Like millions of Facebook users, I try mightily to eliminate and minimize ads as much as possible on their site. Recently, they found a way to insert “sponsored” ads on the corner of my PC screen. I don’t need a new coffee pot or an interview to become a garbage man. This is another sneak attack, to be sure.
Our United States Postal Service is in a jam, and we all need to help them. I read recently (and should have remembered it) that Benjamin Franklin was our first Postmaster; he was an innovator and revived the then-Colonial Postal Service to increase efficiency and profitability. We need you, Ben, right now. Nearly every resident of The United States is involved with the USPS and with their carriers, and station staff. People in small towns, large metro areas, every state, and US Territories depend on them. Military and government personnel worldwide rely on the USPS to facilitate the delivery of their mail. We all need their services.
I’ve am a life-long user of “real mail.” Even before the pandemic, and despite the emergence of new ways to communicate, my respect for the USPS remains solid. Nearly everyone I know in business, family, and social circles is aware of (and has received) real mail from me. I prefer hand-written notes and actual postage stamps; each envelope I drop into a USPS mailbox is a personal message from me to another. Today, I read an article about the USPS financial dilemma; people using 1st Class mail is way down, which creates a huge revenue problem for the organization. In my view, now, more than ever, people need to be in touch with family and friends.
Buying and using a postage stamp to send a greeting is a super investment in our USPS. Just imagine this: if 1% of the Nation’s population started buying and using stamps to aid communications, the USPS might be out of their downward spiral. I’ll send a few notes out today, so count me in. I’m happy to help.
I enjoy classical art, especially pieces by the French Impressionist painters. I’ve enjoyed visiting museums around the world, and one of the best ever is right in the city of Chicago. The Art Institute of Chicago is home to a massive collection of art, including this particular piece titled “Two Sisters (On the Terrace.”)
I don’t know what it is about this painting, however, each time I visit Chicago, I make a beeline to the museum to say hello to my two “girlfriends.” The colors are vibrant, exciting, and iridescent. When you look at this painting even for a moment, it seems to come alive.
I have a small reproduction of this painting that is hanging in my office. Each time I look at it, I think of how wonderful the original would look hanging in my living room. Hey, if Renoir had been my brother, perhaps he would have given it to me as a birthday present. We can dream, can’t we?
Travel offers fantastic perks, such as meeting new friends and discovering delicious foods. Madrid, Spain, is one of the top “foodie’ cities worldwide. You’ll frequently encounter delicious options—it’s a food lover’s paradise!
Everywhere we looked, everywhere was bustling with people eagerly waiting for food and drinks. Tables were few and far between, so whenever someone spotted a seat or two, a lively rush would follow as everyone scrambled to claim it first. Eventually, we came across a table where four people were leisurely enjoying a generous spread of food and glasses of wine, seemingly oblivious to the chaos around them. They moved over for us.
I pointed to a big bowl of olives and asked what kind they were. With that, he invited us to taste some. None spoke perfect English, but his wife leaned over and asked us where we were from. I replied, “Tennessee.” The man immediately lit up and said, “Yes, Jack Daniels!” So from that point, we were all new friends. We all bought and shared a lot of food and drink, and had a terrific time. At one point, the older man and his son-in-law disappeared; we took that as our signal to depart and started walking away down the small street.
After a minute, we heard a young girl asking us to stop. We turned to see the man’s daughter signaling that her dad had gone to buy a special drink for us, and we should return. We saw six glasses with a beautiful amber liquid at the table. He had gone to get Spanish brandy to toast our friendship, raising his glass and saying, “Cheers to Jack Daniels!” What a guy, family, and memory of Spanish olives and Tennessee whiskey.
Often we all read something that seems too incredible to be true. The US Navy is decommissioning the USS Sioux City after only 5 years of service. Even worse, more ships of this class will be laid up after a similar 5 years of service. All nine ships of this class were built to serve for at least 25 years. This move is due to “design flaws” in the ship’s class.
This has to take the cake of all of the US Government’s missteps. The total amount spent on these ships amounts to $3.25 billion. The more I think about it, the more I wonder how much money is lost due to “design flaws.” Now you might ask yourself what will happen to these nearly new ships? “Upon decommissioning, the Navy said Sioux City would be sold to foreign militaries, and its crew would receive new assignments.” Maybe the US Navy will post them on Amazon.
Among all the amusing things I came across today, the idea of reopening Alcatraz prison really stood out. I can’t help but wonder how the project will turn out. One article mentioned that it “would be substantially enlarged and rebuilt.” Although the prison has been shut since 1963, it seems the planners are undeterred. During a visit, a tourist shared, “I think it’s one of the stupidest ideas I’ve ever heard in my life,” which seems to echo what many of our elected officials might be thinking.
When I was a kid, there was a wild prison break; I wasn’t sure how many inmates were involved. My mom and I were sitting on the grass at Aquatic Park, and we could all hear the gunfire from the area. It’s understandable to want to open it up after spending a billion dollars on repairs. That seems reasonable, especially since they already have signs prepared in Florida.
If you live in any Southern State, you’re probably familiar with hearing this phrase almost every day. People of all ages and genders in the South often use it, and it’s seen as a classic example of social commentary—something that can be personalized in many ways.
For instance, you might say: ‘Bless her, his, their, and your hearts.’ This phrase is a way of expressing your thoughts, which could be anything from: “That’s the ugliest dress I’ve ever seen” to “That house is painted the worst color, ever.” The key is to quickly add the “Bless” word, which gently softens your comment and keeps everyone feeling good.
Living and learning in the south is a challenge, especially for a boy born and raised in San Francisco. However, after 20 years here, I have been able to blend in quite well.
The SS United States was once the pride of the American ocean liners. From her launch in 1952 to retirement in 1969, she was the most beautiful ship to make transatlantic passenger crossings. It was docked in Philadelphia for nearly 30 years while different groups tried to find ways to salvage her.
It’s hard to believe that the ship was purchased by a group that planned to sink her off the coast of Destin, Florida, to be an artificial reef. She is currently docked in Mobile, Alabama, and is being prepared for her final voyage to Florida. In part, there will be a visitors center and a museum display. This certainly seems like a strange and sad ending.
Today, I went to the supermarket looking for sandwich bags, among other things. Since I grew up in an era when my mom wrapped everything in wax paper (I’d have to bring the empty sandwich wrap home), I was reminded of that era when I saw these on sale. I’d like to meet the team that created the slogan “Power Shield Technology.” For goodness’ sake, it’s a sandwich bag.
It seems that Moon Pies are everywhere here in the South. Created in 1917 in Chattanooga, Tennessee, millions have been sold. This image is from their bakery sometime in the 1950s. Although I’ve been in their main store in Chattanooga, I’ve always wondered what their factory looked like. Perhaps they should provide their workers with updated work aprons.
Are we there yet? 