Good Morning All & Happy Tuesday!
Well, yesterday marked the birthday of one of my very favorite people in this world, my beloved daughter-in-law Sarah, who celebrated her 29th birthday! Here’s to her…a gifted wife, mother, daughter, daughter-in-law, sister, aunt and elementary art teacher extraordinaire! She is TRULY “one in a billion.” Sarah, thanks for all the love & joy you bring to this world of ours!
Speaking of birthdays, Happy Birthday to one of my favorite basketball players of all-time, Oscar Robertson (“Big O”) of Cincinnati Royals & Milwaukee Bucks NBA fame, who is 82 today; to drummer/musician Pete Best (the very first drummer in “The Beatles”), who turns 79 today; and to musician Clem Burke of “Blondie” and “The Romantics” fame, who is 66 today. Here’s to all of you!
While we’re on the subject of celebrations, here’s to one of my very favorite football players, Cooper Kupp of Eastern Washington University college football fame and of Los Angeles Rams NFL fame, who caught 11 passes last night against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for over 140+ yards receiving and close to another 100 yards gained running after receiving the passes. How about that? I hope the Rams get to play the Seahawks in the playoffs. That would be a great game to see, no doubt! Who are you rooting for to make the Super Bowl this year? Thank God for sports to help us get through the “coronavirus blues.”
Speaking of diversions, here’s the trivia question for the day and it comes from the all-time favorite “Jeopardy!” game show:
Q: What is the maximum amount of money that a contestant can possibly win in a single game of “Jeopardy!”? Is it $119,150?…$283,200?…$566,400?…or $702,800?
A: Although it’s never happened, the maximum sum in a single game is $566,400. A single contestant would have to sweep both boards, find all three Daily Doubles—in the top tier and at the end of each round—make them true Daily Doubles and then wager everything in Final Jeopardy! Whew! The contestant would have $35,600 after Jeopardy, $283,000 after Double Jeopardy, and $566,400 after Final Jeopardy. The highest one-day winning total was $77,000, a record set by contestant Roger Craig on September 14, 2010. How about that!!!
I lost a respected friend the other day…Larry Kuznetz, a talented employment law, health & welfare benefits law & disability rights attorney, died unexpectedly this past week. I had the pleasure of collaborating with Larry on some top-quality seminars/workshops on employee health & welfare benefits and employment law issues for my firm’s employee benefits consulting clients. Larry had a “winning way” about him that was appealing to all and deeply loved his family. I enjoyed visiting with him from time to time to discuss life lessons and get in a round or two of golf. He was an enjoyable golfing partner, for sure! I’ll miss him greatly. Larry left this world of ours in much better shape than when he entered it. Here’s to you, Larry, for a life very well lived!
Is anybody else getting tired of all of the back and forth regarding what to do and what not to do to combat the coronavirus pandemic? Our political leaders seem to be really conflicted as to what path to follow and it’s wearing thin with folks like me. Take for example the latest round of small business shutdowns/curtailments…the government hasn’t presented any credible & reliable facts/statistics to support their actions. There hasn’t been any information put forth that proves that the virus is being spread by these small businesses and yet our government leaders seem to be hell bent to shut down businesses that can ill-afford more shutdowns. We have already lost tens of thousands of small businesses due to government actions. Government leaders keep telling us to “follow the science” and yet they don’t present factual data to support their conclusions and actions. It’s really sad…what do you think?
I think it’s time to let businesses operate and for all of us to follow reasonable, common sense measures that the authorities think will reduce the incidence of infection…i.e. wear a mask, practice social distancing and wash your hands frequently when out and about. That’s about all the authorities have to offer us at this point until an effective vaccine is administered and hopefully ASAP. The U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) needs to move quickly to approve a proven effective vaccine so that the treatment can begin right away. Sometimes the wheels of government turn mighty slowly, don’t you think?
Here is the word definition for the day:
“Cetology”: The branch of zoology that deals with whales, dolphins and porpoises. I have enjoyed the study of “cetology” over the years…seeing orcas (killer whales) in Puget Sound and then seeing humpbacked whales off the coast of Iceland near the port town of Grenevik (sp?). It’s really thrilling to see these giant creatures in their natural habitat…magnificent may be a better word to describe them. Getting to see porpoises jump in and out of the sea off the coast of Nova Scotia was also a real treat. Some of the best wildlife sightings I’ve ever had involved creatures related to the field of “cetology.”
Here are some thoughts for the day:
“Share love and it grows…share sorrow and it lessens.”
“Dream but always with your eyes wide open.”
“Without the historical bodily resurrection (of Jesus Christ), there is no grand drama. There is no ultimate hope, and death is the victor.”
—Dr. John Lennox, Scottish theologian & teacher
Here’s to a great Tuesday and Happy Thanksgiving to you and all of your loved ones! Even with the coronavirus pandemic and other societal challenges, there is still much for which to be thankful, don’t you think?
Press on,
Papa ‘a (Dad, Uncle Mark, Mark, etc.)