. Thomas Sowell, Economist, Historian, Social Theorist, who celebrated his 96th birthday this past week.

Cold Breakfast – We’re experiencing a week of ‘real-feel’ temperatures of higher than 100. Thus, the smart thing to do is enjoying cold breakfasts. It was our Kirstin who alerted me to the fact that Costco had an oats variant which is prepared by cold cooking – on Sale. Then this item is enjoyed with either a spoon or drinkable straight from its overnight place in the refrigerator.

Since summer heat has kicked in, I’ve been enjoying my morning oats. More importantly, I have implemented the perfect hack to get a perfect mix I enjoy and which avoids having to buy envelopes with a corporate blended mix. All it took was for regular rolled oats to spend 5 seconds in my coffee grinder along with some protein powder, cinnamon, and Chia seeds, then a night in the frig.

This week’s Interlude –

I am certain you’ll guess this singer’s name; the trick this week is to come up with the name of the song. Check if you’re correct. A hint, this is the perfect day to hear him sing it. The name and song title are found below. Complete songs can be found on Spotify and others.

Enjoy!
Life is AMAZING!

Dirk
BONUS POINTS:

This week was the start of the Wimbledon Championships classic in the UK. This tennis contest, around since the late 1800s also mandates all white clothing be worn as homage to its beginnings. Those early tennis balls were also white, and this was a concern to spectators and to the judges as they ‘disappeared’ against the all-white. It was Sir David Attenborough then with the BBC who suggested that dyed balls be introduced (Optic Yellow was selected). What was the year this changeover happened?

1. 1955
2. 1967
3. 1958
4. 1963
5. 1974
6. 1977
7. 1981

Last week Bonus Points answer – # 6
Answer this week’s Interlude: Ray Charles, “America the Beautiful”

Things & Phases

Happy Saturday Morning – After a week where you, my readers, had a breather from these Ramblings, for me it was an unwanted interruption. Starting last Friday, I lost my WiFi connection. Both the modem and router were fine; the problem was with my laptop.

Late Friday I got back to try and figure out what was going on. It didn’t take that long to find the culprit; in the Device Manager, I found that the “Killer Wireless Network Adaptor” driver had a malfunction.

Easy fix.

‘Easy fix’, except for the fact that it was now well into World Cup2026 matches and Father’s Day weekend. All that was required was for me to download a fresh driver.

Monday, after getting Marcia settled, I shot up to Micro Center to buy the dongle I required to connect a RJ-45 cable to the laptop and gain wired connectivity.

So, no worry, all is good! All good, except for the fact I now need to pause one more time; this time to pour my morning coffee.

Simplicity – Have you ever taken note of something we all have lived with since childhood? ‘Something’ such as those great bits of childhood fun that caused excitement, comradery, arguing and making up, got new friendships, and kept us out till dusk and moms with the old battle cry; “DINNER”, rang out?

We called it a variety of things, races, battles, teams or whatever; but whatever we called, they were games. Simplistic fun games.

This past week I heard an advertisement on the radio which offered more than just playing backyard “Beanbag-Toss”. With great background music the radio pushed all to join up with some national Beanbag-Toss federation. I suspect that by ‘joining’ you’d be eligible for properly sanctioned boards, bean bags, and of course specific team clothing and the like.

You’d get everything while simultaneously losing out on fun. Why? Well, just think, a Federation needs authority at the top alongside lawyers and marketing folk, not to forget training of referees etc. Whoops, can’t forget the rules, new rules, added rules every year.

Give me the fun I received playing the simplistic games of my youth alongside a ton of learning.

Phases – Life continues non-stop. For ease of pointing out where we are along that continuum, we’ve cleverly organized into a series of groupings. The common groupings are, infant, toddler, child, grade schooler, high school, etc. Then things like newlyweds, the working years, and retirement.

There is a phase which I call the wedding years. That period where we ourselves might jump into that fray. In any case, for a while it appears that barely a month or so passes by without someone, we’re close to, expecting us to show up at their wedding. It’s a time when your dancing shoes wear out and the champagne flows freely.

And then it stops.

Mostly. There are a few ’round two’ events.

Now I’ve entered the season of the loss! Since the New Year I’ve lost two family members Marin and Carolyn. Add to that the loss of my college roommate, Gary V, and the project partner for my Graduate school Comparative Study project, Detlef M.

Then this past weekend I received word that my dear friend, Ron S. had passed after a brief but vicious illness. To Ron I owe the amazing position I held until my retirement; this came after he urged the President of the Company I ended up working for to sit down for dinner with me. ‘The rest is history’ as that old and trite saying goes.

RIP all.

It was as our Founding Father, Benjamin Franklin, who wrote this witticism in 1789; “In this world, nothing is certain except death and taxes.”

Neither are easy, both are painful.

Burial – Dave Allen (David Tynan O’Mahony, 1936-2005) Irish comedian/satirist/actor mentioned that in old Irish Catholic tradition, on each day the first burial had the deceased head straight for Heaven. Here is how it would play out:

WC2026 – It’s been a week of soakings, soaking on soccer that is; World Cup 2026. Last evening Marcia even got ready for another round, (Uruguay vs Spain) by downing a dish of Fluffermutter ice cream before the game even started.

Having said that, even I think that watching three games per day is over the top. When I finally got to bed a little after midnight Friday morning I promised myself that this needed to stop. So, last evening I did not watch the scheduled 11:00pm game — New Zealand – Belgium.

Other than a ‘love’ for coffee I have minimal patience for those hooked on stuff, including soccer. Even worse is watching a game with pranksters.

This week’s Interlude – Every so often we all have a moment here and there where we want something to tap our toes to. Tap your toes without resorting to some old tune we loved long ago. So, here is something probably new to you. This band started and is still based in Birmingham, UK.

And, as a hint, they founded and starred in the ‘Swingamajic’ music festival.

Good luck, remember to match both the group and the title piece to be correct. Make your guess a good one!

I hope you guess the band’s name. Check if you’re correct, the group’s name and song title are found below. Complete songs can be found on Spotify and others.

Enjoy!
Life is AMAZING!

