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

äääDefenestrated

Happy Saturday morning. There are mornings where whatever pent-up stuff is regarded worthwhile and writing comes in an amazing flush. Then, sometimes mere moments later, there comes this “huh?” moment. As a result, whenever it’s a ‘huh’ moment it’s likely a second mug of coffee which allows for some settling in. This is a two-mug morning.

Now that I’ve poured a #2, let’s get busy.

Quotation – Here’s a modernized, but very timeless, quotation from Machiavelli’s The Prince (completed in 1514, published after his death in 1532):

“Generosity” funded by debt or currency devaluation is the opposite of generosity: it is the ultimate taking.”

This quotation was especially poignant when Marcia and I swung through our local Aldi’s. This week it was noticeable; comparing equal amount of dollars spent two or three years ago now appears to result in about 35-40% less product in the cart – the difference I’ll treat as a ‘gift’.

Palace Coup – If we read about the events of last weekend occurring in any other country our esteemed media and leadership would assign a list of labels beginning with “Banana Republic”. Yet here we are. And by and large these same groups are either silent or sitting around with an “all’s Okay, nothing to see here” demeanor.

Timeline – Last week all began to unfold with the President attending another ‘shuffle round the stage’ event.

Next morning, he was declared to have come down with Covid—19, and so President Biden was isolated to what can be equated as in ‘house’ arrest.

The President in isolation Tweeted: “Here’s my plan for the first 100 days of my second term.

Within the week, The President; “it’s time to pass the torch to a new generation.”. This via text and              email was sent to staff, media, and the world. The operative word to each and all was ‘blindsided’.              Maybe Party ‘high rollers’ delivered a kick in the pants, a Party Putsch?

Magically (coup?), a day later, totally UNDEMOCRATIC but very OLIGARIC, 100% of the Biden delegates had switched votes to Kamala Harris.

This is the same group of cheats which, Tammany Hall style, previously knocked leading candidates (Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Bernie Sanders) out of contention – no debate, no discussion, actually, no voters required!

Wait, it’s been done before when in 1968 (also in Chicago) Hubert Humphrey was quietly ‘crowned’; without any of the pain of campaigning.

I guess we’ll see where this all will lead.

Two Powerhouses Discus – attached is a Master Class where two of the leading thinkers/doers in the world talk with each other – Jordan Peterson PhD Psychologist/Professor with Elon Musk founder of Tesla, Neuralink, SpaceX, Giga Factory and more. This last section deals with the direction of our nation.

Just a FYI, Peterson is a Canadian & Musk was born in South Africa – mentioning this since you’ll get a bit of an outsider’s perspective.

Set the video to the 1-hour, 26-minute mark. The first part deals much with Philosophy, Psychology, Religion, and History – the kind of stuff I live for – which you might want to also view. Else, just appreciate the discussion.

View podcast here”

Singaporeans – now boast the world’s most powerful passport once again, as nationals are now able to visit a record 195 travel destinations visa-free. This I spotted during my week’s readings.

The Olympics and our town – The woman’s US Olympic 8-man crew is Coxed by a young lady from our neighborhood. As a youth, she was a team member in Dinah’s rowing club.

Then it’s with immense pride that Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra (CSO) music Director Designate Cristian Macelaru  conducted the Orchestre National de France at the Opening Ceremony to an estimated 1.5 billion viewers worldwide.

“plunge for distance”– were they to bring the, turn-of-the-last-century-Olympics-event, back as an event – I do believe I’d try out. In lieu of that event’s return I’ll just watch the 2024 Olympics a time or two.    Click here to grasp the fine details of the “plunge for distance“.

 CHANDRA, NASA’s X-ray telescope — This week is the celebration of the 25th anniversary of Chandra’s launch, NASA is releasing 25 never-before-seen views of a wide range of cosmic events taken by the Chandra X-ray Observatory.

