For those of us who still find fun and entertainment through radio hosted media, KGO's Mark Thompson Show features a segment that highlights some of the funniest, freaky news coming out of that fabulous state known as Florida. The state that looks like an inflamedhemorrhoid hanging out the butt of our country. Yes, that Florida!
Here in California, we have the city of Los Angeles, where the extraordinary is seen as just an ordinary daily occurrence. Things like: celebrities behaving badly, 7-Eleven store crime sprees, high speed police chases (chopper footage). What Los Angeles does not have are news stories involving alligators, police pursuit of suspects riding getaway lawnmowers, drunk cops in uniform behaving badly, iguanas in toilets, swamp rescues, and of course the classic body found in a freezer investigation.
Florida has it all, and more. Los Angeles might have legendary amusement parks, but Florida has legendary amusement parks where nearby homicide investigations, 'right down from the Whole Foods,' might involve amusement park employees smoking crack, in a cheap motel room, while still dressed in costume. 'Ho White and the Seven Dwarfs' never looked so sleazy.
Welcome to 'Friday Fabulous Florida,' where news and happenings are of the bizarre and insane, compared to most states. And you wonder, is it the weather? the politics? perhaps something in the water (besides alligators) has citizens of this so-called 'peninsula paradise' performing reality tv scenes. They make Hollywood crime productions look like fake news. And the catch to it all is many of the perpetrators and victims could qualify as 'Darwin Awards' candidates.
But we must give the 'Gunshine State' praise for its diversity. The folks featured in 'Friday Fabulous Florida' segments come in all shapes, sizes, colors, ages, genders, and backgrounds. No one group or type of individuals are targeted. Yet, all have that one noticeable distinction linking their bizarre actions ---- it happened in Fabulous Florida!
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - JULY 15: Mike Yastrzemski #5 of the San Francisco Giants celebrates with teammates after hitting a walk-off grand slam in the bottom of the ninth inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at Oracle Park on July 15, 2022 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)
Lachlan Cunningham / Getty Images
“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of light, it was the season of darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair.”
Yes, Giants baseball fans, it was the best of times on this Orange Friday night. For those who stayed tuned in at home, you got to see a ninth inning rallywhere the Giants, down 5-2, scored a historic six runs, including a grand slam. Unfortunately, I was one of the fans starting to see a "season of darkness and despair" for our Giants. I'd tuned-out after watching the Giants, yet again, struggle to get a hit, especially with men on base. So, I was just as surprised as any to check the final score before calling it a night, to see an improbable 8-3 Giants victory.
What was I thinking? I'd slipped into a Charles Dickens 'age of foolishness.' In my Giants frustration I had tuned in to some "Best of Twilight Zone" YouTube videos and completely zoned-out from baseball.
I think it was after a clip from the episode "Will the Real Martian Please Stand Up?" where the diner clerk reveals his third eye to the guy from Venus, that I went looking for a Giants game score and got the shock of the season. Ironically, I was returning to what TZ host Rod Sterling so poetically coined, "a dimension not only of sight and sound but of mind."
Watching the entire Giants team and staff celebrating outfielder Mike Yastrzemski's walk-off grand slam home run, brought back scenes and memories of those unforgettable wins leading to World Series Championships in 2010, 2012, and 2014.
For the next thirty minutes or so, I'd taken 'a journey into a wondrous land whose boundaries are that of imagination. That's the signpost up ahead -- your next stop, the Twilight Zone.'
Yes, my fellow Giants fans, I had been transported back to a time of team euphoria, with Journey's 'Don't Stop Believe 'in' blaring from the television. It was the Best of Times!
Unprincipled - (of a person or their behavior) not acting in accordance with moral principles. (Oxford dictionary)
Ex. 'there could hardly be a more graphic illustration of how putting power in the hands of unprincipled people can bring a community down, if it yields to such power.'
For the unprincipled man who has hidden behind high-paid lawyers since going into business as a young man, today a lawyer led investigators to the hideout. What they found were additional pieces of evidence against the unprincipled man, showing his participation in crimes committed against his country. No more skating over accusations of obstruction of justice and inciting an insurrection. The noose is tightening around the man who it's believed cheered on from the oval office, 'Hang Mike Pence!' chants.
His followers, supporters and enablers have no choice but to finally see, hear and hopefully process, the lies and untruths told them by this unprincipled man. Public exposure of an unprincipled man's crimes is not an easy pill to swallow for those who blindly pledged loyalty to him. The guilt and embarrassment can be physically debilitating and emotionally depressing, not to mention the legal liability for some.
Learning that loyalty to one so unprincipled is a one-way street, with no reciprocal value, is demoralizing. Thoughts of hearing how foolish you were to not listen to reason and pull away from this unprincipled man sooner, might haunt you.
