Nursing the morning coffee while mentally preparing for the inaugural road ride of 2024. Check the weather app to see just how cold I’m going to be. See the following, “Wind gusts up to 3mph.” Gusts?
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Author Archives: Ron Byrnes
One Academic Asked Another
How do you get anyone to read your research?
By being a finalist in a Presidential search.
Paragraphs To Ponder
The cost of living in New York City edition.
“As an environmental engineer, Michael Quinn is accustomed to making logical decisions. But two years ago, after getting divorced and selling the family house in White Plains, N.Y., he tried not to be so analytical.
‘I decided to listen to my heart and let that guide me,’ said Mr. Quinn, 56. Although he had never lived in the city, he took a chance on Manhattan and landed in a Murray Hill luxury building, paying $4,700 a month — which, after a year, rose to $4,850 — for a ‘flex’ one-bedroom with 850 square feet.”
2024 Person Of The Year
A few days in and it’s a wrap. Mychal Threet and “library joy” for the win.
The Church Is Up Against It
Post pandemic congregants not returning to the pews. Evangelicals under Orange Jesus’s spell. Secularism running amok.
As if that’s not enough Oregon spanked Liberty 45-6 in the Fiesta Bowl. Add to that, today’s ESPN headline, “Grambling women beat College of Biblical Studies 159-18”.*
Don’t be surprised if historians point to the College of Biblical Studies loss as the church’s low point.
*Reminds me of one of the youngest’s middle school basketball games, which her team lost 49-7. “Dad,” she said afterwards, “we lost by the square root!”
My New Year’s Resolution
To integrate as many British words, phrases, and sayings as possible into my daily speech. The list so far: chuffed, knackered, uni, loo, faff around, gobsmacked, oi, and bespoke.
The Final Four
The Semi-Pro football playoffs begin today with two semi-finals. In light of this article, “The Best Teams That Money Could Buy” here are the matchups.
Game one, 5p EST. Walk of Champions versus Hail Impact.
Game two, 8:45p EST. Texas One Fund versus Montlake Futures.
There’s no clear favorite like in recent years. All I know is, the local team with the best name of the four, Montlake Futures, will be a tough out.
Deconstructing Netflix’s ‘The Crown’
Season six is good. Seasons 1-5 were great. This Jason Okundaye piece is a smart explanation of its meaning and appeal.
Paragraph to ponder:
“The show has never been about revealing anything new. Instead, it has resurfaced what the royal family would most like us to forget. “The Crown” has, over six seasons, spoken to several furtive British truths: the public perception of the monarchy, the self-preservation strategies of a family preoccupied with becoming irrelevant and the family’s rigorous quashing of internal dissent. The glossy dramatization of these truths is partly why the popularity of “The Crown” has endured, finding an audience in Britain even among people who want to end the monarchy or are indifferent to it.”
It’s nice knowing I’m not the only “end the monarchy” proponent who digs the show.
The Only New Year’s Resolution You Need
Because I’m amazing, this time of year I provide an amazing service to family and friends. I assign personalized New Year’s Resolutions. Even if they don’t always show it, I know, deep down, my family loves off-loading the resolution making to me! Here’s just one example of my genius. This is the year The GalPal is going to load the dishwasher from back to front.
This year I’m streamlining things and providing the only New Year’s resolution you need. Repeat after me, “I hereby resolve to not let an artificial moment in time make me feel like I’m not enough. Next year, I will not lose any weight, I will not save more money, and I will not exercise more. Instead, I will strive to change one thing about me. To be more accepting of my unique self, including all my imperfections, and to practice self-compassion.”
You’re welcome.
How To Know When Your Political Party Hits Bottom
Your presumptive leader broadcasts a word cloud that highlights “revenge” and “dictatorship”.
Your trendy back up talks about the causes of the Civil War with no mention of slavery.
Pressing Pause 