Check out the byline of The New York Times obituary of Mike Ditka, the ultimate Chicago Bears player and coach (https://www.nytimes.com/2026/10/09/sports/mike-ditka-dead.html?unlocked_article_code=1.I1E.5W2J.1TZpgIUYjmLg&smid=url-share). For those unable or too lazy to open the link, the byline belonged to Barry Bearak. No, that was not a typo. His name actually contained the sequential letters B-e-a-r.
I’m above average: At least as it pertains to banana consumption. The Times reported the average American consumes 80 bananas a year ( https://www.nytimes.com/2026/10/12/business/economy/bananas-iran-war.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share ).
My breakfasts “usually” are a mixture of grapes, blueberries, the occasional strawberry, cashews, almonds, raisins, dried cranberries, figs, low fat plain Greek yogurt and honey. And a banana. When I say “usually,” I’m talking upwards of 300 breakfasts a year, taking into account vacations and the infrequent times I have eggs, French toast, or hot cereal in the morning.
These days my breakfasts are much healthier than when I was growing up. In high school they usually encompassed four Oreos dipped in a glass of milk.
Let The Sun Shine In: In 16 days (November 1) Daylight Savings Time ends. Darkness will begin earlier in the afternoon, offset by an earlier sunrise.
Despite perennial debate on the value of DST becoming permanent throughout the country, Congress is not ready to legislate a change. But if recent history is any guide, who needs Congress? Donald Trump, a vocal advocate for permanent DST, could simply mandate it and claim it’s a matter of national security and defense.
If logic informs you it isn’t, don’t be a stickler. Trump has claimed national security and defense for any number of actions his administration has implemented. If he orders government agencies to run their departments under a DST clock our national security and defense would truly be endangered.
Election Truths: If we have learned anything about our elections over the last 10 years, two truths have emerged.
First, polling is an inexact science. One cannot rely on them, nor be complacent. Only voting, not relying on others to do our patriotic duty, can affect your preferred outcome.
Second, Trump and his MAGA gang will challenge the veracity of any result they dislike.
Forewarned is forearmed. Get out and vote.
Robot Fear: it may be years before robots turn into terminators. But they apparently have already mastered the “art” of mashing.
German police have arrested two teenagers in Cologne who programmed their robot to grope a teenage girl. “Investigators said the roughly four-foot-tall robot approached her from behind, grabbed her buttocks, and made thrusting movements against her,” the dailyvoice.com reported.
Humanity might not be coming to an end soon, but civility’s days surely are numbered.
Politics Is Not a Game of Limbo Dance: Speaking of bad taste, how low can Trump go?
Apparently we have not reached the depth of his immorality as evidenced by his circulating AI images of himself wrestling and hugging a tiger just days after an Amur tiger killed a mentally troubled man who jumped into his pen at a northern England nature preserve.
My sensibilities keep me from providing a link to Trump’s repulsive video.
