The Friday Link for 1/28/22

Boy do I have a lot for you this week on the Friday Link.

Let's start with one I've been waiting to post.  Cinema Sins, the guys behind the "Everything Wrong With..." YouTube page, have had a long history of poking relentless fun at the Fast and The Furious movie franchise, with good reason.

Now a fan of the franchise might ask "what's the big deal?  So they are not the best movies but they're fun." Fair to a point, but this time around Cinema Sins makes the best observation about these movies.  After swinging in a car on a cable and crashing into a mountain, AND SURVIVING in a ridiculously unbelievable stunt, the host makes the point [paraphrasing]: These people never have any consequences for anything.  They don't die, they don't get seriously hurt, and their survival becomes more and more ridiculous with every stunt.  At least James Bond films usually have a much better plot and script, and the unbelievable stunts in Bond films are limited to one or two a movie, NOT EVERY FIVE FREAKING SECONDS!  There is nothing exciting about watching a movie with absolutely zero consequences.  Agreed!

I HIGHLY encourage you to watch all the Fast and Furious takedowns from Cinema Sins, but to start us this week is Everything Wrong With F9.  Warning, some salty language.

I also wanted to post some videos from Encanto.  The latest Disney movie is sensational, but after spending the last 20 years watching the Disney films with my kids, it's not a surprise.  There are numerous Disney films on my list of best films of the last 20 years. 

My kids now are starting to age out of Disney films, at least going to see them in theaters with their parents.  I didn't see Encanto when it came out, but I noticed it now on Disney Plus and decided to watch it last weekend.  It's fantastic.  

The story is about a magical Columbian family, but that is all I'm going to say.  Go see it.  To tempt you a little, here are some of the songs from the movie.  To begin let's get introduced to the Family Madrigal.

The character Luisa is a great one.  Here is a song where she talks her issues with her sister Maribel. 

And finally, We don't talk about Bruno. The song is the highest charting Disney song since 1995, beating everything from Frozen.  It's catchy.

The entire movie is catchy!  I'm a big old Minnesotan with Scottish heritage, but maybe I have a little Columbian in me! 

Have a great weekend.  Stay safe.  Get vaccinated, wear a mask and social distance.

Preventing mild inconvenience should never justify ignoring unnecessary suffering.  

The Friday Link for 1/21/22

I have recovered from the COVID and I have a humdinger of a Friday Link.  First this warning!

The second and third clip tonight are adult themed and there is some raunchy language. Seriously!

To start you off with a clean slate, let's get the opening musical number from the musical Six.  The original cast presents Ex-Wives. 

It's a fun light musical. I really have enjoyed the songs, and not the worst history lesson either.  Think of it like a Spotify version of a British Hamilton. 

Now, once again, we are about to take a turn into Adult town. Viewer be warned.

The show Letterkenney is hilarious. The story is about rural Canadians and their lives, but it's the writing and delivery which sets this show apart.  The rapid fire dialogue is hilarious and so fast you need to watch it twice to get all of the jokes. 

Here are two of the better bits. 

But once again, these are quite adult! 

Time for a Hick Off!

And (you can already see where this one is going) let's meet their neighbors, the Dycks!

I know, I know.  Childish and immature. But they made me laugh.  I thought Canadians were so reserved.

Please get vaccinates and be safe.

The Path to Victory

Most midterm elections, the party of the incumbent president usually has a rough go at it.  It's often that the US House and Senate will see changes in leadership and this trickles down to state elections.

2022 might be different.  There are a few things playing against the Republicans, in regards to over taking the Democrats in the House and Senate.  The main one is the Senate where the Democratic races are mostly safe, but Republicans are looking at uphill climbs in Wisconsin and Pennsylvania (and depending on the candidate, Missouri too). And while Georgia and Arizona might look like harder seats to hold for the Dems, the truth is the candidates running for the GOP in those states are likely going to be hampered by their allegiance to the far right lunacy of the post-Trump era.

The House is the same way.  If the Republican candidates for the US House represent the party of anti-vaccines, 'Trump won in 2020,' and 'the 1/6 Insurrection was an inspiration,' they're in trouble. Taking Minnesota for example; the GOP will easily hold MN 06 and MN 07, but MN 01, 02 and 08 become much easier for the Democrats to control.

Then again, Democrats can screw this up EASILY!  I have seen election after election where the GOP was doomed, but here comes the Democrats bumbling the easy layup, missing the backboard completely and somehow breaking their leg in the process.

Democrats, forget the 80 page strongly worded memo most Democrats could care less about.  Forget the fringe policy you have convinced yourself will win you the day.  Forget banking on the 21 and under crowd you keep expecting to show up but who never do.  Forget trying to win over 20 Republicans by sacrificing 90% of the Democrats platform to do so.  Forget trying to convert the Democrats into the new Socialist Democratic Party.  NONE of those strategies will win 2022.  Instead focus on these four things, and you will destroy the Republicans.

#1 - Religion

This is the hardest one to convince Democrats to embrace, so it's why I'm starting off with it. Democrats have always been the party of Freedom of Religion.  It's not that most of them are not Christian (which they are) it's just they seem to understand religion is their personal choice and everyone else is entitled to make their own choices on how their worship, IF they choose to do so.

Republicans are the opposite. They are Christianity centric, and while they begrudgingly acknowledge there is a Freedom of Religion in the US, their ranks have become more and more infiltrated with Christians who are less and less tolerant; ones who say "you can be any religion you like, as long as there's a Bible, a Christmas Tree and Easter eggs."

Republicans started down this path in the post Nixon era where they desperately needed a plan of attack.  They proudly became the party of anti-abortion, bringing in Christian chants as their rallying cry.  It was wildly successful, so much so modern right wing Christian churches have reverted to preaching a very stripped down version of the Bible, one that's solely about validating Republican politics, forsaking about 90% of Jesus' teachings.

This is where Democrats now have a chance at striking back with the Christians.  The modern Conservative Christians hate when you remind them of the Gospels, particularly Matthew and Luke.  Let me back up. The reason Christians are Christians is Jesus Christ. They believe Jesus was God on Earth and his resurrection was the beginning of the Christian faith.  In the New Testament of the Bible, there are four Gospels, Matthew Mark, Luke and John.  This four books of the Bible are where you hear the story of Jesus.  They're full of direct commands from Jesus and...most Republicans avoid them like the plague.  Sure they like the Christmas and Easter stories, but most of the rest of the Gospels is a liberal paradise; feeding the hungry, sheltering the homeless, taking care of the sick, welcoming in strangers from strange lands, anti-war, anti-weapon, and (particularly in Luke) condemnation of wealth worshipping and obscene wealth.  IT'S TRUE! 

