DID YOU KNOW THAT I HAVE FIVE SUMMER JOBS?

 DID YOU KNOW THAT I HAVE FIVE SUMMER JOBS?

My daily morning walk in Elbow has provided me with a plethora of job opportunities and I have become a busy multitasker. My route from our little farm house takes me up a gravel road, past many grain fields, through an RV resort, across a golf course and back home via a gravel highway. It gives me purpose, exercise, and a chance to help the community. 

I generally hustle along the gravel road for a couple of reasons. When a vehicle passes from either direction the dusty shower converts me to the Pigpen character in the Charlie Brown cartoons. I am also very wary of the three badgers that have burrowed along one stretch of road and, if aggravated, their veracity and meanness is well known. I also keep a cautious eye on the screeching red-tail hawk that flies circles overhead whenever I pass by. I am not as intimidated by the local gophers, rabbits, chipmunks or deer. The more I reflect, the more I think I might add Saskatchewan wildlife reporter to my resume.

The crop reports that I deliver will probably help the Department of Agriculture provide support for local farmers. Currently, the crops are in a rather dismal, dry condition and it does not appear that they will be very bountiful this year. The canola crops are very sketchy and the fields are parched. I also keep an eye out for disease and insect damage to include in my weekly report to the department.

The RV resort that I pass through contains about 200-300 vehicles, trailers, fifth-wheels and park-model homes. They range from basic to luxurious. Some bigger units have pretty much been permanently anchored in their lots and the grounds would compete in the resort properties of the rich and famous. Many units have large attached decks, cultivated lawns and flower beds, interlocking brick patios, gazebos and awnings to protect from the sun, paved driveways, and comfy seating for a dozen for the daily happy hour. I consider my daily early morning trek through the park a form of security service. Many of the units are surrounded by bikes, boats, motor vehicles, ATVs, and assorted holiday toys. I keep a watchful eye out for strangers skulking around (myself excluded of course) and am ready to sprint to the main office to report any suspicious activity.

Just past the RV resort is the eighteen-hole Elbow Golf Course. It is carefully manicured and the avid golfers are hitting the links ( a golf term) as early as I am for my walk. I consider myself an unofficial course marshal and make sure that proper golf etiquette is being maintained and no one is imbibing any early morning eye-opener drinks. As I hide behind a fairway tree to avoid getting hit by a stray ball, I am amazed that most of the golfers prefer to remain on the fairway. That is not my idea of golfing fun! I prefer to visit all of the course's amenities such as the water hazards, sand traps and surrounding trees and bushes. 

A hasty stride home along another potentially dusty gravel road leads me back to our farm house. I usually complete my daily walk with my horticultural duties. I am maintaining Darlene’s cucumbers, tomato plant, her basil, and a pot of flowers including a sunflower plant. While the tomato and cucumbers are teasing us with a display of small flowers, it may be too soon yet to plan a trip to the fall farmer’s market to sell the fruits of our labour. 

Although none of my efforts have resulted in any firm (or soft) job offers, I am contented to know that I can provide invaluable service on so many levels. They say that the skills and talents of many are not recognized until they have moved on. I am keeping my fingers crossed and my options open!

DO YOU WANT TO BE THE JUDGE TODAY?

DO YOU WANT TO BE THE JUDGE TODAY?

Three different news stories caught my eye this morning and caused me to do a little reflection.

#1 Jury selection begins Monday in the federal trial of four former Minneapolis police officers in the death of George Floyd. The federal grand jury indicted the officers in May, alleging they violated Floyd's constitutional rights. 

In my opinion, the three officers who were with Derek Chauvin when he knelt on Floyd’s neck were guilty of not intervening in Chauvin’s excessive use of force. They should have and yet they were new or rookie officers who felt that they could not show up a senior officer. This kind of hierarchal organizational response is probably not unusual. Most people will not do or say something that may jeopardize their jobs. Do nurses correct doctor’s diagnoses? Do teachers question a principal's decision? Will a city worker challenge the job foreman? In most cases the answer is probably “no”! The three officers in the Floyd story probably were restrained by their reluctance to interfere with a senior officer’s approach and decided not to step out of line. It does not justify their passivity, but it is part of the explanation. In my opinion, the extent of their guilt in the crime will be very difficult to determine

 

#2 Suspects in the shooting of Lady Gaga's dog walker will have a preliminary court hearing on Monday. They are charged with attempted murder in the shooting of Ryan Fischer and the theft of two of the singer's French bulldogs. 

