Big Winner On Jeopardy

A winning  three times or even twice on Jeopardy is very difficult.  Matt Amodio has now won 8 times in a row, as of Friday, July 30th.  It always makes it interesting to see how long he can extend it. 

Happy 50th To My Brother!

 

Steve turns 50 today!

Autographed Magazine Cover

Hydroplane driver Russ Wicks was a customer at our store a while back 

He was kind enough to autograph this picture of himself on the cover of the March 2003 edition of Wired magazine.

Tod Goldberg Places Two Books In Jewish American Fiction Best Sellers

 With Gangster Nation as number one, my cousin Tod Goldberg has two books at once on the Top Ten Best Seller list of Jewish American Fiction.   Gangsterland comes in at number nine.  

In a Facebook post, Goldberg jokingly compared his accomplishment with the Beatles when they hit it big. 

Israeli Singer Performing with IDF Female Combat Commander

Keren Peles, a well known Israeli pop singer visits an IDF (Israeli Defense Forces) post and sings a duet with a female soldier. I found this video extremely touching, partly, because of the beauty of the song.  I also loved the message that was brought forth. 

Mariners Take 3 In A Row From A's

 I had thought that it was a sweep and that would have been the headline, but I read that Oakland took the opening game.  Still, the Mariners took game 4 of the series, their 3rd win in a row.   That puts the team a game and half out of the wild card position.   

Now, it seems, people around town are talking "baseball" for the first time in years.  Remember, the Mariners have the longest playoff drought in major league professional sports. 

RIP Comedian Jackie Mason

 The New York Times reports Jackie Mason, a former rabbi turned comedian, has died at 92.   Mason was well known in the days of variety show and late night talk shows, although not much was heard from him in the last few decades.

New Coach Controversy At WSU

 While many Coug fans were sorry that previous coach Mike Leach, one of the most successful at WSU, left Pullman for Mississippi State, others were relieved.  The coach was known for his undying support for President Trump  and his snappy attitude toward his players and the media.

When Nick Rolovich was hired, Cougars were excited to have a new face who would make more news on the sidelines and little news away.

Well, that has changed when it was announced that Rolovich would not attend Pac 12 Media Day.  He had not gotten his COVID vaccination and had no plans to do so.  Suddenly, Cougar football fans found themselves in familiar territory, another polarizing move by a football coach.

While I need to point out, Rolovich said he respected everyone's opinion on whether or not to get vaccinated, his decision not only takes the program where it doesn't really want to go,  it can also endanger the health of the players and staff.  Just last Fall, the Apple Cup was cancelled when players tested positive for COVID. 

Cleveland Announces New Name For MLB Team

 The American League will have a new team name without an expansion team.  Cleveland's Major League Baseball team, known since 1915 as the Indians, will now be the Cleveland Guardians.

At the end of 2020, the organization announced that it was dropping its 10 year nickname out of social awareness in the wake of events like the George Floyd killing. 

The new name was announced today with a video narrated by Tom Hanks. 

Wa-Hi Class Of '76 Will Celebrate

 This weekend (July 23-25, 2021), members of the Walla Walla High School class of '76 will gather for it's 45th reunion.  It's the 5th formal gathering of the class and the first that is only 5 years after the last one rather than 10 years.  In other words, other reunions were 10, 20, 30, and 40.  

This year, for the first time, I won't be in attendance, as work obligations at our store will require me to stay in the Seattle area.  I am already planning to attend the 50th though in 2026. 

 

Robin Roberts--The Latest Jeopardy Guest Host

Robin Roberts, the latest guest host on Jeopardy, talks to contestants at the show's conclusion.

I like Roberts, who comes across as warm and engaging. She doesn't take herself too seriously.

Her unique outfit (pictured above) on last night's show, caught my eye.

Jack Arends--Rest In Peace

Jack Arends received national attention when he showed up in a wheelchair as a Washington elector last year at the meeting of the Electoral College and cast his ballot for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris.  He know that he would not be around much longer.