Dirk

BONUS POINTS:

Just about 160 years ago the Russian Empire was hurting for cash after their Crimean War. They had a chunk of remote land, a frozen chunk. Not only that, but by location it is awfully difficult to defend. Hence, under the stewardship of Secretary of State William H. Seward Alaska was purchased. The price was a pittance, even though opposition to the purchase termed it as “Seward’s Folly”. We had now acquired a slab landmass twice the size of Texas. Question, how much did we pay per acre for purchasing Alaska?

1. $1.25
2. $0.95
3. $2.73
4. $0.55
5. $0.12
6. $0.02
7. $1.02

Last week Bonus Points answer – # 7
Answer this week’s Interlude: Electric Swing Orchestra, “Empire”

What’s a FIFA?

Happy Saturday Morning – After a week where the “real-Feel” temperature hovered at 100 it’s turned cooler. In fact, the cooler mid-seventies temperatures will be with us all week. Today is glorious!

Already, the thought of a hot steaming mug of coffee (as soon as it’s finished perking) is a welcome thought. Either Marcia heard me or she smelled the coffee, but she too is up.

FIFA – This week’s Ramblings title asks, “What is FIFA?” Here is your answer, FIFA is headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland. It was put together on May 1904 as the self-governing body of the differing nation’s soccer clubs. The name stands for the: Fédération Internationale de Football Association.

See what I learned last year when I volunteered for FIFA during last year’s FIFA Club World Cup 25? I had a blast and was invited to participate this year – would have had only the ‘Nati been selected as one of the host cities.

CINCINNATI, OHIO – JUNE 25: FIFA President Gianni Infantino meets with FIFA Club World Cup 2025 volunteer Dirk Pastoor at TQL Stadium on June 25, 2025 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Eva Marie Uzcategui – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)

GOOOOOOOOAL – Soccer World Cup play is underway. Last evening team USA filleted Paraguay 4 – 1.
I guess we’re in the mix for real.

Though I am really waiting for the game tomorrow at 4:00 my time in Dallas; Netherlands vs Japan. As an original FIFA member, it’s about time that the Netherlands climb the World Cup ladder. As the Dutch are wont to say; “at the wedding over and over, always a bridesmaid.”

This could be the year; they do have a very good team. But then, there is always Poland trying to block the door. And Poland is surrounded by her bouncers; Argentina, Spain, France, England, and Portugal.

Faith my boy, have faith! Let the Lion ROARRRR!

Sabotage – It not any secret that I think highly of the older Citroën automobile. This is especially true for the years of Citroën’s president, Pierre-Jules Boulanger. Under his leadership the 2 cylinder Deux Chevaux (2CV) was conceived and the big T45 already in production.

The French were producing their T45 busses. The Germans ordered them to turn it into a heavy-duty flatbed truck which had many absolute firsts, most notably was a ‘special’ oil dipstick.

World War II, broke out and the Nazi’s ordered Citroën to produce vehicles for their military. Had Boulanger refused it would have meant death or some prisoner camp. If overt sabotage were to take place it meant a similar outcome with a real possibility that the factory be closed and workers would be out of work.
Boulanger the engineer went to work.

They devised several potential bits, the one they implemented was brilliant. Boulanger ordered that the high-low oil level markers on all dipsticks be micro ‘adjusted’. There was no noticeable change to the vehicle. However, by the time the oil showed low, internal engine and piston damage had already occurred. It wasn’t long before the Citroën T45s began to fail frequently and miserably.

The Nazi’s were suspicious of something but never really discovered what was going on. By war’s end Boulanger was suspected and on their ‘black’ i.e. pick him up for any possible excuse list. Boulanger survived the war.

Segrada – Approximately 20+ years ago Marcia and I spent a few days in Barcelona. Aside from seeing a four-masted cruise ship up close to where it was tied to a pier in the harbor. Topless beaches and spandex clad (mostly fat as me) Germans. And a team of two guys popping open a car trunk at a traffic light and running off with suitcases. The couple inside the car looked absolutely nonplussed and had no inkling what had gone on until the perps were long gone. But that was not the best.

The best for me was Barcelona’s Sagrada Família cathedral. Designed by architect Antoni Gaudí 144 years ago, it’s exterior was completed this month marking 100 years since architect Antoni Gaudí’s death.

I couldn’t talk Marcia into climbing the main tower, so I went by myself, climbing up as high as was allowed. It was a stunningly memorable experience. What we both were enthralled with was the structure’s exterior. Gaudi did not want any straight lines on the building – something he achieved. The structure and the experience were truly awesome!

Quotation – Anne Frank was born on yesterday 97 years ago (June 12, 1929), in Frankfurt, Germany. The monsters who took her short life did not even come close to stifling her brilliant insights.

Here is a favorite Anne Frank quotation: “How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.”

This week’s Interlude –

Good luck, remember to match both the group and the title piece to be correct. Here’s a hint, I learned to love this music over the years of travel.

I hope you guess the band’s name. Check if you’re correct, the group’s name and song title are found below. Complete songs can be found on Spotify and others.

Enjoy!
Life is AMAZING!

Dirk

BONUS POINTS:

We all remember or read to little ones Nursery Rhymes. These rhymes have come down through the ages. Many assume they’re just happy, joyful, catchy ditties. Many claim they have hidden meanings of war, murder, death, and religious persecution. Closer study seems to find most of them do not have any dark or deep meaning. On the list below, which one might have an inkling of truth that it does hold a secret:

1. Humpty Dumpty
2. Mary Had a Little Lamb
3. Who Killed Cock Robin?
4. Ring Around the Rosie
5. London Bridge Is Falling Down
6. Jack and Jill
7. Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary

Last week Bonus Points answer – # 5
Answer this week’s Interlude: Buena Vista Social Club, “Chan Chan”

Heading for 250

Happy Saturday Morning – Yesterday Marcia actually got herself a real job. The Unit next door which Adrianne and Tevita had sold, has the new owner getting the place ready to her liking. Yesterday the first cadre of service types marched in. That business required the building’s entry doors be kept unlocked, and here is where Marcia discovered her niche – keeping track who enters the building. And it worked.

This is not some joke, people have reported packages missing, yet they have the delivery service’s photograph showing the delivery. We’re taking steps. In the meantime? See where this is heading? Thanks Marcia!

