Hey, MLB, major-market usually wins World Series...
In Memoriam
“Rollie”
My Dad from Nova Scotia, Canada
1930 to 2022
He’s smiling down from heaven.
I just wish I could have watched these games with him...
(Tap the Scores, then the Gameday tab in the MLB app for best viewing, without charge, on the cheap. Another option is 880AM, ESPN, in New York (not for every game), or WNYW Fox 5, in New York [free, over-the-air broadcast, or cable]. Here’s the schedule. Journal is in reverse chronological order.)
“Game 7 isn’t finished, next day, Dad. The double play, the second baseman? He missed the bag on instant replay. The umps didn’t call for a review. Score should have been tied 5-5, with Toronto still at bat.” “What?! What?! Really?!” “Yes! They can’t do anything about the bad call now. LA did not win! That’s not sour grapes, the final out was not played!”
Game 7 tonight in Toronto, decides the whole shebang. “I think I got a bit ahead of myself yesterday. I thought the Jays had it won already. Too cocksure.” “Toronto is doing really well though. I’m surprised they got this far.” “Dad, next year is the World Cup.” “If I’m still here.” “You will be.” “To god’s ear. Watching Canada struggle is tough to watch. I’m more a soccer fan anyway.” “Remember we saw Pélé?” “Yes, with the Cosmos.” “You still remember.” “Old memories stay with me. I can’t remember where I put my slippers...” Bottom of the 3rd, Toronto hits a homer with two men on, 3-0. “That’s a relief.” “Sure is. That could be the margin of victory.”... “You were saying something about L.A. being a major market?” “That’s right, dad. They have the most money, first in salary in the Majors, so they get the best players. Yankees are fourth in total salary, Toronto is seventh. The Jays win on heart essentially.” “Gees, how do you know this, about salary?” “Researching my blog.” LA brings in a run on a sac fly, 3-2 Toronto. “Dad, before you reach for the blood pressure meds, see if the Jays can get an insurance run or two.” “This game sure gets exciting.” And what do you know, Toronto gets an insurance run on a double by their weak-hitting shortstop. LA has six outs to produce two runs, or Canada is the world champions in baseball. “What do you think, Dad?” “I’m debating going to bed, too exciting.” “Suit yourself, but I think they can definitely win this.” LA homers, top of the 8th, Toronto ahead 4-3... “Tell me how it goes.”. Extra innings, a LA homer, top of the 9th, bottom of the 9th, bases loaded, one out, Toronto cannot bring in the winning run... Another homer from LA, great catch by LA outfielder stops Canadian victory. “Sorry, dad.” “It’s just a game.” 11/01/25
Game 6 in Toronto with the Blue Jays ahead 3 games to 2. If they win tonight, Toronto is the World Champions. “I already think the Jays have this won.” “I agree.” May have spoke too soon, Jays down by two runs, 1-3 in the top of the 6th. Top of the 8th, LA with bases loaded, strikes out for the 3rd out, still 3-1 Dodgers. “What do you think, Dad?” “I’m going to bed, it’s been a long day. It’s just a game.” “Thanks for everything, Dad.” Jays fall short, 2nd and 3rd on base, none out in the 9th, then a flyout and a double play. Saturday in Toronto decides the Series. “Best ever Dad.” 10/31/25.
Game 5 in LA tonight, after the Blue Jays tying the series last night, the deciding game will now be in Toronto... First two batters for Toronto hit homers. Jays ahead 2-0, top of the 1st inning. “Do you believe that, Dad?” “Unbelievable.”... Bottom of the 2nd, Jays starting pitcher, Trey Yesavage, strikes out the side. He looks really sharp tonight... Just as I write that, LA hits a homer with no one on, bottom of the 3rd, 2-1, Toronto... Top of the 4th, triple, then a sacrifice fly, 3-1, Blue Jays... Top of the 7th, Toronto scores 2 runs, now 5-1, Jays. “I think Toronto has this one, Dad.” “I agree.”... Top of the 8th. “Hey, Dad, this could be the Series. LA has six outs, they lose, Jays just need to win one of two at home. Canada is in.” “I sure hope so...” Jays now lead 6-1 in the 8th. Yesavage relieved by the bullpen after 12 strikeouts with 7 innings pitched, the 22-year old had a great night... “Dad, watch the rest of the game, it’s kinda early to go to bed. Bask iGame 6 in Toronto with the Blue Jays ahead 3 games to 2. If they win tonight, Toronto is the World Champions. “I think the Jays have this won.” “Not too early to say?” 10/31/25.
