We Built It Blog by Larry Jacob

When will people realize that one has to focus on what President Trump does, not on what he says.  I don’t know the man, personally, but based on what I have read and been told, in his previous life as a businessman he was not exactly a nice man.  Also, his incessant tweeting is annoying, inappropriate and unpresidential, and White House personnel have turning over at a high rate.  I say, so what?  Previously, he was not in politics, where one has to be skilled in lying, cheating and obfuscation, where one has to be polite to those he loathes, and say one thing and do another.  He was from the rough and tumble ruthless world of NY real estate where one has to scratch and claw to succeed, where people tend to be brutally direct, and where they say what they mean and mean what they say.

I did not vote for a nice guy with whom I would like to “hang out” on Friday nights.  I voted for a president who was tough enough and ruthless enough to deal with Putin and China and North Korea and Iran and ISIS and the DC political “swamp.”  I voted for someone who could and would solve America’s problems, of which there are many at the moment.  I did not want “nice.”  I have had “nice” for the past eight years, and I did not like the results. Enough “nice,” already!  Arguably, the two “nicest” presidents in my lifetime have been Jimmy Carter and Barack Obama, but I firmly believe that they were also the worst presidents during that period.

I ask you, if you were seriously ill and needed an operation to save your life, which surgeon would you want, the nice, polite one of average competence or the arrogant, nasty SOB who was the most highly skilled?  I know which one I would choose. That’s also whom the voters chose.

So far, President Trump has done, or is trying to do exactly what he promised in his campaign.  How refreshing.  (Remember Bush 41’s phony campaign pledge: “read my lips.  No new taxes?)  Remember how that worked out?

Let’s review  Mr. Trump’s report card, briefly:

1.  Elimination of needless regulations that discourage business.

2.  Proposed immigration bill, including border security and a path to citizenship for law-abiding “dreamers.”

3. Aggressively fighting gangs and opioid addiction.

4. Fighting for fair and reciprocal trade deals.

5.  Rebuilding infrastructure.

6.  Paid family leave.

7.  Success against ISIS.

8.  Necessity to retain Guantanamo.

9.  Strong support of Israel, including recognition of Jerusalem as its capital.

10. Strong support for veterans.

11. Sustained low unemployment, including record lows for blacks and Hispanics.

12.  Job creation, including new plants being built.

13. A moderate justice appointed to the Supreme Court.

14. Record-breaking stock market.

15. Tax reform, which has already encouraged several companies to hire additional workers and pay out employee bonuses.

16. Respect for the flag.

17. Heroism by “ordinary” Americans during natural disasters.

18. Energy independence.

19.  North Korea’s Kim has requested a face-to-face meeting with Mr. Trump (and South Korea).  The President has agreed but only to discuss NK’s denuclearization.  Meanwhile, the sanctions are remaining in place.  Many have compared this breakthrough to President Nixon’s visit to China, which ushered in a whole new relationship with that country.  This development is most encouraging, but, for now, let’s be cautiously optimistic.

Remember, all this has been accomplished in just a little over one year in office and with sustained opposition not only from the Dems, but also many in his own party, not to mention a largely hostile media.

And, now to the current issue – tariffs.

As we all know, yesterday, President Trump announced the imposition of a 25% tariff on imported steel and 10% on imported aluminum for which he was roundly criticized. That was the headline.  But, as they say, the devil is in the details.  Just to back up, we all know that tariffs are a double-edged sword.  History has shown that, generally, they backfire as trading partners retaliate in kind.

Perhaps, the most infamous example of this was the Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act of 1930 sponsored by Senator Reed Smoot and Representative Willis Hawley.   The ill-advised protectionist act imposed tariffs on some 20,000 imported products.  America’s trading partners quickly and predictably retaliated. The conventional wisdom among economists and historians is that this contributed to and greatly exacerbated the effects of the Great Depression.  I agree.

However, before you rush to sell your securities and stock up on gold and silver consider the aforementioned details and remember President Trump’s penchant for using hardline policies as a negotiating tool.  Don’t forget, he built a fortune on the “Art of the Deal.”

Lost in the headline was President Trump’s statement that he was exempting certain allies, such as Mexico and Canada, and, moreover, that he would be “very flexible” about exempting other allies.  So, I think that our allies in Europe and the Pacific rim can probably rest easy as well.  It is very clear to me that he is sending a message to certain countries, such as China, that have been engaging in unfair trade practices, such as “dumping .”  You will recall that re-negotiating unfair trade practices was one of his campaign pledges.   I view this as consistent with, for example, his actions regarding our NATO partners who had not been paying their fair share for defense.

Additionally, I think this action was triggered, in part, by a recent Department of Commerce report that the substantial influx of foreign aluminum and steel was decimating our own manufacturers of these products.  The obvious result of this has been loss of manufacturing jobs.  The more subtle result is that in the interest of national security we need these industries to be healthy in the event of war.  In that event, we cannot allow ourselves to be at the mercy of foreign powers who might turn adversarial, such as China or even those who are currently friendly, such as Canada and Brazil.

CONCLUSION

I suspect the President’s “endgame” is not to start a trade war.  I’m sure he knows the ramifications as well as we do, if not better.  His aim is to renegotiate certain unfair trade practices, which have been highly disadvantageous to America.

Don’t forget another detail, namely that these tariffs will not take effect for 15 days, which leaves plenty of time to negotiate.  Along those lines, today, the Huffington Post reported that many of our trading partners are “lining up” to apply for exemptions.  These include various EU countries as well as Brazil, our second largest supplier of steel behind Canada, Japan, South Korea, and Argentina.  I expect that most, if not all of them will receive exemptions, leaving only the 500- pound gorilla, China.

As I said, the Chinese have not been playing fair, and Trump intends to rectify that.  Given his stellar track record to date, he deserves the benefit of the doubt in this instance.  Like I said, don’t sell your securities and buy gold and silver just yet.

Today, March 8, is International Women’s Day.  Moreover, the entire month of March has been designated as Women’s History Month.  As one can discern from the foregoing, the purpose of IWD and WHM is to recognize and honor the contributions of women to society in various countries throughout history and to promote gender equality.  This year, the focus is on women in the workplace.

The first WHM took place in 1911.   Over the years the celebration was expanded to encompass the entire week of March 8.  In 1980 President Carter issued a proclamation designating the month of March as WHM.  Over the next several years various states followed suit.  Finally, in 1987 Congress formally designated March as WHM, and it became an annual event.

