GoodBye Maple :-( The Day of the Dead

 https://youtu.be/UQ7ssU1u1yc

There is a show on PBS called Wonders of Mexico and it is outstanding.  We all know about all the Aztecs stuff and so forth but seeing what the REST of the country looks like is AMAZING!! 

There is a mountain range with canyons larger than the Grand Canyon.  There is a tribe that has been around for a thousand years that can run 200 miles without stopping - it's their thing.  The holiday Day of the Dead is something I wish Americans did - it brought tears to my eyes.

On The Day of the Dead all Mexicans celebrate by going to their cemetery, lighting candles next to their loved ones and having a party. The entire graveyards are full of people celebrating their loved ones. Death is not the end for Mexicans, it's just a transition in a spirits journey.  

The show is on Wednesdays.  What a beautiful and wonderful country.  It's too bad Trump and his zealots demonized the citizens to gain votes and spread hatred for these amazing people. 

Did you know there are 20 active volcanoes in Mexico? 

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Remember Orlando Arias?   I spent some good virtual cash on him as a Free Agent as my SOM team needed a Shortstop and he was the only one with 400+ ABs.   Then the Brewers dumped him to Atlanta who put him in the minors.  WELL - I picked up a player as the 240th pick that plays for Arizona who is doing GREAT, Josh Rojas every day SS.  But now Arias is back in the MLB and playing LF which is great because I have zero outfielders next year.  

OH - one last baseball nugget.  The Yankees are getting REALLY hurt with the anti-sticky stuff rule.  Seems a few of their REALLY high priced pitchers cannot throw without a banned substance.  Gerret Cole and Chapman are literally useless if they cannot put sticky stuff on their fingers. 

Cole ($326 million contract) has a 5.01 ERA since the ban and was around 2.00 before.   Aroldis Chapman has pitched 6 innings since the ban and has given up 15 runs.  Both have spin rates that have dropped significantly. 

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OK - Big Brother.  Basically Survivor but locked in a house.  People love or hate this pure strategy show,  It's almost like the board game Diplomacy.  I was at the clinic and picked up a New Yorker out of boredum and a guy watched the series and said he was dumbfounded, said it's actually the smartest non-scripted show on TV and the IQ of its audience is on the high end.  The problem is with CBS advertising which makes it look TOTALLY stupid. 

Take 16 normal people.  Put them in a house and each week have a competition on a new "head of household".  You get your own room and at some point you have to nominate 2 people of which one will be voted out.  Then spend a 4 days as people beg and make deals and new alliances form.   

The power changes every week and alliances are tested. That is the key. You can make "friends" and promise they are safe but every week everything changes.  This is not like the old Big Brother which was stupid and just a flirt fest. People know the game now and they understand that showmances get kicked out fast. 

If you watch ONE episode you will not understand it and think it's stupid and boring.  But like Survivor once you get to know individuals and their strategies it becomes really fascinating. These guys  are all pretty darn smart and know how to play. 

A few years ago an undercover cop won because he slowly started talking and dressing like the people he would manipulate. Then he would get OTHERS to kick out his enemies!  It was artwork.  He would describe exactly what he was going to do and they - BAM - it would happen.  

I truly think this is the smartest non-scripted show on the networks. We have a former contestants and All-Star sister that lives in Columbus.   

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So long Autumn Blaze Maple :-(  so sad.  We tried to save our friend that we planted 16 years ago but the expert said don't spend anymore money on it.   We need Josh to cut it down so we can plant another.   I feel sad. 

It was an amazing tree for awhile but now it starts to turn red late June . . and only half the tree.  sounds like the roots are just going in a circle and strangling it.  

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Cannabis - A study concluded that "decision-making is not impaired when cannabis is used in moderation" and found "no evidence to support the presumption that cannabis consumption leads to a decline in neurocognitive ability." 

            

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A poll found that an all-time high in Americans saying they are "thriving".  By far the highest in the 13 years of the poll. 

Have a great thursday