n Canadian victory.” “I’m really surprised. We’re not known for baseball at all. I’d call my brother, but...” “Sorry, dad.” Final 6 to 1, Jays, with the margin of victory by the third pitch of the entire game. Blue Jays lead the World Series, 3 games to 2, the championship to be decided in Toronto, Friday or Saturday. 10/29/25.Game 4 tonight in Los Angeles, with LA having a 2-1 lead in the late October, World Series. Last night’s 18-inning win for LA must have left both teams spent... Me and my dad are hoping last night’s marathon didn’t break Toronto’s will, or competitive spirit. We’ll be watching the game from our side-by-side barcaloungers with a TV dinner table in the middle, where there’s two bottles of high blood pressure meds, and two glasses of water. We don’t drink suds... LA ahead 1-0 on a sacrifice fly. Into the top of the 3rd with Guerrero, their home run hitter, up 3rd in the lineup. And what do you know? Guerrero delivers with a home run blast to left center, and a man on, Toronto ahead 2-1... Toronto getting it done tonight, singling in another run, up 3-1 in the top of the 7th, and another, 4-1, Jays, now 5-1, Blue Jays, yet another in the 4-run 7th, 6-1, and looking real good for O’ Canada. Dad”s happy, I’m happy, a fine day in sport. A great day in sport, Toronto is walking away with this one, going into the 9th, 6-1. Ya gotta believe! “I’m going to bed.” “Dad, take your blood pressure pill.” “Tell me how it goes.” “Okay, dad.”... LA keeping it interesting, score a run, 6-2, Toronto, and that’s the final... “ Hey, dad, Toronto evened the Series!” “No way!” For my dad, and even more so for me, careers, city, and national pride were at stake. It was more than just a game. 10/28/25.
Tonight at 8pm, the two-nation World Series resumes in Los Angeles, tied one game apiece. “This game gets so intense, I can’t watch it start to finish.” “Me, too, Dad, well, we’re Canadian, much pride is at stake...” Bottom of the 1st, LA leads-off with a double, but the side is retired... Top of the 2nd. Jays single, then runner gets picked off at first base..sp. Bottom of the 2nd, LA homers with none on, 1-0, Dodgers. “Dad, you want your high-blood pressure meds?” Toronto gets out of the inning after pitching two strikeouts. “No, that’s okay...” Bottom of the 3rd, LA hits a second homer, none on base. “Now, I need a glass of water, and one of these.” “Sure, Dad”... Man on second singled home, but thrown out at the plate. To the top of the 4th, we go, walk, single, and a 3-run homer, 3-2 Toronto lead. Sacrifice fly brings in another run, 4-2, Jays. Can’t count ’em out, lotsa action”... Bottomm of the 5th, LA ties the game at 4... Shortstop to 1st base to 3rd base for the final out of the 6th, nice play, Jays... May not have to go to extra innings, power-hitter Guerrero scores from 1st on a single, wow! Toronto leads 5-4, top of the 7th. Bottom of the 7th, Dodger home run, score tied... Bottom of the 9th, score tied. “I’m going to pack it in. This is too intense. Tell me how it goes.” “Okay, Dad...” Going into extra innings, score tied at 5... “Hey, Dad, bases loaded, 2 outs, couldn’t bring in the run. I’m going to bed.” “We’ll find out in the morning. It’s just a game...” “Dad, walk-off homer in the 18th, LA.” “No! Too bad.” “But like you said, ‘it’s just a game.’ Canada is a major league underdog.” 10/27/25.
1-0 Dodgers, bottom of the 2nd. I hope Toronto takes the lead, and keeps it, this could be a real nail-biter, three hours worth. Dad agrees... Bottom of the third, sacrifice fly brings home the tying run. Blue Jays are back in it... Not much offense on either side, six hits altogether going into the 6th, with the heart of the lineup (Guerrero) coming up for the Jays... L.A. homers with no one on base, and again, top of the 7th, 3-1, Dodgers. The Jays have nine outs to win this... Top of the 8th, Dodgers get 2 more runs, no extra bases, 5-1. That’s the final, 5-1. The Series is tied at 1, Monday is game 3 in Los Angeles. For L.A., Yamamoto retired his last 20 batters, to pitch a complete game (without any relief pitcher from the bullpen). “There is no crying in baseball.” —Tom Hanks in A League of Their Own. 10/25/25.