In my opinion women have not yet achieved gender equality, but, to paraphrase that old slogan, “they’ve come a long way” from the days, only a couple of generations ago, when society believed “a woman’s place was in the home.”  For example, according to a study by Statistica beginning in 2014 a higher percentage of women than men have completed four years of college.  In 2016 the percentage was 33.7% for women, slightly ahead of men.  Furthermore, women have been increasingly making their mark in all fields of endeavor, including business, finance, entertainment and politics.

Women who graduated college in the 1970s and earlier basically had three career paths: nurse, teacher and secretary.  I remember one of my high school teachers disparagingly telling a group of girls in my class that the college degree for them was “MRS.”  Today, for example, women are attending law school and medical school in record numbers.  Moreover, 20% of the members of Congress are female (106 of 535).

Quiz question: the first female was elected to Congress in 1916 from the State of Montana.  She was a pacifist, a women’s rights advocate, and an isolationist and in 1941 was the only member of Congress to vote against the declaration of war against Japan after they had bombed Pearl Harbor.  Who was she?  See below.

Below please find a brief thumbnail sketch of some of the women who, throughout history, have exemplified the spirit of WHM.  Some are famous; others are known only to  students of history.

1. Eleanor Roosevelt –  Former First Lady, social activist.
2. Sojourner Truth – Born a slave named Isabella circa 1775, escaped to the North in 1827, could not read or write, but was a very effective speaker, travelled throughout the US preaching abolition, temperance and women’s rights.
3. Rosa Parks – Arguably ignited the modern civil rights movement when she refused to give up her seat on a bus to a white man.
4. Susan B. Anthony – leading 19th century advocate for women’s suffrage.
5. Elizabeth Cady Stanton – leading 19th century activist for women’s suffrage and abolitionist.

CONCLUSION

Below please find some inspiration quotes by leading women:

1. “We still think of a powerful man as a born leader and a powerful woman as an anomaly.” – Margaret Atwood
2. “I was surrounded by extraordinary women in my life who taught me about quiet strength and dignity.” – Michelle Obama
3. “I just love bossy women. …To me, bossy is not a pejorative term.  It means somebody’s passionate and engaged and ambitious and doesn’t mind learning.” – Amy Poehler
4. “I have learned over the years that when one’s mind is made up, this diminishes fear; knowing what must be done does away with fear.” – Rosa Parks
5. “I don’t want other people to decide who I am.  I want to decide that for myself.” – Emma Watson
6. “The most common way people give up their power is by thinking they don’t have any.” – Alice Walker (Pulitzer Prize-winning author- The Color Purple)

Quiz answer:  Jeanette Rankin

We all have our pet peeves, things that annoy us out of all reasonable proportion.  We shouldn’t let them bother us, but they do.  Below please find some of mine.  Most of them relate to excessive political correctness or courtesy, or lack thereof.  Some bemoan what I consider unnecessary change.  Perhaps, you agree; perhaps, not.  Perhaps, I missed some that annoy you.  Let me know.

Drivers

1. Many drivers behave as if they are the only ones on the road.  They are oblivious or ignorant of the rules of the road or, perhaps, they are cognizant of them but too arrogant to concede that they have to obey them.
2. Driving while texting, emailing, eating, fiddling with the radio or influenced by other distractions.
3. Driving too slowly in the left lane or HOV lane thereby clogging up the highway.  A good rule of thumb.  If you’re not passing another vehicle, be courteous and move over.
4. In a parking lot be mindful that people who are backing out of a parking space cannot always see you coming, especially if you are driving too fast.
5. Don’t walk behind a car that is backing out of a space, especially if you are texting or emailing.  They may not be able to see you, and, obviously, you won’t see them.   Be aware that in a collision between a car and a person, the car will always win.
6. Learn how to enter and exit a highway properly.  For example, maintain appropriate speed and time your entrance to blend in with the traffic.  Don’t drive to end of the ingress lane and stop to wait for an opening.  You might be waiting there long enough to take a nap.
7. At four-way-stop intersections if you have the right of way, take it.  When you hesitate to do so, you confuse the other driver(s) as to your intentions.  If you end up in an “Alphonse and Gaston” situation, the chances for an accident increase substantially.
8. When did slow drivers start driving in the middle lane instead of the right lane?  Again, move over to the far right, and don’t clog the highway.
9. If another driver signals he or she wants to enter your lane, please allow them to do so.  Don’t speed up to prevent them.  More than likely, they’re not trying to cut in front of you; probably, they need to switch lanes to, for example, make a turn or exit the highway.

Politeness

1. What happened to “common courtesy?”  Somewhere along the line it ceased being common.
2. Women/seniors, do you find that few men hold the door for you, offer to carry a heavy package for you, or offer you their seat on a train or bus?
3. If you are out with family or friends don’t ignore them in favor of your iPhone or other device.  It is not uncommon to see a family sitting in a restaurant where each member is on his own device the entire meal.  No conversation.  No interaction.  Why even bother to go out together?
4. If you want to wish a family member or a friend happy birthday or happy anniversary don’t do so by email or text.  I find this trend disturbing.  In my opinion, they are too impersonal, almost like you don’t really care enough to be bothered.  Call them or send a real card.
5. In an office, if the person to whom you wish to speak is close walk over and talk to them face to face.  Rather than trading several emails or texts, one conversation will normally resolve the issue.  Additionally, if the matter is sensitive we now know it is ill-advised to discuss it in an email or text.

Language

1. Appropriate grammar seems to be disappearing.  Examples abound.  Too many people say, for example, “I seen him,”  “Me and Joe went shopping,” or “If I was you.”
2. Virtually no one uses the word “whom” when appropriate.
3. When did English cease to be the universal language in America?  How come whenever one calls customer service one now has to “press one” for English?   I’m not trying to be politically incorrect.  Just asking.
4. Many people do not say “please” when making a request, and “your welcome” is disappearing.
5. When was the last time anyone addressed you as “Sir” or “Ma’am?”

Gender Neutrality

1. In the last few years a small, but very vocal, group has been engaged in a “war” on male pronouns.  This group has decided that they are indications of misogyny and is demanding that the other 90% or so of us purge them from our vocabulary.
2. At least one university, Purdue, has advocated using only gender neutral pronouns.  Thus, in their eyes, for example, “waiter” is now “waitperson” or “server.”  “Mailman” is now “mail carrier.” And, so forth.  How far does the PC crowd want to take this?  What should we call a “man-to-man” defense in basketball?  “Woman-to woman” defense?  “Person to person” defense?  In baseball, should we call a “first baseman” a “first baseperson?”
3. How ridiculous do we want to get.  Perhaps, the investment firm, Goldman Sachs should be forced to change its name to Goldperson Sachs?  Just kidding, or maybe not.