Republicans will always refer to the Democrats as sinners, using Democrat's pro-choice stance against them.  They accuse them for violating one of the 10 Commandments 'Thou shall not Kill!'  Putting aside their hypocrisy on this one Commandment (the original text means the death penalty is a big no-no too) this is always the ONE COMMANDMENT they use to bash Democrats on abortion.  And frankly, Democrats allow them!

Christianity is not like The Lord Of the Rings, where 'one sin shall rule them all.'  Republicans don't even want to look at the rest of the Ten Commandments which Trump and their party violate fairly consistently (like 3, 4, 5, 8, 9, and 10, especially 7!).  Republicans have erased most of the Bible to make this one sin paramount, and it's time the Democrats remind them of that. 

This is not about converting anyone to Christianity, OR making this a Christian country, and you can begin your rebuttal with that exact statement, but you can quickly fire back "does your Bible have the Gospel of Matthew and Luke, direct teachings of Jesus, because your politics likes to tramples those teachings."  They will get outraged, BUT YOU'RE RIGHT!  They do ignore a large portion of the Bible!  Throw that in their faces with as much vigor and energy as they throw their fake piety into everyone else's.  

Encourage Christian Republicans to sit down and read the rest of the Bible they've forsaken.  If you can make even 2% of the Christians Republicans stop and say "Hey, there are a lot direct teaching of Jesus the Republicans eagerly violate. Maybe I shouldn't so blindly vote Republican," you'll put a pretty good dent into their loyal voting block.  At the very least you dismantle the false notion that Christians need to be Republicans.

I know a lot of Democrat get uneasy about challenging Republican Christian lies.  Fine, but you have no excuses for not attacking them in the following three categories.

#2 - Healthcare and Vaccines

The Democrats had a lot of success with healthcare during the pre-COVID 2018 election cycle so I'm surprised they did not hammer this home far harder in 2020.  If they had, they probably would've won much larger majorities in the House and Senate.

Republicans have really screwed up by leaving this issue on the table.  The far right has made a party tentpole out anti-vaccine rhetoric and conspiracy theories.  Somewhere along the line these fools became convinced that people not wanting them sick or dead were actually part of some liberal plot, so they've vilified everything associated with trying to stop this pandemic; medicine, nurses, doctors, face masks, social distancing, vaccinations, established and respected medical institutions.  They feel as if being safe from COVID is being 'owned by the Libs!'  But when one of these zealots or they family members gets sick, suddenly they're born again believers in medical science.  

I wish it didn't take such drastic consequences for them to wake up.  It's mind numbing some still believe the lies even after a family member dies. 

Simply looking at the numbers, anti-vaccines and anti-social safety measures are a losing platform. So far over 3.5 million Minnesotans are vaccinated, in a state of 5.6 million. That's 68.2% of the entire population age 5 and older vaccinated.  If the Republicans are going to continue to label anyone getting vaccinated as a loser, lemming, idiot, or misguided, they're knowingly preaching to a shrinking minority.

Even if the Republicans today, in unison, all became the biggest supporters of vaccines (something I imagine they'll try to portray once the general election campaigns begin) we still have HOURS of videos of them scoffing at basic medicine, and spewing insane conspiracies.  There are also numerous Republican families who will be willing to be in ad campaigns which the following script: "My family trusted (Republican Politician) when they told us the vaccines, face masks and social distancing were a liberal conspiracy and not necessary.  But now, we know they weren't being honest.  Their INTENTIONAL deceptions cost us family members and have left us in crippling medical debt.  I'll never trust the Republicans on health care issues EVER again."  DAMN!  That ad should be running statewide. 

One last thing.  It wouldn't hurt to revert back to 2018 and remind everyone Democrats are the party for a more comprehensive, less expensive health care system.  With so many people in serious financial debt due to medical bills, the cost of medical care is a winning issue. 

#3 - Day Care Costs

This is an issue which is affecting almost every parent in the state.  The cost of daycare was atrocious pre-COVID, but today it's out of control.  One of the main reasons people are leaving their jobs and the workforce is because it's less expensive for them to quit and stay home with their kids than it is to work a job just to sign over a paycheck to a day care provider. 

Republicans are sure not about to try to make day care cheaper, and they won't offer a state funded no cost version.  Their solution will likely be to offer a tax break, but only for people whose kids go to the most expensive daycares.  Everyone else will get nothing.

Daycare is a tricky issue, but Democrats, don't tell us what you can't do. Tell us what you are going to do to fix this!  You got a budget surplus.  Use it!  Send parents with young kids a $200 monthly check to help offset the costs.  Explore the state contracting with a private day care provider to offer low income families a cheap (or maybe even free) option.  Give targeted tax breaks to new daycare providers opening their doors, but only if they promise to keep costs affordable.  And offer a tax break to ALL families with day care costs. Make their costs 100% tax deductible.  The Republicans would NEVER go along with that.

This issue is a text book example of low hanging fruit.  Don't be afraid to pick it!

#4 - Many of the most visible and loudest Republicans today are 100% Loonballs! 

Whether it's vaccines magnetize you!  Whether it's Democrats eat babies in the basement of pizza parlors!  Whether it's insisting Trump was the real winner in 2020!  Whether it's validating the 1/6 Insurrectionists as harmless protestors, then arguing they're all violent Antifa members!  Whether it's the gun worshipping!  Whether it's insisting there's no climate change!  Whether it's insisting Trump was the greatest president ever!  Whether it's insisting there's no Corona Virus, and then arguing the non-existent virus really was from Dr. Fauci's clone in China!  Whether it's racist stereotypes and tropes agains minorities!  Whether it's people waiting in Deely Plaza for weeks as they insist JFK Jr. is alive and will show himself to take a stand with Trump! 

These people are nuts, and THESE are the lunatics who choose the Republican candidates.  Republican politicians can't outright dismiss these drivels of insanity. 

MAKE THEM PAY FOR IT!  Find any video footage you can of these candidates embracing the lunatic fringe and destroy them with it.  You probably can find the most damning evidence ON THEIR OWN SOCIAL MEDIA SITES!  Make sure the voters see this true insanity.  The voters will not vote for candidates who've embraced the Jim Jones Kool Aid as a refreshing drink.

Don't over think this.  This is once again low hanging fruit.  Bury them with their own actions.

The Republican's plan of attack for 2022 falls into two categories:  1) discourage Democrats by making them think Biden and all Democrats have failed, and 2) crime (which is really Republican code for 'Black people need to be reined in!').  

