I think therefore I am. I write therefore I think.
Author: Eric
INTJ personality. Jack of many trades, master of some. Former banker, consultant, technical writer, marketing manager, infopreneur and communications manager, now retired. Eclectic and sometimes eccentric. Cynical and often critical.
As I have grown older, I find that the terms “educated” or “smart” do not necessarily apply just because a person has higher degrees or educational credentials. For example, Donald Trump has a degree in Economics from the Wharton school. Ted Cruz wasted his education at both Princeton and Harvard universities. I think that a person becomes educated or smart based on how wisely he or she uses the information, insights and what they learn.
Civility is becoming as extinct as the American bumblebee.
The best professional female wrestler today and probably ever is Charlotte Flair. She can talk and she can walk the talk.
Like Archimedes, some of my best ideas and insights have come when I was bathing.
Two new words in the Burleigh vocabulary: Blimbo: noun, a blonde woman of limited intellect. e.g. Many female Fox News commentators are blimbos. Penced: verb, to emasculate or castrate oneself. e.g. Mike penced himself with his unblinding fealty to his cruel boss.
This is just from my own personal observation but I have noticed that over the past few years or maybe even decades that people don’t smile as much anymore. Are we less friendly to one another? Is smiling a sign of weakness? Have national and local events become so dire that people wear perpetual frowns? Or have I subscribed or generalized to others what my personal experience is?
Mark Twain quote that I enjoy and find wise: “Everyone is a moon, and has a dark side which he never shows to anybody.”
88 Year old Republican Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa demonstrating the typical courage of a Republican running for re-election.
“While the ultimate responsibility for this attack rests upon the shoulders of those who unlawfully entered the Capitol, everyone involved must take responsibility for their destructive actions that day, including the former president. As the leader of the nation, all presidents bear some responsibility for the actions that they inspire — good or bad. Undoubtedly, then-President Trump displayed poor leadership in his words and actions. I do not defend those actions and my vote should not be read as a defense of those actions.
President Trump continued to argue that the election had been stolen even though the courts didn’t back up his claims. He belittled and harassed elected officials across the country to get his way. He encouraged his own, loyal vice president, Mike Pence, to take extraordinary and unconstitutional actions during the Electoral College count.”
Statement for the Senate Record by Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa United States Senate On the Senate’s Acquittal of former President Donald Trump February 13, 2021
“I was born at night but not last night. So if I didn’t accept the endorsement of a person that’s got 91 percent of the Republican voters in Iowa, I wouldn’t be too smart. I’m smart enough to accept that endorsement.”
Republican Sen. Charles Grassley embraced Donald Trump’s return to Iowa on Saturday, October 9 at a Trump rally, standing by the former president as he repeated his false claims of voter fraud and a stolen election to a crowd of thousands.
The more rabid the sports fan, the less rational the woman or man.
I have a personal abhorrence to all of the ads on the Internet, commercial television and other media promoting gambling websites. Online gambling is nicotine for sports fans.
NFL ratings are up 17% this season. The increased ratings are attributed to early attractive matchups plus fans back in the stands. I would add that increased interest in sports gambling has also supported a ratings boost. All the pregame shows feature betting odds and discussions about points spreads and over/under totals.
Success in most college sports is not won on the court or football field but in living rooms of recruited high school students.
Stephen A Smith : sports commentary = Tucker Carlson : political commentary
Not very many sports commentators that I would stop and listen to but I’d stop for Tony Kornheiser and Ray Didinger who have my respect for their candor, research and insight.
Very few professional athletes leave “while on top.” Rocky Marciano, John Elway and Peyton Manning come to mind. Most athletes, like too many boxers, stay too long. Muhammed Ali, Willie Mays and Joe Louis are three of the most tragic athletes who stayed too long.
I am a huge fan of Roger Federer. I admire him not only for his achievements and talents playing tennis but the class that he exhibits off the court as well.
I’m showing my age but I miss the voices, personalities and announcing of old time football announcers like Chris Schenkel, Ray Scott, Keith Jackson, Curt Gowdy, Pat Summerall and Lindsey Nelson. Many football announcers and analysts today are just “white noise” while watching a game.
As an 8 year old third grader I remembered coming home from school and turning on my black and white TV about 61 years ago to see Bill Mazeroski hit a walk off home run to win the World Series for the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Past pearls of wisdom explaining what is happening today…
Current Headline
Wisdom from the Past
Jan. 6 Was Worse Than We KnewNY Times
“We are a paper frigate sailing on a burning lake.” —Frederick Seidel
Republicans Shout Down Lindsey Graham for Pushing Vaccine
“The central belief of every moron is that he is the victim of a mysterious conspiracy against his common rights and true deserts.” HL Mencken
Doctors grow frustrated over COVID-19 denial, misinformation
“While people are entitled to their illusions, they are not entitled to a limitless enjoyment of them and they are not entitled to impose them upon others.” Christopher Hitchens
Chart below reflects searches for the term “pickleball” on Google. You can see the meteoric rise and interest in the game beginning in 2014.
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Just sayin’…I prefer being the underdog than the favorite.
I’d rather run the risk of losing 0-11 if I had the chance to upset or be competitive with a superior team than win 11-0 against a less talented or experienced team. I may remember the one or two successful points against a pair of 4.5+ players than the 10 or 11 successful points against a less talented or experienced team.
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Signs of smart intermediate doubles play: handling your opponent’s lobs and making necessary switches for court coverage. Strategy on handling lobs should be discussed between partners prior to a game particularly if you are playing together for the first time.