"Oh, I say and I say it again, you been had! Ya been took! Ya been Hoodwinked! Bamboozled! Led astray! Run amok!" (1992 movie Malcolm X)
There's no shame in being misled by unprincipled beings. The shame and pitifulness are refusing acceptance of truths when lies and untruths are fully exposed. If victims of this unprincipled man's misguidance now find themselves feeling lost and looking for answers, know that un-radicalized faith, family, and country have been and continue to be awaiting you with open arms. Forgiveness is a principle practiced by most faiths.
Having to choose between continued manipulation by a cult-like zealot who preys on one's fears and discontent versus beginning the process of healing by eliminating negative forces that incite/persuade negative thoughts and actions, is a 'come-to-Jesus' moment.
A good percentage of Americans find themselves having to choose at this moment. The country needs the love and compassion of all her citizens at this time, regardless of faith, gender, race, political party, financial status, geographic location.
Our country found itself on the brink of a government takeover once this unprincipled man refused to accept losing an election. America, a country that has withstood and overcome much in its 246-year independence as a democratic nation, was almost divided and conquered by one man's inability to 'be a man' of principle and integrity. What he did was unprincipled, unprecedented and unconstitutional, not to say Un*Presidental.
It would be a crime for the world to lose such a great nation behind lies and unprincipled actions of one disillusioned man. But it almost happened and there is still a threat of it happening if steps aren't taken to 'shore up' our constitution and expose the unprincipled man and his lies.
So, for those who are still caught-up in the cult of this unprincipled man, understand and try to see the bigger picture of the clear and present danger he poses to you, your family, your community and your country. As with signs of domestic violence, the abuse began way before it became physical.
Disagreeing with our fellow citizens or policies of our country should not lead to violence and/or overthrowing our entire governing system. The dangers of extremist discontent toward government can and have resulted in citizens choosing to support and follow an unprincipled leader. And as we've seen happen, when an unprincipled man stokes the flames of our discontent, he does so for his own selfish reasons. What his deceived supporters and followers are left with is a country susceptible to plague, famine, violence, division, death. "A house divided cannot stand"
"A house divided against itself cannot stand."
I believe this government cannot endure, permanently half slave and half free.
I do not expect the Union to be dissolved - I do not expect the house to fall - but I do expect it will cease to be divided.
"And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had done, and He rested....." (Genesis 2:2)
So what did He do on the sixth day?
"He saw everything that he had made was good, and indeed it was good. So the evening and the morning were the sixth day." (Genesis 1:31)
So on the seventh game he rested, completing an NBA Finals Championship victory in six games.
Yes! Yes! Yes! The Golden State Warriors saw to it that all was good, completing their Championship run with a game 6 finals victory over the Celtics. They did it by creating a masterpiece in a Boston Garden overflowing in green shrubbery, with snakes slithering about.
Friday night never felt so celebratory in the Bay, as when theGolden State Warriors Beat Boston to the tune of a 43-point Steph Curry collage of shots. Yes, the NBA Finals series is tied 2-2, and the Warriors return to the Bay with homecourt advantage tucked snugly in their back pocket once again.
Not wanting to call out the obvious favoritism bestowed on the Celtics throughout this series, I wanna give props to every Warriors player, coach, office personnel and fan for enduring what definitely feels like an "Us Against Them" atmosphere in this NBA Championship series.
It isn't easy being great, but the Warriors and their fans know what it takes to overcome adversity. They have been doing it since first drafting Steph Curry. And now look what Steph has done; he has changed the way the damn game of basketball is played worldwide.
So, for Warriors fans having to listen to biased national game announcers and sports media, know that Boston is a formidable foe the Warriors can and will eliminate in their return to NBA Championship Glory; "I Guarantee It!"
Meanwhile, bay area fans should make it a point to tune into local sports broadcasting to get that nasty, national bias beat out of their eardrums.
In Major League Baseball, the San Francisco Giants took down the visiting L.A. Dodgers 7-2 Friday night. And after Saturday's 3-2 win, they're threatening a weekend series sweep. Although the Dodgers have led our NL West division all season, they now find themselves slumping. The San Diego Padres are .05 games behind them, and the giants 4.5 games. In case you forgot or been listening to national sports media, the Giants were Division Champions last season, winning 107 games. They haven't looked as dominating this season, but it's only mid-June.
As for the Oakland A's, since today is Sunday, let us send up a saving grace prayer for them. They are 6-19 in their last 25 games and next to last in the league in winning percentage. It is brutal to watch such a prideful organization losing so badly. Perhaps a new stadium will bring in money and all-star caliber players for the team.
The organization needs to do whatever it takes to return the A's to the greatness we remember them for. I'm all for it. They may be down at the bottom of the standings right now, but as the saying goes, 'when you hit rock bottom, the only way is up.' Can't wait to see you rise up A's.