The Jays load the bases in the bottom of the 1st inning, but cannot capitalize. We’re going to the top of the 2nd in Toronto, no score... Dodgers get on the board first, with a one-out single... Bases loaded for the Dodgers. See how the Blue Jays manage this, would be an easy double-play ball at any base, with a grounder. Strikeout, two men down. Groundout, Toronto gets out of the inning... I keep telling my guys, wait for your pitch, just get it in play, don’t swing for the fences. “That’s my son...” In the top of the 3rd, the Dodgers score a run. So far, Toronto is struggling, a bit... Well, they were struggling. Bottom of the 4th, single, then a homer, game tied at 2!... “What do you think, Dad?” My Dad would say something like: “I thought it was getting out of reach for Toronto...” LA shortstop up, hear cries of: “No batter, no batter, batter can’t hit.” (Shortstop singles.)... Toronto’s Guerrero is up third this inning. He’s already singled and walked, when you’re known as the Franchise, you produce... Of note here: bottom of the 6th, bases loaded, none out, c’mon Blue Jays! Get it done! 3 runs, Toronto,5-2, ... A pinch-hit (substitute batter) grand slam home run, 9-2. Then a second homer, 11 to 2, CANADA!. “Hey dad, what do you say? Toronto broke it open.” “Where’d we park the car, lets beat the traffic going home...” Dodgers get a 2-run homer in the top of the 7th, to keep it interesting, 11-4... That’s all folks! Toronto takes game one, 11 to 4 with a 14-hit barrage. I’m surprised Toronto is doing so well, they’re minor market compared to major market, L.A., and it’s baseball not ice hockey... (The last time me and my dad went to a baseball game was in the 1970s. I mostly played soccer, dad refereed the sidelines. A friend of mine had explained baseball to me.) 10/24/25.
Friday, October the 24th in Toronto, versus the “best team money can buy,” Los Angeles, in the first game of the 2025 World Series. O’ Canada! The last time that Toronto went to the World Series (and won as well) was in 1992 and 1993, 32 years ago!
The entire season for Seattle and Toronto hinges on tonight’s best-of-seven game. You got this, Canada. Well, hmm, the Jays are struggling, and have been since the 1st inning — now, 3-1 Mariners. This is tough for Canada fans. I don’t even want to watch, this is grim (okay, Gaza is grim, this is just painful). Hold everything, the Blue Jays hit a 3-run homer in the 7th to go ahead 4-3. WOW! WOW! I’m speechless!!! I think they got this one, and will be taking on the Dodgers!... Three outs left! To paraphrase George Carlin, or George Will, a baseball game is not over until the 27th out is tallied... They’re in. Canada is going to the World Series! 10/20/25.
The Blue Jays have to win this game at home to tie the best of seven series, 3-3, and then win another to make it to the World Series, and face the L.A. Dodgers. No score at the end of the 1st inning... Bottom of the 2nd, 2-0, Toronto!... Bottom of the 3rd, 4-0, Blue Jays!... Second double play against Seattle tonight, top of the fourth with bases loaded... Top of the Fifth, a 3rd double play against Seattle — talk about baseball fundamentals... Vladimir Guerrero, Jr., “the franchise,” with his fifth homerun of this postseason, 5-0!... [ALCS action, Mariners with 3 errors]... Top of the 9th, Toronto leads 6-2, we got this, Dad... Final: 6-2 Canada! Game 7 tomorrow, again at Toronto. Let’s do this, Blue Jays!... 10/19/25.
A five-run eighth inning was the difference for the Mariners. They lead the Jays, three games to two. The next game is Sunday in Toronto at the Rogers Centre. The Blue Jays have their work cut out for them. 10/17/25.
