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...

Well, Iran and U.S. Memorandum of Understanding representatives met on Sunday, and again today....but issued conflicting statements as to what was discussed .  And in case you were wondering, there are three spellings for the mountain resort where this is occurring:  Bürgenstock, Burgenstock and Buergenstock, the latter one being the English version. I gave most of following numbers last week, but here is Time magazine's accounting of the U.S.-Iran War by the numbers , since 28February2026. Killed. Iran 3,636, but 2,100 were civilians. Lebanon, 4,000, but over a million displaced. USA, 13 service members, but 400 wounded. Israel, a few dozen defense forces, but 39 citizens. Global economic impact:  $2.2 trillion.  Damage to Iran economy, $270 billion. Cost of Operation Fury, $29 billion according to Defense Secretary Hegseth, but some in the media have speculated that the actual amount should be closer to $50 billion. U.S. fired more Patriot missiles in the first fo...