Democratic leaders should be giving motivational speeches every single day until the election, talking about how they are on the right side of history.  Praise their victories while also reminding the voters they could do so much more if they had a larger majority in the House and Senate. Every Single Day!

As far as crime, a strong Democratic crime bill which deals with car jackings would go a long way to offset the Republican narrative (and let's be honest, should a 14 year old who is a five time car thief get a 6th chance before we charge them as an adult?  No.).  If the DFL doesn't put forward a crime bill, they are punting that issue to the Republicans.

It doesn't mean all is lost, it just means every Democratic candidate needs to be experts at switching the topic off of car jackings and crime in the Twin Cities and pushing the spotlight back on the issues I posted above. 

Republicans are all far right. You can't believe them when they insist they're a moderate who'll work with the other side. Remind voters of the new Republican Virginia Governor, a man who ran as a "uniter" and "a moderate," who immediately went far right on his first day in office.  Republicans will say whatever they have to to get into office, but remind everyone if they vote Republican they're voting for a far right extremist agenda.

I have zero doubt most Democrats will ignore my advice.  Maybe they'll come up with a different winning strategy.  Maybe they'll get their pants handed to them in November.  I'm posting this out of hope they'll realize I'm trying to help them.  I'm just getting tired of seeing Democrats clear path to victory getting ignored, as they wander into the wilderness with a machete, usually ending up tragically and comically lost.

The Friday Link for 1/14/22

The Friday Link this week is a bevy of various favorites.  I have to admit I'm kind of punting this week as I have the COVID.

Up first is a sensational piece from Jordan Klepper of The Daily Show as he commemorates the anniversary of the 1/6 Insurrection. I will post his original INSANE video from 1/6 last year after this year's anniversary piece (video which clearly shows who riled the crowd up and what their intent was), but this look at the anniversary has a few solid gold gems in it.  

An all time great moment is when Jordan Klepper confronts Rep. Matt Gaetz, YES THAT MATT GAETZ, and absolutely levels him with three questions. 

Watch for yourself. 

Here he is the actual 1/6 Insurrection piece from a year ago.  This is simply some of the best unintentional journalism ever. 

Also up today is a little recipe from Tasting History with Max Miller.  As I am trying to heal right now, I was searching for possible recipes to make me feel better. His tales of ancient Rome and their love of cabbage intrigued me, so I took his advice.  I did not make the recipe from this episode, but I did make a pho with both baby boy choy and cabbage (thanks for the cleaning tip heads up Max!). 

I'd be lying if I didn't say I feel better, but I was asymptomatic so...

Finally this week is a new song from my current favorite band right now, Durry!  Hey, I'm a Big Boy too!  I also love eating at Big Boy, when you can find one.  Durry (AND Big Boy) make me happy when the day is long. 

Have a great weekend everyone. Stay safe!  Get vaccinated, wear a mask and social distance.  Thanks!

I Got The COVID

I've been careful.  I'm vaccinated and boosted (thank you Veteran's Administration!), and I wear masks whenever I'm out, only taking them off if it's safe to do so.  I also try my hardest to social distance.  My daughter's boyfriend had come down with COVID and so she wanted to get tested.  I decided to go get tested with her.

My daughter was negative.  I was positive. 

I was stunned, not only because I was asymptomatic, with only a little bit of congestion, but the question of 'how' crossed my mind.  I go to the radio station to do the show but for the most part I'm separated from everyone else, and I've been wearing a mask.  I go to the grocery store, but I rarely get close to anyone at 8 AM on a Thursday morning.  My wife and I had walked a few parks but outside of jeopardizing her (she gets tested tomorrow) there are very few other people out.

The most likely place would then fall to the Ridgedale YMCA.  I wear a mask whenever I work out and I social distance the best I can, but (since Ridgedale Y doesn't require masks) it's inevitable maskless people will saunter on by, many of them elderly (YIKES!).  Even though the amount of people I could've been exposed too is limited, it was most likely I got it at the Y. 

Then again, Omicron is a beast.  This latest variant of the Corona Virus is not to be messed with.  It doesn't seem as lethal or as ventilator-inducing as Delta was, but it sure seems to be able to spread wicked fast, like 'just walking past a person in an airport, store or restaurant' fast.  It was clear where things were headed when you'd watch pictures of NFL and College Football bowl games, seeing packed stadiums, pretty much no one wearing a mask, let alone social distancing.  I don't think we're anywhere near the Omicron peak.  This latest surge could eventually break our hospitals. 

I've had the expected far right loon balls chime in.  So far three have hoped for me to die (SO CHRISTIAN!), while multiple others cackle with glee at the thought of me being sick.  They come at me with the tone "I bet you regret getting vaccinated now!" 

Please!  I'm glad I was vaccinated and boosted, and if they tell me to get another booster, I'll get it in a heart beat.  In case you missed it, I'm asymptomatic.  Twenty four hours after my test I still have no symptoms and as a matter of fact just got done helping to shovel the driveway.  So far, I'm not having trouble breathing, I'm not headed to a hospital, I'm not having to think about my family after I'm gone.  God willing it will stay that way.

I have crashed in my son's room, who is off at college.  I have pretty much only been in there, mask on, with my handy can of Lysol spray at the ready.  So far I watched The Eternals (I really liked it), Matrix Resurrection (also very good) and Chris Pratt's The Tomorrow War (not so much).  I have played my word games, and I'm reading M, King's Bodyguard from Niall Leonard, Baseball in Minnesota from Stew Thornly and Confluence from Hampton Smith.  I'm also getting some sleep (Yes I did go out and shovel snow, but it is Minnesota in January and I'm a Minnesotan).

I will quarantine until I have a negative test from a testing center (I know of one where they test you out in your car).  I'll be safe because I'm not only looking out for myself, but my family, my kids, my friends, my co-workers and everyone else in society.  I do not want you sick, I do not want you dead, and I do not want you broke for the next 20 years of your life with crippling medical debt.  Me being careful is the the least I can do for society.  I'm not a selfish jackass, following political decisions I'm trying to mask with my Bible or screams of "Freedom!"

Please, get vaccinated, wear a mask, and social distance. 

The Friday Link for 1/7/22

Oh my! It's a Friday Link on a Friday! 

Okay, I take the holiday card and play it. By the way, this week's Friday Link is going to have a sports theme!

This week, we look back in time to when the Minnesota Vikings were good, and at times, scary good!  This year's team is a freaking mess.  I know there is a lot of debate out there but I think Rick Spielman, the Vikings General Manager, is the main problem.  He knows talent, but he needs to learn he's not the coach. 