Names

What’s in a name?  Apparently quite a lot.  For several years, self-appointed pc police have been trying to force sports teams, such as the Washington Redskins, the Cleveland Indians and the Atlanta Braves to change their names on the basis that they are demeaning to and biased against Native Americans.  Again, a small but vocal minority is trying to legislate for the rest of us.  The fact of the matter is that (a) at least two polls, one by the Washington Post and the other by the Annenburg Public Policy Center, have found that a clear majority of NAs are NOT offended by the names, (b) as privately owned teams the owner can choose any name he wants, and (c) many high school teams carry the name “Redskins,” including at least two of which are located on NA reservations and have a majority of NA students.  But, those self-appointed arbiters of what is right and appropriate for the rest of us have not given up.   Perhaps, short people should organize protests of the name “Giants.”

Ballpark Names

We all know that money talks.  One annoying example of this is the trend to naming ballparks for corporate sponsors who pony up enough money for the privilege.  For example, take major league baseball.  As recently as 1994 only one ballpark had the name of a corporate sponsor, Busch Stadium, and one could put an asterisk on that, because the Busch family also owned the team that played there – the St. Louis Cardinals.  Conversely, presently, the stadia of all but nine teams are named for a corporate sponsor, and many of them have gone through multiple iterations.  How many of the nine can you name?  Unless you are a big fan, I would say “not many.”  See the answers below.

These corporate name are too non-descript and bear no relation to the teams that play there.  For instance, do White Sox fans identify with Comiskey Park or US Cellular Field.  Do Astros fans identify their team with Minute Maid Park or the Astrodome?  Who plays at Chase Field (Diamondbacks) or Qualcomm Stadium (Padres)?  Would you like to see Yankee Stadium renamed as, say, General Motors Park?

CONCLUSION

So, there you have it.  Those are the things that bother me.  I’m sure I omitted some annoying things.  What bothers you (besides, perhaps, my blogs)?

I don’t mean to sound like a curmudgeon, but I believe personal interactions and traditions are important.  What’s your opinion.

Quiz answer:  Angel Stadium, Dodger Stadium, Fenway Park, Wrigley Field, Nationals Park, Marlins Park, Kauffman Stadium, and the aforementioned Yankee Stadium.  No need to identify the teams that play there.  The name says it all.

The Academy Awards, aka the Oscars, is hosted annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. The winners of AAs are selected by the Academy’s membership. It is the oldest and most prestigious of the awards. This year’s awards will be presented on Sunday, March 4, on ABC TV.  The host will be Jimmy Kimmel.

Quiz question:  Who has hosted the most AA shows?  Answer below.

Some of you may be curious as to the derivation of the name “Oscar.”  In my research I came across two possibilities.  Some people attribute it to actress Bette Davis who, in one of her biographies, named the statuette after her first husband, band leader Harmon Oscar Nelson.   However, most people attribute it to Margaret Herrick, the former Executive Secretary of the Academy.  In 1931 when she first laid eyes on the statuette, she intoned “He looks just like my Uncle Oscar!”  Fortuitously, columnist Sidney Skolsky was within earshot. He memorialized the comment by including it in his byline, and the moniker “stuck.” That version sounds like the most plausible, so I am going with it.  In any event, the Academy adopted the name officially in 1939.

Some little-known facts about the awards:

