Non-baseball items, part II Showing 551-600 of 1,339

[C. John]

If you have heard of th protest group Just Stop Oil they have disbanded as of this past weekend. These were the people who threw soup and such on artworks and disrupted sporting events in the UK, among other things.

[Brina]

I like Edmonton because they have a Jewish kid Hyman number 18. Otherwise I just wish the Blackhawks would get good again and make the playoffs.

[C. John]

As far as the Stanley Cup goes my levels of cheering are
1. Toronto and Montreal
2. Boston, Chicago, Detroit, New York
3. All other Canadian teams
4. Everyone else.

Mind you, when I was living in Montreal while attending McGill I had a tendency to root for whoever was playing Montreal.

[C. John]

An interesting little tidbit from a poll conducted for Politico of Canadians

A Focaldata poll for POLITICO over the weekend found 42 percent of Canadians are in favor of … EU membership (30 percent were opposed). Almost two-thirds of respondents support joining a new “Anglosphere Union” consisting of Canada, the U.K., Australia and New Zealand (minus the United States).

The idea of Canada joining the EU was first suggested by a writer for The Economist.

[C. John]

During last year's EU elections Spotify produced a series of playlists, two of which were entitled Voting. That is what I am going to listen to today, among other things.

[C. John]

The Politico Inside Congress newsletter today had an interesting trivia question: Which president had the most states admitted to the Union during his term of office? Name the president and the states. I would be tempted to think George Washington but that is too easy an answer so it has to be someone else.

[Lance]

I don’t know if re-admitting states after the end of the civil war would count. If so that would be Lincoln

[C. John]

Well it is all over but the shouting, or at least the counting. As it stands right now the Liberals will return to power but it could very well be a minority government. I daresay the NDP and the Bloc may be willing to support the Liberals for the time being to give themselves some time to rebuild. It also seems the leader of the NDP did not retain his seat which often means a leadership change. I guess we shall just have to see what happens.

[C. John]

It figures. The first news alert I get in my email telling me that Mark Carney's Liberals have been elected is from The Wall Street Journal. Of course they probably like Carney as he is a fromer central banker, Bamk of Canada and Bank of England.

[C. John]

Shedeur Sanders is on the Toronto Argonauts negotiating list.

[Lance]

Does that mean they drafted him?

[C. John]

Not sure how that list workks. All I know if he decides the CFL is his best alternative TO has his rights.

[C. John]

This was from yesterday's New Yorker humour newsletter

B.D.S.M. for the Middle-Aged
Now you’re going to sit in that chair and watch me load the dishwasher my way. And you’re not going to say a single word.

[C. John]

Starting the day off with a bit of 'blue-eyed soul'

[C. John]

Apparently promotion to The Championship is going to cost Reynolds and McIlhenney about 2.3 million pounds. However since thie combined net worth is estimated at over 400 million pounds this probably won't be a problem.

[C. John]

Well if I didn't know who Shedeur Sanders was before the NFL draft and why he dropped so far I sure do now. Been reading a lot about it in my various sports emails. Certainly makes for interesting reading. Sort of a primer on how not to do things if you want to get drafted.

[C. John]

Apparently Shedeur's brother Shilo has fired their dad as his agent and got an actual agent to represent him. Result is a contrant with Tampa Bay, the Buccaneers not the Rowdies.

[C. John]

The following was in todays' Politico Playbook newsletter. I have to admit my eyebrow went up as I read it, until I realized it wasn't the Brett Hart that immediately came to mind that they were referring to.

Brett Hart is joining the Rockefeller Foundation's Board of Trustees. He is the president of United Airlines and an alum of the Clinton administration.

[C. John]

The second expansion franchise for the Profssional Women's Hockey League has been announced and it will be located in Seattle.

[C. John]

The UK is going to the polls today in local elections. Several hundred council positions and a few mayoralties are up for grabs. There is also a by-election after the current member for that constituency resigned following a conviction for assault. By the time I get up I daresay we should know how it is going.
And the Australian federal election is this saturday.

[Lance]

Doubly good news when opening the NBA app this morning - Timberwolves advance - which means the Lakers are eliminated! I’m sure everyone here knows why I can’t stand the Lakers and no, it has nothing to do with LeBron James

[C. John]

From this morning's Morning Brew newsletter. Lance can skip this one as he has likely seen it.

Good morning. Happy World Password Day. This holiday offers a powerful lesson: If at first you don’t succeed, try again, and then try one more time with a question mark until you’re locked out. Then, wait 10 minutes and try again, all lowercase this time, until you finally give up and request an email to reset it.

[C. John]

If you want to see a close election we just had one in the UK. Among the local elections in England there was also a by-election. Reform UK defeated Labour by six votes after a recount, I have never seen an election that close, save in fiction.
As far as the local elections themselves went Reform UK managaed to take control of a number of councils. The papers were looking forward to that as it meant now they got to see if Rform can actually run anything. Up til now all it did was complain about what the governmnt was doing.

[C. John]

Ruth Buzzi, who was on the Laugh-In televisiion show, has passed away at age 88.

[C. John]

Here is the link for the pub quiz. I had something this morning so was late getting at my mail today (more about what I was up to tomorrow).

https://www.mirror.co.uk/play/quizzes...

