Sunday Morning Coming Down

 There is no dog in this fight in my house.  I had a student loan and paid it off. I worked and saved money for college.  I contributed some of my wages towards household expenses through high school, lived frugally had scholarships, worked summer jobs and some part-time employment while attending the "U".  And now President Biden wants to cancel $10,000 of student debt. What is this world coming to? Some folks are going to complain that when they went to school, they didn't take out loans or paid them off. Maybe they should get a thank you note for being good stewards of their talents or buy their folks dinner or start saving for their folks' long-term care should it be necessary. One of the reasons for the explosion of student loans has been the overuse of academic credentials as a substitute for relevant experience to qualify for entry level positions or promotions to higher paying jobs. And one of the unintended consequences of such policies was private for profi...

Florida's Senior US Senator condemns the Miami Heat and the NBA for suggesting he be called at 202-224-3121 to drop off a message regarding common sense legislation regarding guns.  Improved background checks and a ban of assault rifles would put a dent in mass shootings which the US leads the modern world in. Senator Rubio rightly points out that China has some serious human rights issues (as does the United States of America) but that is no reason to ignore mass shootings at schools, churches, or grocery stores.

I listened with respect for what Steve Kerr said about the latest round of gun violence that has touched a church, an elementary school, and a grocery store. His father Malcom Kerr was killed by the Islamic Jihad at the age of 52 while serving as the president of the American University of Beirut. The NBA Golden State Warriors, the team he coaches is in middle of another run for a championship.  His plea for action related to gun violence and calling out the NRA and the partisan divide in the Senate that has stopped any meaningful federal legislation in a pregame news conference should be heard. I believe a majority of Americans want action to curb gun violence. NOW!

In no particular order because any top ten list could be jumbled at any time. A global pandemic is still happening.  Maybe it isn't the killing field that it once was, but this story is on going. The immediate past president hasn't been convicted of anything and given the deep divisions in this country may not even get indicted.  And the leadership of the Republican Party while loathing him privately has elected more than a handful of folks who seem incapable of doing anything but sowing more dissention. The Supreme Court which abhors things that are political, may now thru a leaked document may do damage to itself and politicize abortion and just about every issue that will come its way for a long period of time. There is a war going on and wars are expensive in people and treasure. 

The trainer of Rich Strike has endured.  The post-race drug tests came back negative. The connections decided Rich Strike will skip the Preakness and get ready for the Belmont. If I was an owner of a horse that won the Kentucky Derby, I would hope the horse came back from the race and be able to run in the Preakness. The sad truth is few horses are able to withstand the pressure of the races to qualify for the Kentucky Derby and the three Triple Crown races.  Three-year-old horses are not motor cycles that just need a tune up to run their best, race after race. The point system that gives a spot in the Derby has worked well to putting together of twenty horses which makes for an exciting race and more than a few interesting stories and a packed crowd at Churchill Downs. The system needs an adjustment which allows more time off between the Triple Crown races. The Santa Anita, Arkansas, and Florida Derbys give almost enough time for their winners to be ready for the Kentucky Der...

A better story than more Bob Baffert drama and court cases. It was surprising that an 80-1 shot won the 2022 Kentucky Derby.  The connections were thrilled that he got into the race and once you are in the race you have a chance.  That the winner, Rich Strike was claimed for $30,000 and won as a maiden in September of 2021 after a lackluster Maiden Special Weight race at Ellis Park and then got beat in two stakes races by Tawny Port and Tiz the Bomb finishing third in both races. This is hardly a reason for optimism, and if the owners went to look for a softer spot and more black type,  nobody would have blinked but it didn't happen like you might think.  The connections were on the list as also eligible should there be a late scratch and was added to the field after the Ethereal Road dropped out. Rich Strike got some very good luck as Jockey Sandy Leon was able to get Rich Strike through an opening and was able to flash some late speed and pass the tiring favorites....