How I Escape from Our Divisiveness. I am a big sports fan. Last week I shared the story of an amazing young runner. Several events between last Thursday and Monday night provided an additional abundance of great sports moments for me. It was not my typical weekend and the events provided a welcome distraction for me from racist AI pictures.
The momentum started on Thursday with a terrible performance by the world’s best golfer Scottie Scheffler. Not once but twice he hit terrible chips in the Phoenix Open. His performance had the pundits all a-flutter. “He might not make the cut,” they crowed.
The momentum continued with the opening of the Winter Olympics. Among other interesting events, Lindsey Vaughn skiing with a bad knee and fracturing her leg was of interest. It also brought out the hind-sight pundits. “She should not have skied,” they cried. “She should have let someone else have the chance.”
I was reminded of the 2020 Olympics when Simone Biles had the twisties. She believed her team had a better chance of success in the team event if she was replaced. She stepped aside. A well-known person called her a socio-path for her decision. Four years later, she showed incredible strength by winning the gold in the women’s all-around in the 2024 Olympics. The pundit who criticized her for 2020 never praised her for 2024. Arm-chair hind-sight punditry is not my favorite behavior.
The momentum increased on Saturday with two great college rivalries.
Not a stadium filled with 100,000 people but still an arena packed with intensity. Alabama played at Auburn. Alabama won in a close, hard-fought game.
Duke played at North Carolina. Duke was tied or led for 39 minutes, 59.6 seconds in a 40-minute game. They lost on a last second shot. The game was incredible. I have seen a lot of basketball games in my long lifetime. I have never seen a game where the winning team only led for .4 of a second.
By Sunday, Scottie Scheffler had not only bounced back from his opening round in the Phoenix Open he was in contention. He finished one shot back. Clearly, he is the number 1 golfer in the world. The tournament was decided in an exciting playoff.
The othe highlght on Sunday was of course the Super Bowl. Seattle’s defense was great. The Patriots had an amazing turn-around this year. The Seahawks were the better team. Afterwards my favorite people the pundits began criticizing the coaches and players on the Patriots rather than appreciating the great year.
My flurry of sport enjoyment came to a surprising climax on Monday night. Jeny and I watched the first round of ice dancing in the Winter Olympics. I was mesmerized by a sport I never had paid attention to in the past.
Pair after pair from all over the world skated for six minutes. As someone who studied memory, remembering all of the individual movements with numerous parts of the body for six minutes is an astonishing feat to me. In addition, the individual athletic talent to perform the movements is superb. If I spun like they do, I would be sick after three revolutions. To top it off, they coordinated their movements with each other and the music. As I said I was mesmerized.
Fun weekend for me. Our political divide took a back seat in my mind and I enjoyed the break.
Budget Surplus. I have a deep concern for our national debt. I was surprised to learn that only one president in recent years was in office when a yearly budget surplus occurred. Bill Clinton was the President. I think it was no accident that rather than viewing each other as enemies and believing the other side is destroying America, Clinton and the Republican House in Congress cooperated with success for all of us. The House Speaker at that time was Newt Gingrich. He is not a RHINO.
Fact Check: Joe Biden, Barack Obama, and Bill Clinton Lower Deficit Claim – Newsweek
Agriculture. The following information is near and dear to me. My father was a leader in agricultural economics in the middle of the last century. I wish he were alive today to talk with me about the situation.
On Tuesday, February 3, a BIPARTISAN group of 27 former Agriculture Department officials and leaders from farm and commodity groups wrote to the leaders of the agriculture committees of both chambers with a dire warning about “the damage that is being done to American farmers.”
The letter noted that “just a few years ago,” farm export surpluses and farm incomes were at record highs. This year, “[f]armer bankruptcies have doubled, barely half of all farms will be profitable this year, and the U.S. is running a historic agriculture trade deficit.” The authors blamed this crisis on the fact that “the current Administration’s actions, along with Congressional inaction, have increased costs for farm inputs, disrupted overseas and domestic markets, denied agriculture its reliable labor pool, and defunded critical agricultural research and staffing.”
They warned of “a widespread collapse of American agriculture and our rural communities.” They noted that administration cuts to healthcare will add to the decimation of rural communities, wiping out a way of life.
Rural voters tend to be an important part of America. It will be interesting to watch the developments.
This and That
As I have said many times I support the deportation of the worst of the worst illegal immigrants. I do not support lying. This is the data from ICE’s own records.
Secret ICE arrest data blows up Trump’s ‘worst of the worst’ claim
Interesting article that shows that at flagship universities, when racial requirements for admission were dropped, Black and Hispanic enrollment actually increased. In other schools the enrollments decreased.
Good News
Heartwarming
Family ice cream truck run by mentally challenged adults.
https://reader.mobilepressregister.com/020826-karle/content.html
Also Heartwarming
Son Surprises Hardworking Dad Who Recently Had A Stroke With Dream Football Experience
Stranger Watching The News Steps In To Help Stranded Family During Winter Storm
Peace
Jerry
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