Approximately 60’ in length it was almost the heaviest payload ever put into orbit on July 23, 1999 by the space shuttle Columbia. It’s in a large sweeping elliptical orbit from near the earth to about 1/3 of the distance to the moon. To date it’s made over 25,000 observations. Most impressive is that in the pursuit of knowledge, 700 individuals have earned their PhDs through the information gained through Chandra.

Weekend Highlight – Now I had best start to get ready. Grab my ‘geezer-pass’ for a quick bus ride to the city center. Then a walk across the Purple People bridge across the “Big Muddy” (pretty clear these days) and into Newport Kentucky. It’s their annual Goetta Festival.

Just think, over 50 Goetta themed food items to taste + two or three stages with live music.

As an aside, Marcia will NOT be attending.

Life is AMAZING!

May Peace prevail! Shalom.

Dirk

BONUS POINTS:

What did the middle initial in President Ulysses S. Grant’s name [‘S’] stand for? 

1) Standiford

2) Studebaker

3) Simpson

4) Swafford

5) He didn’t have a clue

6) Salsbury

I’ll accept two answers from the list as being correct

CSO – Pops Brady Block Party

Happy Saturday morning. Last evening was our local block party. Marcia and I went and we had a great time. So, this morning, getting up I was gob smacked when I saw Marcia sitting on the couch with her second cup ‘du café’ — she beat me to being upright. Now that I’ve poured mine, let’s get busy.

Thursday at 3:00 pm I took Adrianne, Tevita, and the kids to the airport. They were off to Boston for the annual Polynesian Days weekend – it was ‘Tongan’ focused this year. I mention the whole time-thing because the traffic was horrid! Almost an hour for a trip what normally hovers around a half hour.

The reason? The new Superman movie is being filmed in town. Union Station is one of the backdrops  for the film. But, it’s the Lytle Tunnel (I-71 into downtown) which was closed to all traffic for 15 minute intervals all afternoon long that was the real problem.

Apparently, Superman has clout.

Traffic being a mess anyway I swung by Costco. Here is one purchase from the place. As you can see, we’re supporting the town of Traverse City. But, if you’ve never tasted Great Lakes potato chips from Traverse you’re truly missing something.

Politics – stormed into our lives front and center. We witnessed the horror of the assassination attempt on former President Trump. The sanest reference on how it could have happened comes from Erik D. Prince, who has had a career in the military, US Navy SEAL officer, and afterwards founded a private military company named ‘Blackwater‘:

“DJT was not saved by USSS brilliance. The fact that USSS allowed a rifle armed shooter within 150yds to a preplanned event is either malice or massive incompetence…………In my old business of providing Diplomatic Security in two active war zones we were expected to execute the basics or we would be fired. Clearly USSS failed at the basics of a secure perimeter and once shots were fired their extraction was clumsy and left DJT highly exposed to follow on attacks. It looked like they had never drilled together because those responses should be effectively autonomic. Will there be accountability? That’s not the Washington way. “

Political junkie – means that I pay (what Marcia calls “way too much”) attention to the matters that impact all our lives. This week it was the watching of the RNC 2024 convention.

It was unlike any political convention I’ve seen in the past. This was upbeat, fun, and offered a huge variety of people of differing backgrounds: College ‘frat’ boys, Gold-Star families, a spry 98 year old WWII veteran who had hit the beaches of Normandy, business types, and even ‘Hulk’ Hogan. To me it was a political event for the history books. Now we’ll see how the Dems fare.

JD Vance – is now officially running as Trump’s VP running mate. Here is a snippet of why I am paying special attention. ‘Special’ not necessarily because he’s our State’s junior Senator, nor that he hails from the little town of Middletown a mere 20 miles up the road. But, here’s why.

Attached is a picture of the cover of one of my graduate school projects and the title will give a clue as to why I’ve been following J.D. Vance since he began his run for the senate. Coming from probably the poorest backwoods ‘hollow’ in Kentucky and a drunk mother to being raised by grandparents up the road here in Middletown.

Do read his book, “Hillbilly Elegy“, it’s the all-American story of how drive, mentoring, and love can get even the poorest to be lifted up.