Yes, the SF Bay Area is home to sports teams that are loved and appreciated regardless of their win/loss pct. While other regions tend to trend towards being fair-weather-fans, the Bay rides the up and down waves of a sports season, cheering their teams on, win-lose-or tie.
Some of the national sports bias we feel is just plain Jealousy. So sit back and enjoy, as our teams go out and prove their championship mettle once again.
This is my second novel by Robert Harris. It, unlike the first, has caught my inner ear with its clean, clear writing and much appreciated voice of Cicero's male secretary, Marcus Tiro. Tiro, as he is called, reminds me of other well-liked seconds to main characters in books. He's smart, funny, knows his place, and seems all-knowing. He makes for a great traveling companion for readers of this book.
Tiro delivers the story in a style that stacks connecting layer upon connecting layer, so you are well informed of the background story to events being presented. And though you are made aware of Tiro's character (strengths, weaknesses), the focus always swings back to our main character of the story, the brilliant young lawyer and senator, Cicero.
Early in the novel I found a most interesting oratory Cicero presented to the tribunal court of Rome. The speech cleverly criticizes and calls out corrupt practices of governing officials in the senate. Cicero's purpose for the oration is two-fold; to defend his Sicilian client against false accusations made by a thieving and corrupt governor, and to show public support for restoring the tribunes to power under Pompey. The tribunes represent the people, but power now lays in the hands of the rich aristocrats.
Pompey has planned a return to Rome from Spain with his conquering army. Upon his return he will be given consulship of Rome. Lollius Pelicanus, a conspiring tribunate candidate, has offered Cicero a part in their plan to restore the tribunes to power under Pompey's consulship. Cicero has accepted and gives a powerful speech to the consulate in defense of his client and support for a political cleansing of the tribunate.
Many reviewers who enjoyed the book point out how its political intrigues mirror today's American political theatre. Perhaps Democrats should take a page from this historical fiction novel and put an end to Republicans' shameless abuse of power and obstruction of justice.
Cicero's oratory comparison of fish-heads to aristocratic-heads, and his suggestion for severing such a head 'swollen with the poison of corruption and bloated with pride and arrogance,' is ovation-worthy.
Hopefully, as seems to be the case in Imperium, the wait is almost over. The time is due for a leader(s) to come, rise up, wrestle power from corrupt politicians/government officials, and restore power to the citizens of the United States. The days of oath bound, elected officials ignoring constitutional law, while plotting and putting their own interests ahead of those of the American people, are hopefully coming to a close. Children are dying. It's time for a change. A purge. An overhaul!
Imperium by Robert Harris
first published by Hutchinson in 2006
Cicero's speech to the 10 tribunes on the bench
pg. 61
'There is an old saying, gentlemen, among the merchants in the Macellum, that a fish rots from the head down, and if there is something rotten in Rome today - and who can doubt that there is? - I tell you plainly that it has started in the head. It has started at the top. It has started in the senate.'
Loud cheers and stamping of feet.
'And there is only one thing to do with a stinking, rotten fish-head, those merchants will tell you, and that is to cut it off - cut it off and throw it out?'
Renewed cheers.
'But it will need quite a knife to sever this head, for it is an aristocratic head, and we all know what they are like!'
Laughter.
'It is a head swollen with the poison of corruption and bloated with pride and arrogance. And it will need a strong hand to wield that knife, and it will need a steady nerve besides, because they have necks of brass, these aristocrats, I tell you: brass necks, all of them!'
Laughter.
'But that man will come. He is not far away. Your powers will be restored, I promise you, however hard the struggle.'
A few brighter sparks started shouting out Pompey's name. Cicero held up his hand, three fingers outstretched.
'To you now falls the great test of being worthy of this fight. Show courage, gentlemen. Make a start today. Strike a blow against tyranny. Free my client. And then free Rome!'
With all five starters scoring in double-figures, the Golden State Warriors eliminated the Dallas Mavericks in a game they led from start to finish.
Warriors home fans got to witness many firsts in their new San Francisco (Chase Center) arena. So far, the biggest arena moment came last night with a series-ending closeout win, producing post-game trophy presentations and a trip to the NBA Finals.
Joc Pederson celebrates after hitting a three-run home run against visiting Mets
I exited from a friend's house after the bottom of the 6th inning with the Giants leading 8-2. I felt sure the Giants had the game in the bag. I was so sure of it that I didn't bother checking, nor hear about, the final outcome of the game until three days later. WOW!
