Sunday Morning Coming Down

It's very early.  The races at Hialeah begin at 12:35pm.  I'm pondering stuff.  How should I bet a horse that has been away from the races a long time.  I've invited folks to the races, but realize there are at least a few other horses in the race that deserve consideration.  I would like a boat race, a walk over, i'd even take a bunch of late minute scratches so the horse could run with fewer chances for problems.  Short of that I'll take what ever luck the racing gods might provide.

A bartender who has run the last few Boston Marathons was the guy who was photographed shoveling the road where the finish line of the race is painted according to his boss at the Back Bay Social Club. This is not a big surprise in my books.  I kind of think only a marathoner might do such a thing. Like maybe, with all the snow he was missing his daily run, and really needed something to do that might please the running gods.  Running only requires shoes and a place to run, and usually while you are running you feel good and from experience you really feel good when the run is done. Shoveling snow in a sacred place works on a lot of levels.  Thank you Dr. Glasser.

 Marshwan Lynch Will Never Be Confused With Ernie Banks. He was there so he didn't get fined.  He spent about 4 1/2 playing and replaying the phrase I'm just here so I won't get fined.  Good for him and I guess the reporters that covered his required time at the microphone got the message. The Seattle Seahawk running back has been in league since 2007 and is making his second appearance in the Super Bowl with the Seahawks.  It's been reported that the NFL would have fined him $500,000 if he did not show up for the media in the run up to the Super Bowl. It some ways this appearance is just as weird as any number of interviews that happen these days at mega events.  Football players sign contracts with teams that play in leagues that require players to not only play football but to do other things that promote the sport they play. Lynch's response to the media's questions were childish. Could you just imagine the interview with Ernie Banks if he had made...

Two states have had good job growth since the start of the recession. North Dakota has had net job gains of 30.8% and has an unemployment rate of 2.7%. Texas has had net job gains of 12% and has an unemployment rate of of 4.9%. Both states have benefited from growth in the energy sector and growth in general. California has shown strong job growth but its unemployment rate is still well above the national average at 7.2%, but improved from a high of 12.4% in 2010. Hopefully, the drop in the price of oil won't take too big a toll on employment throughout the country. Figures are from the Joint Economic Committee of Congress report in November, 2014.

I have always wondered about foreign leaders coming to speak to joint sessions of Congress.  It happens quite regularly from Winston Churchill addressing Congress twice during WWII.  Heads of State from all over the world have spoken to Joint Sessions of Congress and it would seem to be a reasonable part of our diplomatic process. It's a dance, usually that includes a State Visit and common ground. This does not seem to be the case in Israel's Prime Minister talk to Congress which is scheduled for March.  The following is from a post on Facebook by The VOX. Here is the backstory: On Wednesday, Boehner announced that he had invited Netanyahu to come speak to a joint session of Congress in late February (later pushed to early March) on Obama's nuclear negotiations with Iran, which both Boehner and Netanyahu oppose, and which Republicans are seeking to blow up by forcing new, deal-killing sanctions on Iran. What made this such a remarkable breach is that Boehner had r...

Friday Ernie Banks passed away at age 83. If you grew up in Chicago and were a Cub fan, there is probably no more iconic figure. Known as Mr. Cub, the all star shortstop and two time most valuable player was a throwback to a different era in baseball. Ernie's career began with the Kansas City Monarchs in 1950, served in the military for two years before joining the Cubs in 1953 and playing for 19 years. He was the guy that made Wrigley Field the "Friendly Confines".  I think only my cousin Steve would have wanted to hit a home run in Wrigley Field more than Ernie would have liked to hit a home run in a World Series game played at Wrigley, that discussion can continue on another plane, 1969, the "Miracle Mets" and the collapse of the Cubs is still inexplicable to most if not all baseball fans and heart breaking.  Ernie carried this around but never seemed to lose the joy he felt at the ball park and was still looking forward to that day when the Cubs would ...

Maybe it isn't always rapid but I had a good day coming back from the track by signing up for a Golden Passport that will allow me to ride the Metrorail and the bus system in Miami for (free) because I voted to add to the local sales tax.  I didn't think this kicked in until I got to sixty five years old but was corrected by another old geyser who told me that I qualified since I had started receiving SSA.  A monthly unlimited commuter pass would have cost about $137.00. Walking to the bus or train is good exercise and there will be savings in gas, insurance and depreciation, although I think my body is depreciating enough these days.  I feel good by doing what I can to reduce traffic and lessening my carbon footprint. One of the county commissioners at a budget hearing said the cost of providing these free rides is getting expensive.  She is absolutely correct and at some point it might make sense to charge a nominal fee for this service, it's almost too good a ...