Block Party – was where Marcia and I were last evening. Several hundred neighbors and friends got together, got caught up, had dinner from Food Trucks (including a ‘cakes & cupcakes’ truck), and music by the city Symphony’s Pops Orchestra. All that on a perfect evening (the temps had lowered and the humidity dropped)

The music offered something for all of us. I took a few clips and put them together. You’ll see an AMAZING local highschooler play her Cello. A local gal singing from George Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess, to music from the Godfather of Soul, James Brown (who recorded at the old King Studios about a mile away). All this in the fresh air, sitting in a bag chairs with sunlight dancing in faces; it really doesn’t get any better.

Life is AMAZING!

May Peace prevail! Shalom.

Dirk

BONUS POINTS:

Which one of these Presidents have everyone in their family with the same initials?

1) WHH
2) JKP
3) RBH
4) LBJ
5) USG
6) CAA
7) WHT

Wit – Zwart

Happy Saturday morning. Had I only been invited to the White House and the impressive NATO meetings there earlier this week, I would still be tasting one of many Double Espressos. Sadly, that wasn’t the case, no invite and therefore no Double Espresso offerings. Still, my own morning brew is just lovely.

What I also don’t think I lost much on were the vast array of speeches; speechifying on any number of topics. Considering the importance of the folk in the gatherings these speeches just had to be important, uplifting – especially those on drawn out wars, and long.

In fact, the renowned Babylon Bee wrote this satire piece on the keynote address: “U.S. — In a much-needed surge in popularity after disastrous debate performances and gaffe-filled public appearances, President Joe Biden’s popularity skyrocketed overnight after he announced Donald Trump as his vice-presidential running mate.”

Personally I would urge these NATO aficionados to pay less attention to the fancy-dinner circuit, and a little more to what powerhouses such as the following two bring to the ‘table’.

Aleksandr Isayevitch Solzhenitsyn – (1918 – 2008) author and Soviet dissident. Spent 8-years in the Soviet Gulag and then in internal exile for criticizing Joseph Stalin. In 1970 was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature. This is one of his countless shrewd insights:

“We know they are lying
they know they are lying
They know that we know they are lying
We know they know we know they are lying
But they are still lying”

Nelson Mandela – (1918 – 2013) South African political anti-apartheid activist. Jailed for 20-years and later became the first leader of democratic South Africa.

“Our world is not divided by race, color, gender, or religion. Our world is divided into wise people and fools. And fools divide themselves by race, color, gender, or religion.”

A Film’s Loss – Most who know me know that I am not huge into movies. Other than several old silence black and white flicks my appreciation revolves around maybe a couple of dozen or so films.

In that small listing are two, The Shining and Popeye. One of the prominent characters in each was Shelley Duvall. In Popeye she played the character of Olive Oyl – and it’s been stated that it was Duvall’s portrayal of her character that pushed the movie into being a massive popular hit.

As we journey around this infinite universe at over 50,000mph it’s no secret that some of us will fly off every day or so as we spin through our galaxy and its beyond. This week it was Shelly Duvall’s turn to explore what lies beyond.

Zwart – Wit – was spotted on the shelf of the Aldi’s (Aldi Nord) in Amsterdam, and my eyes opened wide. Have you ever had a flash-back of some very long-ago sight, smell, sound, or taste? How about one with sight, and smell, and taste all in one package?

There it was on that Aldi shelf just as what I remembered getting as a kid. The white powder delight was then also sold in a cone shaped wrap as it was still. I remember enjoying it by licking your finger, putting it into the stuff, and then into your mouth. Nothing like it. Ever!

Made of anise, salt, powdered sugar, and licorice and my ‘white’ powder came through US Customs without a hiccup. After decades of only remembering this was marvelous!

The Remains – played their ’60 and ’70 sounds a couple of days ago; for two hours straight (without intermission). Two hours with The Remains at a cemetery – Spring Grove Cemetery that is. This surely was one perfectly fine evening.

Urban Jazz – was also on the platter this week. An outdoor concert on the city’s central square complete with a sandwich from Potbelly’s and a can of Heineken was most excellent.

