They’re here…

…And they see you, hear you… feel you?

🙂🤔🛸 #DEFCONtripleE #Gettincrazywiththehashtags ‼️

Fade To Black

 

When a TV newscast highlights the death of a famous person the camera usually “fades to black” before a commercial break. This current month of September brings us to a time of somber reflection, culminating in this weekend’s commemoration of the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 tragedy.

 

Previously, the month of September evoked memories of fading summers, back-to-school shopping, the start of football season, Earth, Wind & Fire music. We still enjoy those things today but the month begins on a somber note, especially after Labor Day (my father passed away on a Labor Day weekend ten years ago). We still enjoy those things today but the month begins on a melancholy note, especially after Labor Day (my father passed away on a Labor Day weekend ten years ago). 

 

Barely nine months into a new millennium on a beautiful fall morning thousands of families had their lives tragically transformed forever. People went to work never to return to friends and loved ones. Our country saw heroes answer the call and give all to save whomever they could. 

 

Mere words can never suffice to make sense of the pain suffered by those who lost that what is most dear to them and I’m certainly not up to the task in writing this. Posting photos of the burning buildings seems to be macabre self indulgence. Weekend documentaries provide a flow of information and content to perhaps point a way forward but aid little in helping to absorb the collective pain of a now divided nation. Commemorative holidays often spur a singular sense of purpose, as is the case with the day of service observed by people on Martin Luther King Day. But every September 11th feels different, lacking a focused unified sense of purpose.

 

I’d like to suggest a simple step forward that might be worth a try. In the manner of those news broadcast “fade to black” moments, I think it worth a few seconds of one’s time to replace their social media profile images with a simple black square, for just one day, on that September day. Each year in memoriam if possible. Heck, Facebook even has a feature that mounts your photo for a fixed amount of time for a day, a week etc. Twitter allows  for temporarily pinning such an image to a profile. 

 

A way to leverage technology to yield a moment of somber reflection to connect us all as we go about our days business looking at our phones, typing on our laptops. A tiny individual gesture magnified by a few keystrokes and points and clicks of the many to create an atmosphere of somber solidarity to seed a national/global healing process all through many Septembers to come.

 

Maybe this idea of a widespread “fade to black” moment is ill-thought, corny… whatever. But it can’t hurt to try it, so I felt the need to explain why I’ve done it myself so it’s up to you. Thanks for reading.

 

 

above image suitable to drag and drop/copy & paste etc.🕊

Time Marches On!

Coming soon! It’s a new month, a new day, with hopefully some new interesting content and images. Thank you for reading, Wishing everyone days and nights filled with vivid colors and hopeful radiant light!

Ciao for now!

Americans With Disabilities Act At 30

On a day when our nation bids a final farewell to stalwart activist and statesman John Lewis, we commemorate three decades of ADA civil rights legislation.

 

 

 

Where do we see ourselves in the next thirty years?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

🇺🇸♿️🗽☑️🗳

Feathering The Nest

An update on the return of our spring time feathered friends… 

The nest they constructed appears to be rather stringy and straggly, so they seem to depend on the broad structure of the awning itself to create a strong sturdy abode.

They seem most active when it is sunny during midday. After some internet research, I am fairly certain they are house finches. They have beautiful distinct red color markings, especially the males.

Not wanting to frighten them away, I’ve observed them from behind the window. Emboldened enough to leave the nest and perch on the rail indicates they might be offspring venturing out from the nest.

A peek outside today reveals that there might be a second nest being constructed below the opposite right side of the porch awning. While warm weather activities seem on hold for most of us in 2020, our feathered friends fly about unfettered toward their sunny skyward future!

A Harbinger Of Spring

 

It arrived last Wednesday, a needed sign of the promise of springtime. Not too willing to pose for photos, but perhaps scouting out the side step awning for future nest construction.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

 

 

Stay Tuned!

 

TEMPORARILY CLOSED FOR MAINTENANCE

 

Keep Your Eye On The Ball

 

Look closely at the tiny white circle. Is it…

Above?

or

Below?

You sure?

Above?

or

Below?

Talk amongst yourselves. Discuss.

Super Bowl LII Covered In Green- Photos & Phan Art Of Philadelphia Eagles Game Days Past

 

Embroidered Hat Art Close-up

A turn-back-the-clock game at Lincoln Financial Field featuring signage reminiscent of the kelly green era of the ‘60s. Our days at Veterans Stadium lack photos as it was the pre “smart phone” days!