1. The initial awards were presented in 1929 at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel before an audience of approximately 270 persons.  The host was Douglas Fairbanks.  This year, by contrast, the awards will be internationally televised and streamed live to approximately 40 million people around the globe. Moreover, as has been customary, they will be preceded by a elaborate ceremony, which will feature celebrities parading before their fans, the media, and a television audience on the “Red Carpet.”
2. In 1929 the award winners, 15 in all, were disclosed to the media three months ahead of time. For a few years, beginning in 1930, the winners were disclosed the night before. Since 1941, however, the identities of the winners have been sealed in envelopes and guarded like the proverbial “crown jewels” until they are disclosed at the ceremony.
3. Since 1950 the ownership of the statuettes has not been unencumbered. Legally, neither the winners nor their heirs are free to sell them on the open market without first offering them back to the Academy for $1. Their value on the open market would be substantial. For example, a few years ago, a pre-1950 statuette sold via on-line auction for $861,542.
4. The voting membership of the academy is approximately 5,800, roughly 94% Caucasian, 77% male, and 54% over the age of 60. More on that later.
5. In order to be eligible for the Best Picture Award, a film must be a minimum of 40 minutes long and must have opened in LA County by December 31 of the previous year.  That is why a movie will frequently debut by December 31 with a very limited distribution and then open to a general audience weeks or even months later.
6. Other than Best Picture, only the members of each branch vote for the nominees in that category. For example, only directors nominate candidates for Best Director. The entire membership votes for the winners, as well as for Best Picture.  Additionally, according to the New York Times the method for choosing the Best Picture winner is somewhat convoluted.  Basically, voters are required to list their choices in preferential order.  If no movie obtains a majority, then the movie with the fewest first plates is eliminated and there is a re-vote.  This procedure is repeated until one movie gets a majority.
7. For many years, the awards were presented in late March or early April. Beginning in 2004, however, they were moved up to late February or early March. The major reason for this was to shorten the intense lobbying and advertising campaigns of the Oscar season, which had become excessive. In addition, the late February-early March period is devoid of competing extravaganzas, such as the NCAA men’s basketball tournament in late March, which has grown very popular. ABC receives an additional benefit in that February is a “sweeps” month.
8. From time to time, some critics have accused the Academy of bias, for example:
   Favoritism toward romantic dramas, historical epics, family melodramas, and historical biographies (Shakespeare in Love, Chariots of Fire, the Best Years of Our Lives, Annie Hall) at the expense of action films or sports films. Often, these so-called “Oscar-bait” movies have won at the expense of more popular films such as Star Wars, Goodfellas, Hoosiers and Raging Bull.  The latter group have become iconic movies that are shown on tv fairly regularly and have stood the test of time.  On the other hand, the same cannot be said for the former group.
9. I have long felt that there has, at times, been a disconnect between the Academy voters and the general audience.  Often, the winning picture, while critically acclaimed, has not been a box office success.  Furthermore, sentiment has, sometimes, led to awards for popular entertainers or those who have been denied in the past.  Also, some awards have been given more in recognition of a distinguished career than for the most recent individual performance.  One example would be John Wayne winning for his performance in “True Grit” in 1969. Wayne had been one of the most popular performers for three decades, but he had never won an Oscar.
10. Critics have denoted the composition of the voting membership, as noted above, as being problematic. I’m not sure. Through the years there have occasionally been curious snubs, such as Eddie Murphy being passed over (in favor of Alan Arkin) for his superb performance in “Dreamgirls.”   Furthermore, many felt that 2015’s “Straight Outta of Compton” was short-changed.  Consequently, in recent years, many observers have been “pushing” female and minority nominees. However, I don’t believe, as some do, that those omissions are cause for protests and/or boycotts. I am definitely not in favor of a quota for nominations of minorities as has been proposed by some. As long as the nominations and Oscar voting are subjective, there will always be some that are overlooked. Our society is too PC as it is. Part of life is dealing with disappointments.
11. Every year, the Academy uses the wide forum of the Oscars to further some political agenda.  Personally, I find some of their shenanigans excessive.  They would do well to remember Michael Jordan’s famous explanation of why he was apolitical publicly: “Republicans buy sneakers too.”  This year, we can expect  tributes, if that is the right word, to the #MeToo movement and curbing gun violence.
12. I would like to denote few puzzling choices for Best Picture in past years, cases in which the winning picture was soon forgotten and an also-ran or two became a classic or at least substantially more popular or memorable. For example:
    a. 1977 – “Annie Hall” beat “Star Wars.” Unless you’re a big Woody Allen fan chances are you don’t remember “Annie Hall;” “Star Wars” was a mega-hit and spawned several sequels as well as ancillaries such as toys and games.
    b. 1941 – “How Green Was My Valley” beat “Citizen Kane.” “Valley” has been long forgotten, and “Kane” is on many people’s short list of the best movies ever.
    c. 1990 – “Dances with Wolves” beat “Goodfellas.” I saw “Dances.” It was a nice movie, but “Goodfellas” is a classic gangster film with an all-star cast (DeNiro, Pesce, Liotta) and is on tv frequently.
    d. 1940 – “Rebecca” beat “The Grapes of Wrath,” a powerful drama about the Depression-era California migrant workers starring Henry Fonda, among others.
    e. 1998- “Shakespeare in Love” beat “Saving Private Ryan.” “Shakespeare” was soon forgotten and is now no more than the answer to a trivia question, whereas “Ryan” was a classic WWII movie with an all-star cast headed by Tom Hanks and Matt Damon). Who can ever forget the classic D-Day landing scene?
    f. 1946 – “The Best Years of Our Lives,” which few recall and is never on tv, beat “It’s a Wonderful Life,” which is a Christmas classic starring Jimmy Stewart and which is on tv annually.  I could go on. In fact, I could write an entire blog on just this sub-topic, but you get the idea.

CONCLUSION

Finally, I know you are all anxiously awaiting my predictions, so here they are:

Best Picture – Of the nominated movies, I liked “Darkest Hour,” “Three Billboards,” and “The Post” the best.  “Billboards” seems to be the favorite, but there are frequently surprise, if not nonsensical, choices in this category.  I’ll predict “Billboards.”

Quiz question – Do you remember which movie won last year?

Best Actor – Gary Oldman – “Darkest Hour.”  I didn’t see all the nominated performances, but of those I did see, his was the best.

Best Actress – Frances McDormand.  It would be a travesty if she did not win.

Best Director – Guillermo del Toro – “Shape of Water.”  Appears to be a “sure thing.”  We’ll see.

Enjoy the awards show as well as the “Red Carpet,” although I strongly recommend using a DVR to get through the many “dead spots.”

Quiz answers:  1. Bob Hope – 18, followed by Billy Crystal – 8.

2.  “Moonlight.”  Remember the envelope snafu?

Some of you have requested another quiz, so here it is. Be careful what you wish for. See if you can identify the person described in the question.

As always, I tried to make it challenging but not too hard. Have fun.  You know the drill; no peeking at the internet, and don’t ask Alexa or Siri.

1. I was a famous tv personality during the 1950s. I hosted my own show, and it was very popular. Earlier in my career I was a sports and entertainment reporter and a syndicated columnist. (a) Arthur Godfrey, (b) Ed Sullivan, (c) Jackie Gleason, (d) Milton Berle.
2. My birth name was James Todd Smith. (a) Busta Rhymes, (b) Jay Z, (c) Lil Wayne, (d) LL Cool J
3. My birth name was Terry Jean Bollette. (a) Hulk Hogan, (b) Rock Hudson, (c) Spencer Tracy, (d) Robert Mitchum
4. I am a famous best-selling author. My real name is Theodore Geisel. (a) J. K. Rowling, (b) Thomasino Gomez, (c) Stephen King, (d) Dr. Seuss
5. I am the only one in this group that was NOT Australian-born. (a) Eric Bana, (b) Chris Hemsworth, (c) Rachel McAdams, (d) Hugh Jackman
6. I was a famous actor. I starred in many Westerns. My birth name was Marion Mitchell Morrison. (a) Randolph Scott, (b) John Wayne, (c) Ronald Reagan, (d) James Arness
7. I won the most Academy Awards. (a) Edith Head, (b) Meryl Streep, (c) Walt Disney, (d) Katherine Hepburn
8. I was a 15th century explorer/cartographer. America was named after me. (a) Columbus, (b) de Gama, (c) Magellan, (d) Vespucci
9. I was the first person to die for the colonies in the Revolutionary War.  (a) Red Gerard, (b) John Burgoyne, (c) Nathan Hale, (d) Crispus Attucks
10. I was responsible for many inventions, including dynamite. (a) Alfred Nobel, (b) Thomas Edison, (c) Benjamin Franklin, (d) Eli Whitney
11. I am a well-known pop singer.  My real name is Stefani Germanotta. (a) Sia, (b) Haile Steinfeld (c) Lady Gaga, (d) Ariana Grande
12. I was the longest-serving Prime Minister of Canada. (a) MacKenzie King, (b) Pierre Trudeau, (c) John MacDonald, (d) Lester Pearson
13. I hosted a kiddie tv show for 30 years. My real name was Bob Keeshan. Can you name my show? (a) Howdy Doody, (b) Mr. Rogers, (c) Captain Kangaroo, (d) Johnny Jellybean
14. I was an English explorer and cartographer.  I discovered many lands in the Pacific Ocean, including , among others, Australia and New Zealand. (a) Sir Walter Raleigh, (b) Martin Frobisher, (c) John Cabot, (d) James Cook
15. I am a well-known actor.  My birth name was Maurice Joseph Micklewhite.  (a) Cary Grant, (b) Spencer Tracy, (c) Michael Caine, (d) Richard Attenborough
16. I was a 16th century Spanish explorer best known for conquering the Aztec Empire. (a) Ponce De Leon, (b) Hernan Cortes, (c) Francisco Pizarro, (d) Vasco de Balboa
17. I coined the phrase “80% of success is just showing up.” (a)  Samuel Clemens, (b) Benjamin Franklin, (c) Bob Hope, (d) Woody Allen
18. I coined the phrase “Nothing is certain except for death and taxes.”  (a) Benjamin Franklin, (b) Woodrow Wilson, (c) Teddy Roosevelt, (d) Alexander Hamilton
19. I am a well-known author.  I have written a few stories under the “pen name” Richard Bachman.  (a) James Patterson, (b) Dean Kuntz, (c) Stephen King, (d) Tom Clancy
20. I was a WWII American general responsible for the defense of Bastogne.  When the German army surrounded the city and they demanded I surrender, I replied “nuts.” (a) Anthony McAuliffe, (b) Chester Nimitz, (c) Omar Bradley, (d) George Patton