The Jays are still in this ALCS, leading 3 to 1 in the top of the third, bases loaded... Bottom of the 7th, Blue Jays 6, Mariners 2. The final score: 8 to 2, Jays, the ALCS tied at 2 games apiece. Toronto is still in the hunt for the pennant. Remember the ’69 Miracle Mets? Okay, maybe not. Next game, Friday, again at Seattle. 10/16/25.
Ah, gees, the Jays are behind by two already, in the 2nd inning of game 3 at Seattle, down 2 games to none... Now, middle of the Sixth, 12 to 2, Toronto in a rout!... The final 13-4, with Toronto having the game won in the Third, 5-2... The Blue Jays are back in business, winning convincingly away at Seattle, now down two games to one... (Following using the MLB app.) 10/15/25.
Seattle took the first game of the ACLS, 3 to 1, and they’re in the 7th of the second game, with Toronto behind 9 to 3. (Final: 10 to 3, Seattle.) Seattle looks to be very strong competition. 10/13/25.
Toronto walks away with the division series, 5 to 2, away at Yankee Stadium, winning three games to one. Up next is the Seattle Mariners, in the best-of-seven American League Championship Series. The winner there goes to the World Series. Go Blue Jays! 10/8/25.
Yanks took game 3, 9 to 6. With the run-up in scores, this series is not quite a pitcher’s duel. Game 4 is Wednesday. (880 AM radio in New York carries the game, et al.) 10/7/25.
Teams down 2 to none after two games of a best-of-five series, lose the series 89% of the time. We’ll see if Toronto can take the third of five, and wrap this up on Tuesday in New York. 10/5/25.
Toronto Blue Jays take a 2 to nothing game lead (13-7 and 10-1) over the best team money can buy, the New York Yankees! Wait just one second, Other Letter, aren’t you a New Yorker? Well, my dad was from Boston, think Red Sox Nation, and the curse of the bambino, and his dad was from Canada. I am not a Yankees fan.
Let There be YouTubes
Jerry Garcia, explaining the popularity of the Grateful Dead: “Not everyone likes licorice, but those who like licorice, really like licorice.”
Here’s YouTubes of 80’s New Wave classics... Search no more, Baby Boomers, Gen X-ers. Plus, there’s more, the rest of the show... Lighten up, America! (Trump will learn, or he won’t.)
Preamble, Founder’s Notes
Twenty-one years ago, The Other Letter got its start when I wanted to publish letters to the editor anytime, about anything. I had imagined a group of people behind a laptop PC, and one pointing to which letter to read now, “not that letter, the other letter caught my attention.” I had envisioned the website’s sections divided into articles, or letters.
Today, The Other Letter is a blog, a web log, a writing platform, my soapbox hoping to better the planet, my attempt at being professorial at an adult ed. course, as well as promotion of any talents as a screenwriter. This is essentially a non-profit, and I was originally thinking I’d make it OtherLetter.org, but from a legal perspective, that might put me in murky waters.
I have a Masters degree in computer programming (I’ll brag, Dad went to MIT), but as for writing, I am mostly self-taught, although I took two, college-level courses in writing poetry. I have two claims to fame: proving Biblically and astronomically that Jesus the Christ survived his own Crucifixion during a April 17th, 33AD solar eclipse; and demonstrating via YouTube date stamp, that Karen Carpenter is still alive.
I almost forgot: In response to a letter about healthcare reform to First Lady Hillary Clinton, I was invited (among several others) to meet President Bill Clinton as he tried to garner support for Medicare-for-all at a political rally.
Table of Contents, of The Other Letter, Inc.
This is what’s in store at The Other Letter (all free, and no advertising).
The following links are on this page.
Click the left “OL” on the banner, at the top. Judy never sounded so good, in her defining role, and in the definitive Hollywood movie — but this isn’t the movie recording, it’s from the play. (©Judy Garland, although I understand that her copyright has expired. Christie’s may be interested in the vinyl. Liza, you want it? It’s yours for the asking.)
The first section opens a separate page for download efficiency (Long Island Headstones is slow-loading), the second section links to this page. Pause over links for preview. Generally speaking, most recent posts, listed first, and in bold. Posts of note also given emphasis.
[This was not written for anyone of teenage years, or younger (I would give this blog a PG rating). If you are under the age of eighteen, please speak to your parents about the appropriateness of reading this. Your parents may even find this offensive (if they approve of Trump).]
