I enjoy watching the chase for party nominations for president of the United States. I have found this fascinating since I was a child; I remember watching the 1964 Republican Convention that nominated Barry Goldwater instead of Nelson Rockefeller. I also am a baseball fan, and was well ahead of Goldwater. It strikes me that […]

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Much is being made about the brutal cold expected at the NFL playoffs game in Minneapolis on Sunday. The Minnesota Vikings versus the Seattle Seahawks at the University of Minnesota — with a forecast temperature at kickoff of 0 degrees Fahrenheit. That will make it one of the coldest games in NFL history, though the […]

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France is approximately the size of Texas, so it takes a while to get wherever it is you’re not. Planning is key. Detailed, to-the-minute scenarios involving four people, a Westie and four forms of conveyance. What could go wrong? All sorts of things. In annoying, embarrassing, silly ways. Here are 12.

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This is about achievements or skills, and not actions, though I could make several lists built around the latter. Instead, these are skills I was not born with, or couldn’t be bothered to master, and it’s probably a bit late to go back and see what I can do about any of them. But, to […]

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Actually, we’re pushing 60 percent finished with the current decade, given that we persist in starting decades and centuries and millennia on years that end in zero. (Digression alert!) And, by the by, what are we calling this decade? Apparently we haven’t decided because it’s varieties of stupid/awkward. Back in 2009, the BBC did a […]

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Three weddings on three continents in 22 days. With not much in common aside from “pretty much everyone was happy”. Doesn’t make me an expert, but I’ve had cause/time to think about weddings. Today’s list: Ten observations about weddings, circa 2015. In no particular order.

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The Dodgers sent out a press release last week describing the “new menu” items at Dodger Stadium for the 2015 season. Nos 1 and 2 on the list? (And these are real.) –Lasorda’s Meatball Marinara Specialty Fries –Lasorda’s Meatball Marinara Cone Also, La Taqueria’s Carne Asada Specialty Fries … and Fried Dodger Dogs at Extreme […]

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I think “bucket lists” are silly concepts. Mostly, it seems like doing cliche tourist things. But I concede I did think of the “bucket” thing when I was mulling the concept of visiting all 50 U.S. states. I’m not that far off. Ten states to go. I could knock off most of them in two […]

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The more a person pokes around Asian Cup history — and the 2015 version of the event is ongoing — the more curious it gets. Lots of political interruptions and upheaval among various states. Sounds like it is time for another list. Herewith, 10 curious facts concerning Asia’s quadrennial soccer competition:

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First, the irony. World soccer governing body Fifa won’t tell you how its two-dozen executive committee members voted after they hand out the World Cup … But Fifa gives us chapter and verse on how the voting goes for the Ballon d’Or, the player-of-the-year award. Which Cristiano Ronaldo won tonight, as he should have, for […]

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