Next up on the problem brigade is Kirk Cousins, our quarterback.  He's had a decent year, but he still doesn't know how to win close games late.  And then there's the COVID debacle.  The Vikings were the worst team in the NFL for common sense vaccinations against COVID, and it seems Kirk led the charge against vaccination.  I made the point in August; 'God help you if you end up sick and it costs the team a playoff spot.'

Cousins came down with COVID last week and so the Vikings went into a must win game at Green Bay with our highly inferior backup QB. After we lost and were eliminated from the playoffs, Cousins came back, cleared to play this last inconsequential game, and tried to smooth things over with Vikings fans by saying he wants to spend the rest of his career in Minnesota.  Thanks, but no thanks.

Last one up is Coach Mike Zimmer.  I like Zimmer, although I can't stand when the team calls for a 2 year pass when it's 3rd and 8.  If your game plan for a first down includes the defense blowing coverage or someone missing a tackle, it's a bad plan.  

Zimmer is stuck between two obnoxious forces in Spielman and Cousins, and I frankly think he did the best he could with what he had, and with the limitations thrust upon him.  If I were the Vikings, I'd get rid of Spielman and Cousins and keep Zimmer, but watch them do the exact opposite. Then next year we can be eliminated from playoff contention early to beat the holiday rush!

Also, for the record, stadiums CLEARLY don't get you championships.  I think we can put that lie to bed.

This week let's look back on the past and find truly great Vikings games of yore!  One side note, the games will have to be viewed on You Tube due to the videos containing content from the NFL.  First up we go back to a Monday Night matchup (Hank Williams Jr.? YIKES!) when Monday night's game was THE game. The Vikings went into Green Bay and introduced the world to Randy Moss. 

Next up is the dismantling of the Dallas Cowboys from the Playoffs in 2009!

The game where Randy Moss mooned the Packer fans in Green Bay is up next. Although everyone remembers that game for that one gesture, that was a REALLY good game for the Vikings in Green Bay.

And of course this would not be complete without the Vikings miracle win verses the Saints. I loved watching this happen to Sean Payton, the head coach of the Saints. He is REALLY a horrible coach. 

Don't be like Kirk Cousins.  Get vaccinated.  Wear a mask.  Social Distance. 

Be safe.

The Friday Link (on a Saturday) for 1/1/22

Howdy all! Back on a New Year's Day after skipping Christmas Eve Friday (although I'm a day late). I realized that Friday Links and Christmas Eve are not really compatible in my house, so I decided to skip. Even last night, my priorities were in the right place, so here we are a day late.

First up tonight is a series of clips featuring interaction between the new Hawkeye Kate Bishop (played by Hailee Steinfeld) and Black Widow's younger sister Yelena Belova (played by Florence Pugh). 

I loved the Hawkeye series, especially Jeremy Renner's portrayal of an aging Hawkeye in a post Thanos world, but it was the incredibly fun to watch interaction and banter between Steinfeld and Pugh which stole the show.  I highly recommend watching the series (on Disney Plus), but enjoy the back and forth here. 

Next up is a tribute to Betty White, who died yesterday at 99.  She was wonderful, having emerged as everyone's fun and pleasant grandmother.  She is a true legend, and although I could post most of her Saturday Night Live show from 2010, here is one skit which sticks out for me, the Scared Straight bit she did with Kenan Thompson. Goodbye Betty.  You will be missed. 

Finally, since it is the end of 2021, let's go back and look at all the segments from the best unintentional journalist in America today, Jordan Klepper.  His segments on The Daily Show are legendary, and frankly are the news journalism we need.  When someone says something bone crunchingly stupid, a sane person should call them on it.  As most media today does not have the guts to do so.  Klepper does.  There is a lot here, but it's worth it! 

Be safe! Get Vaccinated! Get Boosted! Wear a mask! Social Distance! 

I don't want you sick, dead or bankrupt with medical bills. PLEASE! 

This is Who They Really Are

Okay, first things first.  Yes there was no Friday Link last week, but it was Christmas Eve.  I've been busy.

This morning I was scrolling trough social media and I came across an outstanding video clip from TikTok user @isabelleleeanne.  It begins with some piece of bigot, racist, white trash, wannabe Conservative Christian social media thing (@riannasun) saying if you are upset about cultural appropriation, then you can't celebrate Christmas unless you're Christian or Catholic (or?!?).  What takes place in the next few minutes is a history lesson (courtesy of Izzy) on how pretty much every major modern Christmas tradition, from the date itself, to the decorations, to Santa, are all things which have been culturally appropriated by the Christians from Pagans and Druids (TRUE!!!).  

Watch the take down here: https://www.tiktok.com/@isabelleleeanne/video/7038700379315375365

In standard Conservative fashion, once she had multiple people point out how dumb she was (you really have to be brick stupid to make such a post without doing basic research on the point your making), the fool deleted the post and then went on the Right Wing's standard "I'm the real victim/You people are obsessed with MEEEEE(!)" stand. You can't fix this idiot.  And frankly, her being called out will likely lead to her getting more media opportunities from far right media who specialize in narrative validation.

But one thing she did which is truly horrible is how she threw the Christian faith under the bus in order to validate her feelings towards minorities who are rightly upset about their culture being misappropriated.  Setting aside churches are currently desperate to get anyone in their doors, so putting up barriers is something any sane religion would be against, the fact she so quickly used her religion, Christianity, a religion based on love, welcoming, compassion and empathy, as a weapon against her perceived enemies is REALLY horrible.  It takes a pretty special kind of jackass to do that.  Jesus would not be on your side.

This trend, to say Jesus and the Bible are on the side of your modern day far right politics, bigotry and racism, is becoming a common trope in Conservative circles.  Earlier this year I was in the hospital and had a staff member come in who knew what I do for a living, liberal radio talk show host.  He said he had a bone to pick with me about politics.  I said sure, but I did give my usually warning: "I do this for a living.  I'm not a rank amateur.  I've been doing radio for 30 years.  I know my facts and my points.  We can talk about anything else.  Are you sure you want to do this?"

He implied I was afraid to debate him (HA!) so I said fine.  He tried to go for a kill shot on the first point, abortion.  He accused me (and any Christian who is pro-choice) of being a 'cafeteria Catholic,' only following the Bible when it was convenient.  I started to laugh.  I asked him when did he throw the Gospel of Matthew out of his Bible.  That's the Gospel which talks about feeding the hungry, taking care of the sick and welcoming in strangers from strange lands (and so much LIBERAL more!!!).  He then tried to imply the Gospel of Matthew gave outs if your political beliefs differed from it (?!?).  I asked him to tell me what Bible passage that was.  He said he'd have to get back to me and QUICKLY left the room.  The next day, he came back into the room and insisted he was really busy so he didn't have time to chit chat.  I said fine, but as he left, I asked him what Bible passage allowed people to ignore Jesus' teachings if they went against their political beliefs.  He said he'd stop by and tell me later.