Excellent except for the guy at whose table I found an empty seat; he had one additional ‘add-on’. My new urban tablemate friend advised me that he too loved Jazz, but enjoyed it even more with some ‘weed’; did I mind if he lit a ‘doobie’?

I advised him that this was the new America, and so to proceed as he wished.

Turns out that this guy was schooling wise barely pitiful; however, street-smarts and insight-wise he was brilliant. I ended up hearing some great music and having a fantastically insightful discussion.

I took a picture of him (it was his Tee I liked) and sent it to Marcia who was home. This resulted in her getting worried and calling me to check if all was OK.

Mentioning Marcia. Last Saturday the Kroger grocery delivery came early, and this gave me time to dash off to Findley Market where, on Saturdays Marin’s Blue Oven Bakery sells their restaurant quality breads. If you’re not early enough, then it’s the ‘empty rack’ syndrome.

I got hot soft Pretzels straight from the onsite oven, a loaf of salted Rye Sourdough, and an apricot/walnut Loaf.

Marcia had a pretzel and a slice of the apricot/walnut bread. Within the hour she was on her back on the couch and couldn’t get up – something about stomach and being so full of bread.

Life is AMAZING!

May Peace prevail! Shalom.

Dirk

BONUS POINTS:

We all have been exposed to the works of J.R.R. Tolkien, author and the grandfather of modern fantasy. Question; what was he also known to have done:

1) wrote on scientific subjects
2) held the position of Postmaster General
3) was his town’s Mayor
4) wrote part of the Oxford English Dictionary
5) Fought in the war of 1812

Harmolodics

Happy Saturday morning. Getting my coffee ready this morning I realized just how quickly we’re working our way through the coffee I brought back from Germany, Caffè Gustoso . It’s a bit of a sad realization.

So, here is your ‘word of the day’; nadir; the lowest point in something – “could it be that once we finish up this batch of coffee that we’ll quickly reach the nadir of what is our Saturday morning’s delight?”

“Harmolodics” – Early in the week I took the bus into town for a late afternoon/evening concert on our downtown Fountain Square. My plan was to brave the heat and listen to a jazz concert by a little known group, the Justin Dawson Quartet. It wasn’t so much to hear the group as it was to listen to what they were going to play.

The whole concert was devoted to the music of Ornette Coleman. In fact, their second set was the playing of Ornette’s complete 1959 – Jazz altering – album; “Changing the Face of Jazz”.

It was a wonderful performance.

Some might ask, who is Ornette Coleman? Rather than me blather on, here’s a YouTube to give you some insight:

A strange Fourth – It was a joint decision; we weren’t going to head out to grab one of our surrounding area Fireworks shows. This proved to be a great decision when, exactly at eight O’clock, the rain came rolling in.

Then it got better. Across the street was a porch party and they were loaded up with beer and Fireworks. They were not to be deprived! So, every few minutes, with nearby thunderclaps and sheets of rain, a ‘volunteer’ would dash out with some piece of barely legal Firework (not certain – maybe these weren’t legal).

Through and above the trees we could see the colorful explosion to be immediately followed by the street filling with smoke. This explosion-noise-sparkle-smoke scenario continued till sometime after we fell asleep.

A strange Fourth (part deux) – Mid week my ‘homey’ buddy and I were off to a nearby Kroger’s for some grocery shopping. So, here we were, two grizzled senior types, one loud because the other is hard of hearing, trying to decide on the best hotdogs to buy.

I don’t think our presence was at a level where moms would remove their children from the aisle.

After pass number two through the store, and a little nonplussed, I asked a clerk where the bread aisle was. Turns out it was at the other side against the wall with 3-foot lettering overhead – whoops.

After pointing out the signage and me thanking the young man, he replied with a: “thanks for your service!”.

Me, looking totally nonplussed glanced over at my neighbor buddy and realized he was sporting his ‘Veteran’s’ baseball cap. Yup, that was a first for me. I thanked the lad on behalf of my friend who hadn’t heard him.