As a morning bonus, when she gets up I’ll ask her if she would like me to put a dollop of whipped cream in her morning coffee. If it were me, I’d say yes, where I normally would say no.

‘Optimist’ Definition – 1835 local business clerks and leaders formed a private ownership library club and with it donated 700 books. Cincinnati’s Young Men’s Mercantile Library – all for self-improvement was born. Shortly thereafter our Chamber of Commerce was started there in 1839. Short years later (1845), because of a fire, they lost the library.

But back to the optimists. The fire of 1845 was devastating but that was not the end – there is a ‘Pheonix’ to this story. The fire was quickly followed up with these early business folk donating $10,000 to rebuild the building in return for a new library to be housed right there in downtown on its top (11th) floor.

Plus, under the guidance of local icon Alphonso Taft, father of President William Howard Taft, they gave the $10,000 rebuild in return for a $1 per year lease for an unheard of 10,000-years – and it’s RENEWABLE!

Every year speakers of note are brought in. Over the years iconic names including Ralph Waldo Emerson, Herman Melville, Harriet Beecher Stowe, Julia Child, and Margaret Atwood have shown up on the roster.

Now, you must agree, that each of these founding people are the true definition of being Optimists!

Education – Browsing during my almost daily pre-bedtime pastime I came across a couple of items. Here is the main ‘bit’ in the first piece, the ages of our Founding Fathers (or should I say, Founding Kids?).

We’re so used to seeing sketches and paintings of each of the names we all memorized when they were in their later years. It’s not until you park their actual ages front and center at the time they placed their signatures on the Declaration of Independence, now 250 years ago, that you realize just how young they were when they put their lives on the line. And did so while facing the world’s most powerful Nation – its armies and Navy.

Common sense would say that certain death was their future.

On July 4, 1776:

James Monroe, was 18
Aaron Burr, was 20
Alexander Hamilton, was 21
James Madison, was 25
Thomas Jefferson, was 33
John Adams, was 40
Paul Revere, was 41
and George Washington, was 44

What was it those many years ago that allowed such an amazingly high level of understanding, insight, perception, and astuteness by such a young group.

Today, we have young folk too who display the energy, brawn, and foresight our Founding Fathers also displayed. But as I see it, there is a difference. I tend to think that now our dependence on electronics and the drop in classical education, plus the lack of face to face interactive discourse has become a huge negative.

In addition, the reliance on the ‘mobile’ and ‘tablet’ rather than exercising the mind with debate, and writing skills has caused a decline in our ability to interact in the best manner possible.

Recently I saw on a NASA site the questions from the eighth-grade final exam from 1895 in Salina, KS. The exam was a total of 6 hours of allotted time broken up into five specific sections each containing 10 questions (I’ve listed the five below and included one of the 10 questions from each).
Click on 1895 in Salina, KS to open the NASA page which contains all the questions. You’ll be astounded and shocked!

Grammar (Time Limit – one hour)
Give nine rules for the use of Capital Letter

Arithmetic (Time Limit – 1.25 hours)
District No. 33 has a valuation of $35,000. What is the necessary levy to carry on a school seven months at $50 per month, and have $104 for incidentals?

U.S. History (Time Limit – 45 minutes)
Give the epochs into which U.S. History is divided

Orthography (Time Limit – one hour)
Define the following prefixes and use in connection with a word: bi, dis, mis, pre, semi, post, non, inter, mono, sup

Geography (Time Limit – one hour)
Name all the republics of Europe and give the capital of each.

Quotation – Dr. Steve Turley, PhD Education: “Lewis (author C.S. Lewis) explains that while the cultivation of virtue was central to classical education, modern education stifles such moral formation by teaching a scientifically-inspired mechanistic vision of the world.”

Own a Buck knife? – Marcia has owned one for years. Every so often it ends up somewhere away from where she normally keeps it and then it’s not long before a search is underway. She loves that knife.

For a variety of reasons, with so many mainstay companies it appears that “the end is near.” This detailed description of the history of Buck Knives I placed here because of Marcia’s love of the product.

If these things don’t interest you, skip the video. If you do appreciate them, take the time to soak up some amazing background:

Cuse – Over the last couple of years, being our family’s ‘eyes’ regaling our Dinah’s love and work she puts into rowing, I’ve kept you abreast of her adventure. This past year she’s been a member of the Syracuse University rowing team.

Last weekend was the NCAA Rowing Championships DI. Twenty-two teams qualified. Syracuse sent three boats to Lake Lanier Georgia – this was a first. Based on points, Dinah’s program placed 9^th nationwide – a first; they are immensely proud. Now looking towards the 2026-27 school year.

Go CUSE!

Highlander memories – As an aside, way too long ago I was on that same Lake Lanier racing in the Highlander class day-sailer, crewing my friend Mike’s boat in the Nationals. The Highlander is a 20-foot high performance one-design racing dinghy.

The day of the finals the wind was touching 25 knots which really exceeds the upper wind limit for a race. This was after a delay a day earlier and hence a ‘GO’ decision was made – crew safety and equipment failure be damned.

Mike, the Captain, worked the rudder, main, and was the start strategist, and race tactician. I was the meat hanging overboard as the boat healed and worked the Jib and the Spinnaker. I do remember several waves depositing small squirming fish on the boat’s 7’ bow.

Such fun!
Wonderful memories!

This week’s Interlude – June is a massive month when it comes to the release of major hit Rock music. This past week, June 3rd 59 years ago, was especially ’vibrant’ when a song which had to be modified for radio streaming length and lyric ‘modification’ was released. The insert included a much-loved solo. The last couple of ‘Interludes’ have been difficult, so here is a major hint – the city of record for the group is Detroit.

Good luck, remember to match both the people and the title piece to be correct.

I hope you guess who the singer is. Check if you’re correct, the singer’s name and song title are found below. Complete songs can be found on Spotify and others.

Enjoy!
Life is AMAZING!

Dirk

BONUS POINTS:

When we look at other nations, whether it be to the north, or even western Europe it’s our jobs report which powers along. For May it exceeded expectations. Our May new hires added to the U S economy was:

1. 67,000
2. 145,000
3. 79,000
4. 85,000
5. 172,000
6. 38,000
7. 210,000

Last week Bonus Points answer – # 7
Answer this week’s Interlude: Doors, “Light My Fire”

Furlough

Happy Saturday Morning – Here, after a couple of days, I can still taste the dinner I made; it was a SUCCESS!

