A Couple of Abes
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Leadership?

5/16/2014

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As I have stressed in the past, average leaders can succeed if they surround themselves with the best people for the jobs at hand.  Unfortunately obama has surrounded himself with inept, unqualified individuals.
The most recent example is the head of the VA, Retired General Eric K. Shinseki.

This political appointment has led to the further decline of the VA and the subsequent coverups.  Yet another scandal under obama's watch.

Speaking of which, why is it that the IRS and State Department only release the information that Congress requests after being sued by a third party under the FOIA?

It's not surprising that the majority of US Citizens would like to see a wholesale changing of the guard in DC.

Speaking of US Citizens, the sudden surge for amnesty for the illegal aliens at this time is, in my opinion, ill advised at best.

There is growing concern about the rights and benefits afforded to individuals whose first act in this country was to commit a felony.  And obama's recent release of thousands of illegal aliens from prisons across the country doesn't help.  The fact remains that the borders need to be locked down and the criminals deported or incarcerated before any discussion can be had regarding amnesty.  Even then the most that should be done is a residency status with no right to vote in any elections, ever, and probation for criminal activity that would bring jail time and deportation.  The children born after the individual earns  'resident' status could then be considered citizens with all the rights that status brings.


Speaking of children, as the curriculum for common core becomes more known outside the classroom it is becoming more apparent why our children are falling so far behind in the world academically.  Change for the sake of change is rarely productive.  


The examples of common core mathematics I have seen online prove this.  The focus should be on learning the basics and how to apply them, not some convoluted logic sequence.  


Speaking of convoluted logic, I have to u-turn back to obama.  Now he plans on a summit for sports related concussions. Not sure where he finds the time between the poor economic condition of the US and the poor foreign relations with most of the known world.  Wonder how he plans on mucking this up...


Speaking of mucking things up, tomorrow is Preakness day at Pimlico Race Course.  California Chrome will be trying for the second jewel of the Triple Crown facing a smaller field of contenders.  The weather was awful until around 10 am friday, so the condition of the track may or may not be too much of an issue.  But being the conservative that I am I will be including Kid Cruz in any wagers I make.


Speaking of Cruz, ... Just kidding, back to work...







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Some Horsing Around...

5/3/2014

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Something different on this first saturday in May and the 140th running of the Kentucky Derby.  I dug up some trivia for you to amaze and annoy your friends and family.


How many horses have won the KD?  0, trick question, the designation for equines of this age is either colt, filly, gelding or ridgling.


How many Triple Crown winners have there been?  11, The last was Affirmed in 1978 and the first was Sir Barton in 1919.


Which jockey rode two of these Triple Crown winners?  Eddie Arcaro teamed up with trainer Ben A. Jones and Calumet Farm to ride Whirlaway (1941) and Citation (1948).


What is the weight allowance for the race?  Males-126, females-121


Which jockey has the most KD wins? It is currently a tie between Eddie Arcaro and Bill Hartak at 5.


What about trainer with most wins in KD?  That would be Ben A. Jones with 6.


And barn with the most?  Calumet Farm with 8.


The Triple Crown consists of winning the KD, the Preakness and the Belmont Stakes, but there was a time before the TC that the races were run in a different order- and twice the KD and the Preakness were run on the same day, in 1917 and 1922.


Has the KD ever skipped a year?  No, not even during wartime, the KD has been run every year since 1875.


Was the KD always at 1.25 miles?  No, originally the KD was run at 1.5 miles and was changed to the current distance in 1896.


Who won the first KD?  Aristides, ridden by Oliver Lewis and trained by Ansel Williams.


Traditional :
Flower- Rose
Drink- Mint Julep
Song- My Old Kentucky Home


Records:
Fastest- Secretariat in 1973 with a time of 1:59 2/5
Highest odds- Donerail in 1913 at odds of 91-1


What is the most watched sport in the world?  Before you yell out "soccer" I need to let you know that it's horse racing.


Kentucky Derby drinking game for the adults:
Needed- a pair of dice and bottle of Kentucky bourbon, I prefer Evan Williams.
During the pick four sequence which is the three races prior to the Derby and ending with the Derby the play is as follows-
For fields of 7 or fewer horses each participant rolls one dice, larger fields two.
The participant is then given that number and the number on either side of it as their target range.
i.e.- player rolls a 5, that player would then have the 4,5,6 as a target. Rolling a 1 would yield 6or7,1,2 as target depending on field size, same as if a 12 is rolled in a larger field-11,12 and 13 or 1 is only 12 runners.
Ties are ok, and in situations like the KD were traditionally larger field sizes exist nobody would have the outside horses from 14 on.
Once you have your target range, watch the race.  If the horse in your range wins, everyone else takes a shot. You can too, I suppose, if you wish.
Have fun, don't drink and drive, and be responsible.


Have a great Derby Day!
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