After 29 years I can still recall where I was

August 27, 2019

Today in Austin it will be 100 with a low of 75.  The average is 94/73

We are 239 days into the year, 126 days until next year.


“I think we just delivered the South to the Republican Party for a long time to come.” – Lyndon Baines Johnson (8/27/1908 – 1/22/1973)

Norman Foster Ramsey Jr. (8/27/1915 – 11/4/2011)

 
Was an American physicist who was awarded the 1989 Nobel Prize in Physics, for the invention of the separated oscillatory field method, which had important applications in the construction of atomic clocks. A physics professor at Harvard University for most of his career, Ramsey also held several posts with such government and international agencies as NATO and the United States Atomic Energy Commission. Among his other accomplishments are helping to found the United States Department of Energy's Brookhaven National Laboratory and Fermilab.

Opioid Judgement

        In Oklahoma a federal judge okayed a $572 million dollar judgement against Johnson and Johnson (NYSE: JNJ).  The original ask from the state was $17 billion.  Johnson and Johnson manufactured a different Opioid to OxyContin (Purdue Pharmacy) called Duragesic. Johnson and Johnson immediately applied for an appeal to the decision.  I personally think the Opioid issue is two fold.  One it is due to lack of education and second the belief in our society that a drug can cure everything.  Personally I love OxyContin and have taken it on 3 separate occcasions for post surgery pain.  I can see the attraction, it makes everything feel good.  That said, like alcohol, tobacco, etc.  Anything done in excess is bad for the human body.  Is it the state that is responsible or the individual?

Catholic Abuse Cases

        Admit nothing but settle on the cheap.  In Southhaven Mississippi the Catholic church made an offer to a 35 year old black man (La Javis D. Love) to sign a four page agreement to settle any abuse against the Franciscan Friars for $15,000.  They did something similar to his cousins Joshua K. Love.  Seems the Catholic Church in the USA cannot help but keep screwing the people their clergy screwed so many years ago.  Makes me really sad that they claim to represent God, but do you know a god who would do what they are doing?  It seems it is all about the money and not making things whole again.

OIL!!!!!!

        In 1859 in Titusville Pennsylvania the first commercially successful oil well hit oil.  You ever wonder why it is called Pennzoil…well now you know.
Confidence
US Consumer Confidence is down for the first time in 11 years.  The reasons are not yet clear, but could it be the 25 basis point drop from the Fed last month?

Andrew Luck

Much to my son’s sadness.  Andrew Luck, the Indianapolis Colts’ franchise quarterback since 2012 announced his retirement.

I am sorry to see him retire at 29.  A smart young man who had a lot to offer, but that said you could hear in his voice that he had lost the desire and the difficulty of overcoming injury had become too great.  I applaud him for being able to walk off the field and I applaud the Colts for letting him keep the $24 million.  Let’s face it, the Colts program did not protect this man for several years and the injuries just added up.

Stevie Ray Vaughan

As many blues and guitar enthusiast, today marks the 29th anniversary of the death of Stevie Ray Vaughan.   He had many demons during his life and appears to have finally overcome the last set when he died in a helicopter crash.  He had a tremendous impact on the music industry and mainstreaming Texas blues, just listen to Texas Flood and you will understand.  I was so lucky to have seen him play on many occasions in Austin.  From the continental club, to Antones to liberty lunch.  The list goes on and on.  When SRV and double trouble opened for the Who in the mid 80’s during their first farewell tour, I was on the ground in the cotton bowl in 100+ temperature when they took the stage.  I went to see the Who, but it was SRV and double trouble who I remember the best of that concert, they were that good.  I still miss his music, but can always queue up Texas Flood or Family Style to get a fix.  I suggest you do the same.

The Sum Up

    My A/C has again given up the ghost.  The “repair” from last Monday lasted less than 1 week.  The American Home Shield has been called and hopefully the repair will be done soon.  In the meantime it is freaking hot in Austin Texas.  Speaking of Austin Texas, the University of Texas kickoff is 4 days away!!

     That’s all for today sports fans.