Trying hard not to get into a dinner eat pattern and loop, in my new role I try and spread out and vary our dinner fare. The way I view it, the actuality of these dinners of mine are mostly ‘singles’ with a few ‘doubles’ tossed in. Last Thursday evening’s dinner was a Home Run!

Using our gifted last Christmas Air Fryer (Ninja from Costco) became the base. The final product was a Spicy Black Bean & Cheese Nachos – topped with Salsa and a healthy dollop of Sour Cream dinner. It was a Success!

This morning over my mug of freshly brewed coffee, I am still happily ‘licking my chops’ (yesterday’s lunch was leftover nachos).

Here schools have just begun Summer Break. On my walk last evening I spotted the very first kids after dinner yard party.

Furlough – Finally a Friday (yesterday) where I managed to get some exercise in. In the morning it was our regular 45 minutes of Cross training on Zoom with my brothers. That session was intense enough with weights, bands, and movement to have me finish up with some sweat.

Then, last evening after dinner Adrianne swung by for a visit. With her here it gave me a half hour to get a walk in – 13.6 furloughs; and it felt really good. Thanks Adrianne!

A Historical ‘hood? – People are amazing. For almost two years I’ve attended a number of meetings as well as listening to the updates given at neighborhood association meetings. I’ve listened to details explained and opportunities given to raise questions. All of this was to plan for a possible neighborhood classification change to Historical District status.

Finally, it’s at a point where the city council is ready to vote on the matter.

Now, watching a newscast there they found a person who was perturbed that this (two yearlong) event was sprung on him without notice. I guess I shouldn’t be surprised.

Our Chanel 9 TV won’t allow the video they made on the subject to be replayed other than on YouTube. Here is the link, well made with drone footage: WCPO Chanel 9

Air Hub – devastation to a city. Cincinnati’s airport, CVG had steady growth. Then in the 1990s a local entrepreneur came up with an idea – a network of connections to a large hub and so the birth of the commuter airlines came about – Comair. Comair was the first offering of what started the nationwide commuter airlines network. Early on prop planes and then quickly Comair regional jets filled the skies.

Next, Comair was purchased by Delta Airlines. Quickly, CVG was grown into the largest Delta hub next to Atlanta. Delta was on a roll – a roll into Chapter 11 that is. Misery loves company and so Delta and Northwest Airlines merged. Northwest with a brand spanking revamped airport in Detroit easily won the cost savings battle, hence Delta vacated CVG as a hub and with it ‘flew’ the 670 daily departures per day away from CVG.

Probably, had it not been because of the now former CVG CEO, Candace McGraw, we’d still be stuck in the muck.

Under her tenure with Delta’s grip loosened she brought in several low-cost airlines. Quickly we dropped from being the highest cost fare airport in the nation to one of the most affordable. Next, she tapped into the Cargo boom. This landed CVG to become the global Amazon Air hub as well as a major landing spot for Germany’s DHL and their bright yellow and red freighters.

I’ll fill out this little history lesson with this well-made video by Plane Curious. Enjoy:

This week’s Interlude – I guess I am a true ‘generalist’, especially when it comes to the various styles of music I enjoy listening to. This week’s “Interlude” features a Folk singer and songwriter. As a hint to help you zero into this person, here are three facts: he was the only performer to be invited on the Johnny Carson Show – twice in a row. He was also a participant in the creation of the Presidential Commission on World Hunger in 1977 and his debut album made a huge impact selling over a million copies.

He would have been a few months younger than me; passing away at the young age of 38.

I hope you guess who the singer is. Check below if you’re correct, the singer’s name and song title are found below. Complete songs can be found on Spotify and others.

Enjoy!
Life is AMAZING!

Dirk

BONUS POINTS:

The Great Depression of the 1930s translated into tough times for a large portion of people in the nation. Mealtime was an area where types of food, preparation of food, saving leftovers, etc. all were handled differently. Looking at that family favorite, Meatloaf: how, if any, changes were made to this classic mealtime staple?

1. No change whatsoever.
2. Began to use ‘poor man’ vegetables, i.e. onion etc
3. It quickly was made with 25% add-on food products
4. It quickly was made with 35% add-on food products
5. It quickly was made with 15% add-on food products
6. 75% Oats & Breadcrumbs
7. More than half of weight was veggies and grains.

Last week Bonus Points answer – # 4, 5, 9
Answer this week’s Interlude: Taxi · Harry Chapin

“The Prayer”

 Happy Saturday Morning – Busy, busy this week. A graduation and a funeral, plus playing host to our senior daughter who insisted on sleeping in my little office (couch life just won’t do any more). The sleep on a fold out 3”+ pad style affair mandated that a lot of ‘rooting-around’ in the office take place. Best have an extra mug of coffee to absorb all of this.

The funeral required some serious shuffling around my clothes closet to try and assemble an ‘assemble’ of stuff which didn’t have and array of company logos, 5K event sponsors, or some wild Caribbean flower theme. Finally, I found slacks from way before the skinny pants look took hold (Marcia says that what I had looks like a long skirt). My black suit jacket had a ticket stub in the side pocket which made me think I wore it last on February 28, 2004.

So, instead of moping on all this, it made me grateful to be retired and didn’t have to wear the stuff much anymore; once every 22 years is enough. By the way, does anyone have any really wide, really short, tie?

Corner News – Yup, every day is still a quest into the unknown here on the corner of Chaos and Mayhem. Thursday morning Marcia was the first to spot a 30’ tree branch laying on sidewalk and into the street.

I had a vision of me with my little pruning saw – the chain saw being in Canada.

About an hour later a city truck pulling a chipper drove by, backed up and two workers began the branch removal. I went out to thank them for their quick response. Guy smiled and told me that no one had called. They were on their way to an assigned job when they spotted our branch. He said that even though the tree was not on city property, the branch stuck out enough to hook it to the chipper. In under 10 minutes they were underway. Kudos to these two workers!