ANSWERS: 1. (b), 2. (d), 3. (a), 4. (d), 5 (c), 6. (b), 7. (c) (26), 8. (d) (Amerigo Vespucci), 9. (d), 10. (a), 11. (c), 12. (a)(21 years), 13. (c), 14. (d), 15. (c), 16. (b), 17. (d), 18. (a), 19. (c), 20. (a)

Well, there you have it. Let me know how you did.

As most of you know, February has been designated as “Black History Month.”  Consequently, I thought it would be appropriate to present a brief history of Blacks in America as well as a thumbnail sketch of some of the many Blacks that have had a profound influence on (all of) us.

Slave trading is as old as recorded history.  Ancient peoples, such as the Egyptians, Arabs and Romans, among others, were active practitioners.  Before the industrial revolution took hold slaves were essential to do the back-breaking physical labor required, such as, for example, building the pyramids, tilling the fields, and rowing the huge warships.  Basically, if you lost a war you were either killed or enslaved.  Slaves were not viewed as people.  They were perceived as property to be bought, sold, raped, beaten, or otherwise mistreated.

Most present-day African-Americans (AAs) are the descendants of slaves that were transported from the west coast areas of Africa to the Americas from the late 16th century through 1865.  Most of these slaves were captured in raids conducted by white slave traders, however, it was not uncommon for African chiefs, (for example, those located in Benin and Mali), to sell black prisoners of war to these “slavers.”

The slaves’ passage from Africa to America, which normally took six months, was beyond brutal.  Without going into too much graphic detail, the trip, itself, was probably worse than what awaited them at the end.  First of all, the slaves were separated by gender.  Men were generally put in the ship’s hold where they were so crowded that often they had no space to lie down.  Starvation and disease were rampant.  Many slaves died enroute and were dumped unceremoniously overboard.  Women were kept closer to the crew.  Rape was common.  Occasionally there would be a rebellion, but these were quickly and brutally suppressed.  All in all, some 12 million AAs were transported to America in this manner, but countless never made it.

The first slaves arrived in present-day US in 1619 at the ironically-named Point Comfort near present-day Hampton, VA.  This was some 30 miles from Jamestown, which, as some of you will recall, was the first permanent English settlement in the New World.  The English settlers treated these early arrivals as indentured servants, rather than slaves, and released them after they had completed their period of indenture.  However, before long, this practice was replaced by outright slavery.  It is estimated that only about 5% of the slaves were transported to the American colonies.  The vast majority went to the West Indies, or even South America, where the working conditions were significantly more brutal (harder work and inferior food and medical care) and the death rates substantially higher.

[Quiz question:  What was the first American colony to legalize slavery?  Answer below.]

In early America, owning slaves was common.  In fact, many, if not most, of the Founding Fathers owned slaves.  For example, Thomas Jefferson owned some 200.  Before you condemn them for that, however, consider that slave ownership was a symptom of the times in which they lived, and I do not believe it is appropriate to judge them by today’s standards as many are wont to do.  It has been documented that even some free blacks owned slaves.

By the early 19th century slavery had become more commonplace in the South than the North.  Without going into excessive detail, slaves were an economic necessity to work the vast plantations that produced cotton and other crops on which the South’s economy depended.  Meanwhile, the North had become more industrialized and less reliant on slave labor.  The two regions were on a collision course that ultimately resulted in the Civil War, followed by reconstruction, “Jim Crow” laws, and segregation that lasted well into the 20th century.

AAs have distinguished themselves  in every war.  For example, the first person to give his life for freedom during the Revolutionary War was an AA, Crispus Attucks, who perished at the Boston Massacre.  Some 5,000 AAs fought in the Continental Army, side by side with whites.  Therefore, technically, the US’s army was integrated before it was segregated.  Even after the British and their loyalist supporters offered to free any slave who joined their side, many AAs stayed loyal to the Revolution.

During the Civil War approximately 200,000 free blacks and former slaves fought for with the Union Army both before and after the issuance of the Emancipation Proclamation.

During WWI the armed forces were still segregated, and most AA units were relegated to support roles.  Even so, a few units, such as the “Harlem Hellfighters,” did see combat.  That unit ended up serving on the front lines for six months, longer than any other unit, and 171 of its members were awarded the Legion of Merit.  Moreover, Corporal Freddie Stowers of another unit was awarded the Medal of Honor, posthumously.  Sadly, somehow, the Army (intentionally or not) “misplaced” his paperwork at the time, but his surviving sisters received it on his behalf from President Bush 41 in 1991.

Nearly 2 million AAs served in the US military during WWII, once again, in segregated units.   Many of them, such as the famed Tuskegee Airmen, did so with distinction.  Over 700 AAs were killed, and many more were wounded.  Undoubtedly, their bravery and patriotism was one of the factors that led President Harry Truman to order the integration of the armed services after the War.  AAs have continued to serve with distinction in every war since.