Our road trip crew on our first trip to Soldier Field. The Birds won and newly inducted HOF receiver Terrell Owens scored and did sit ups in the endzone practically right in front of us!

Night game on a second trip to see Eagles v Chicago Bears. Not so good this time.

“The Linc”

Simple Tailgate Set-up

Darien Street Yellow Lot Tailgate Cigar Lounge!

Stadium flyover. The Conan O’Brien show had its own publicity airship!

Phillies colors with Randall Cunnigham’s UNLV college jersey. Baseball stadium in the background.

Hat art. Wonder which one is my favorite?

My Mike Quick t-shirt. If you went to a NJ college you made friends with many Giants/Jet fans. Cowboys, not so, Guv’nr! Coldest game ever at the Meadowlands during the Buddy Ryan days!

“The Vet” pictured in poster hung in the background, set up for Phillies baseball. Retro ‘60s jersey.

My sister’s dog sez Eagles over Pats for their first Super Bowl title, 24-20. Let’s hope she’s right! Fly Eagles fly!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

School Yourself On Super Bowl Proposition Bets

If you can’t work up enough rooting interest for either the New England Patriots in their quest for yet another NFL title, nor for the Atlanta Falcons’ shot at their very first one, there’s always the enticement of tailgate-style food and beverage and the persistent distraction of lavishly produced TV commercials.

Plenty of wagering opportunities abound too! If the point spread or the over/under of total points scored don’t interest you, there exist dozens of proposition bets to take advantage of that often don’t even involve actual game elements at all. The betting opportunities seem to become more unique and fascinating each year. The over/under for running time of the national anthem, first song performed at halftime, the opening coin toss, and what flavor Gatorade dumped on the winning coach are just some of the usual prop bets available to even the most casual fan willing to drop a dime or two.

Since my alma mater has the distinction of having the most players of any other school participating in the game this year (a fifth player is on injured reserve, yielding  a total of four, tied with Alabama and Stanford) I’m throwing around a few Rutgers University themed prop bets to enhance the Super Bowl LI festivities.

First consider Atlanta receiver Mohamed Sanu. He’s a versatile enough player to have a whole prop bet tip sheet devoted solely to him. He’s been known throughout his scholastic and college career to lineup at quarterback on gadget plays to throw for a touchdown as well fun or catch for one. He plays special teams at times also.

I’m not an odds maker so I’ve arbitrarily assigned point values to various outcomes loosely based on level of difficulty. Take a a drink for each one if you are so inclined, or, if not, grab a chicken wing, dip some nacho chips, cheeseburger sliders, whatever.

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f6/Mohamed_Sanu_2013.jpg

Mohamed Sanu

Scores the first TD of the game.  2 pts.
Throws a pass for a first down or a TD or 2 pt conversion  3pts.
Catches a pass for a first down or a TD or 2 pt conversion  2pts.
Runs for a first down or a TD or 2 pt conversion  2pts.

Adjust the point totals as you see fit. If Sanu has a big day and you drink a shot for each big play, you could overindulge big time.

R. Amos

Rutgers Defensive Players

Logan Ryan, Devin McCourty and Duron Harmon all play defense for the Patriots, making for some unusual possible combination prop bets.

Two or more players each recover a turnover (fumble or interception).  3 pts.
Two or more players each score a touchdown (most likely involving a turnover). This could apply to both sides if Sanu were to score in addition to his former college teammates also scoring on defense.  3-4 pts.

A fumble
Interception
Safety
Blocked punt, PAT or field goal
Touchdown or two point conversion.
QB Sack (extra bonus its if accomplished by three or four different players).  2-6 pts.

Sanu  draws a pass interference penalty committed by a former college teammate covering him, or vice versa. This could interesting as I think I read that Logan Ryan and Sanu roomed together in college.  2 pts.

A Rutgers player scores the game winner.    3 pts.
A Rutgers player ends the game with the final play, i.e. game winning score, turnover, tackle/sack, exhausts the game clock running/catching the ball.  2 pts.

Miscellaneous

On-air specific mention of “Scarlet Knight(s)” or the full official name of the school, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey.  1-2 pts.

Oh, and if there is either a play review or red flag challenge, you must run to the refrigerator and grab a snack, bathroom break, walk the dog/cat, etc. and make it back before the next play. 3 pts.

For the record, I think the Pats will win but I’m pulling for a Falcons upset and Mohamed Sanu MVP.  But would be just as happy if one of the Scarlet Knight Patriots get MVP as well.

“For Amusement Only”