Then, last evening shortly after dinner the ‘team’ rolled in next door; 4 fire wagons, a chief’s car, ambulance on standby as was the ladder wagon. Whatever was going on next door cleared up in less than an hour. And this is how we introduced Kirstin to the corner of Chaos and Mayhem.

 Carolyn – Cathy’s mom passed away recently. This past week was her Celebration of Life, interment ceremony, and social gathering. Even after her passing Carolyn let it be known that she was still in charge. Spring Grove Cemetery & Arboretum is an extensive complex. Her service and gathering were held in adjoining spaces. Normally Spring Grove, at these events, manages providing the foods, etc.

However, Carolyn ever still in charge, had insisted that foods be catered by her favorite restaurant, the Oriental Wok at The Regency, a high-rise in our Hyde Park neighborhood. Our delightful plates were from, you guessed it, Oriental Wok.

Even her last goodbye made sure that all was in order:

“Did you close the garage door?”

Children’s Book Readings – Early on this week brother Art and I were talking. Don’t know what brought it on, but he said; “do you remember that as a child you were being read to?” I didn’t. Times were different in many ways.

However I do remember reading to our grand kids and every week while in town taking the ‘kiddos’ to the local library for “book hour” where a big part was the reading of a kid’s book.

Now as an adult and with adult eyes it’s fun to see that in the great children’s literature various levels of meaning are beautifully embedded.

During Carolyn’s final hours Cathy spent time with her and what better way than to read a child’s book, one with a wonderful meaning. Her choice to read to her mom? The “Grasshopper on the Road,” by award winning author Arnold Lobel.

The story has the grasshopper on a whimsical journey with a cheerful Grasshopper who discovers a beautiful path and encounters a world of very busy characters. Grasshopper doesn’t pine for their ‘exciting’ lives, he “remains content, enjoying each step of his journey without the need to rush. This charming tale celebrates the joy of simplicity and the beauty of embracing one’s own unique path.” (from Bookey)

Cathy closed the story she was reading to her mom with the piece about the worm living in an apple. In the story the apple fell and broke into pieces. Growing up, whenever something would go amiss the family refrain would be; “too bad worm”, playing on the worm in the story crawling out of the bad apple.

Now, as death neared and her body began to shut down, Cathy chose to review with her mother that old family favorite. Nearing the end Cathy envisioned her mom, remembering that child’s story, just like the worm crawling out of his broken home saying, “Oh never mind. It was old and it had a big bite in it anyway. This is a fine time for me to find a new house.”

For Carolyn, I believe this time with Cathy was a wonderful way for Cathy to acknowledge her mother’s love, the gift of contentment, wonder, satisfaction, and the beauty in pausing for special moments. Moments she had in her own life and had passed on to her children.

Graduation with hints of Polynesian highlights – Vaioleti did it! Graduation from Clark Montessori High School proved to be quite special. The event was held at the University of Cincinnati’s 5/3 Bank-Arena (Bearcats basketball). Aside from the typical Pomp and Circumstance played by the school’s jazz band the Steel Drum band played a number written by a previous graduate.

The graduating drum members left their seats and joined to play in the band one final time. At the end of the ceremony all 90+ graduates formed a circle for a candle lighting ceremony where, at the end, a large candle was lit as that flame moved over the Junior class, next year’s seniors.

Now came the fun. Under her gown Vai wore her Tongan wardrobe. Tevita had brought a Tapa for her to stand on, and people started placing Leis around her neck; strings of candy, live flowers, and money.

Then many were placed around school friends, even a security officer got leied. It really was a major highlight of the event.

This week’s Interlude – Is a piece that was played at Carolyn’s Celebration of Life. The audio is a minute from the piece played. Play it and without looking below, try to name the who sang and what played.

The singer’s name and song title are found below. Complete song can be found on Spotify and others.

Enjoy!

Life is AMAZING!

Dirk

BONUS POINTS:

Travel, especially air travel, is producing more and more headache for passengers. Rules being adjusted, new ‘can’t do’ rules implemented. The latest is Southwest Airlines which announced; “today Southwest updated our internal policy banning ………………………… ”. What was it that Southwest announced?

1. 1. Be at the gate at least 25 minutes prior to boarding
   2. Refusal to purchase adjacent seat for extremely obese
   3. Over age 65 is seated in an emergency row seat
   4. Purchased food in a separate bag – item must be hand carried
   5. Any companion dog weighing in excess of 32 pounds
   6. For safety reasons, no ‘flip-flop’ footwear
   7. No self-powered accompanying robots

 Last week Bonus Points answer – # 4, 5, 9

Answer this week’s Interlude: The Prayer · Andrea Bocelli · Céline Dion, The Best of Andrea Bocelli – ‘Vivere’

“a Prom eve”

Happy Saturday Morning – This morning we’re on the edge of possibly turning the heat back on. What’s preventing me is that over the next few days it’ll be just shy of the 90-degree mark and I just know we can make it. In the meantime, I’ll pour another mug of steaming coffee – Marcia has already asked if my mug was empty (her way of ‘suggesting’ she was ready for a refill).

Looking forward – Marcia’s titanium hips are works of wonder and work beautifully. Struggling the most is balance. As we age staying ahead in the balance game becomes more and more of an issue.

With my brothers we work out together via a Zoom session twice a week, and have been at it faithfully since 2022. Aside from occasionally adding a newly discovered routine or dropping one used little we’re adding more stretching and balance activities into our workout bits. The loss of balance is a main cause of a slow downward spiral as we age.

All of this said working to improve balance has Marcia and I to an (almost) daily walk about the property. We should all make it a highlight in daily life.

Crown ‘Vic’ – Sometime during the last couple of weeks the last Crown Vic ‘Interceptor’ used in a police force went out of service. That model was probably produced at the height of America’s desire for having an everyman available massive sedan parked in their driveway.

I never owned one, yet I drove one regularly for a couple of years – enough of the puzzling? OK, for a while I was Police trained member of our local “Citizen’s on Patrol.” Mostly we walked our neighborhood, carried a police communication radio and had access to a parked at the station older Crown Vic Interceptor cruiser (blue lights changed out for amber lights). The last to get a bit further into the ‘hood.’