CONCLUSION

AAs have made innumerable contributions to society in all fields of endeavor.  Below please find a brief list.  Most of these name should be very familiar to you.  Due to space limitations I am sure I have omitted some very important people.  Feel free to make additional suggestions to the list.

Civil Rights

1.  Martin Luther King – In my opinion, the most influential civil rights leader ever.  His espousal of non-violent protest won over many whites as well as blacks.  His assassination was a tragedy for the civil rights movement.
2. Rosa Parks – The simple act of refusing to give up her seat on a bus was a landmark event in black civil rights history.
3. Frederick Douglas – Escaped slave who became one of the leading abolitionists of the 19th century.
4. Harriet Tubman – Escaped slave who was an integral “conductor” of the “underground railroad” in the 19th century.
5. Jesse Jackson – Renowned civil rights leader.  Ran for President in 1984 and 1988.
6. Sojourner Truth – Influential 19th century abolitionist and women’s rights advocate.  Fought for equal rights for women as well as blacks.
7. Ida Wells – Civil rights activist, journalist and newspaper editor.  Relentlessly investigated and exposed lynchings, which were all too commonplace in the South at the time.

Politics

1.  Barack Obama – Served two terms as President of the US.
2. Shirley Chisholm – First AA congresswoman (1968-1983).  Ran for President in 1972.
3. Douglas Wilder – In 1989 became the first AA to be elected governor (Virginia).
4. Carol Moseley-Braun – First AA senator (Illinois).  Presently, there are thousands of AAs holding elected office and dozens who hold or have held significant government positions, such as Supreme Court Justices Thurgood Marshall and Clarence Thomas, Joint Chiefs Chairman Colin Powell, and NSA Head Condolezza Rice.

Sports and Entertainment – There are a plethora of examples in this field, but, to my mind, these four stand out.

1.  Jesse Owens – “Stuck it” to the Nazis by winning four gold medals at the Berlin Olympics in 1936 demonstrating that AAs were not inferior as many thought at the time.
2. Jackie Robinson –  Broke the “color barrier” in major league baseball in 1947, paving the way for thousands who have followed and will follow, prospectively.
3. Muhammed Ali – World champion boxer and an inspiration to blacks worldwide.
4. Oprah Winfrey – Strong media personality and role model to AAs and women, in general.

Answer to quiz question: Massachusetts was the first colony to legalize slavery in 1641.  Kudos to you if you got it right.

Another mass shooting, this time at a high school in Parkland, FL.   This is getting to be all too commonplace.  This was the third mass shooting in the last four months.  Each of these incidents was horrific, but, to me, the ones in which kids were the victims – Columbine, Sandy Hook and this one – are the worst.  Some of the kids were as young as 14.  14!  So sad to have young lives snuffed out before they have really begun.  May they all rest in peace.

Parents send their kids to school every day with two expectations: (1) they will learn something useful, and (2) they will return home safely.  I cannot think of anything more devastating to a parent than when they get “that phone call.”

As the shock begins to fade away, people want to know how and why this happened.  In what kind of a society do we live where this happens time and time again?  Who or what is to blame?  Is it the proliferation and easy availability of guns, inadequate school security, lax parental supervision and guidance, the violent movies and video games, music in which violence is espoused and lauded, weak law enforcement, political correctness run amok, the internet, or a hideous combination of some or all of the above?  Everyone has a theory, but no one really knows.

One thing you can count on – the politicians will try to use this to further their own agendas.  Gun control advocates will scream for restrictions on guns. ( Were it only that easy.)  They will advocate confiscating all the guns held in private hands, like they did in Australia years ago, or, at the very least placing severe restrictions on their purchase and ownership.  That is a naïve and overly simplistic solution and will NEVER happen, for the following reasons:

1.  The gun lobby is too strong, and many, if not most, Americans really cherish the second amendment and won’t give an inch.
2. Congress is too fractured to reach a consensus on ANYTHING, much less an issue as controversial as that.  Time and time again, the leadership of both political parties has demonstrated an embarrassing inability to control its fringe elements and forge a consensus.  Look at the problems they had passing a budget.  Also, they have been unable to pass an immigration policy even though the elements that have been proposed are favored by some two-thirds of voters.
3. No one has been able to explain how Chicago, with arguably the strictest gun laws in the country is, paradoxically, one of the most violent cities.  In my opinion, a large part of that is that criminals will always find a way to obtain guns, so gun control only affects the law-abiding would-be gun owners.

I would agree that we need to do a better job of monitoring and restricting the purchase of guns, but other than that, the solution, if there is one, lies elsewhere.

CONCLUSION

I don’t have a magic answer.  People a lot smarter than me have been trying to find one with little success.  But, like everyone else, I have an opinion.  You may disagree, but I welcome your input.

1. We need to have a rational, objective discussion of the causes and possible solutions.  No bloviating, rhetoric, or political agendas.
2. Guns are part of the problem, but not the entire problem.  Those who say they are, are guilty of violating #1 above.
3. Parents need to take more responsibility for raising their own kids and instilling a strong sense of right and wrong.  In what universe can some kid think it is okay to take a life?
4. Schools need to do a better job of security, and identifying victims of bullying who might be harboring a grudge as well as “loners” and other disaffected students.
5. Law enforcement needs to be more proactive.  For example, in the Parkland situation we have now ascertained that the FBI received a complaint about Cruz on its tip line last month and failed to follow up.  Why?  No one knows or is willing to say.
6. Ease up on the political correctness.  Don’t be afraid to report someone who may be an African American, Hispanic or Muslim.  If you do so in good faith, no one in his right mind should criticize you if it turns out to be a false alarm.  On the other hand if you don’t and he turns out to be a shooter (e.g. San Bernardino), you will never forgive yourself.

It pains me to have to blog about these tragedies.  Let’s hope I never have to do so again.

On Wednesday, February 14 many of us will celebrate Valentine’s Day (the “Day”).   The Day is named after St. Valentine.  We will present our loved ones with flowers, candy, jewelry and/or a romantic card.  The Day is celebrated in some form by people all over the world, but why, and who was Valentine?  What did he do to merit this recognition?  Read on and be edified.

My research disclosed that the origins of the Day are shrouded in mystery.   It is not clear what is fact and what is legend.  Apparently, it originated as a religion-oriented feast day to celebrate an early saint, or saints, named “Valentine.”  Over time, it has evolved into a Day more associated with romance than religion.

