Non-baseball items, part II Showing 251-300 of 1,339

[C. John]

Actor Gene Hackman has passed away at age 95, along with his wife Betsy Arakawa, a classical musician age 65 and one of their dogs. Initially the deaths were labelled non-suspicious, one of his children said they died from carbon monoxide poisoning. However becuse the door was unsecured and there were pill bottles scattered around that is being reconsidered.

[C. John]

Russian Chess legend Boris Spassky has passed away at age 88. Spassky is probably one of only tow people from the world of Chess I could name.

[C. John]

I am either out of touch or I just don't care about certain things. I have only just discovered that Lewis Hamilton, who is a driver in Formula 1, is black. I did not know this nor have I ever noticed it.

[C. John]

I notice that Ingrid Andress sang the national anthem at the Avalanche's hockey game on Friday. Apparently she did a pretty good job of it as well.

[C. John]

The girls did something neat the other day. They are away this weekend, along with the wife, at a bowling tournament. They left Friday and get back on Monday. On Thursday night Katie informed me that they had left a stack of four coffee pods for the Keurig machine. each one labelled for a different day while they are gone. They did that because they wouldn't be here to pick my coffee for me. I knew Vicky had done some of the picking as one of the pods is one of those that you can fill with your own coffee and only Vickey knew they have Snickers flavoured coffee in them.

[C. John]

Apparently The Open will not be returning to Turnberry anytime soon. There are two reasons for this. One is the owner's controversial personality, and the other is the lack of money generated by the site for the R&A. I would read the article to learn more but this is the Telegraph which means pay wall. This applies even if Sir Keir Starmer requests them to schedule it there. I daresay the money is the more important consideration.

[Peggyzbooksnmusic]

C. John wrote: "The girls did something neat the other day. They are away this weekend, along with the wife, at a bowling tournament. They left Friday and get back on Monday. On Thursday night Katie informed me th..."

So nice of your daughters! Snickers is my fav candy bar but unfortunatley I hardly ever drink coffee as even decaf in AM keeps me awake. Off topic but we had gift card to Cheesecake Factory (had never been before). I had only a salad so I could have a slice of their cheesecake which is huge. I got the Snickers one and it was delicious!

[C. John]

One of our local chains, Winners which is primarily a clothing store but does carry some other stuff, got these candy flavoured coffees at Christmastime. It is ground coffee which is why I need a pod to put it into. They did get some Keurig product in as well, and I picked up the Bailey's flavoured one. All after Christmas of course.

[C. John]

And here is the Daily Mirror Pub Quiz for this weekend. I am guaranteed to get at least one correct as I do know which planet The Doctor (from Doctor Who) hails from.

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

[Lance]

I’ve had the Snickers coffee in the K-cups…delicious

[C. John]

I will get to try it tomorrow morning. The store I got this from had a number candy bar flavoured coffees. I just chose this one as Snickers is one of my favourite chocolate bars. If I am pleased with this one I may have to go over and get some more. Mind you the wife may not be pleased with me if I do so.

[C. John]

Well the Oscars are now in the books as they say. I do believe this is the end of the 2024/25 awards season. Oh wait, the Tonys may still be to come.

[C. John]

Contacted my daughters and they did not do as well at their tournament as they would have liked. As well, as long as they had fun. I recall one of the pros at the place we used to bowl at that it is easy to get out of your zone but a lot harder to get out of provincials. This is because the latter includes the lower mainland and there are a lot more really good teams on their than on the southern Vancouver Island. I will hear all about it tomorrow I suspect.

[C. John]

Manchester United has been knocked out of the FA Cup. They were beaten by Fullham on penalty kicks.

[C. John]

It seems there is a chance that there will be still be Football at Goodison Park after Everton move to their new stadium for next season. The Everton Ladies team may take up residence there.

[C. John]

Been listening to some Oscar Peterson. I still think my father was lucky. As a young man he got to see Peterson playing in the jazz clubs in Montreal.

[C. John]

Switched to the Norman Luboff Choir. This album is a collection of songs from different countries. The song for England is London Pride, a Noel Coward composition which I happen to quite like.

[C. John]

Here's one for the books, I think. Man U tried to sell one of its stars, while she was attending his brother's funeral. It was a loan rather than a straight sell but still. Talk about a lack of tact.

[C. John]

Serena Williams is joining the ownership group of the Toronto Tempo, which is the Toronto franchise in the WNBA.

[C. John]

Reading that Dolly Parton's husband had passed away. I noted that they had been married for sixty years. In the world of entertainment that is a really long time. Mind you there are plenty of entertainers who do have marriages that last that long, but it is the ones whose marriages don't last that you hear about. Thinking of one of the Gabor sisters but can't recall which one.

[C. John]

In a piece of soccer news that pleased me Nottingham Forest have made it through to the quarter finals of the FA Cup. for those who are unaware Forest is the English Football team I root for, and has been since the seventies, no matter what league they are in.

[Lance]

C. John wrote: "Serena Williams is joining the ownership group of the Toronto Tempo, which is the Toronto franchise in the WNBA."

Haven’t heard of them…new team this summer?

[C. John]

Lance wrote: "C. John wrote: "Serena Williams is joining the ownership group of the Toronto Tempo, which is the Toronto franchise in the WNBA."

Haven’t heard of them…new team this summer?"

It is a new team. They are to start playing in 2026. They will be playing their home games in the Coca Cola Coliseum, which I have no clue as to where that is or what name it might have had before.