I never saw him again.

Republicans have become something truly ugly.  The only thing that mattes to them is their politics, and nothing else!  They'll trample their religion, their families, their healthcare, their community, their schools, their own financial wellbeing; NOTHING matters to them more than validating their political point of view.  They'll use anything to feel like they've won their grunting contests.  Religion doesn't matter to these people, and it hasn't for a long time (and I 100% stand by that statement).  Many on the right have evolved into truly horrible people, but over the last few weeks, we gotten a look at how degraded the Republican mind has become. 

Republicans have giddily embraced the chant "Let's go Brandon." The term comes from a NASCAR broadcast where some drunken idiots in the crowd were chanting "f*ck Joe Biden" and the announcer, trying to clean up the broadcast, said it sounded like the crowd was chanting "Let's go Brandon." Considering Republicans have the mindset of an 8 year old, and it allowed them to 'swear' in public without really swearing, they embraced it as the chant they hum as they self gratify.  Doesn't bother them that 'Brandon' kicked Trump's ass, but whatever.

There used to be a filter on Republicans, where the childish stupid things like "Let's Go Brandon" would be left at home in certain circumstances, but not any longer.  President Biden was touring tornado damage in Kentucky when a local screamed "let's go Brandon." President Biden was there to help these people and it's incredibly likely the idiot righto who screamed it has lost everything to the storms.  It didn't matter.  Any benevolence or charity from Biden was shouted down by a fool who didn't even see the forest for the trees; their life having been destroyed, and Joe Biden as the man there to try to help rebuild it.

Then on Christmas Eve...let me repeat that; THEN ON CHRISTMAS EVE, when the Biden's were taking calls from families getting ready for Santa, some moron from Oregon decided to yell "Let's Go Brandon."  Once again, ON CHRISTMAS.  Christmas didn't matter to this jackass, only getting his swipe in on Biden. The idiot Oregonian first tried to imply there was a secondary unknown meaning to "Let's go Brandon" that wasn't an insult, but after he stumbled to explain it, then took the "I'm the REAL victim" stance, insisting his freedom of speech was violated.  Dude, you said what you said so your Freedom of Speech is fine.  You don't have "Freedom from Criticism."  You're not a victim, you're an a$$h*le.

And it goes beyond 'Hate Jesus' and "Let's Go Brandon." Republicans today are fanboy-ing Kyle Rittenhouse, the kid who shot and killed two people in cold blood, and, after the most fixed trial I've ever seen, was found not guilty.  Seriously, that is one of the all time worst miscarriages of justice!  Yet, because a bias judge helped Kyle walk, he's a rock star for far rightos who feel Kyle has just taken the next natural step in far right policy; inserting yourself into a situation you had no right to be in and legally shooting people you politically disagree with.

Rittenhouse, knowing he has a target on his back for the rest of his life, seems to be trying (somewhat) to stop this hero worship.  Granted it's because he knows his family will lose everything in the civil trial and still have to look over his shoulder for the rest of his life, but he does seem bothered by the thought of people turning his actions into something righteous and noble.  Regardless, Republicans are already trying to figure out a way to erect a statue in this monster's honor.

Compare that to the Right's reaction to the outcome in the Kim Potter trial, the former Brooklyn Center Minnesota police officer who confused her gun and her stun gun and ended up killing Daunte Wright.  The defense in the trial tried their hardest to paint Potter as having committed an 'honest mistake,' but then also argued she did the right thing by murdering Wright because [paraphrasing] 'if he would've done a string of things HE DID NOT DO, he would've then been a credible threat.'  These two polar opposite arguments are constantly echoed by Republicans since the verdict came down.  They're so infuriated by the 'Guilty' verdicts they've dropped all of the smoke screens and are saying the quiet part out loud: "So I guess you can no longer even accidentally shoot a black man!" WOW! 

Trump has validated this ugliness, insisting it's a virtue.  He kept screaming "It's not you being a 20 time failure, a racist, unlovable loser.  It's them!"  They've been told they're the victims because they can't yell their hate, their racism and their ignorance into people's faces.  They've been convinced by a mad fool (Trump) their mad babblings are coherent political dialog.  Trump needed ignorant hate filled morons as his 'base,' and now he's convinced them they were right all along, needing to force their opinion onto others.  And when their ignorance get's so obscene and out line they themselves can't deny they've crossed the line, they hide behind the "I'm the REAL victim" argument to prevent from admitting they're just anger filled douchebags.  These people hate most minorities and non-Christians, but their most vile hatred is now reserved for Democrats, Liberals and Progressives, the ones who constantly remind them of their racism, ignorance and hate. 

There is no point in trying to discuss reality with them.  They don't care.  The modern Republican is so unable to face reality, they're willing to fight to the death to defend the fake world they believe in. History are full of these people, and this SAME EXACT SITUATION!  Trump's not Hitler, but he sure follows Hitler's playbook.  The Beer Hall Putsch was Hitler looking at German drunks and losers and convincing them to rise up under his banner.  Evil dictators always find some group (racists, the ignorant, the gullible poor, the desperate) to be their foot soldiers in their coup attempts.  1/6 was the same thing!  These were Trump loyalists who were trying to overthrow the US Government.  The fatal flaw for them were they were idiots being led by idiots.  Their lack of brains was one of the reasons the country didn't fall on 1/6.

How do you fix these clearly broken people?  No idea. They've created a bubble universe where their insanity is validated, and their enemies deserve torture before death.  You can try to shutter their social media accounts, but they find new platforms with 200 more fans than before, more fools who are just like them in their bigotry and hatred.  They're unapologetic in their stupidity, and refuse to budge.

One bit of warning. I mentioned the Beer Hall Putsch from 1923 for a reason.  It failed, but in the aftermath, because the German government did not deal with those traitors appropriately, Hitler was just getting started.  You have to figure out how to get Trump's worms back in the can, because if you don't, we are going to be dealing with attempted government overthrows for the next 30 years, and maybe one of them (GOD FORBID!) actually succeeds.

The Friday Link for 12/17/21

This week a little holiday and a lot of other things.

