IRISH AMERICANS

 This is dedicated to lesser known Irish Americans.  Everyone is aware of John F. Kennedy and his wife Jackie (her mother was from County Clare).  Sure Ronald Regan was Irish as was Maureen O'Hara and Bruce Springsteen has a bit of the "green" in his heritage.  Walt Disney's father was Anglo-Irish.  Bareknuckle boxing champion, John L. Sullivan's parents were both Irish immigrants.  Henry Ford's father was born in County Cork.  Both of Eugene O'Neill's parents were Irish immigrants.  Of course, you know that he won the Nobel Prize for literature and also his plays won four Pulitzer Prizes for drama.  

Now, a little more obscure but no less notable. 

Eileen Marie Collins, her father from Conty Cork, was a USAF Colonel; the first female to command a mission and pilot the Space Shuttle for NASA.  

FIRST OF A SERIES

MONEY

It was widely reported that Elon Musk became the world's first trillionaire when shares in SpaceX were offered for sale to the public a few weeks ago.  Did you know that over 4,000 of his employees became instant millionaires?  Good deal!

ON THE OTHER HAND!

At the turn of the century, the people who worked for a company called ENRON were flying high.  Most of the energy company's workers were invested in the company.  In 2001, it was disclosed that through illegal accounting practices and fraud by top management - they were really broke.  They filed for bankruptcy.  Many people went broke along with the company while others went to jail. Bad deal!  

Invest your money in something really valuable - like me.  :)

 

ENERGY

 Energy is an interesting concept.  Everyone knows what it means but it is difficult to describe.  I'd say it is a quality of someone or something that produces power or other action.  Without it, there is little action.  With it, things happen.  

 Energy can be mental, physical, electrical or atomic.  It can be found in individuals and groups.  I read a story recently that recounted that the musical group KISS recorded a song they were sure would be a hit in 1975 and it never quite made it.  It was a dud - the studio thought.  Months later, they recorded it again - not in a studio, but live...with an audience.  The live version of "I Wanna Rock and Roll All Night" was full of the energy of the audience and made them rich and famous.

Energy is important.  That laid-back version of yourself may help you live longer but it will not take you to the top.  Leaders must have energy.  Whatever you do must be done with energy.  So, put a smile on your face and look alive.  Exude that energy.  Others will feel it and latch onto it.  Do it with ENERGY. 

MIDWEEK PRAYER

Dear Lord,

I know there are people who suffer from hunger,

I know there are people who suffer from thirst,

I know there are people who suffer without a home,

I know there are people who suffer from loneliness,

I know there are people who suffer with sickness,

I know that all people are my brothers.  

Help me and lead me to help all of my brothers.

Amen

 

DOH

Some things seem so simple when you know them but you can't figure out why you didn't understand them sooner.  \

For instance:  

One of my favorite movies is Casablanca. 

One of the most common words in French, Spanish and Portuguese is "casa" which means "house".

I live on a street named "LeBlanc" which I came to know years ago was taken from the French, Spanish or Portuguese meaning "white".  

Casablanca, the movie and largest city in Morocco, is named "white house". 

Why didn't I pick up on this a long time ago?

LIVIN' LARGE

We find ourselves in the second half of 2026.  Let's all make it better than the first.  Only problem with that is "I can't imagine anything better."  What a great time it is in which we live.   Can it really get any better?  Living in America.  Land of opportunity. 

LUCKY ME!

SON DAY

 It's Sunday, the 5th of July.  It would be a great day to say:

Thank God I live in America!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, AMERICA

 Pop the corks!

SCHOOL DAYS

 Here is a new list I found.  Hope it doesn't blow anyone's bubble. This comes from the respected Fortune magazine.  It concerns which colleges produce the most CEO's of the 500 largest corporations in America.  It is a top ten list which I am producing upside down.

10.  Boston College         6

9.    Georgetown University    6

8.    Miami University (OH)    7

7.    Texas A&M University    7

6.    University of Notre Dame     7

5.    University of Michigan         8

4.    Harvard University                8

3.    Cornell University                10

2.    University of Pennsylvania   12

1.    No degree at all                      20

QUOTATIONS

 I have written more than once that the best lessons are learned from failure.  Don't be afraid to fail.

Now we hear from Colin Powell, U.S. Army general and statesman who became Secretary of State.  He was quoted as saying:

"There are no secrets to success.  It is the result of preparation, hard work and learning from failure."

Failure is not a terrible thing, it is a stepping stone to success.  Think of it that way and use it in that way.  

MIDWEEK PRAYER

For Father's Day.  Ladies can change father to mother.

Saint Joseph was a just man, 

a tireless worker, 

the upright guardian of those entrusted to his care.  

As the father of a family, 

I pray the Lord help me 

to always protect, provide for and enlighten my family.

Amen

THEME SONGS

 Many sports teams have adopted songs by which they are known.  Everyone wishes they had "We are the Champions".  All football teams like "We will Rock You".  To get into the mood of a sports contest, there's none better than "Eye of the Tiger.

Here are some you would know.  Most famous, I think, is the Boston Red Sox with "Sweet Caroline" by Neil Diamond.   The New York Yankees have been known to use "New York, New York" by Frank Sanatra.   Ohio State football would be nothing without "Hang on Sloopy" by the MaCoys..  University of Tennessee adopted "Rocky Top" by the Osborne Brothers..  The Pittsburgh Pirates use "We are Family" by Sister Sledge.  West Virginia University likes "Take Me Home, Country Road" by John Denver.  I've heard "Welcome to the Jungle" by Guns N' Roses at Bengals games. If they don't, the Milwaukee Brewers should use "Beer Barrel Polka".  For the Cincinanti Reds, I would choose "Dead Man Walkin" by Bruce Springstein.

SAVE THE DAY

No, its not the birthday of our country.  That comes on Friday.  

It is the 180th day of the year.  Not quite halfway through.  That comes on Thursday.

On this date in 2007,  Apple Inc. released its first mobile phone, the  iPhone.

Slim Pickens was born on this date.

Rosemary Clooney and Katharine Hepburn died on this date.

The Catholic Church honors Saints Peter and Paul on this date. 

That's about it.   I can't think of another significant thing that happened on June 29.

Have a great day. 

DIS AN DAT

 No one dared try a question or quiz for me.  Tsk!  Tsk!  Lazy chickens!  

🐔

Are chickens chicken? 

🐈

A little domestic house cat has six more vertebrae than a full-grown human.  That makes them so much more flexible.

🐪

Here is an ancient Egyptian blessing.  "May God come between you and harm today."

🐖 - 🐎

So, what's the difference between a pigtail and a ponytail?  Do pigtails come in pairs but ponytails do not?  Are ponytails larger?  Are pigtails seen on young people but ponytails on older people?  If it is braided does it have to be a pigtail?  If one is seen on a man, does it have to be a pigtail?  I've spent a lot of time recently worrying about this.