As an aside, I really enjoyed our volunteer work and based on the comments we received, often from residents living in the sketchiest part of urban (ghetto) areas. Often, as we walked about the streets, it was a voice from a porch or a handshake that I knew they too appreciated us being around.

Prom innovation – Last evening Vaioleti and her classmates were partying the night away on their senior prom. She outdid herself in the fancy-dress department and looked beautiful.

What made this Prom different is that the whole event, meal, dance, and party took place on a Riverboat – the Belle of Cincinnati tall stack paddle-wheeler. Next, you’ll ask me; “why does this make an evening with wild teenagers different?” Think it through.

• No running out to the parking lot to a stashed bottle of alcohol.
• Everyone is in a contained setting.
• The boat returns on schedule, and this establishes a framework for the event.

As being old enough, Marcia and I believe this Boat cruise to offer something different with views of lighted up city views from the river in a wonderful setting. We’re waiting for an update later this morning.

This week’s Interlude – Not a guessing game this week. Thought I’d just post this great song from one of my all-time favorite Soul and R&B singer; Clarence Carter. We lost him this week, aged 90 and blind since age one. And yes, his work on occasion could be a bit on the prickly side, this made it that much more real. Enjoy:

Now I best get involved seeing how Dinah and her Syracuse University rowing team is managing in the ACC (American Coast Conference) Rowing Championships. They are rowing against schools such as Stanford, Cal, Notre Dame, Louisvile (my alma mater), Duke, Virginia, and Miami.

Enjoy!

Life is AMAZING!

Dirk

BONUS POINTS:

Last month it was King Charles III who addressed a joint session of the U.S. Congress. This session was one of only 11 where a monarch made such an address. Of this list, which three made more than a single presentation?

1. King Kalakauaa
2. King Juan Carlos I
3. Queen Beatrix
4. King Hussein I
5. Queen Elizabeth II
6. King Bhumibol Adulyadej
7. King Baudouin
8. King Mahendra
9. Queen Juliana

Last week Bonus Points answer – #1

“30 second Pitch”

Happy Saturday Morning – To all the mom’s, wishing you a very Happy Mother’s Day weekend.

Marcia received a Christmas gifted Bird Feeder from Kirstin, a clear plastic one I affixed on the bedroom window near some shrubs. Loaded it with Black-Oil Sunflower Seeds and, for two months, NOTHING!

This week when Marcia lifted her head off the pillow, there in the feeder, was a Cardinal. Since then, I too have seen the bird. SUCCESS!

Yesterday, as the morning coffee was still percolating was when I opened my mobile to check for any texts – family on the west coast tends to forget the 3-hour time shift – that was when I spotted a minutes old text from Jason here in town. And so it was that I learned that Cathy’s mom, Carolyn, had passed away during the early morning hours.

We were aware that her illness had no cure and her life on earth would end in a few short months. Carolyn, always the strong manager had said, ‘enough is enough’ and succumbed peacefully with family at her side. May her soul rest in peace.

With Cathy, Jason, Dinah, and Jim our arms Marcia and I embrace you, and strive to give comfort during the days ahead.

Pre the Civil War – Every so often I’ve strived to use these Ramblings to give you a bit of our local history, usually history not that common. This is one of those weeks.

Prior to the War between the States Cincinnati was the furthest southern and western major city. Cincinnati was Union and a bridge away it was Confederate territory. Although as the war loomed, both sides had contingencies loyal to their opposition, the net result was that this town became a major player in the Underground Railroad.

Harriet Beecher Stowe’s father was an abolitionist, and the young Harriet would sit on the stairs in the evening listening in as her father held ‘meetings’. This listening in led to her eventually writing the book every school child is expected to read; Uncle Tom’s Cabin. By the way, her house is just under a mile from where we live. Also, locally there are homes still occupied with basement ‘escape tunnels’ once built to allow unseen exit and start runaway slaves on their journey north.

Effects from the Civil War – I mentioned why this city was important during the war. Coupled with the Ohio River, several railroads and the Erie Canal made it a huge prize for both sides. These railroads feed the city; the place became a hub. For old-time railroad aficionados these included the Little Miami Railroad, Cincinnati, Hamilton & Dayton (CH&D), Ohio & Mississippi Railway, and the Marietta & Cincinnati (M&C) Railroad.

All this made sense to create a military recruiting, training, and medical post – thus Camp Dennison was born a little north-east of the city on open land. The camp’s medical section started with over 200 beds by using converted barracks. By 1862 it had grown to about 2,400 beds making it one of the largest Union hospitals treating civilians, wounded and injured soldiers, and even some Confederates.

From this beginning it is easily seen that the town became a medical hub with the effects still visible today. With numbers of medical folk settling here permanently, medical and even mortuary science schools quickly followed. Historically we can point back to that early start and today, depending on whether specialized care facilities such as a major eye surgery facility are included, there are approximately 25 to 35 hospitals and major medical centers. Personally, I’ve spent a number of hours at the CEI (the Cincinnati Eye Institute) and had major work done there. The local Cincinnati Children’s Hospital is rated number 1 in the nation and among the world’s best.

At our nearby Spring Grove Cemetery there exists a section dedicated to casualties from the Civil war. A number of these passed at Camp Dennison. These burials accelerated Spring Grove Cemetery and Arboretum into the stunning place it is today.

30-second pitch – Grand daughter Vai will graduate from Highschool in a few days. Her school, Clark, is a public Montessori specific school. As part of their graduation regimen, aside from the standard work completion and tests, they each have to prepare, and present, a senior project of their choice. A little over 90 graduates, a little over 90 projects. Think of a topic and it was probably presented.

So, the complete piece was written and handed to the teacher. A one-page visual describing in detail with drawings/text/ photographs the specific project was then printed in color on a 3-feet by 3-feet paper.

Now, here is where it got interesting. Thursday at 6:30 parents, siblings, friends, teachers and students all assembled on the school’s soccer pitch. On the pitch’s surrounding fencing each of the 3X3 papers was hung and each graduating student positioned themselves by their project. People walked around, looked, read what interested them and asked questions and a description – the 30-second sales pitch.

Vai told us later that she gave over 15 of these small talks. Her topic centered around the fact that ever-expanding tourism was detrimental to Hawaii – primarily in cost of property to the local native peoples, a looming freshwater shortage, and loss of natural vegetation and wildlife.