[C. John]

This does involve cycling which is a form or exercise, though this event is not a competition.

https://londonist.com/london/latest-n...

I have heard of this event before. There is probably one in Vancouver (and possibly Victoria) but I don't think Nanaimo has ever been blessed (?) with one.

[Lance]

C. John wrote: "Here is the link for the pub quiz. I had something this morning so was late getting at my mail today (more about what I was up to tomorrow).

https://www.mirror.co.uk/play/quizzes...-..."

I started this as it’s usually a good mix of everything everywhere- but of the 8 questions so far in my mix, the only non-British answer was on an album - the only one I got right. Since I don’t follow British news, sports or pop culture I gave up

[C. John]

News isn't so bad for me as I follow it. Movies and television are another matter altogether, save for a few shows I have watched in the past. My mother-in-law would probably get any question on Coronation Street correct, save that we get it on the CBC a few weeks late over here.

[C. John]

May the Force/Forth be with you.

[C. John]

I trust everyone is having a good Cinquo de Mayo. As well, I know I am a bit late with this one but happy May Day anyway.

[C. John]

Someone who enjoyed himself yesterday/early this morning was David Beckham. Authorities in England had to shut down his 50th birthday party due to noise complaints at about 3:30 am. Brooklyn was not there by the way.

[C. John]

I will admit it, the more I read about Trump wanting to put tarriffs on foreign made films the more confused I am getting. Does he mean films from US studios but made outside the US, or does he mean films made by foreign companies. Oh well, I guess we will find out whenever these things get put onto paper, if they ever do.

[C. John]

I have discovered that there is a town in England named Midsomer Norton. It is in the county of Somerset. Mystery fans will probably figure out why I found that piece of infrmation interesting.

[Lance]

C. John wrote: "I trust everyone is having a good Cinquo de Mayo. As well, I know I am a bit late with this one but happy May Day anyway."

IMO, the only reason it’s celebrated in the US is to have a reason to drink Mexican beer

[Lance]

With the Twins off and the Mets out west, watched game 1 of the Knicks-Celtics series. One of the better games so far in this year’s playoffs. Would love to see a Knicks-Timberwolves NBA Finals matchup. Even if the Wolves would lose that, I would at least be happy to see Karl-Anthony Towns get his ring. That trade has worked out well for both teams, as trades should. Never understand why fans and the media are so obsessed with trades needing to have one team “win” it.

[Brina]

No NBA here but I have been watching NHL playoffs. Last night’s game between Toronto and Florida was starting to get ugly after Panthers defender took out Leafs goalie. And this is with their top enforcer suspended. Game 2 might start to get ugly. I still want Edmonton to win. That game 1 is tonight.

[C. John]

Toronto vs. Edmonton, now that sounds like a good Stanley Cup.

[C. John]

Odd, I have a like for a recent review. Only thing is all I did was shelve the book as want to read. I do have a like for another review but at least in that case I actually have written review for the item.

[Brina]

I’d enjoy that. Would be rooting for Edmonton and #18 Hyman. That series with Vegas might go 7. Actually all 4 of these series have the potential to go 7. Making me wish that all baseball was during the day so I wouldn’t have to choose between the two.

[C. John]

There will be an announcement on thursday of who will be on the British and Irish Lions rugby team when it tours Australia over the summer.

[C. John]

The phrase "All rise" when the judge enters the courtroom is being changed in the UK. It will now be "All rise, if able". Of course the neanderthals are up in arms about this change.

[Lance]

Wonder if that will mean the Yankees will have to change the walk up for Aaron Judge as they will say “All Rise”?

[Lance]

C. John wrote: "Toronto vs. Edmonton, now that sounds like a good Stanley Cup."

If all-Canadian I’d rather see Toronto v. Winnipeg. Also wouldn’t mind one more Habs Stanley Cup in my life. Would make the 3 hour trip for the Parade on St. Catherine

[C. John]

It seems that April 30th was Internatiional Jazz Day and I am just learning that now. Sheesh.

[C. John]

A story with a lesson to be learned. Namely be careful how you celebrate your favourite team. This Celtic fan did the wrong thing when Celtic met Rangers in the latest Old Firm derby.

https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/footba...

[C. John]

Not sure if they have started voting yet but today is the papal election. See how long it takes. Some of these elctions could take a long time. The Conclave that election John XXII took a very long time, in fact so long that the King of France took matters into his own hands and confined the Cardinals to small apartments with only one servant until they elected someone. This was at a time when the Papacy was headquartered in Avignon in France, a period of time that is referred to as the "Babylonian Captivity".

[C. John]

Well the only vote today in The Vatican produced black smoke which of course means no pope. All of the news reports I have read have gotten one thing wrong. they keep saying that to elect a pope requires a two-thirds vote of the assembled cardinals. Actually it is two-thirds plus 1

[C. John]

There is a new Pope. White smoke was seen coming from the Sistine Chapel a short while go. This was relatively quick. We don't know who it is and the name they have chosen yet.

[C. John]

Apparently when Trump called Sir Keir Starmer, the British Prime Minister, to discuss the UK/US trade deal Starmer was in the middle of watching the game between Arsenal (who he has been a long-time supporter of) and PSG. I gather Arsenal lost.

[C. John]

Oh yes, I hope everyone is enjoying VE Day.