Non-baseball items, part II Showing 1,301-1,339 of 1,339

[C. John]

Going through my Christmas playlists on Spotify, specifically the folder that contains playlists compiled by others and came across a couple I had forgotten about. These two date from the Obama's first term, One playlist it Christmas with the Obamas and the other is Christmas with the Bidens. I am actually surprised one has done this since.

[C. John]

I trust everyone had a pleasant Remembrance Day.

[C. John]

The CFL has announce that it will allow its players to participate in the Flag Football competition at the LA Olympics. This despite there being an overlap in the seasons.

[C. John]

Turkish Football has a major gambling scandal.

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

[C. John]

The following is from the letters section of today's (Nov. 11th) edition of The Guardian's Soccer Daily newsletter.

I was one of the hardy souls to attend the Canadian Premier League final on Sunday in a very snowy Ottawa (yesterday’s Ice, Ice, Baby section, full email edition). It was probably the most remarkable match I have been to. Although the football on show was of dubious quality (mainly, but not only, due to the weather) there were some incredible Canadian scenes on display, including the home keeper helping clear the mounting snow with his own shovel (while probably apologising to the ground staff that his 18-yard box was so untidy). But I particularly enjoyed watching the home supporters in front of me making and stockpiling snowballs during play, and then unleashing their arsenal on to the away team gathered around the manager during breaks of play. This league has often struggled for its own identity in a crowded football landscape, but I think they’ve now finally found it. Shame the Geopolitics World Cup will be played during the summer months” – Ian Potter.

[C. John]

Listening to some Christmas music and discovered that Nick Lowe recorded a Christmas album. No surprise there. I think just about every musical act records a Christmas record. Heck, even Max Headroom put out a single. What I found amusing was the one of the songs is "Christmas at the Airport". Not bad actually. I also found it amusing that the album is entitled "Quality Street: A seasonal Selection for All the Family", especially given that Lowe himself is British.

[C. John]

My oldest daughter had a job interview yesterday. She will know later in the week if she gets it or not. The funny thing is that it is the same place her oldest brother is working.

[C. John]

I think Lance is the only person in this group that follows the CFL so he may find the following of interest. And no I have no idea what the waggle referred to is. However I do know that the rouge referred to is a holdover from Rugby, whether league or union or both I can't say.

https://www.cbc.ca/sports/football/cf...

[C. John]

The list stadiums that will be used for the EUROS in 2028 has been released. This tournament is being co-hosted by the UK and Ireland. Interestingly both Old Trafford (Manchester United's home) and Anfield (Liverpool's home) are not on the list. While this might seem odd there are in fact good reasons for both. Old Trafford is being redeveloped and there is no guarantee it will be ready by then. In the case of Anfield it is actually too small by EUFA requirements. Not by much but enough. It is wide enough but not long enough.

[C. John]

Republic of Ireland defeated Portugal 2-0 in World Cup Qualifying yesterday. As well Christiano Ronaldo was sent off with a red cad. It is going to be interesting to see if he gets a one-game or a two-game suspension. it is still possible for Portugal to finish top of their group and thus qualify for the World Cup directly. In that case, if he receives a two-game suspension he will be ineligible to play in Portugal's first game at the WC game. He will definitely miss their final qualifier.

[C. John]

For those who watch or have an interest in F1 racing. Oscar Piastri has been suffering from a lack of form lately. There have been several theories advance to account for this but one suggests he has been cursed by a burger chain. I would love to tell you more but the article is from The Telegraph so you all know what that means.

[C. John]

For a change of pace here is an item form today's Morning Brew.

"You may begin. More than half a million people in South Korea took the country’s nine-hour college entrance exam this week. The exam is serious business: Flights at every airport in the nation were banned from taking off for 35 minutes on Thursday so examinees could hear during the listening comprehension section of the English test.

That’s slightly different from taking the SATs in the US, where your mom drops you off 10 minutes late because you overslept and you stick your gum under the desk before choosing “C” for every multiple-choice answer you don’t know. But we still hope that both you and the exhausted test-takers have a restful weekend.

A story from my younger (very younger) years. When I was in grade 12 I had to attend a meeting for all grade 13s and those in grade 12 who intended to go to university after grade 13. It was about taking the SAT. We were told we would need an SIN (Social Insurance Number) to take the test. The only exception was if we planned to apply to only the three Ontario based universities that didn't require the SAT. The next year when I was in grade 13 and planning to go to university we learned that now there were only three universities in Ontario that required the test and since the only one I was planning to attend didn't require it I was not going to have to write it.