I loved the concept, loved the effort put in by the students, and loved the manner of presentation!

Kudos to Clark Montessori Highschool graduating Students and the Staff.

This week’s Interlude – I know, this music is best suited for a cold, snowy, winter ‘s afternoon or evening with a fireplace crackling as there being nothing better when reading a favorite book in such a setting. ‘Nothing’ plus a wonderfully pure voice and accompanying music as background. This mostly Folk, this singer fits that bill with her “pure and sultry” vocals, all without any of today’s devices and auto-tune.
The singer’s name and song title are found below. Complete songs can be found on Spotify and others.

Enjoy!

Life is AMAZING!

Dirk

BONUS POINTS:

For over a decade it is that Amazon and its Prime delivery division have created an expectation that should we want most anything it can be delivered to your home by the next (or often the same) day. But for the better part of the previous century, it was Sears (and the ubiquitous Sears Catalog) which was the common ‘go to’ shopping experience. These are some of the stranger items found in the Catalog. Is this list correct?

1. Medical Electric Belts
2. Tombstones
3. Bees
4. Kit Houses
5. Worm Syrup
6. Asbestos Baking Sheets
7. Heroin
8. Vapor Cabinets
9. Apples

Last week Bonus Points answer – #1
Hope Sandoval vocalist, songwriter – Bavarian Fruit Bread: Around My Smile

“Memories this May”

Happy Saturday Morning – as you and I are sitting here lovingly enjoying these Ramblings and your first sips of morning coffee (or your Breakfast Tea) there are people who are on a different tack. Granddaughter Dinah rows for the Syracuse University, she is one of those; “on a different tack.”

Now that the academic year is finishing up, her dad asked her what she’s currently doing on a daily basis. Apparently, it’s get up, do some stretching, have breakfast, working out for 4 hours, eating lunch, then working out for another 4 hours. Much of the ‘work out’ time is on erg machines.

Last weekend they raced both The Ohio State University and the University of Michigan at U of M’s “Wolverine Double Dual” in Ann Arbor . Ohio in the morning where her 8-man boat won by seven seconds ahead of the Buckeyes. Then that afternoon was made complete with a thrilling, razor-thin, victory, racing to a 6:46.6 finish – just .3 seconds ahead of Michigan (that is POINT-three seconds for their win).

May 5, 1945 – This week, 81 years ago, was the official surrender of Germany. In the Netherlands two separate dates are observed as part of the remembrances of the events of World War II (not World War 11 as US Representative A.O. Cortez stated in a brilliant moment).

On May 4th there is Remembrance Day (Dodenherdenking) in the Netherlands which honors all those who suffered and were killed during the conflict – civilians and military. This is a somber day of reflection..

Then, May 5th celebrations in the Netherlands are festive with Liberation Day (Befrijdingsdag) the day where liberation from the occupation and a new freedom returned.

Memory #1 – Around the corner from my childhood home, Richardholstraat 7, is a main roadway acting as a ‘spoke’ coming from the city center, the Kuipersdijk. All I remember is my mother holding my hand and as we entered the Kuipersdijk it was filled with cheering and singing throngs. All along the curb were big, military trucks – each filled with Canadian soldiers; something I found out about sometime years later. It was a soldier who handed me a piece of fruit which thrilled me to no end.

Then, what I remember is getting really angry with my mother. She took the fruit away from me, that soldier had given it to me and not her. When we got home, she first peeled off that wonderful orange colored peel before handing it back to me. I had never seen an orange!

Memory #2 – Is of Arthur Seyss-Inquart, who served as the Reichskommissar (Reich Commissioner) for the German-occupied Netherlands from 1940 to 1945. He was captured after the war, convicted with other senior Nazis at the Nuremberg trials, found guilty and was hung. One of the few memories I have of those times is a memory from after things got back to normal when, as a tyke, my dad took me on a trip where we were able to tour Seyss-Inquart’s bunker. To my kid’s eyes and memories I remember it looking like a normal home with couch and chairs. What I really remember as being much more interesting is going into a nearby Nazi ‘pillbox’ with its massive gun still sticking out and silently pointing westward towards England.

A New Surgeon General – This I am making note of in no small part due to the number of health related events our family and extended family has dealt with just this year.

For week after week the name of Dr. Casey Means was ‘wrung’ over, debated, argued, maligned, until last week when her name was finally pulled as a candidate for our next surgeon General. So, who exactly is Casey Means? In short, she graduated from Stanford Medical School, trained as a head and neck (otolaryngology) surgeon at Oregon Health & Science University, dropping out after 4.5 years of her 5-year program. Consequently, she is not a board-certified surgeon.

Apparently, the reasons for dropping out were ‘burn-out’ with the system and disillusionment with the traditional healthcare system. In terminology I can understand, she tired of ‘fixes’ rather than going after the root causes.

I’ve read and listened to long-form interviews with her (and also her brother Calley). “Together they are, prominent in the “Make America Healthy Again” (MAHA) movement, advocating for systemic changes in the American healthcare system, focusing on root causes of chronic disease, and opposing corporate influence from the food and pharmaceutical industries.” Ai Overview

Knowing her MAHA interests made it not much of a shock that her name was pulled inside the walls in DC. Away from the major monies pouring in by lobbyists and the industries funding them. It’s sad that a brilliant person poised to make positive changes is stopped short by too many occupying the seats of power.

This text of Means opening testimony at her confirmation hearing:
“We are now the most chronically ill high-income nation in the world. We live shorter, sicker lives than peer developed countries. Today’s children are projected to live shorter lifespans than their parents. We spend trillions annually on reactive sick care; nearly 150 million Americans rely on federal healthcare programs; and we invest more than $50 billion each year in research—yet outcomes worsen and disparities widen. Our nation is angry, exhausted, and hurting from preventable disease. Rates of high blood pressure, many cancers, autoimmune conditions, type 2 diabetes, mental health disorders, dementia, neurodevelopmental challenges, and youth suicide have all increased in the past two decades.”

Fastest 2-minutes in Sports – will happen later today as a short 100 miles up the road the 152nd Kentucky Derby will be over and done for another year, all within in a mere 2 minutes.