[Developer’s notes: Learn hypertext markup language (HTML), cascading style sheets (CSS), Javascript, as well as JQuery, and you can make a website such as this...
I originally used the dedicated web developer, Dreamweaver CS4, to develop this website. Recently, that software failed. At this point, I use Notepad++, with the NppFTP plug-in (Notepad++ file transfer protocol) to upload HTML documents to my web host.
I was using Mozilla’s Filezilla, another free-ware product for FTP, but that involves an alt-tab, Notepad exit, so with the NppFTP plug-in, I stay within my editor, Notepad++.
Dreamweaver is kind of pricey, but it has developing niceties (Photoshop is part of its creative suite). Notepad++, NppFTP, and Filezilla are free-ware, they’re free — and Notepad++ has a spell check plugin, which Dreamweaver CS4 didn’t have.]
© 2004 to 2025, The Other Letter, Inc.
According to the Gospel of Luke: Christ was not Crucified
(©2017, The Other Letter, Inc.)
Here’s a shocker. Take out your New Testament, and read the Gospel of Luke, Chapter 24, Verses 39 to 41. Anyone who takes the Holy Bible literally sees that Christ is not a spirit post-Crucifixion, he is “flesh and blood as you are.” Then to drive home the point (pun not intended), he asks, “Have ye here any meat?”
The Holy Ghost needs meat? He’s a carnivore in the afterlife? Jesus is not of the spirit world, after the Crucifixion, he is mortal. Christ survives his own Crucifixion.
Jesus the Christ doesn’t even carry his cross to the Crucifixion, Simon the Cyrenian does (Luke 23:26, et al). Christ wasn’t crucified, yet someone was. The one carrying the Crucifix would be crucified, Simon.
I was even able to isolate the date of the Crucifixion-eclipse to Friday, April 17th, 33AD. Christ was always known to live to thirty-three years. Easter Sunday, when Christ rises, is typically in April. April 17th, 33AD was a Friday, Good Friday, which is when the Crucifixion occurred. Using astronomy software, and a crucifixion occurring in Jerusalem, this resolves to a full solar eclipse, on April 17th, 33AD in Jerusalem.
The Bible concurs in Luke 23:44:
“[43] And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.
[44] And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour [12pm to 3pm with today’s clocks].
[45] And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst.”
Attribution: Sky Safari 5 Pro; Coordinates, Other Letter.
This proves that the Holy Bible is more than simply a religious tome, here it serves as an accurate, historical document — although in the final analysis, one damning of Christianity (Luke 24:39-41).
Of course, the New Testament has generated plenty of interest, regardless of the veracity of his passing during the Crucifixion. Here is a sampling of his teachings.
One thing to appreciate about the Christian Church is that they value life, above all else, above money, above prestige, and stature. The homeless, the downtrodden, have value, and why might that be? Jesus the Christ was effectively homeless, he did not have a permanent address. (I am not the Jewish hardliner, many may think I am.)
Are you a shut-in?
Need something to do involving the outdoors? Then you’re in luck. Take a trip around the world without leaving your PC. Shut-ins welcome. Let’s hear it for shut-ins. Raise your hands, shut-ins.
A Change in the Weather
I have a personal weather station, so I have a more than an average understanding of weather forecasting. If I am not mistaken, the middle of January has the most extreme cold, and the middle of July has the most extreme heat. The effect of the winter and summer solstices are felt the most at these times.
The solstices being when the earth is tilted most towards (summer) and away from the Sun (winter). The Summer Solstice is June 21st in the Northern Hemisphere, and the Winter Solstice is December 21st in the Northern Hemisphere. The Solstice effect is not immediate, but is felt within a few weeks.
Here’s a little food for thought: The lowest temperature in New York State, -52° F., occurred twice, in Herkimer County. First, in 1934, during the Great Depression, and second, in 1979, during the OPEC oil crisis. How is this significant? Well, both records happened during economic disruption, when oil usage is historically the least.
Climate change is a product of fossil fuel combustion. When fossil fuels are used the most, temperature rises via greenhouse gas capture. Conversely, temperature falls when fuels are used the least.
In the larger picture, economic activity can decide climate, as it has here.
The personal weather station pictured below, broadcasts onto the Internet, to the network, the Weather Underground.
