We all have ups and downs.  Take the FIFA World Cup, for example: When the USA got outclassed yesterday by Belgium, my interest in these matches dropped to nearly zero.   Then today, in a miraculous comeback, Argentina scored their winning goal in stoppage time, to beat Egypt, 3-2.  I have regained interest because 39-year Lionel Messi scored a goal, and his team has made into the quarterfinals. So what is so crucial about that game?  I have a Messi t-shirt.  Simple as that.  I watch soccer only during World Cup years, men's and women's, and now, at least have someone to root for.  Incidentally: Men's ranking:  #1 Argentina, #2 Spain and #3 France.  U.S, was ranked #17. Women's ranking:  #1 Spain, #2 USA and #3 Germany.  The next World Cup will take place in Brazil next year. This Messi t-shirt was given to me 15 years ago by the Qatar government, when they were the sponsor of the Barcelona soccer team, and their star was Messi...

Ever heard of iceberg A23a?  It calved in 1986 and is now the  largest , verified by Guinness World Records. 263 cubic miles. 40 nautical miles by 32 nautical miles space. In 2021,  iceberg A-76  broke off from the Ronne Ice Shelf off the Weddell Sea, and was larger, but soon fractured. But the absolute largest was Iceberg B-15, about the size of Jamaica.  Calved from the Ross Ice Shelf, also Antarctica, on March 2000.  There is still a small piece, B-15AB that has grounded in the western sector of Antarctica's Amery region. About A23a, it is twice the size of Greater London, UK. Detached from the  Antarctica Filchner Ice Shelf in 1986. Was for a long time stuck on the sea-floor of the Weddell Sea, but in 2013 began wandering north toward the South Georgia Island of the Southern Ocean. There are, of course, other icebergs in the Atlantic off Antarctica. Here are the  icebergs just from Greenland. The town of Ilulissat on the shores of Disko Bay in...

A few newsworthy topics of the day before COVID-19. In Apalachee High School, around an hour outside of Atlanta, 14-year old  Colt Gray  ( photo was taken in 2022 ), yesterday killed four and injured 9 with an AR rifle.  Why?  To come.  Political advantage?  To Harris/Walz. Ceasefire and hostage return in the Gaza Strip?   Two problems .  Netanyahu and the Hamas.  When will Iran take revenge?  Political advantage to Trump/Vance. The  Department of Justice indicted two Russians  accused of attempting to influence the November 5 election against Harris/Walz.  This is just the proverbial  tip of the iceberg .  Of course, Kostiantyn Kalashnikov and Elena Afanasyeva are in Russia and can't be arrested.  Advantage to Harris/Walz. Barron Trump enrolled this week at New York University.  Where will he live?  Advantage to Trump/Vance. Guess who will be in Kansas City for the opening NFL game at 8:20 ED...