Yes, we are a good team!

Life of Brian – During the Seventies I delighted in anything put out by Monty Python. Even solo stuff such as Faulty Towers starring the brilliant comedian John Cleese was all part of it.

In 1979 they made a wonderful satirical movie. Ok, so it was also a wee bit irreverent, but still, as the Brits would say; “brilliant” – Life of Brian.

Anyway, what I want to get across that what we enjoyed as being great satire in 1979 has now become reality — now merely 45-years on our society is just catching up.

It’s not simply reality, but should you laugh at it today, in various parts of the country you can get slapped with a healthy fine. We’ve come a long way baby!

And, Marcia is up. Now, with this week’s Ramblings nearly complete I can join her and be on the lookout for Kroger to deliver her grocery order. Are you beginning to also realize that much of retirement revolves about food? Food to eat, foods to select, food to order, and food to discuss?

Life is AMAZING!

May Peace prevail! Shalom.

Dirk

BONUS POINTS:

Question: Independence Day is not all parades, grilling, flag waving, and fireworks. It also has a darker side. Which three of these former Presidents all died on July 4th?

1) James Monroe
2) John Quincy Adams
3) John Adams
4) Thomas Jefferson
5) Andrew Jackson
6) Martin Van Buren

A not so compendious ‘bit’ on travel

Happy Saturday morning. Just think, today is the start of the 2024 ‘Tour de France’. While we’re sitting back, maybe with feet up enjoying our morning coffee, all over people are peddling, walking, and running, and riding.

As I’m writing my brother Pieter and his grandson, Wyatt, are about to start their bicycle trip crossing The Netherlands from West to East.

And, reflecting on my travels of a few weeks ago, there was plenty of riding, pedaling, and much walking and climbing. All this we’ll explore today.

“Moorish” influx – has finally arrived to the ‘Nati – this too is part of traveling these days. For some time now I’ve come across videos of people who pride themselves on being “Moorish” Sovereign Citizens. A clap-trap wayward group who drive the authorities crazy with their “we’re traveling and we’re not driving” jargon.

Under this ‘umbrella’ they seem to believe that there is little need for them to be on the road with a driver’s license, Insurance, or vehicle registration.

Invariable their arguments fail, nevertheless much like the dandelion crop in your yard, they keep on springing up (the internet is a powerful thing).

Now, mere blocks from my home I spotted this auto (car, vehicle, conveyance – whatever they call it) parked by the curb. Whoever owns the ‘thing’, I wish them luck. Happy traveling!

Traveling in all of its forms – Here is a quick compilation of all that it takes to get around Europe.

First, be prepared to do a lot of walking and climbing. My little wrist gizmo had never been so busy.

Then, be prepared to pedal. Pedal a bunch! In our case, by day two of our stay we found ourselves sitting on a saddle for five hours while we explored fields, canals, and historic towns (Monnickendam in this case.

The above clip is of the new 7,000 bicycle garage built underneath the canals in front of the Amsterdam Centraal Station (Amsterdam’s main train station)

Then, be amazed at just how well the public transportation system operates. Everything from buses and trams to short rail and long-distance high speed ‘bullet’ trains – 184mph was the top speed in our case. Wait times never exceeded 10-minutes in our case it averaged 6-minutes or less.

Polynesian fun – Last week I mentioned that we’d be heading up to Beavercreek, OH for an evening of Polynesian dance, music, and food. What made it special is the focus and costumes specific to each of the many island nations. Then, just how Marcia and I, as proud grandparents, enjoyed watching Vai and Vili participate. It was quite and evening.

Here’s a short piece of one of the dances – the Poi Ball dance.

Life is AMAZING!

May Peace prevail! Shalom.

Dirk

BONUS POINTS:

Question: Now that we’re finishing up the never ending, twenty weeks of Pride Month, in the US, which of the following is observed throughout the entirety of July?