Ambient Weather WS2002, Personal Weather Station (Other Letter is not an advertiser)
Displays precipitation, air temperature, velocity, direction, pressure,
sunrise, sunset, et al.
Matching Outdoor Sensor
Astronomy for Anyone with an Interest
Here are the days until Spring (the Vernal Equinox), and the percentage of days with daylight hours less than today’s number of daylight hours (for the hemisphere nearing summer time).
September 23rd is the first day of Autumn this year, in the Norhtern Hemisphere. It is the first day of Spring in the Southern Hemisphere. On this day, every place on earth has an equal duration of sunshine. If you can imagine the Earth tilted, then at this time of year, the Sun’s rays are not angled any different, anywhere on the planet. During any other time of year, different latitudes have different heating effect of the Sun’s rays.
For instance, in Winter in the Northern Hemisphere, the Sun’s rays strike the Earth at an oblique angle, and are cooling, while in the Southern Hemisphere, they are far more direct, and are heat-producing.
Fall has become the predominant name of the season in America, while not very often in Britain, who generally call it Autumn. 9/21/24.
“Left alit is last.” The moon revolves past a full moon, then it goes towards the sunlit side of Earth, to become a last quarter moon, next a new moon, unseen on Earth. In this interval, from full moon to last quarter to new moon, the moon is alit on its left side, not its right side, as it does from new moon to first quarter to full moon.
In the Southern Hemisphere, left side and right side is reversed. Australians are essentially looking at the moon upside down. Left side alit is new moon, first quarter, full moon. Right side alit is full moon, last quarter, new moon. 7/26/24.
The summer solstice is fast approaching. This year it falls on the 20th of June. This is when the earth has its maximum tilt towards the sun. The longest day of this year in the Northern Hemisphere is June 20th, in the Southern Hemisphere it’s December 21st. In the nations of Europe, the summer solstice is known as midsummer, in others such as our own, it is known as the beginning of summer. 6/14/24.
Earth Day is April 22nd. Why not celebrate with a non-biodegradable clamshell lunch container, farmed seafood, and a dairy cow burger? Mother Nature just winked at you, it’s on the house. Be a litter bug, we dare you... 4/17/24.
Even though Mother Nature has been suffering of late (who hasn’t noticed climate change these days?), we can all do our part to reverse the decline. Take public transportation, don’t drive a gas-guzzler, drive a low or no pollution car, eat sustainable food, and never litter.
Support political candidates who back the same principles as you, ones that recognize climate change as a real issue that can be remediable by legislative restrictions on pollution. 4/20/24.
Moving path of totality is determined by Sun, Moon, or Earth. Well, the Sun doesn’t move, and the moon doesn’t move appreciably over an hour, it revolves around the earth once in twenty-eight days. The Earth revolves on its axis once every twenty-four hours, so the Earth accounts for the path of totality, the traciing of the shadow...
There were more planes flying overhead than usual, probably because the best place to see the eclipse would be by plane, at least if the skies were overcast, because you would be flying above the clouds. Fortunately, they were not so overcast on Long Island during the day of the eclipse. 4/8/24.
Long Island had two mild earthquatkes today. The most recent, eleven minutes ago, at approximately 6PM and twenty seconds. God has a schedule to keep? The first centered in Lebanon, New Jersey, and registered 4.8 on the Richter Scale (did the second originate from Jersey at exactly 6:00PM?) Someone on the radio remarked about the eeriness of a full solar eclipse preceded by an earthquake. 4/05/24.
There will be a full solar eclipse of the Sun by the Moon, on Monday, April 8th, 2024. The path of eclipse totality begins in Dallas at 2:42PM (adjust scroll bar of link for time and path of totality), and continues through Eastern Canada around 3:38PM.
I remember the last solar eclipse, in August of 2017. The air cooled off temporarily — with the sun’s rays blocked, that can be expected; and birds suddenly flyed around, as if confused.
Please do not view this solar eclipse without glasses specifically manufactured to view solar eclipses (like astronomy company, Celestron, sells — I do not get paid for any Other Letter recommendations). 3/12/24.
A saros is the periodicity of a solar eclipse (an eclipse cycle), or when a full solar eclipse returns to a single location. The Sun, Moon, and Earth, return to the same location after one saros. This duration is eighteen years, and ten, eleven, or twelve days. 3/15/24.