[C. John]

The manager of Bournemouth, Andoni Iraola, is not particualarily happy with his teams draw for the next round of the FA Cup. They are hosting Manchester City. As far as he is concerned there is only one match that could have been worse. Away to City.

[C. John]

Okay, here is something a little different, the song "Mr. Tambourine Man" being performed on the harmonica. I can find them can't I.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ikY52...

[C. John]

Well it had to happen, I suppose. From the people who brought you the Winnie the Pooh slasher film comes one starring Bambi.

[C. John]

I trust, that for those who celebrate it, you had a pleasent Ash Wednesday. Of course this kicks off the season of Lent. It is traditional to give up something for lent. I recall one year when I was at theological college I announced, with a totally straight face, that I was giving up poverty, obedience and chastity for Lent.

[C. John]

The Guardian's Soccer Daily has now taken to calling the 2026 World Cup the Trade War World Cup. This the same newsletter that referred to the World Cup in Qatar as the Human Rights World Cup.

[C. John]

well now that the Oscars are done it has been announced that the Emmys will be telecast on Sept. 14th.

[C. John]

The home countries are talking about making a bid to host the 2035 Womens' World Cup. For those not aware the Home Countries are England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. EUFA and FIFA view them as four separated countries rather than one country (the UK). Been that way for as long as I can remember, and long before that.

[C. John]

Currently have my Liked Songs playing on Spotify. Listening to Wombling USA by The Wombles. It is song no. 152 on this list. Unfortunately there are 2,372 songs on this playlist (so far), so there is quite a ways to go before we reach the end.

[C. John]

Liverpool played PSG in, I believe, the Champions League yesterday. PSG had about 27 shots on goal to Liverpool's 2. The final score was PSG 0 - Liverpool 1. The Liverpool goal keeper certainly earned his pay in that game.

[C. John]

Here is an interesting little item from the Archives. It is a recording by Bing Crosby entitled The NATO Song. Given all that is happening these days this one might be appropriate right now.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7WJIB...

[Brina]

Can one of you explain this hockey trade to me:

https://www.bleachernation.com/blackh...

Something about being cap compliant and reaching salary floor

[C. John]

The NHL has a salary cap, like some other sports. However I think that they have a team payroll level. By acquiring Shea Weber's contract they are going to meet that floor. Even though he has retired from the NHL the contract still counts towards their payroll.

[C. John]

Here is a song that seems appropriate for this group. "My Baby Likes a Bunch of Authors" by Moxy Fruvous.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5MeQK...

[C. John]

Something for those who enjoy Wrestling from time to time. Here is the entrance for the Midnight Express, specifically the Beautiful Bobby Eaton/Sweet Stan Lane version
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-gggG...

And here is the version that featured Beautiful Bobby and Loverboy Dennis Condrey,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_UrZy...

[C. John]

Listening to something interesting. It's the song "Pinball Wizard" but set to the tune of "Folsom Prison Blues".

[C. John]

Here are this year's nominations for the World Video Game Hall of Fame. Yet another HOF.
https://apnews.com/article/2025-video...

[C. John]

This weekend's Six Nations matches are Ireland vs. France, Scotland vs. Wales and England vs. Italy. As Ireland and France were co-favourites to win this thing that should be an interesting match.

[C. John]

For those celebrating today I shall wish a Happy International Womens' Day. To those not celebrating you can go about your business.

[C. John]

Well the Liberal Party has elected a new leader and it is Mark Carney. I am not sure if he can immediately succeed Trudeau as Prime Minister or not as in fact he is not an MP as of now. Parliament is, I believe, scheduled to return from prorogation on the 24th. Of course there is nothing to stop the Prime Minister from asking the Governor General to call election before then, and it is expected that as soon as possible after parliament resumes the opposition will use a motion of confidence to bring down the government.

[C. John]

I daresay that this weekend might be one that NHRA might like to forget happened.
https://www.autoweek.com/racing/nhra/...

[C. John]

As most of you know I am something of a comic book fan. One of my favourite characters is the Darknight Detective, Batman. Came across an article on some common misconceptions about him and I figured I would share it with anyone interested.

https://bamsmackpow.com/key-things-ev...

[C. John]

Happy Mario Day to everyone.

[C. John]

King Charles III has released a playlist. It is an interesting one to say the least. There has been some suggestion that the inclusion of a song by Michael Buble is a subtle nod to Prince Harry as the two of them had dinner together a couple of times at the recent Invictus Games at Vancouver

https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/royals/...

[C. John]

Sir James Ratcliffe, the Bitish millionaire who owns part of Man U. has claimed the club could be bankrupt by Christmas. What a comedown for one of Britain's most iconic football clubs.

[C. John]

Here are the scores from the weekend's Six Nations games
Ireland 27 - France 42
Scotland 35 - Wales 29
England 47 - Italy 29.
I know, I usually write the scores European style but I didn't today. As Emerson once said (at least I think it was Emerson) "a foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds".

[C. John]

Headline for my Politico Brussels Playbook reads "Welcome to the Trade War". I wonder what they could possibly be referring to. For those not aware the European Union has its headquarters in Brussels.

[C. John]

As far as the Six Nations goes this coming weekend will be the final matches. I believe France plays first. If they win then it is game over. However if they lose then there is a chance for a couple of other teams. And all the games are on Saturday, practically back to back.