First up is one of my favorite things every year, The Late Show's Santa story.  This year it's a take off on the 1/6 Insurrection and it's nearly perfect. The fact the audience happily applauds the un-sleighing of Ted Cruz and Marjorie Taylor Green should tell you what most people think of them. 

Next up is the trailer for the Lost City, a movie coming out next year.  I'm so glad Sandra Bullock is doing more comedy, because she is an absolute treasure. 

I am very concerned this trailer has every good bit from the movie in it.  I HATE when they do that. On the other side Bullock and Daniel Radcliffe seem pretty good with their roles, so I have hope. Channing Tatum embraces the dimwit role well (Jamba Juice?!? HA!) The surprise at the end is a freaking riot.

Finally tonight is the story of the USS Minneapolis. 

Recently a local high school somehow got into possession of naval artifacts, the bell from the USS Minneapolis and the wheel from the battleship USS Minnesota. I find it appalling that some people ransacked a military memorial and STOLE MILITARY ARTIFACTS, and no one went to jail. One story says they felt it would be cool for the high school to have them, another was that the people responsible for stealing them didn't like "certain people" (aka minorities) being near them so they moved them without permission. Whomever thought a sweaty high school kid smacking the bell when they maxed out on a new record bench press was 'honoring the troops' was an idiot.  Those fools should've been arrested.

The good news is the bell and wheel have been returned to the city of Minneapolis.  The final video tonight is a history of a more modern version of the USS Minneapolis, the one from World War II, courtesy of The History Guy. Although not the greatest victory, the story of this boat should point out there are no easy missions in war, and that all troops should be honored; not in a high school gym, but rather out where the public can admire their brave sacrifice. 

Be safe.  Please get vaccinated, and wear a mask.

Thank you.

The Friday Link for 12/10/21

I had a friend this week ask what was my favorite modern day Christmas movie.  I asked over how many years, and they said 30. Easy!

Polar Express.  This is such an exceptional movie and Tom Hanks is so good in the many roles he portrays.  My kids always love this one, and we always had to watch it.  Since then, it's become probably my second favorite Christmas movie next to 'It's a Wonderful Life.'

Enjoy the original 10 minute preview they put out for the movie.

Also tonight, three exceptional short pieces from BBC Earth Lab about the solar system.  The graphics on these are amazing and it's always nice to have Zachary Quinto narrate.  We'll start with how Saturn got it's rings, discover the lost waterfall of Mars, and then have a long talk about Uranus...(hehehe)...

Have a great weekend.  PLEASE get vaccinated! PLEASE wear a mask! 

The Friday Link for 12/3/21

I'm sorry.  I didn't post anything last week.  For the record I completely forgot as I was hanging out with my family for the Thanksgiving holiday.  So I guess the correct term is sorry, not sorry.  Nah.  I can't stand that term.

I have entered my insanely busy stretch of the year as I'm in the process of recording the shows we will air over the holidays. With me now doing a two hour show instead of one, I have twice as much air time to fill.  The good news is we'll have brand new shows for everyone to enjoy starting December 22nd.  The bad news is I have to record earlier and I still have no idea how I am going to get it all done.

This week, I give you an early layup of a Friday Link, Mystery Science Theater 3000, and the always classic Teenage Strangler. And for everyone upset I missed the Thanksgiving weekend Link, I'll include the WKRP in Cincinnati Turkey drop clip.  Enjoy! 

Have a wonderful weekend.

Please get vaccinated and wear a mask.

Thanks.

Friday Link for 11/19/21

Tonight I present for you Durry, the newest Minneapolis band out of Burnsville.  This brother and sister crew (Austin and Taryn Durry) have been putting out songs they made due to circumstances around the pandemic, and they're awesome!

I interviewed Austin today on my show (Durry Interview Matt McNeil Show 11/19) and we talked about how good the band's music is.  Also, how their success on TikTok has garnered them a lot of fans, and the story behind a few of their songs.

Their first major show at 7th Street Entry on the 24th is sold out, but I would die to get in to see it.  Enjoy the music which has made me a fan. 

First up their breakthrough hit, Who's Laughing Now:

Next up their newest single, released today, Worse For Wear: 

Here is a fun one.  A dance cut of their song Losers Club: 

And finally, a sensational video for Hasta La Vista Baby!

Have wonderful weekend. 

Please get vaccinated and wear a mask.

I don't want you sick, I don't want you dead, and I don't want you bankrupt. 

The Friday Link for 11/12/21

Howdy all!

This week we venture back in time, sometimes WAY back, with Eons, a great little web show from PBS.

But first this statement. I know some people do not like when I put the heavy duty science and education stuff on the Friday Link. I think this stuff is fascinating.  If for no other reason; the hosts make this science stuff a lot of fun!

I've featured Eon's segments in the Friday Link before but this week I give it up all to them.  Not only do they do a great job of explaining the science, AND WHAT WE DON'T KNOW, but they are full of surprises when it comes to what we do understand about the evolution of life on this planet.

We'll start with the discovery that we had domesticated cats a lot earlier than we thought (at least in Cyprus?), go on to debate about a great die off of life (or did it?), and then talk about what did the mammoths in.  Enjoy!

99.985% of vaccinated people in Minnesota have not died from Corona Virus.

99.91% of vaccinated people in Minnesota have not been hospitalized with CoronaVirus.

PLEASE get vaccinated.

Have a great weekend. 

The Friday Link for 11/5/21

 Howdy all! 

Recovery from my hip replacement surgery is going well.  I've successfully started to ween myself off the harsher medications.  I hope I'm able to drive again next week.  Today I walked a block, and although I was exhausted, I was glad to get out of the house. 

On my radio show on Fridays, I've gotten into the habit of dancing.  It all started last year, when everything was going so bad in this country.  Out of a need for some positivity, I started to dance at the end of the show to an upbeat and happy song.  It caught on.  I couldn't keep doing it every day, so we eventually switched it Friday's only.  As you can imagine, I've not been dancing lately.

I want to encourage you to dance on your own, and have I got some great music for you.  We've featured The Hood Internet before on the Friday Link.  His remixes are basically taking a year of music, then dance remixing many of the year's biggest songs into a single song which encapsulates the year the song is about.  

Frankly, the guy doing these remixes is the best music remixer I've ever heard. 

He went back to the 1970's for his latest remixes. Back then EVERYONE (mostly) listened to the same music, as diverse and vibrant as it was. He's done remixes for 1975-1979 and here are all five.

I'm starting with 1976, because I think overall it's the best, but all of these individual years are exceptional.  Enjoy!

I think 1978 might be the second best of this round.

Please get vaccinated, wear a mask. 

Please be safe.