1) National Watermelon Month
2) National Hot Dog Month
3) National Ice Cream Month

Happy Saturday morning. And actually, this week’s title; ‘canapé lit deux places’ is a bit of a lie. These past weeks crisscrossing Europe I slept well and did so comfortably. In fact, these past weeks have been beyond expectations and memorable to the extreme.

Even down to remembering that back at home we were getting close to running out of coffee. So, in downtown Berlin, I popped into a nearby Aldi’s (a ‘Nord’ branch one) and picked up a 1,000g bag. Schlepped it around for a week, and yes, entering the USA it was given a quick test for nasty drugs, but this morning I am sitting here drinking a wonderful mug of Barissimo’s ‘Caffé Gustoso’. Good stuff.

The most difficult ‘bit’ is catching up on the time and sleep deprivation – but I’m managing both. The other is shifting from temperatures hovering in the high 70s to being subjected to a week-long onslaught of high humidity coupled with real-feel temperatures between 101 and 105F. My body isn’t yet willing to accommodate.

Marcia keeps extending her arms – palms out, hands wiggling, and tossing out the words; “So Sorry”. That’s our current favorite way of saying; “No More”. Seems she has heard the many, ongoing stream, of my travel tales one too many times.

In all honesty it’s been difficult to not get caught up with the retelling of one happening after another.

Hence, I will just relate one bit (and possibly add to this a little on subsequent weeks). Let me know if that satisfies.

The Polynesian – community in SW Ohio is having a festival this evening in Beavercreek, OH. Tevita, our master roaster, is doing a pig. Vaioleti and Viliami are involved in dances (complete with Polynesian dress), Vili in the Polynesian intimidation Haka dance, and both in the working of Hawaiian Poi balls. This proves that there is absolutely no slow-down with our life here in the ‘hood’.

The trek home – As you might guess, detailing my crossing the pond on the way home tells my tale in reverse order – so be it. Subsequent weeks will have details of a different single stand-out event. So, stay tuned as my tale unfolds.

These days all of Europe is wrapped up in the UEFA EURO 2024 soccer tournament. One of the many cities hosting is Munich. We, Kirstin, Derek and Kellen, and Moi, were there for the German-Scottish match. The ‘Tartan Army’ ruled the city. Whole city squares were wrapped in song; “No Scotland No Party”.

A day later I was on a train heading for Amsterdam and my flight home (Kirstin and the boys flew out of Munich). Boarding I had a table seat and except for a few Germans the wagon was filled with partying Scottish lads heading for their team’s next venue.

When I say “partying” it’s serious stuff. They were awaiting my arrival with a cold brew on the table. And a never-ending stream of ‘brewskies’ kept on coming. Singing in the aisles and hugs all around. What a time!!!

Oh, oh, a problem. First, a broken train ahead of us had us stuck in a tunnel for 40 minutes. An hour later the train again stopped. This time for Police up the track time to clear drunks of the same track (this is a bullet train mind you). Traveling and massive delays are not conducive to efficiency and deadlines.

In this case I missed my connection to Amsterdam from Dusseldorf – and that was the LAST train of the night. Horrid for catching my early morning flight.

With some help from my compatriot partygoing Scotts and a German lady who came from a village a few kilometers from where I was born, I was parked in front of the Station’s, Deutsche Bahn railroad manager. 20-minutes later I was on a pre-paid (courtesy of Deutsche Bahn), new Mercedes taxi van which dropped me off at Terminal 3 – Schiphol airport Amsterdam at 3AM.

Life is AMAZING!

I won’t bore you with the details of delays and other hiccups and lack of Customer Service concerns by United Airlines. Let it be said that my scheduled 3:00PM return to the ‘Nati’ was magically moved to 9:00PM.

Now – Welcome back to my readers. Thanks for hanging in

May Peace prevail! Shalom.

Dirk

BONUS POINTS:
Question, answer in subsequent weeks. French Huguenots favored:

1) John Calvin
2) City of Berlin
3) Dutch Poffertjes
4) Soccer
5) Gouda Cheese
6) EV Bicycles
7) Rocky Road ice cream