Mid-Week Musings

For the Week of: 5.15.2023

Quote of the Day:

“Ours may become the first civilization destroyed, not by the power of our enemies, but by the ignorance of our teachers and the dangerous nonsense they are teaching our children. In an age of artificial intelligence, they are creating artificial stupidity.”  -Dr. Thomas Sowell

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On The Road Again

This past week I drove back to Illinois to attend the funeral of a very close friend’s mother. It’s an ironic thing, attending funerals. On one hand we mourn the loss of a person be they mother, father, or any family relation, and on the other, renew friendships and offer comfort to those who need it. Sometimes, both. I was struck by that fact. In the midst of heartache there is the small bloom of a flower, a reminder of good and hope in the midst of sadness. I don’t know if that’s the intended purpose, but it was a thought I had.

Being Back in Illinois

I stayed at the home of a close friend for the Illinois leg of my trip. I’d forgotten in one short year how bad the traffic is during certain parts of the day. I thought I’d anticipated it, but I was wrong. Cars, cars, cars…everywhere.

I did dine at a wonderful Italian restaurant I’d not been to called Enzo and Lucia. It’s been a while since I had true Italian food (other than Melinda’s cooking), so I thought I’d give this place a try. One word: Fantastic. Italian was spoken throughout the place which was fun, and the bartender/server, also Italian, was a delight. As soon as I walked in the aroma of fresh pasta, garlic, and herbs hit my nose and I knew I was home. There’s a certain aroma of a good Italian restaurant and this had it…in spades. Fresh, warm bread was brought out as I sat at the bar, accompanied by a glass of red…the only choice when you visit a place like this. I ordered the Linguini Pescatore which was a delightful mix of clams, mussels, calamari and shrimp served over a bed of linguini. Cooked and seasoned perfectly, the meal was a home run. So, if you’re ever in Long Grove, Illinois….

Troy, Ohio

I decided to make a stop on the way back at a friend’s house by his invitation. It was just off the expressway and not far out of the way on my journey home. There’s nothing like renewing an old friendship during one’s travels, especially when you’ve been long time friends who, through the vicissitudes of life, are not able to connect. My friend, Troy, moved from San Diego, California, back to Ohio…Troy, Ohio…and took over the Troy High School football program. A match made in heaven. I met his partner, Shelly, and the three of us had a wonderful evening. Of course, there was an extensive amount of “ball” discussed, trying to deal with gap schemes versus a couple different defensive looks, as well as a “tasting” of Heaven’s Door – a nice bourbon with a very nice cherry/chocolate notes.

All in all, a great visit.

Donald Trump on CNN

I was rather amused by the pearl clutching so many engaged in when Mr. Trump appeared on CNN. While I’m no fan of the man and his ways, he is, currently, a candidate for the Presidency of the United States. He is a Republican, appearing on a liberal network. Personally, I think this is a good thing. The notion any candidate should not be allowed, or avoid a hostile network because of their political affiliation is silly and non-productive. I wish liberal candidates would appear on conservative networks and vice-versa. Everyone should have the opportunity to listen to all candidates, not just the ones that fit their ideology or political bent. The idea of these silos of ideology is silly and does nothing but further the fractures between the parties and the electorate. Opposing views should be welcomed, not shunned or boycotted. Let everyone see everyone and let everything be exposed.

When did we become so afraid to hear “the other side”?

Television Recommendation

I can’t take credit for finding this, as Christine Rosen of the Commentary Podcast discovered it. The show is called Drops of God, found on Apple TV. It is a rather unique show in three languages (French, Japanese, English – yes, with subtitles), about the daughter of a French wine master and a Japanese man who are in a competition for an estate worth millions of dollars – a wine tasting contest. It is fascinating, extremely well written, and absolutely worth the watch. If you’re in the market for something truly unique and interesting, this is it.

The List

Here are some history book recommendations if you’re looking for something interesting to read. These are some of my favorites, and as always, in no particular order.

1.     At Dawn We Slept (Gordon Prange) – the story of the Pearl Harbor attack from an American point of view.

2.     Dreadnaught (Robert K. Massie) – the coming of the First World War. A wonderfully written and detailed book about the events leading up to the War to End All Wars.

3.     A Question of Character: A Life of John Kennedy (Thomas C. Reeves) – a former campaign staffer who decided to write a book praising Mr. Kennedy…but as he researched, he discovered a completely different man. Very interesting book.

4.     When Pride Still Mattered (David Maraniss) – The best biography of Vince Lombardi I’ve read.

5.     1066: The Year of the Great Conquest (David Howarth) – the only time England was successfully invaded in its entire history was by William the Conqueror (William of Normandy). This is the story of that conquest. Very well written and quite readable, written by an ancestor of Hastings, England.

6.     Here Be Dragons (Sharon K. Penman) – historical fiction based on the 100 Years War (1337-1453). The late Ms. Penman was a master story teller and this book is one of her best.

Welp, that’s it for this week’s musings. Remember, it’s all downhill from here!