[Peggyzbooksnmusic]

I remember taking what I think was a SAT test in 1967 (12th grade). Memory is fuzzy! Only went to 1 semester of Junior College before deciding college wasn't for me so instead went to work full time for Navy Exchange in Coronado. One sister aced the SAT & went on to 4 years at USC on full scholorship.

Hubby also only went to 1 year Junior College & then off to the workforce. One of his teachers tried to convince him to stay in school but he just wanted to surf, work & tinker with his cars. Even so we dont regret our decisions.

Our 2 sons did well on the SAT...they got their smarts from their Dad! One loved college but younger son decided to go to work. Both made the best decisions for their situations.

[C. John]

I read that the CFL, though it is not a priority expansion is a possibility. However the commissioner wants it to be a Canadian team. There was talk at one time of putting a team in the Maritimes somewhere. The only other place I can think of is Quebec City. Every other major city, with the possible exception of Victoria, BC already has a team.

[C. John]

Kenny Easley who played DB for the Seahawks and is in the footbsll HOF has passed away at age 66. No cause of death mentioned.

[C. John]

A headline on one of my football newsletters read "Fergie shares true thoughts on Amorin and singles out Man Utd star". Of course the Fergie they are referring to is Sir Alex Ferguson. Of course given what I have been reading a lot about lately my first thought was Sarah Ferguson, who was nicknamed Fergie, the former Duchess of York.

[C. John]

Here is who has qualified for the Geo Politics World Cup (to use The Guardian's name). Qualifying hasn't quite finished yet so some more names will be added.

https://www.theguardian.com/football/...

[C. John]

John Force is retiring from racing Funny Cars in NHRA. It is going to seem a bit weird without him, but he will still be around as he is a team owner.

[Peggyzbooksnmusic]

I actually recognized the name of John Force as Hubby follows drag racing. Force has 3 daughters who race or have raced in the past. I went to one drag race in the 1980's at Pomona Raceway. Never again! Too loud for me :)

[C. John]

I think all three daughters are currently racing, with at least one racing for Force's team.

[C. John]

Sad news from the world of Football. A Ukrainian player suffered a fatal heart attack while playing in a Veterans' match on the weekend.

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

Of the three German teams mentioned in the article two of them I know of but the third one is a new one for me. The first Football league I watched on television was the German Bundesliga. The local PBS station in Buffalo carried the games.

[C. John]

Article from the Down the Tubes newsletter informs me that next year Pixar will be releasing Toy Story 5. When did Toy Story 4 come out?

[Peggyzbooksnmusic]

Toy Story 4 was released 2019. I love the Toy Story movies so am excited about #5.

[C. John]

Guess I just missed it. The colouring app I have on my phone, Happy Colour, on Saturday and Sunday has a couple of new Disney picture in its new pics for the day. On more than once occasion I have have yelled for my youngest daughter and told her I need her expertise to identify where a picture is from. This weekend wasn't so bad as they were from a Mickey Mouse cartoon. As well as Mickey and Minnie we get an appearance from Mortimer.

[C. John]

Here is a story from the final day of qualifying for the 1994 World Cup. This was the final day of qualifying for the European teams. Source is the Soccer with Jonathan Wilson newsletter.

But the greatest drama happened in Paris. France would already have qualified but for a shock defeat to Israel, but everybody expected them to get the draw they needed at home to Bulgaria. With 15 seconds remaining they had an attacking free-kick on the right. David Ginola could have taken the ball into the corner but inexplicably crossed into a box almost empty of France players – a “crime”, as his manager, Gérard Houllier, described it. Bulgaria broke at speed, culminating in Emil Kostadinov lashing in a stunning finish that eliminated France. Kostadinov shouldn’t even have been in the country, having failed to secure a visa, but had been smuggled in at a remote border post near Mulhouse.

[C. John]

From one of my Politico newsletters. There might be a movie in this one somewhere.

IN OTHER HOME OFFICE NEWS: Back in the 2010s, a secretive Home Office department funded a boy band called “Mr Meanor” to tour Muslim areas of the U.K. and sing songs with anti-radicalization themes, Ben Gartside reports in PoliticsHome. No, you’re not still dreaming.

