Good morning,
"Only mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the midday sun" –Rudyard Kipling
Add to this famous phrase, “and Andrea and Glenn.” We took a walk to brunch and to run some errands this past weekend. As we walked home, around 12:30, the sun was beating down on us at 89 degrees. That wouldn’t be so bad but with humidity hovering in the mid-50% range; it felt like we were in Florida. The big story this summer—worldwide—is record heat waves and wildfires. Sure, it might just be an anomalous year, or it just might have something to do with global climate change…
WHAT’S SO BAD ABOUT BIDEN?
Then there is a conservative friend of mine (one who abhors the rising deficit but doesn’t want to have to pay pre-Trump tax rates or close tax loopholes) who, in defense of a “never Biden” point of view, shares a bumper sticker philosophy in a quote of Ronald Reagan’s, that the worst words in the English language are “I’m here from the government. I’m here to help.”
Certainly, government can be a blunt instrument, yet it performs valuable services. I don’t believe Ronald Reagan accepted for a minute that government did not perform valuable services (after all, he was pro-military, and he broke the flight controllers’ strike because flight control is a national necessity that only government can perform). But, in any event, why is Biden so bad and the subject of endless vitriol? There is this nagging canard that he is under the sway of the far left. Trust me that the far left only wishes that were true. In the meantime, job growth and wage growth are up. Inflation is on the retreat. Infrastructure projects are underway across the country (much of which is touted by Republican legislators seeking reelection, who ironically voted against the bill). Veterans have greater benefits. Ukraine is being supported and is on the counteroffensive against a totalitarian aggressor. NATO has newfound relevance. I understand that Hunter may not be the most upright citizen but, of course, we didn’t vote for him.
Joe may be old but he’s hardly senile. He is still the same old stuttering master of malaprops and gaffes—but with a big heart and a clear agenda. He is making America greater.
As to the gaffes, why is it that every misstep of Biden’s is accepted as proof positive of failing mental acuity, yet all the verbal catastrophes of Mr. Trump and Mr. DeSantis get a free pass? It defies description. Remember to vote, educate others, and give money where it matters.
DESANTIS AND KENNEDY, AMERICA’S FAVORITE COUPLE
In yet another example of life presenting humor in the form of irony, Ron DeSantis, the Governor who declared war on Disney and whose COVID response to the Delta wave contributed to the deaths of thousands of Floridians, has indicated he would be open to Robert Kennedy, Jr. as head of the Food and Drug Administration or the Centers for Disease Control. Kennedy, of course, was a “never vaxxer,” spreading conspiracy theories about pre-COVID vaccines, long before it was part of the Republican party mantra. That’s right…despite all the research debunking Mr. Kennedy’s views, he steadfastly stands by anti-science. Most recently, Kennedy suggested that COVID is less deadly for Asians and Jews by design.
Politics makes strange bedfellows, indeed!
THE OHTANI GAMBIT
The Angels decided to hang onto Shohei Ohtani through the end of the season, passing on any trade. They could have gotten three strong prospects from several teams. Instead, he will stay through the end of this season and then he’s a free agent. If (when) he goes, they’ll only get a draft pick.
Instead of gaining additional talent tied up for years, they traded away five of their top prospects to acquire five or six players to take them “deep into the playoffs.” All of the players they acquired will be free agents at the end of the season. Since mortgaging their future in order to strengthen their playoff run, they are 0-7, boasting the longest losing streak in the majors and are effectively out of contention. So far, this gamble has bombed in truly epic proportions.
DAD JOKE TIME
A history degree is useless. There’s no future in it.
I’m not a fan of elevator music. It’s bad on so many levels.
You think gas and electric bills are expensive, have you seen chimneys? They’re through the roof!
Have a great day,
Glenn
While Kipling wrote the phrase “Mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the midday sun”, it was was popularized by Noel Coward satirical song of the same name. Here are Coward’s lyrics:
In tropical climes there are certain times of day
When all the citizens retire
To tear their clothes off and perspire.
It's one of those rules that the greatest fools obey,
Because the sun is much too sultry
And one must avoid its ultry-violet ray.
… The native grieve when the white men leave their huts,
Because they're obviously definitely nuts!
… Mad dogs and Englishmen
Go out in the midday sun,
The Japanese don't care to.
The Chinese wouldn't dare to,
Hindoos and Argentines sleep firmly from twelve to one.
But Englishmen detest a siesta.
In the Philippines
There are lovely screens
To protect you from the glare.
In the Malay States
There are hats like plates
Which the Britishers won't wear.
At twelve noon
The natives swoon
And no further work is done.
But mad dogs and Englishmen
Go out in the midday sun.
… It's such a surprise for the Eastern eyes to see
That though the English are effete,
They're quite impervious to heat,
When the white man rides every native hides in glee,
Because the simple creatures hope he
Will impale his solar topee on a tree.
… It seems such a shame
When the English claim
The earth
That they give rise to such hilarity and mirth.
… Mad dogs and Englishmen
Go out in the midday sun.
The toughest Burmese bandit
Can never understand it.
In Rangoon the heat of noon
Is just what the natives shun.
They put their Scotch or Rye down
And lie down.
In a jungle town
Where the sun beats down
To the rage of man and beast
The English garb
Of the English sahib
Merely gets a bit more creased.
In Bangkok
At twelve o'clock
They foam at the mouth and run,
But mad dogs and Englishmen
Go out in the midday sun.
… Mad dogs and Englishmen
Go out in the midday sun.
The smallest Malay rabbit
Deplores this foolish habit.
In Hongkong
They strike a gong
And fire off a noonday gun
To reprimand each inmate
Who's in late.
In the mangrove swamps
Where the python romps
There is peace from twelve till two.
Even caribous
Lie around and snooze;
For there's nothing else to do.
In Bengal
To move at all
Is seldom, if ever done.
But mad dogs and Englishmen
Go out in the midday
Out in the midday
Out in the midday
Out in the midday
Out in the midday
Out in the midday
Out in the midday sun.