Dance the night away...

The Friday Link for 10/29/21

I hope everyone has a safe and happy Halloween!  I've been laid up all week after having hip replacement surgery, but the drugs have kept me particularly loopy.  I'm hesitant to stop the drugs quite yet because every time I've allowed the drugs to subside a little, the pain gets bad and fast. 

For Halloween, we have some classic Loony Tunes.  To begin, a compilation of Bugs taking on the Halloween Spookiest of Warner Brothers.

Also some classic bits where Bugs takes it to Wile E. Coyote. I love the look Bugs gives when he spies the "Genius" on the mailbox. 

Have a happy and safe Halloween.  Watch out for the Kiddos on Sunday night! 

Please get vaccinated and wear a mask! I don't want you dead, sick, broke, bankrupt, or suffering from a lifetime of ailments.

Have a great weekend!

The Friday Link for 10/22/21

This week I dive back into historic cooking with one of my favorites, Tasting History with Max Miller.

I do enjoy Townsends quite a bit, but Max Miller is a different kind of historical cooking show.  First, some of his recipes go WAY back, so far back it's kind of hard to think we can still translate the recipe as well as find many of the ingredients (something Max is quick to acknowledge if there is no contemporary counterpart).  The variety of recipes goes across the globe too.  Where Townsends focuses on (mostly) North American European settler recipes (which are very well done), Max is global, leading to some really exotic episodes.

Also Max brings the history. He always takes time to break down something about the recipe which has historical context.

This week, three seasonal recipes for you.  First off a very early Apple pie from 1553 which doesn't sound anything like what we know as apple pie. 

Next up is a very strange version of a pumpkin pie from the 1670's and I am intrigued! The idea of apples and pumpkin together sounds fantastic. I might just try this recipe for Thanksgiving this year. 

And for your Halloween, how about a Transylvania pot roast recipe from the 1580's which features a lot of garlic.  I LOVE garlic.  This will ward off any vampires, but it also will ward off most other living and breathing things too.  You've been warned! 

Have a great weekend everyone.  Be healthy and safe!

Get vaccinated!

Wear a mask!

Thanks.

The Friday Link for 10/15/21

This will be short and sweet tonight as I'm late for birthday celebrations for me and my son.

Thankfully I'm a better parent than the ones in 'I Accuse My Parents,' classic Mystery Science Theater 3000 gold from the early days.  Enjoy!

Be safe.  Please get vaccinated and wear a mask. 

Thanks.

The Friday Link for 10/8/21

This week we celebrate the return of James Bond to movie theaters with 'No Time to Die,' the 5th and final outing for Daniel Craig as the British spy. 

This afternoon on my radio show we talked Bond for the final half hour and I came to the realization I'm a much larger fan of the franchise than I realized.  Everyone has their own favorite, but I really liked Roger Moore's Bond, followed by Craig's. 

My favorite Bond movie is For Your Eyes Only.  Sure it's cheeky at points, but it felt like a real spy movie and the rock climbing scene at the end is great. 

I'll start tonight's clips with what I think is the best stunt ever done in a Bond film, the 18 wheeler up on its side wheels as a rocket flies underneath it from License to Kill.  

For best action sequences, let's start with my third favorite, the fight on top of the Golden Gate Bridge in A View to A Kill. 

Second for me is the parkour chase scene in 2006's Casino Royale, which set the tone for the Daniel Craig Bond. 

But I think the best action sequence from all the films was the tank chase scene from Goldeneye. 

Also tonight, enjoy a run down of all the Bond themes. 

And finally tonight, what I think is the best Bond theme of them all, A View to a Kill from Duran Duran. 

Stay safe.

PLEASE get vaccinated.  PLEASE wear a mask.

Have a great weekend everyone.

Friday Link for 10/1/21

This weekend I have a wedding celebration in the family, so I decided why not play one of the greatest moments ever from television on the Friday Link.  From Jim and Pam's wedding, it's time for the wedding dance from The Office.

Also this week, late night television hosts are good, but a great late night guest is worth GOLD! Paul Giamatti stopped by The Late Show and not only had to remind Stephen that he WAS indeed in that play Colbert saw, but Giamatti also has a great story about the lifetime Burger King card. 

Finally this week, it's almost like Conservative media only has a problem with political statements at sporting events when they disagree with the political position that's being displayed.  But vulgar language on live TV geared toward the President, that's wholesome Christian thinking they can get behind! Wow, what a bunch of hypocrites.  By the way, I should mention Conservatives shouldn't be watching most sports anyways, because they're openly boycotting them all.

Have a great weekend everyone! 

Stay healthy and stay safe! 

Don't be a fool.  Get vaccinated and wear a mask. 

The Friday Link for 9/24/21

This week, I give you four videos which are not related in any way! 

First up is The My Pillow Guy remix from the The Remix Bros.  A warning, there are like two bad words in the remix, so you've been warned!  It's actually really well done, and it's got a kicking beat.  

Next up was the best bit from the Emmy Awards last Sunday, the support group for the people who haven't won an Emmy. 

Third tonight is a Colbert bit.  With them all being at the Emmy's on Sunday, they did a pre-recorded show for Monday night, which was a best of compilation from the months they did quarantine shows.  The celebrities answering the 'Colbert Questionert' got some great answers. 

And finally something more serious to end out the Link.  White America knows so little about the past and the present of the Native American tribes.  By educating ourselves, we can understand their plight better and use that knowledge to make amends, striving to make life better for everyone. This 5 minute Ted Talk video (from a Finnish Preofessor???) gives you a pretty good history of the Lakota, featuring their rise and tragic fall.  Please, educate yourselves. 

 

Have a great weekend everyone.  

Stay Healthy and Stay Safe.  Please get vaccinated!!!

The Friday Link for 9/17/21

This week, I'm going to just do something I love, and hope you give it a watch.

Geddy Lee is the Singer/Bass player/Keyboardist for Rush, the Canadian Power trio and my favorite band of all time.  It's been hard since Neil Peart, the bands virtuoso drummer, passed away.  Rush was always a dear friend, a band I looked forward to hearing new music from/seeing on tour for decades.  Staying loyal to each other, the band ended when Neil passed away.

Geddy Lee sat down with Dan Rather in October of 2017 (prior to Neil's passing) and talked about the band and the music, the fans and celebrity.  They also talk about one of my other passions, baseball.   This interview makes me love the band even more, and yearn for just one more concert. 

Also tonight here is the upcoming trailer for the Hawkeye TV show and it looks fantastic! 

Get vaccinated and wear a mask!

Stay Healthy! 