There is historical evidence that there may have been more than one martyred saint named “Valentine.”  For example, Valentine of Rome was martyred in 269 by Roman Emperor Claudius II for the crime of performing marriage ceremonies for persons who were forbidden to marry (presumably for religious reasons).  In addition, the same Claudius martyred Valentine of Terni in 273 evidently, for similar  offenses, hence, the religious origin of the Day.  Due to the factual similarities and chronological and geographic proximity of these two events, some historians believe that the two were actually one and the same.

St. Valentine has been called the patron saint of beekeepers, epilepsy, the plague, fainting, and travel as well as lovers, engaged persons and marriage.  Busy guy.

Most historians credit the romantic aspect of the Day to Geoffrey Chaucer, a 14th century English author and poet.  Chaucer is best known for The Canterbury Tales, a collection of 24 stories written over a 13-year period between 1387 and 1400.   According to author, Jack Oruch, Chaucer was the first person to associate the Day with romance and love.  In a poem entitled Parlement of Foules in 1382 in honor of King Richard II’s engagement to Anne of Bohemia, he wrote (in Middle English):

“For this was on seynt Volantynys day; Whan euery bryd comyth there to chese his make.”

For those of you who are not scholars of Middle English it translates to

“For this was on St. Valentine’s Day, when every bird cometh there to choose his mate.”

By the end of the 18th century publishers were providing suggested romantic verses to persons who were unable or unwilling to compose their own (sort of a forerunner of the greeting cards with which we are all familiar).  During the 19th century the popularity of these cards increased to the point that they became mass produced.  Their popularity was aided by the invention and wide usage of the postage stamp in the 1840s, which enabled one to mail cards to distant locales.  In time, valentine cards became more elaborate.  Esther Howland, a bookstore proprietor in Worcester, MA, is credited with being the first person to mass-produce Valentine’s Day cards of embossed paper lace in 1847.  Soon, these mass-produced cards replaced handwritten notes.

In 1868 Cadbury, the British-based chocolatier, hopped on the bandwagon.  It began marketing decorated boxes of chocolates, called “Fancy Boxes” for the Day.   As we know, other candy makers soon followed suit as well as purveyors of other products, such as flowers and jewelry.  Now, with the advent of the internet, many people send their holiday greetings electronically, more efficient, but less personal.

According to the US Greeting Card Association, Americans send nearly 200 million greeting cards on the Day, and that excludes those cards exchanged personally by school children.  Many of us remember, probably with more embarrassment than fondness, exchanging valentines with elementary school classmates  The GCA estimates that when those cards are included the figure swells to over 1 billion.  In fact, collectively, teachers are the largest recipients of Valentine’s Day cards.

CONCLUSION

Alas, like all other holidays, the Day has become commercialized to the extent that its original meaning and purpose has become obscured in the mists of time.  As mentioned above, it is now celebrated all over the world, by people of all religions, not just Catholics.  After all, there are lovers everywhere.

For example,

1.  In Latin American countries such as Puerto Rico, Costa Rica and Mexico, it is known as the “day of lovers.”  Typically, people perform “acts of appreciation for their friends, romantic or not.  Brazil celebrates the day on June 12 in connection with St. Anthony’s Day (the marriage saint).  In addition to the usual exchange of gifts, single women traditionally perform rituals known as simpatias with the intention of attracting a good husband.
2. In China the Day is called “lovers’ festival.”
3. In India the Day did not catch on until circa 1992, when the idea was spread by American tv programs.
4. Even Israel has joined in.  The Day is celebrated in late August in connection with the traditional holiday, Tu B’Av.

I could go on and on, but you get the idea.  As we know, love is universal.  So, enjoy the day.  Don’t forget your loved ones.

The Winter Olympics, officially, the XXIII Olympic Winter Games, will be held on  February 9-25 in PyeongChang, South Korea.  This will be the second time SK will be the host.  The prior occasion was the Summer Olympics in Seoul in 1988.  Technically, however, the competition will commence tonight with a preliminary round of figure-skating competition (even though the Opening Ceremonies are not until tomorrow.  Go figure.)

As has often been the case in recent Olympiads, politics has threatened to intrude on the Games.  This time, the perpetrator is North Korea.  On the plus side, the rogue regime has decided to participate.  Moreover, NK and SK have agreed to march together in the Opening Ceremonies under a (“Korean Unification Flag”) and to field a “United Korea” women’s hockey team.  It’s always nice when sports brings countries together.  On the negative side, the Games are being held in close proximity to one of the most dangerous and unpredictable nations in the world, and we will all be holding our breath until the end.

Below please find some interesting facts with respect to the Games:

1. The initial Winter Games were held in 1924 in Chamonix, France as part of that year’s Summer Olympics.  Approximately, 300 athletes participated, including only 13 women.  In those pre-PC days the women were relegated to competing only in figure-skating, as they were considered to be “too delicate” for the more rigorous competitions.  Medals were awarded in only 16 events spread among five sports.  In 1925 the IOC decided to hold separate Games for the winter sports, beginning in 1928.
2. Curiously, the final medal of those 1924 Games was not presented until 1974.  Why?  Glad you asked.  Apparently, an error was discovered in the score of one of the medalists in the ski-jump.  As a result, the fourth place finisher was elevated to third.  So, 50 years after the fact Anders Haugen received his bronze medal.
3. Eleven year-old Norwegian Sonja Heine finished last in women’s figure-skating.  Why is that significant?  Well, Ms. Heine went on to become one of the best and most celebrated figure-skaters ever.  She won gold at the next three Olympics and appeared in some 15 movies over the next 30+ years.
4. The Winter and Summer Games were contested the same year through 1992.  Thereafter, the IOC determined to hold them in separate years, so in order to establish the current schedule, the Winter Games were held in 1992 (with the Summer Games) but then again in 1994.
5. The torch relay is always a big part of the Games.  As most fans know, the lit Olympic Torch is maintained continually in Athens between Games.  Prior to the Games it is transported to the host city, often in unusual and roundabout ways.  This year, its journey began on October 27, 2017.  During the 101-day sojourn the various modes of transportation included turtle ship, sailboat, marine cable car, zip-wire, steam train, marine rail bike, yacht and robot.  All in all, there were some 7,500 torch bearers (symbolizing Korea’s 75 million person population) and 2,018 “support runners,” who provided security for both the torch and the runners.
6. There will be competitions in a record 102 events in 15 sports.  Disciplines such as mixed team alpine skiing, big air snowboarding, mixed doubles curling, and mass start speed-skating will be making their Olympic debuts.
7. Athletes from 92 countries are expected to compete.  Most of them have no expectation of winning a medal.  They are just thrilled to represent their country.  The US will have the largest delegation (some 242).
8. Russia will not be one of the 92.  The IOC banned the Russian delegation due to doping.  However, it is permitting some 170 Russian athletes, who have been able to demonstrate compliance with IOC doping standards, to compete as “Olympic Athletes from Russia” under a neutral flag.
9. The official mascots are a white tiger and an Asiatic black bear.
10. In the US the broadcast will be handled by NBC.  Due to the 14 hour time difference (in the eastern time zone) many of the events will be shown live in prime time.  However, there will still be “spoilers” on the internet.
11. Security has been a major concern at every Olympics since 1972.  As mentioned above, this year, fears have been exacerbated due to the close proximity of the venue to North Korea.  Several countries, including US, France and Germany,  had considered not participating, but, as I write this, they all will.  In fact, VP Mike Pence plans to attend.  No doubt, the fact that NK is expected to send a delegation, including Kim’s sister, has alleviated some safety concerns.