2024 is a leap year. This February has 29 days, not the usual 28. Every four years is a leap year, every hundred years is not a leap year, and every four hundred years is a leap year. Everyone got that? Good.
The Starlight in Orion Took Centuries to Reach Earth
This may seem unbelievable, yet a light year is the distance light travels in a year, and the Constellation Orion is approximately 1,000 light years distant.
The stars comprising the Winter constellation, Orion’s Belt are Alnitak, Alnilam, and Mintaka. These stars are 825.7, 1,359.0, and 918.8 light years from Earth, respectively. A light year is the distance light travels in one year at the speed of light (186,000 miles per second).
In other words, when you see Orion in the night sky, the photons that your retina senses, left the Constellation of Orion in Medieval times, in the years 1,199AD, 665AD, and 1,106AD, respectively. In a sense, you’re seeing history, cosmic history, before your eyes.
These Say it Best
These are not dictionary definitions (although I did borrow from Dictionary.com and Merriam-Webster), these are just words that are not often heard, and they have unusual connotations.
Here are several words that you do not hear very often that are mostly synonymous with Heaven: Xanadu; Shangri-la, Eden, Arcadia, land of milk and honey, Promised Land, and Valhalla. A Svengali, a swami, a guru, or a yogi, will supposedly get you there.
Here’s three words you don’t see so often, yet they say much: cognoscenti, illuminati, and literati. Literati describes people involved in writing, especially professionally. Illuminati means those possessing great enlightenment. Cognescenti describes those with superior understanding of culture, or the arts.
-
Various subcultures possess their own language, their own phraseology. These are known as patois, jargon, argot, cant, vernacular, and lingo, as in: “Musicians have their own lingo.” Generally speaking, they mean a language particular to a group, or class of people. Another example, the argot of hard-nose Wall Street types, includes phrases like the dead cat bounce (aka a sucker rally), or a slight rebound of a moribund company’s stock.
-
Ersatz, schlocky, schmaltz, and kitsch, denote fake, sub-par, overly sentimental, and appealing to the lowest common denominator, respectively.
-
A cancer, a tumor, an affliction, a predator, a tick, and a leech, can be used to describe people who prey on the unsuspecting and innocent.
-
Here’s more akin to the prior synonyms, characteristic of a devil: diabolical, sinister, and wicked.
Provincials, locals, and townies, describe unsophisticated, uncouth yokels, who have never left near their home, and never will.
-
Grating, abrasive, biting, and irritating, denote overly aggressive behavior, causing ill.
Buzz-kill, killjoy, wet blanket, party-pooper, and spoil-sport, all denote someone, who out of spite, from the lack of amusement in their life, ruins others’ fun. A sourpuss doesn’t have any fun, although they don’t necessarily work at stealing other’s good times.
Here are words to describe a lack of ability to do cognitive tasks: daft; half-wit; moronic; imbecilic; and retarded.
Hodgepodge, jumble, and chock-a-block all denote arranging things in a crammed, or haphazard fashion.
Mumbo-jumbo, gobbledygook, and hogwash, denote meaningless talk.
Shenanigans, high jinx, and monkey business, all describe mischief, or conduct that causes annoyance.
-
There’s the “GR” family of words: grisly; gruesome; grim; grief; grave-site; graveyard; gravestone; and gravedigger. That’s some family. Never mind.
-
Disheartening, discouraging, and demoralizing all denote something or someone causing loss of hope, or depriving one of spirit.
-
Hubris is roughly synonymous with: audacity, chutzpah, cockiness, pretension, and vanity.
Brio, zeal, zest, gusto, and verve, denote hearty enjoyment.
The townies, the locals, and the provincials, arrived with their pitchforks, torches, and shotguns. They had one thing on their mind: Maintain the status quo over the one some were calling god, the one with big ideas.
These are several words, which are more interesting in describing lazy people, than just a word like loafer. Lollygagger, lazybones, and another word near in meaning to lackadaisical, is lounge about.
These are adjectives describing people or actions that are cruel: evil, diabolical, and sinister, as well as nasty, vicious, and wicked. Here are words describing large-scale acts of viciousness: carnage, ambush, bloodshed, war, and massacres.