Have a great weekend!

The Friday Link for 9/10/21

Twenty years ago, I was in what is now my home's dining area. We had set up our computer in that room, an extra room we were trying to figure out what to do with at that point.  We had purchased our house a few months earlier, and were expecting our first child, my son, in about a month and a half.  I remember feeling like we had so much space in our place back then.

I was working as a fill in radio host, primarily on Metro Traffic and KFAN, but occasionally helping out at various other stations.  I was surfing the internet for my morning news and heard the radio talking about "some idiot flew his plane into one of the World Trade Towers."  The narrative was much more joking and mocking.  "How could some idiot hit the only buildings standing that tall in New York City?"  Then the cocky host gasped in horror as they said "Oh my God, another plane just seemed to intentionally fly into the other tower."

That's the moment the world changed.

I scrambled to the TV and watched in horror.  I called my wife and had to fill her in (this was before cell phone news alerts kept us all awake at night).  I called my dad and found out my mother was on a business trip in the Carolinas.  She was safe, but grounded.  

That moment, and the months that followed, was the last time I remember America being united, a welcomed patriotic embrace.  The country had been extremely divided in the months leading up to the attack.  Gore v. Bush, Enron, and W. Bush's ham handed Administration had gotten us to a point where a huge split in this country was starting to happen.  Then 9/11.  We were all sad, grieving, angry.  We all mourned our loses and (for the most part) were unified in a strong response to the people involved.  We went after Bin Laden, Al qaeda and the Taliban.  We vowed to do whatever it would take to never let something like this happen again.  We all embraced being Americans.

Then came the racist attacks on ALL Muslims and foreigners.  Then questions about why Bush let the Saudis off the hook.  Then the made up war on Iraq, leaving Bin Laden and the Taliban alive while the US military was sent on a red herring, an attempt by Cheney to wreck OPEC by flooding the markets with Iraqi oil.  Then came 'Bin Laden determined to strike in the US.'  Then came ludacris Congressional testimony from Bush aides who had determined sounding like morons was the only option they had in their defense.

But there was something subtle that happened late in W.'s 2nd term which ended all hope of unifying us again.  I started noticing Conservatives, when talking about 9/11, only focused on the United 93 flight which crashed in Pennsylvania, and the attack on the Pentagon.  When I would gently remind those people "AND The World Trade Centers," they would say of course, but the next time we talked the focus would be back to the military attack and the crashed plane in rural Pennsylvania. 

Then the same people started to throw around the idea that 9/11 was really an attack on "Real America." When I would ask them what "Real America" was, the response was "it's the parts of this country where wholesome family values, love of God, and a clean and honest quality of life exist, not the corrupted, dirty and ungrateful areas of this country that try take advantage of 'Real Americans'." Hello dog whistle!

As the 2008 election approached, the thin veil was removed and the argument morphed into a blunt "Real America" verses those Liberal anti-American parts of the country.  I'd point out the vast majority of the victims of 9/11 came from those supposed 'Liberal anti-American parts of the country,' but they'd ignore me, insisting 9/11 was really a direct attack on Republicans and their values, an attack which Liberals cheered.  

This was the beginning.  

Look what that has evolved into today.  You have on one side people begging everyone to get vaccinated, wear masks, and be as safe as possible as we deal with a major pandemic.  On the other side, the argument is "You're LYING! There is nothing to worry about.  Let me take my horse de-wormer that can kill me!  We're for Personal responsibility."  After one of their loved ones gets infected with COVID, the argument is "I'm a victim.  Biden did this to me!!!"

The main change in this country over the last twenty years is how one political party (the Republicans) decided to blame the worst things that have happened to us as a country on their political opponents (to get what they wanted).  Even when they couldn't find enough real things to blame Democrats for, they just started making stuff up (pizza parlor sacrifice pits, magnetized vaccines, stolen elections).

The reason we are no longer unified as a country is because one side has blamed the other for everything bad this country has experienced not because it's true, but because it was a political opportunity; they created a villain their followers eagerly embraced, enabling the politicians to push through an insanely Conservative political agenda.

If another 9/11 happened today, there would be no unification, even for a day.  The Republicans would be screaming about how "It's all the Democrats" fault(!)" as they send out fundraising emails.  It will take a generation to reunify this country again.

Let me attempt to remind everyone what brought us together 20 years ago.  The Friday Link is (a less than quality copy of) '9/11,' the documentary made by the two French brothers who happened to be on the scene of the attack when it happened. 

We were all Americans after 9/11.  At least for a few months.  We should try to remember that.

I have no agenda outside of I do not want to see you or your loved ones suffer.

Get vaccinated, wear a mask and be safe.

Have a good weekend everyone.  God bless the United States.

The Friday Link for 9/3/21

A few years back on the Friday Link I featured the original Ted Lasso promos created when NBC started covering Premiere League Soccer.  They featured a perfectly cast Jason Sudeikis who absolutely nailed the clueless American football coach getting hired to coach an English Soccer club. If you can find it, enjoy!  You can also find those original promos on You Tube.

Apple TV came up with the brilliant idea of making a series out of the bit, and it's worked great.  The cast is perfect and Sudeikis is all charm. They should clean up at the Emmy awards, but let me give you a little taste of why this show works so well.  This clip has got a little rough language but this is a spectacular synopsis of why Ted Lasso is a great show.  This is a darn near perfect scene. 

Also tonight I want to feature two bits of Native American History.  Once again, you can not learn from past mistakes if you don't understand the history of a subject.

When I was a kid in Rhode Island, we learned extensively about the King Philip's War, but when you get away from the New England area, King Philips War is hardly mentioned.  This was the first large uprising the Native Americans staged agains the encroaching (at this point) British.  For some Native Americans, it was becoming clear the settlers were never going to stop, and so they put forward what ended up being a fairly vicious, and at times, wildly successful war to push the colonists back into the ocean.  

In the end, it didn't go their way, and the repercussions of King Philip's War set the stage for the horrific treatment of Native Americans for the next 300+ years. 

And finally tonight, Native American ingenuity and engineering helped create what was at one point the largest city on the North American continent, and a city which might have been larger than London.  And you probably didn't know it was right outside of St. Louis. 

Let me introduce you to the great ancient Native American city of Cahokia.  

Stay healthy and stay safe.  

Get vaccinated and wear a face mask! 

Have a great weekend!

Low Country Dreaming

 Here are the best photos from my trip to South Carolina.  The best ones will be toward the end.  First off, some images of me.

It was HOT! 

What follows are the remaining best, from good to best of all.  

And my favorite photo.  I really love this one.