Even living close by, I have never attended the Derby. It’s not because of the drive. For two school years I drove between the ‘Nati and The-Ville so the drive is not an issue. I have been at Churchill Downs and even walked on the track but never attended the main event. Then, I’ve been asked if during my bar tending years, had I ever made a Mint Julep? Yes, I have. But I’ve never had one – tasted yes, had one no.

All of these points to the fact that I really have no negative reason, somehow, I just never made the effort to be part of the main event. What is interesting about today’s running is that 18 of the 20 3-year-old thoroughbred entries were born in the Bluegrass State.

This week’s Interlude – This week I spent some time listening to a major ‘voice’ from the last century. The band delivered a wealth of music, had a frontman with a great voice, and a guitarist who delivered this solo (and wrote much of the piece). The guitar he plays is affectionately called Big Red and which he made with his dad. Oh, and during his ‘spare’ time this band’s guitarist got a PhD in Astrophysics. Also, he was knighted and appointed Commander of the British Empire (CBE).

Answer can be found below: band and guitarist names as well as the song from which this solo was taken at end of Ramblings. No Googling!

Enjoy!

Life is AMAZING!

Dirk

BONUS POINTS:

What seems like it’s a few short years, the CD format was actually first introduced to the public in 1982. Which one of these developed the format:

1. Sanyo
2. Sony
3. Philips
4. Mitsubishi
5. RCA
6. A Starlink division
7. Sony & Philips jointly
8. Apple & Philips jointly
9. Apple

Last week Bonus Points answer – #1
Brian May guitarist for Queen – Bohemian Rhapsody guitar solo

“Sing a Song of Sixpence”

Happy Saturday Morning – as I am sipping on my fresh and glorious mug of Starbuck’s Pike Place coffee. While thus sipping, Dinah and her team members from Syracuse University women’s rowing team are in Ann Arbor, Michigan, for the Wolverine Double Dual. She’ll be going against Ohio State at 9:00AM and then against the University of Michigan at 1:00PM.

Were hoping we’ll get real-time updates since Marcia and I have on site representation – Jason and Cathy are there.

Should you spot a few ‘fat-fingered’ errors here and there, excuse me. For dinner last evening I set out to make fancy hamburgers for our dinner. These are only proper dinner fares if properly fitted with all the ‘bits’ that make it so, i.e. tomato slices, onion slices, greens, etc.

Here is where I ran into difficulty. I had a great looking red onion and proceeded to make some thin slices. It was while doing the slicing thing on my mandolin that I proceeded to move from just onion slices to add a slice of my right thumb.

I was impressed by the efficiency of the Tri-Health Urgent Care facility I got treated at, especially CNP Eliezar Agaran who ‘addressed’ the issue. My health record shows that I had my last tetanus shot back in 2017, so all is good. Now, let the healing begin.

Skyline: Sad Day in Naples – This week, after several decades, the one and only Naples Skyline Cincinnati Chili parlor is closing. It would not surprise me in the least if my Naples brother is wearing black garb as a sign of grief for the remainder of the month; this I see as an opportunity for all of his ‘Naples-Pink’ shirt collection to get a ‘deep’ cleaning.

George claims that the area where the parlor is located is in a transition area where new are replacing old and rents are increasing substantially, i.e. franchise ownership couldn’t keep up with the times.

Skyline: Happy Day in the ‘Nati – For a limited time most Skylines, by popular demand, will be bringing back the: the Skyline Dip Chilito. This ‘beast’ is a combination of a chilito and Skyline Chili dip — cream cheese, chili, cheddar cheese and Fritos wrapped in a flour tortilla.

Hum that ‘80s advert jingle; “Tumm-tum-tum”, for the rest of the day after eating.

Aging, a mind thing? – This week the Boston Marathon was run. As expected, the Kenyans won (both men’s and women’s). But that is not what this bit is all about. This piece of Rambling is about an event dating back to 1966 and fast forwarded to 2026.

Her name is Bobbi Gibb (born Nov. 1942). In 1966 running the marathon was a men’s only event. That year 24year old Gibb hid in some bushes near the starting line. After the starting gun fired, she dashed out and embedded herself into the throng – running the race unofficially.

The next year (1967) a change was made when Katherine Schwitzer was allowed to register and run (bib # 261). One hiccup, a course official spotted her and tried to physically get her off the course.

But Dirk, you say, this piece is about aging. True, therefore the reference Gibb. This year a statue was unveiled showing a female runner in honor of the occurrence in 1966 and the beginning of both men and women participating. Not only did Gibb do the unveiling, but it was also Gibb herself (an artist during her adult years) who designed and crafted the statue. Her age? Merely a young 83 years!

Duck Tape? – Ohio has some craziness, one of this is the annual Avon Duck Tape festival by Cleveland. At the other side of the state is the ‘Nati and we feed into the Avon Festival with our very own Duck Tape sculpture display in Washington Park across from Music Hall. This year, to celebrate our 250th anniversary the sculptures will be on view in Washington Park from May 8 to 18 as part of the Art Academy of Cincinnati’s annual “Duck Tape® at the Park” exhibition. All right, here we go…….

Testing the New – I had an idea. This week after months of minimal activity I did a solo 5K – with my earbuds in and music playing. That’s when it came to me, why not introduce the music I enjoy to my (at least 3 or so) readers. Introduce just enough (1-minute) to keep it legal and give a flavor of what I enjoy.

I’ll post the artist’s name and the song title at the bottom of the Rambling to first allow you to try and guess what you’re listening to. Likewise, if anyone has a favorite you’re dying to share send me a note by clicking below with the song title and I’ll research and get it. Then, rather than just a boring read you can sit with bated breath waiting for your music to appear.

I’ll ‘give it a go’ as my British friends would say and see if this Ramblings add-on should be something to keep.

Life is AMAZING!

Dirk

BONUS POINTS:

This last week 41 years ago a new product was introduced. This new product became the worst marketing disaster of any new product to date. Which company introduced that disaster:

1. Coke
2. Anheuser Bush
3. Ford
4. General Motors
5. National Cash Register
6. 3M
7. IBM
8. Kodak
9. Hayes

Last week Bonus Points answer – #3
Music: Gerry Rafferty (Scottish, 1947-2011) – Baker Street