CONCLUSION

For the most part, the Olympics and sports, in general, have tended to bring people together and provide a temporary respite from political and diplomatic tensions.  Most people just want to enjoy 16 days of friendly sports competition.  Hopefully, that will be the case here.

Let the games begin!

This year is Super Bowl LII.  It will be played in Minneapolis between the Philadelphia Eagles and the New England Patriots.  Kick-off will be shortly after 6:30pm.  Anyone who watches the entire pre-game show on NBC deserves a prize.

To celebrate the occasion I have compiled a Super Bowl quiz.  As always, no peeking at the internet, and don’t ask “Alexa.”

1.  What is the official name of the stadium in which tomorrow’s SB will be played?  (a) Vikings Stadium; (b) Minnesota Dome; (c) 3-M Stadium; (d) US Bank Stadium.

2.  Who is performing at halftime?  (a) Justin Timberlake; (b) Lady Gaga; (c) Bruno Mars; (d)  Katy Perry.

3.  The losing team in the first SB was: (a) Cowboys; (b) Raiders; (c) Giants; (d) Chiefs

4. According to the USDA, Super Bowl Sunday is the “second largest food consumption day.  Which day is first?  (a) New Years Day; (b)  Thanksgiving; (c) Christmas; (d) Mothers Day

5. How many Super Bowls have been decided in overtime? (a) 0; (b) 1; (c) 2; (d) 3

6. Which franchise has won the most SBs? (a) Dallas; (b) San Francisco; (c) Pittsburg; (d) New England

7. Each of the following teams is undefeated in SBs except: (a) Jets; (b) Ravens; (c) Bucs; (d) Green Bay

8. The name “Super Bowl” was derived from: (a) College “bowl” games; (b) Fan vote; (c) Media feedback; (d) Child’s toy

9. Who is the only starting quarterback to win SBs with two different teams? (a) Bart Starr; (b) Peyton Manning; (c) Steve Young; (d) Joe Montana

10. Who was the only MVP from the losing team? (a) Chuck Howley; (b) Len Dawson; (c) Bruce Smith; (d) Icky Woods

11. How many defensive players have been MVP of a SB? (a) Two; (b) Five; (c) Eight; (d) Ten

12. If the Pats win tomorrow they will have achieved the rare, but not unique, feat of wining back-to-back SBs.  Which team has won back-to-back SBs twice? (a) Green Bay; (b) San Francisco; (c) Dallas (d) Pittsburg

13. Name the current NFL city that has neither hosted an SB nor had its team appear in one. (a)  Jacksonville; (b) Philadelphia; (c) Cleveland; (d) Indianapolis

14. Each of the following teams has not appeared in a SB, except:  (a)  Eagles; (b) Jaguars; (c) Lions; (d) Browns

15.  Who scored the first ever touchdown in a SB?  (a)  Bart Starr; (b)  Paul Hornung; (c)  Max McGee; (d) Len Dawson

16. How many times has a team played the SB in its home stadium? (a) 0; (b) 1; (c) 2; (d) 3

17. SB LII will be Bill Belichick’s eighth.  Which coach has appeared in the next highest number of SBs? (a) Vince Lombardi; (b) Tom Landry; (c) Don Shula; (d) Bud Grant

18. Who was the MVP in the first Super Bowl? (a) Paul Hornung; )b) Len Dawson; (c) Bart Starr; (d) Jerry Kramer

19. Which of the following coaches has taken more than one team to a SB?  (a) Don Shula; (b) Tom Landry; (c) Bill Belichick;  (d) Vince Lombardi

20. The 2017 SB was played in which city? (a) Dallas; (b) Houston; (c) New Jersey; (d) Los Angeles

21. Which of the below-listed quarterbacks did not win any Super Bowls. (a) Jim Plunkett; (b) Dan Marino; (c). Joe Namath; (d) Terry Bradshaw

22. After whom is the SB trophy named? (a) Pete Rozelle; (b) Paul Brown; (c) Al Davis; (d) Vince Lombardi

23. Which player has won the most SB rings? (a) Adam Vinatieri; (b) Charles Haley; (c) Terry Bradshaw; (d) Bob Lilly

24. Which half-time entertainer became (in)famous for a “wardrobe malfunction?” (a) Beyoncé; (b) Janet Jackson; (c) Madonna; (d) Lady Gaga

25. What marginal player became famous for the “helmet catch” in SBXLII (Giants vs. Pats)? (a) Plaxico Burris; (b) Randy Moss; (c) David Tyree; (d) Bob Schnelker

ANSWERS: 1. d; 2. a; 3. d; 4. b ; 5. b; 6. c; 7. d; 8. d; 9. b; 10. a (SB V); 11.d; 12. d ; 13. c, 14. a; 15. c; 16. a; 17. c (6); 18. c; 19. a; 20. b (NRG Stadium); 21. b; 22. d; 23. b (5- tied with Tom Brady); 24. b; 25. c

Enjoy this year’s game.  Although I dislike both teams, I will be rooting for the Eagles, because if they win ESPN host Dave Rothenberg (who is my favorite sports commentator) will “go nuclear” on the air for days, which will be “must listen” radio entertainment.   That said, I think the Pats will win.

Prediction: New England 31; Philadelphia 17.