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I’ve noticed in mixed doubles competition that the role of women decreases with each higher level of play. Many women players are relegated to defensive plays and resets, especially in money tournaments. This is very noticeable in professional tournaments when games are close. Some male players, like Ben Johns will cover 80-90% of the kitchen area even when he’s paired with Simone Jardin!
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I’d like to see a mixed doubles pairing of Ben Johns with 14 year old Anna Leigh Waters who won the singles title and the women doubles title (with her mom) at Orlando PPA. Anna Leigh poached aggressively and “pushed” her mom off the court on a few points at last weekend’s tournament during the women’s doubles tournament match.
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Morgan Evans: pickleball commentary = John McEnroe: tennis commentary.
One of the benefits of the PPA Pickleball Orlando coverage was the commentary by Morgan Evans. Like John McEnroe, he is an accomplished player who is articulate and can explain the game to the general audience as well as current pickleball players and also has a dry sense of humor.
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Lucy Kovalova: pickleball = Anna Kournikova: tennis
Big difference is that Kovalova routinely wins tournaments as a mixed doubles or women’s doubles champion.
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I recommend Manny Lai’s YouTube page. Lots of great pickleball competition from a local star and the cinematography is excellent. Singles and double matches (mixed doubles with Kaley). Note: Manny has an unusual but very effective chainsaw serve that you can see in his videos.
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I have been a part-time Meet-up host who has been blessed with a great group of attendees and players. Pretty much, my primary role is to open the gates and get out of the way. However I have tried to incorporate the following to make the Meet-up a more pleasant experience for the attendees:
When possible, maintain a workable attendee number to promote quick turnaround of games for players.
Get to know attendees by their name, especially newcomers.
Encourage newcomers or players who may feel intimidated or uncomfortable to play.
If you see a game where the sides are uneven, suggest a change of partners or a change of game. Avoid routs and blowouts due to talent level differences.
Check on people who may be experiencing issues with heat, illness or injury.
Ensure safe playing conditions. Clear puddles, wet spots, debris etc. from playing areas.
Post pictures or comments post Meet-up to memorialize session.
“The Greek word for “return” is nostos. Algos means “suffering.” So nostalgia is the suffering caused by an unappeased yearning to return.”
― Milan Kundera, Ignorance
The Andy Griffith Show, Hogan’s Heroes, Match Game 75, Barney Miller…these are all 1960 and 1970 television shows enjoying a revival. Many viewers, generally in the Medicare and Social Security eligible categories, are eschewing current produced media fare for TV shows of their younger years.
Why? The reasons may vary but for many it’s a portal to a simpler time with less stress and drama. People need a break from Covid 19, Trump rants, smarmy Fox commentators and an endless stream of violence, disasters and deaths on their TVs and computer screens.
Photo by Andre Moura Pixels
I too pine for simpler times and have compiled a short list of memories, places and people that take me back to a simpler time.
Cherry Hill Mall food court with Nathans, Arthur Teachers and Bassetts Turkey
Drive-In movies
Emma Peel
Local minor league hockey (Jersey Devils, Ramblers)
Walter Cronkite, Peter Jennings and Chet Huntley
Extensive coverage of college and high school sports by local papers
Fish’s (Abe Vigoda) asides on Barney Miller
Summer League Basketball at Wood and Memorial Parks (Cinnaminson NJ)
“Missed by that much”
Pat Paulsen running for President
Gladys Ormphby and Tyrone on Laugh In
Barbi Benton
U.S. Pro Indoor Tournament at Spectrum
Chief Jay Strongbow
Lindsey Nelson and Ray Scott announcing college and professional football games
Old Republican party (Everett Dirksen, Hugh Scott, Gerald Ford)
Apologies
Soupy Sales
By Saam and Richie Ashburn broadcasting Phillies games
Petula Clark
Diving horse at Steel Pier
Sparklers
Tinsel
Hill Street Blues
John Larroquette’s (Dan Fielding) leers on Night Court
Mike Wallace interviews on 60 Minutes
Playboy interviews
Sport magazine
Archie Bunker
Phyllis George
The Grassroots
Reader, how many from this list do you remember and know?
Who do I blame more? A Republican leadership ignoring the advice of the medical and scientific community or the Trump/Republican base listening to and believing quacks and anti-vaxx commentators and politicians?
Clara Bow was an actress in the 1920s who was labeled “The It Girl.” She was the predecessor to Farrah Fawcett, Marilyn Monroe, Raquel Welch and a number of sex symbols who were on TV and movie screens as well as posters on many men’s collegiate dorm walls. Clark Gable, Paul Newman and Brad Pitt might be characterized as having “it” by women.
What is “it?” “It” is a mixture of attractiveness, charm, personality, sex appeal and confidence that radiates from the person. I don’t think that “it” is only a phenomenon or brand for just Hollywood actresses or celebrities. I think that all of us have “it”. “It” are the qualities that make us attractive and what attracts us to a potential spouse, partner and opposite sex. It may also be defined differently as to its constituent qualities.
“It” is not inexhaustible and some people are blessed with more of “It” than others. There are peaks and valleys of “It”. Some people run out of “It” faster than others. Some lucky people never lose it no matter how old they get.
Here is my unscientific, totally subjective and undocumented (no data) analysis of the peaks and valleys when most men and women exhibit IT. Apologies to George Clooney, Morgan Fairchild and Christie Brinkley in advance…
Women acquire “it” earlier than men as they mature more quickly. Women may also lose “it” at a faster rate than men from age range 40-70. The peak age range for both men and woman is from 20 to 30. Again these are generalizations. Depending on one’s heredity, health, financial status, plastic surgery and desire to maintain “It”, results can vary.
Esot-eric 