Hoity-toity means thoughtless giddy behavior, namby-pamby and mickey mouse denotes lacking substance, pasty-white typically denotes pale skin tone.
Frontier Partner
“You ain’t ’round these parts, are you?”
“I’m up from Mayheco, by Texas way.”
“Is that so?”
“That be right. What ’bout you?”
“Outta Cheyenne.”
“That’s a time getting here.”
“Sure was. Injun territory. Don’t appreciate cattle folk.”
“You don’t look like no wrangler to me...”
“You is a dead man without a guide in these environs. Take this, and stay along water; keep to the water.”
“I’d ask.”
“Ask what?”
“I travel well. Want to go along?”
“Where?”
“Canada.”
“Pioneers through here say mighty cold far north. Can you find a town?”
“I heard tell of iron horses. Hop aboard one of them. What year is it?”
“Hardly matters for me these days. I would hash mark my bedpost. 1840 something. Why?”
“A few years back, I saw tracks and a coal burner, likely larger burners now.”
“Coal burner?”
“Moving up the line. That’s where to go, Ma’am, the towns by the rails.”
“Sure, the railway. Where did you say you’re from, and new to railways?”
“Mayheco via Texas way.”
“To Nebraska?”
“Nebraska?”
“You got to Nebraska, you know.”
“Right chere? I just follow the empty towns.”
“There’s ghost towns all the way? You got sheriffs through there hunting for bounty. The only thing preventing them pulling the trigger on an out-of-towner is the specter of baby Jesus condemning them for blood money. Think you’ll get through the Plains? Honest?”
“See if I can make it. Need a safe house for more than a night, good eats on the table, too... Whatcha say you did for a living, before outfitting clothing? You wrangled cattle?”
“Ran the chuck wagon. Then, I taught at a school for young women, the farmers’ daughters, in Wichita, although the students came from as far away as Omaha.”
“Taught ’em Bible reading?”
“Like that, spreading the word of the Lord, and how to sew, and cook. Although, it was a finishing school, Wichita Finishing, not a church. How to marry well, how to marry up, how to stay in his will, keep the farm. The headmistress liked me, said I had a way with the students in my class.”
“I can see why... Did you have books, for your school?”
“No. Well, the Bibles we could get.”
“I’ve been to Hell, is Heaven possible?”
“Pardon — is Heaven possible?”
“Is Heaven—”
“Hold it one second. Where are you from? No one gets to this part of the Niobrara Trail, the Missouri even, without a pack, without companion. Who are you?”
“Just looking for a better life. Heaven?”
“Huh?”
“Is Heaven possible?”
“Well, yeah, certainly. I mean, if you live a just life, you spend eternity in Heaven. Well, does your kind believe in Heaven?”
“I do.”
“Where is Heaven for you?”
“Right here, right now... You know how to be nice to people... Hmm. Poker stare, you’re tough to read. Barking up the wrong tree? Much ado?”
“What the heck! That’s William Shakespeare. Who are you?!”
“I am your neighbor. I’m just an Injun, as you say.”
“Oh my god!! What about, “up from Mayheco”?”
“If I say I am Cherokee, that is trouble.”
“But you know European ways—”
“I’ve learned your people’s ways, your lives. What am I now to you? I am a Cherokee.”
“Damn, that changes everything, but changes nothing at all.”
“You smile rarely.”
Who won?
Ginette Reno leads the Canadian National Anthem before a Montreal-New York hockey game.
(Attribution: Sports Net, ©2017.)
Ask Siri, or its equivalent, when was the last time Canada won the Stanley Cup. You’ll see that it was in 1992. Canada lives for ice hockey, it is their national sport. The majority of hockey players in the National Hockey League are from Canada. They export hockey players by the hundreds, but 1992 is the last time a Canadian hockey team won the Cup.
That team, to this day, is also the winningest team in all of the NHL, the Montreal Canadians, aka the Habitants, or Habs. The owner of Madison Square Garden, Tex Rickard, in 1924, saw the “H” in Montreal’s uniform, and thought that it meant that they were habitants, or farmers. Those farmers can sure play hockey, eh? [The “H” stands for hockey.]
[I am half Canadian. I have gotten more than my share of intolerance for publishing a blog that is spiritual, at least in aspirations. In Canada, I would never be bothered, they have better things to do.]