 I knew Jack only in passing when we were both involved with the Washington State Democrats, but through Facebook, I was able to follow his struggles with the disease that ultimately cost him his life.

Jack was at WSU at the same time that I was and worked at the school paper, the Daily Evergreen. He was friends with my fellow dorm member, Pete.  

Jack was a lover of  WSU Cougar sports and often shared his opinions on the Die Hard Cougs page.  

Last Sunday, looking at what I thought was another update, I learned that Jack Arends had passed away.  Although it had been expected for a long time, it was still overwhelmingly sad.  

Dasher And The Lion.

Dasher poses with his stuffed Lion on his bed downstairs.

When I'm Sixty Four (Remastered 2009)

I always loved this song, but starting today, I get to live it.  Today is my 64th birthday.

Catchy Campaign Sign

From a distance, the O in Joe Cohen's last name on these eye catching signs, looks to me like a bagel.

With a Jewish  sounding last name, that would be fitting.

The close up at top shows that does not seem to be the case.  

Cohen is running for King County Council.  He is not in my district, however, his signs are scattered across Issaquah.   Although I don't vote in that district, I'm pulling for Sarah Perry in the race, with whom I became friends with when I worked with the 5th District Democrats.

Article Celebrating Walla Walla Synagogue Found

 A look in a suitcase  pocket, a few weeks ago, located not just the article, but the entire edition of  the Walla Walla Union-Bulletin with the headline of Congregation Beth Israel celebrating it's 60th anniversary in February of 2001.  

The celebration took place 20 years ago, I was not able to make it down, but brother Steve can be seen in the top picture of the article with other congregants, listening to Rabbi Hillel Cohen who was a special guest.  Steve is the one closest to the wall.  

Rabbi Cohen"s father, Franklin Cohen was the temple's founding, and as far as I know, only rabbi.  He and his family had been sponsored by the Jewish community of Walla Walla after escaping Germany. 

I have not heard if the community has had celebrations for it's 70th and/or 80th.   Congregation Beth Israel, known to us as "the shul" was our place of worship growing up.  It has had it's highs and lows as far as membership numbers, but has been able to continue and thrive through the years. 

Sherman's Struggles Shocking And Heartbreaking

 Richard Sherman, whose iconic tipping of a pass to allow a Malcom Smith interception helped send the Seahawks to the Super Bowl, has been known for being very outspoken, but not so much for being in trouble with the law.  The former Seahawk cornerback, was arrested yesterday after crashing his car  (pictured partially above) into a construction site, leaving and driving his barely operable vehicle off Highway 520 in Redmond.  He then reportedly had abandoned his vehicle and somehow made his way to his in law's house where his wife was staying, he then was arrested by Redmond police, after being called by his wife.  What is also disturbing is that Sherman was denied bail at the time because he was deemed a threat to himself and others.

Sherman had left the Seahawks and has played the last three seasons with the San Francisco 49ers.  He is currently an unrestricted free agent and their had been some talk about him returning to the Hawks. 

Ex Seahawk Sherman Arrested

ESPN reporter Adam Schefter has tweeted that former Seahawk cornerback Richard Sherman has been arrested for on a burglary domestic violence charge.  Details are sketchy at this time.  

Kraken Expansion Draft Will Be Public Event In Seattle

 The Seattle Times has announced that the the city's expansion NHL team, the Kraken, will hold it's expansion draft July 21st at Gasworks Park.   

An expansion draft in any major league sport, allows a new team to build it's roster from existing players from the other teams in the league.  The other teams can usually protect certain players from being taken. 

The event will take place this Tuesday from 3:30-7:00 pm.  Fans attending will be required to obtain a free ticket.

The Kraken will pick one player from each of the other NHL teams, except for the Vegas Golden Knights, who are exempt. 

Richard Branson makes historic spaceflight

There is a race amongst billionaires to get into the space race, but do people really care?  I'll see how many hits this gets to make that determination.  Seattle's Jeff Bezos is planning one of those trips at a later date.  This is the beginning of the flight by Sir Richard.