[C. John]

Italy and Norway played a WC qualifier over the weekend. Going into the match Norway sat atop the standings in their group while Italy was second. To jump over Norway Italy needed to beat them by at least nine goals. The final score was Norway 4-1 Italy. So much for that. Now Italy is going to have to go into the playoffs and hope for the best. Given their history with playoffs they are doomed.

[C. John]

After the ingredients for the following cocktail in celebration of the upcoming WC I am glad my diabetes means I am not supposed to have alcohol.

Currently working on creating a GWC cocktail whose ingredients include Curaçao with Advocaat, Mexican tequila, a dash of Earl Grey (with raised pinkie) from Blighty, a splash of Schnapps, and some Irn Bru (gawd almighty!). All served in a frosted Norwegian drinking horn, and garnished with a Brazilian coffee bean and the number of your local emergency room. Playoffs will determine if I can add some Chianti and a Guinness head to the concoction. I think I’ll name it The Orange Buffoon” – Mark McFadden.

[C. John]

Shopping in our 'local' comic store. They have a rack of Little Golden Books and I noticed that there is one on Tom Brady.

[Brina]

And you bought it to send to me right???

[C. John]

No comment.

[C. John]

Just a warning to everyone. I will be doing another musical Advent Calendar nest month. In fact I have already been working on it, just so before I go to bed I can post the next day's song thus enabling those who live in the east to get it with you breakfasts or whatever. And yes Lance, both Mannheim Steamroller and Trans-Siberian Orchestra will make an appearance. I am even going to be able to include PFM, this year.

By the way, On Spotify you can find a playlist entitled Baseball Book Club 2024 which is the one I did last year.

[C. John]

I note that Joey and Jesse Buss have been fired by the Los Angeles Lakers. I believe that leaves Jeanie as the only member of the Buss family still with the team. Of course the controlling owner of the team in now Mark Walter.

[Lance]

C. John wrote: "I read that the CFL, though it is not a priority expansion is a possibility. However the commissioner wants it to be a Canadian team. There was talk at one time of putting a team in the Maritimes s..."

I'm late to this discussion, but why not in the Maritimes? Couldn't there be one in Halifax? Or St. John? I agree that Quebec City would be a good choice. I'm assuming the SAS Rough Riders are in Regina - otherwise, I think you're right, every other major city is covered.

I do recall the experiment to have American cities in the CFL. At the time, I was still living in Norfolk and we traveled to Baltimore to see not only the Orioles but an early season game for the Baltimore Stallions - that was the season that they won the Grey Cup. I think they would have stuck around had the Browns not moved to Baltimore to become the Ravens. That was a fun game.

[Lance]

C. John wrote: "I note that Joey and Jesse Buss have been fired by the Los Angeles Lakers. I believe that leaves Jeanie as the only member of the Buss family still with the team. Of course the controlling owner of..."

That is correct, Jeanie is the only one left. Just read a good book on the Lakers and LeBron - A Hollywood Ending: The Dreams and Drama of the LeBron Lakers

[Lance]

Peggyzbooksnmusic wrote: "Toy Story 4 was released 2019. I love the Toy Story movies so am excited about #5."

I never saw 4. As with most series, I thought it lost some quality the more movies made. 1 is still the best

[Lance]

C. John wrote: "I think Lance is the only person in this group that follows the CFL so he may find the following of interest. And no I have no idea what the waggle referred to is. However I do know that the rouge ..."

The waggle refers to the backfield motion that can take place before the snap...much more free movement allowed than in the NFL.

I read about the rule changes in September when they were first announced. I don't like them. Granted, I don't follow the CFL as closely as I do the NFL (mainly because I'm concentrating on MLB and NASCAR for most of the CFL season) but I am drawn to the game because of the unique rules. This to me is just trying to get a little closer to the popularity of the NFL. I'd rather have the rogue, the goal posts at the goal line and the 110 yard field. Plus, I love the three downs instead of 4. It's a wide open game that still allows the defense to play defense instead of throwing so many penalty flags like the NFL.

[C. John]

I think you are safe with the three downs. The CFL still wants to keep the game somewhat unique and the three downs is one of the easiest ways to do that. Theses changes are because there is declining interest in the CFL up here and they are hoping these might reverse that decline. As they say, time will tell.

[C. John]

Spotify's AI DJ tells me he has some new artists for me, then proceeds to play a song by Freddie and the Dreamers. New artist? It's a cover of "Short Shorts" by the way.