CRUISIN' AND PERUSIN' THE NEWS, 9-28-2014

I saw this tidbit in the Washington Post this week:  “Much has been written this election cycle about the Democrats distancing themselves from Obama ahead of the midterm elections. Some Democratic candidates in tough races regularly emphasize their differences with the president.  And Obama is persona non grata on the campaign trail (unless it’s inside private high-dollar fundraiser dinners).”  Apparently the euphoria over Obama when he was inaugurated in 2009 has not been sustainable even within the Democratic Party ………..What is the number one selling vanity license plate in Arizona?  It’s the veteran’s plate.  It has been number one out of 50 plates available for at least the last three years with more than 61,000 issued in fiscal 2014.  That amounts to over $1 million for Arizona veterans……….Probably the least purchased plate would be the “Pearl Harbor Survivor” plate.  To qualify you would need to have been stationed at Pearl Harbor between 7:55 a.m. and 9:45 a.m. on December 7, 1941.  Estimates say that about 2,000 to 2,500 of those vets are still alive.  Since AZ is a retirement destination, several may live here………As of this writing (9-23) Apple has sold 10 million new iPhone 6 models.  By next month, they expect to have 60 million sold.  Next month is also when Samsung will be introducing their supposedly competitive model to the i6. Will there be any room left for them?  Maybe since I now see that the i6 is having some problems .……….Obama got off his helicopter yesterday in New York (9-23) and returned his Marine Guards’ respectful salute with a whimsical salute while holding a coffee cup in his hand.  Some may think “So what” but that is a typical breach of etiquette and bad manners that this president seems to enjoy.  There is no substitute for class and he continuously shows a lack of it……….Eric Holder has resigned! So far, I see no tears from anyone……….U. S. pro golfer Ricky Fowler showed class and patriotism this week while warming up for the Ryder Cup golf matches in Scotland. He got a haircut and had “USA” cut into his hair as a sign of respect for his country.  Fowler is an alum of Oklahoma State University and has had nice success on the PGA Tour.  His reasoning: “Just thought I would do it for a little team spirit and knew the guys on the team would like it, and it’s been fun to see the reaction of the fans and people, social media, guys on the European squad and caddies over there, as well”.……….Meanwhile, public school kids in Denver are protesting their having to use a certain textbook in their history classes because it shows too much patriotism for the USA.  Maybe they have been using some of the legal marijuana available in Colorado. I suggest they leave this country if they are dissatisfied. That would give them an accelerated course in how life is in the real world and wouldn’t even require a textbook………..Eric Bledsoe has finally signed a contract to play basketball for the Phoenix Suns after the team offered him $70 million for five years. That’s a sweet deal for a guard who has had his share of injury problems but that is the state of sports today……….UCLA 62, ASU 27. Ouch for the Sun Devils. I think Todd Graham is overrated.  It takes a lot more than yelling at your players to win………I wish MSN would quit posting those photos online of people getting beheaded by ISIS. We know what’s happening; we don’t need an illustration every time it happens………… This just in from reader EB:  Michelle Obama must not have passed American History based on a statement by her.  She told 50 attendees of a naturalization ceremony that the Founding Fathers weren't born in America: "It's amazing that just a few feet from here where I'm standing are the signatures of the 56 Founders who put their names on a Declaration that changed the course of history, and like the 50 of you, none of them were born American - they became American." Did she actually mean that those who signed the Declaration of Independence and participated in the drafting of the Constitution were not born in America? Benjamin Franklin was born in Pennsylvania and Thomas Jefferson, George Washington, and James Madison were born in Virginia. John Adams was born in Massachusetts. Only eight of the 56 were not born in America……….Later, JM  

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                                                             Ricky Fowler

REMEMBERING AZ CENTRAL BLOGS

                       Blogger's party of 2009.  L-R, Me, Allison, Butch, Steve.                      

It’s been a while since I sent out a blog typical of what I have sent since 2005.  I’m still doing hard copy and internet stories for IMAGES Magazine but I miss the interaction of the AZ Central blogs that we began at the Republic in 2006. Call it déjà vu or whatever but here goes an attempt to return to those days in my favorite Walter Winchell style: 

Barb and I were listening to some 1970’s oldies last night like “Safety Dance” from Men at Work, “Spirit in the Sky” from Norman Greenbaum, and “Green Eyed Lady” from Sugarloaf.  Great memories of the days in Kansas City when we danced until closing time in Missouri at 2:00 a.m. then crossed over into Kansas to the private clubs until 5:00 a.m.  Crazy stuff but if you’re going to do it, do it while you are young.  The Home and Garden Network and The Food Network can wait their turn to get you………It looks like Moochelle Obama’s plan for feeding kids in American schools is a gigantic flop.  Too bad; gosh, what a surprise that kids are starving eating that crappola she thinks they should have.  Meanwhile, her kids go to a PRIVATE school and are enjoying fine dining just like the Wagyu beef and other delicacies she enjoys.  What’s that?  Did I hear someone say she is a hypocrite?..........It looks like the Arizona Republic is in trouble again.  They are cutting their workforce by 15% and giving employees new titles.  Those who remain will have to apply for the new positions.  Hopefully extra baggage like Montini, Valdez, and Benson will be seen waving those advertising signs while walking the sidewalk,  Oh, did I forget to mention that they just raised my monthly bill by $8.00  Yeah, that too!  Someone should tell them that not many people read the paper anymore.  I only read it for tradition and the crossword puzzle………..Now I see where the AZ Cardinals have joined the list of NFL teams with women beaters.  You have to love pro football with the number of fools playing it.  There is no substitute for class; too bad they don’t have any.  Where are Fran Tarkenton, Roger Staubach, Kurt Warner and others like them when we need them?  Some sponsors are pretty upset over these recent developments.  If they pull out, the players will get a taste of how the other half lives………….Interesting tidbit:  The last guy to play in an NFL game without a helmet was Dick Plasman (1914-1981) of the Chicago Bears in the 1940 NFL Championship Game won by the Bears.  He was a 6-3 running back who weighed 218 and near the end of his career played for the Chicago Cardinals.  He lived to be 67; not bad for a guy playing pro football without a helmet……….I have been asked to speak at the quarterly meeting of the Daughters of the American Revolution on October 4 at McCormick Ranch.  I get the microphone for 20 minutes and am going to talk about 20^th Century Scottsdale history.  It’s been a while since I spoke to a decent sized audience but I’m looking forward to it.  The DAR is a good organization; very patriotic……….If you want to communicate with me on Twitter, my address is @JimMcAl97309703. If you want to leave a comment on the blog click "comments" below and you will be taken to the comments page There is a box provided............Thanks, JM