When I read, Joc Pederson had 4 Hits - 8 RBI - 3 HR on 6 at bats, I figured the game must've gone into multiple extra innings. Nope! Turns out it was one of the wackiest rollercoaster 8th and 9th innings of their 2022 season so far. And as far as what got into Joc, to have him launching Mets pitches like the second coming of Barry Bonds? Well, Barry Bonds of course:
What a game for the Giants and their fans, against a media darling New York team. The Mets began multiple victory-like celebrations, only to have their Hearts Broken multiple times one night in San Francisco. Just imagine how they felt hearing Tony Bennett crooning the Giants victory tune (I Left My Heart, In San Francisco) at game's end.
Eva Mireles, who taught fourth grade, had been an educator for 17 years, according to her profile at Robb Elementary.
Mireles was “trying to protect her students” from the gunman, a relative told The New York Times.
That did not surprise Mireles’ cousin, Amber Ybarra.
“She is a hero,” she said Wednesday on NBC’s “TODAY” show.
“Her cooking was amazing. Her laughter was contagious, and she’s going to be missed,” Ybarra added. “She put her heart into everything that she did.”
Mireles' daughter, Adalynn Ruiz, posted a tribute on Facebook, calling her mother "the half that makes me whole."
"Mom, I have no words to describe how I feel right now, tomorrow, and for the rest of my life. I never thought that I would be here writing this type of post for you. Mom, you are a hero. I keep telling myself that this isn’t real. I just want to hear your voice," she wrote Wednesday in a lengthy post.
Ruiz shared memories from watching TikToks with her mom to singing karaoke.
"I want everything back. I want you to come back to me mom. I miss you more than words can explain," Ruiz posted, adding: "You are so known by many now and I’m so happy that people know your name and that beautiful face of yours and they know what a hero looks like."
Lydia Martinez Delgado, Mireles’ aunt, said her niece was an avid hiker who took pride in teaching students of Latino heritage, The Times reported.
Martinez Delgado told KSAT-TV of San Antonio that she was “furious” over the shooting and others, saying: “These children are innocent. Rifles should not be easily available to all. This is my hometown a small community of less than 20,000. I never imagined this would happen to especially to loved ones.”
Mireles' co-teacher, Irma Garcia, was killed, according to her son, Christian Garcia.
Irma Garcia taught at the school for 23 years, according to her school profile. In 2019, she was one of 19 San Antonio-area teachers named a finalist for a Trinity University prize that recognizes excellence in teaching. Garcia had four children and loved barbecuing with her husband and listening to music.
Her son said a friend in law enforcement who was at the scene saw Garcia shielding her students.
His grandfather, Manny Renfro, told the Associated Press that Uziyah was a quick, adept football player, a sport they last played in San Angelo during spring break.
"The sweetest little boy that I’ve ever known,” Renfro told the AP. “I’m not just saying that because he was my grandkid.”
Xavier Lopez, 10, had been at an awards ceremony with his mother hours before the shooting, KSAT reported.
"He was just a loving ... little boy, just enjoying life, not knowing that this tragedy was going to happen,” a cousin, Lisa Garza, 54, told the Associated Press. “He was very bubbly, loved to dance with his brothers, his mom. This has just taken a toll on all of us.”
Arreola said authorities and survivors told her that the gunman told the students, “you’re going to die,” and Amerie Jo grabbed her phone to call police. “And instead of grabbing it and breaking it or taking it from her, he shot her. She was sitting right next to her best friend. Her best friend was covered in her blood,” Arreola said.
Amerie Jo had, earlier in the day, received a certificate for making the honor roll.
Jose Flores Jr. 10, was among the students killed, his uncle told The Washington Post.
“I’m going to miss you baby Jose, i still can’t believe this happened my heart is broken just hearing them tell us your gone,” Christopher Salazar, the uncle, wrote in a Facebook post. “It hurts me I love you so much and I wish you were still here. I’m going to miss you soo much rest in paradise my beautiful angel.”
Alithia Ramirez, a fourth grade student, was among the victims, her uncle said.
After meeting with Althia's family, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Beto O'Rourke said Wednesday that balloons from her 10th birthday were still up in their home.
"They want the world to know what a beautiful, talented, happy girl she was," O'Rourke said. They never want this to happen to another kid."
Eliahna “Ellie” Garcia, 10, was also confirmed to be another victim, her grandfather said.
Eliahna's aunt, Siria Arizmendi, described her to the Associated Press as happy and outgoing, a girl who "loved to dance and play sports. She was big into family, enjoyed being with the family."
“Taken out of arms and lives, in this freaking cowardly way, so young, so innocent, full of life and love,” he wrote on Facebook. “It hurts us to our souls.”
Two cousins, Jailah Nicole Silguero and Jayce Carmelo Luevanos, were also killed, their cousin told ABC News.
“They were nothing but loving baby angels, always had a smile on their face just full of life,” the cousin said in a statement to the network. “I can’t believe this happened to our angels.”
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