Mischief Managed (mostly)

Monday. Today is the day we recognize Juneteenth. The actual date was yesterday, but the federal holiday is today.

As I mentioned Friday, it’s not my story to tell, but it’s a story that should be told. If you’re unfamiliar, read some history. It will do you good.

Today I’m celebrating an accomplishment of my own.

Mugshots

If you’re a long-time reader, as you should be, you’ll know that I’ve often talked about having to juggle too many projects. So, back in April I wrote about my new goal of focusing on one project at time.

I picked the project and gave myself a six-week deadline for a particular project.

I met that deadline last night. Roughly nine and a half weeks after establishing the goal.

Sure it took a little longer. In part because my initial plans didn’t work out and I had to readjust. But I did.

American singer-songwriter, pianist, producer, and actor, Lionel Ritchie, was born on this day in 1949.

Now, the project is almost ready for public consumption, assuming the public has such an appetite…which I hope they will.

I need to do some final tweaks and those will happen this week.

I just need to remember that finished is better than perfect.

Which means I’m telling you today that, no later than July 1, the project will be public, published, and purchasable.

True story.

It feels good to have it completed.

Never mind that my other projects are screaming like the Mandrakes in Harry Potter. We’ll get to them in time.

And you know I’ll write about them.

Canadian singer and guitarist, Anne Murray, was born on this day in 1945.


ALSO BORN ON THIS DAY

1905 – Lillian Hellman, American playwright and screenwriter (d. 1984)
1924 – Chet Atkins, American singer-songwriter, guitarist, and producer (d. 2001)
1925 – Audie Murphy, American lieutenant and actor, Medal of Honor recipient (d. 1971)
1928 – Martin Landau, American actor and producer (d. 2017)
1931 – Olympia Dukakis, American actress (d. 2021)
1933 – Danny Aiello, American actor (d. 2019)
1967 – Nicole Kidman, American-Australian actress

THINGS YOU SHOULD READ

Twitter reacts to Colbert staffer arrests at Capitol: ‘Insurrection’
FOX News
After the U.S. Capitol Police announced Friday they had arrested a group of staffers associated with CBS’s “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert” the night before, a multitude of comments criticizing, supporting, and even making fun of the incident flooded social media. Read More.

API Releases 10-Point Plan For Biden To Fix Record High Gas Prices
Jeffrey Lord
“While members of your administration have recently discussed the need for additional supplies to solve the energy crisis, your administration has restricted oil and natural gas development, canceled energy infrastructure projects, imposed regulatory uncertainty and proposed new tax increases on American oil and gas producers competing globally. Respectfully, the American people need a different direction to solve this crisis,” API’s CEO Mike Sommers said in a letter to Biden. Read More.

Pro-Life Groups Sound The Alarm Over Repeated Attacks, Call Out FBI, DOJ For Not Doing Enough
Daily Caller
Dozens of pregnancy centers have been vandalized with graffiti and fire-bombings after the leaked Supreme Court draft opinion indicated Roe v. Wade may be overturned. Places of worship and Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh have also been targeted in the wave of attacks since May 2.  Read More.

More than 200 reportedly killed in Ethiopia ethnic attack
New York Post
NAIROBI, Kenya — Witnesses in Ethiopia said Sunday that more than 200 people, mostly ethnic Amhara, have been killed in an attack in the country’s Oromia region and are blaming a rebel group, which denies it. Read More.

BENEDICTION

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Colossians 3:15-17

Welcome Friday

Today is National Flip Flop Day.

It’s (finally) Friday again. Although I must say it’s not been a bad week. Just a busy one.

And I still need to mow.

It’s National Flip Flop Day which reminds me 1) I need a new pair of dress flip flops and 2) I need a pedicure.

I don’t wear flip flops very often anymore because I’m somewhere between the sensible shoe and suspenders with a belt era. But I had my first pedicure when we were at the beach over spring break. It’s a bit of an indulgence. But they can take care of my feet better than I can.

How firm a foundation you know.

Mug Shots

I can’t wear flip flops when I work at the amusement park either.

That’s where I’ll be this weekend.

Don’t forget, Sunday is Father’s Day. Love ’em if you’ve got ’em.

My sentiments about the day haven’t changed since I wrote this ten years ago: Why I hate writing about Father’s Day.

Sunday is also Juneteenth, and Monday is a Federal Holiday. Juneteenth isn’t my story to tell, but it needs to be told.

It’s the weekend.

Make it count.


BORN ON THIS DAY

1882 – Igor Stravinsky, Russian pianist, composer, and conductor (d. 1971)
1904 – Ralph Bellamy, American actor (d. 1991)
1904 – J. Vernon McGee, American pastor and theologian (d. 1988)
1910 – Red Foley, American singer-songwriter and guitarist (d. 1968)
1943 – Newt Gingrich, 58th Speaker of the United States House of Representatives
1943 – Barry Manilow, American singer-songwriter and producer
1963 – Greg Kinnear, American actor, television presenter, and producer

THINGS YOU SHOULD READ

Joe Biden Makes Pathetic Threat to Oil Companies, Exxon-Mobil Drops Him in Response
RedState
When a president spends years saying he’s going to crush oil production and then enacts policies that do just that, the idea that it is now the fault of oil companies for not producing more is asinine. Read More.

EXCLUSIVE: Ginni Thomas Says She Looks ‘Forward To Talking To’ January 6 Committee, Wants To ‘Clear Up Misconceptions’
Daily Caller
Virginia “Ginni” Thomas, wife of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, told the Daily Caller on Thursday that she “can’t wait to clear up misconceptions” amid news that the January 6 House Select Committee plans to seek her testimony. Read More.

The death of literature
Mary Gaitskill at UnHerd
Writing is a rational process of connected thoughts and ideas, but great writing comes from a stranger place; an interface between the intensely intimate perception of an individual and the social and natural worlds. Read More.

18 of Our Favorite Books About the Craft of Writing
Tor.com
Leah Schnelbach shares her favorite books about writing. Read More.

BENEDICTION

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Colossians 3:15-17