Two paid goons stole Gaga’s two bulldogs and shot their dog walker in the shoulder during a scuffle. The lady who paid the dummies to steal the dogs, returned the dogs to Gaga hoping to collect a large reward. This is a rather bizarre story that illustrates the creativity of the criminal(?) mind and the kind of story that could have been included in the stories of O Henry or Damon Runyon! It is a crime story, but it is more of a comedic episode that might be included in an episode of Seinfeld! It will be interesting to see how seriously the judge handles the dog-napping! Apparently, the two dogs are recovering from their trauma with regular counselling sessions with a dog-whisperer! 

#3   Actor Cuba Gooding Jr.'s next court appearance is Tuesday in his groping trial. Gooding pleaded not guilty to forcible touching and sexual abuse charges linked to several incidents in New York.

I don’t know about you but I am getting tired of the number of stories that involve inappropriate sexual behaviour of celebrities like Bill Cosby, Harvey Weinstein, Gooding, and baseball player Trevor Bauer. Our society has let individuals with some celebrity status think that they are above the laws that govern the rest of us and that they can behave as they wish. I am pleased to read when they have been charged and must face the consequences. I am not pleased when their money still allows them to circumvent the law such as Bill Cosby has done. He has now been released after three years in prison on a technicality! You can be sure that he paid some legal firm a good penny to uncover a microscopic legal or technical detail to dismiss his case. No wonder this kind of celebrity abuse of others continues. If you have enough money and time, you can buy your innocence involving any crime. Almost! It makes me sad!

So, my three questions requiring your expertise are:

1. What kind of sentence would you impose on the “bystander officers”?
2. What sentence does the dognapper and the “brains behind it” get?
3. Will Gooding go to jail or buy his innocence by using his $$? 

I HAVE TWO QUESTIONS TODAY!

 I HAVE TWO QUESTIONS TODAY!

I have just read that 18 states in the USA have passed legislation that makes it harder for people to vote in elections. I haven’t followed all of the details, but the entire practise seems to be philosophically wrong! In a democracy, the theory is that the government is selected by the people to represent them. I would expect that making voting easier and more accessible would be the principal goal, not making it harder. 

As I understand it, most of these voting changes have been made in Republican states in order to reduce the number of eligible Democratic voters. No matter how you rationalize this practise it is a blatant example of anti-democratic action. It is similar to gerrymandering where political boundaries are re-aligned to benefit one party or the other by including their voters or excluding voters for the opposition. Words like “crooked”, “dishonest”, “cheating” and “disgusting” come to mind when I think of these practises.

If the electoral process is made more convoluted by scheming, manipulation, and tampering, then it just confirms how far “democracy” has fallen from its original intent. Politics and government are no longer designed to serve and meet the needs of the electorate; it is to win and then maintain power at all costs. And honesty and integrity have no place in today’s political arenas. Would anyone like to defend these practises?

____________________________________

Well, this morning I am ecstatic! As most of you may know, I have been a fan of the Cleveland Indians baseball team for almost 70 years. As a kid, all of my buddies were either Yankee fans or Dodger fans. I wasn’t keen on either team and so I selected the Indians partially because their team emblem was a cartoonish little Indian caricature called Chief Wahoo. As a twelve-year-old I thought he was cool, colourful and unique.

Then as time passed and people developed their sensitivity and correctness genes, some people began to criticize the Wahoo cartoon as demeaning and racist to the First Nation’s people. Strangely, several surveys revealed that native Americans didn’t have any real issue with the character but a movement soon erupted to change this insulting figurehead. Over the past decade, the pressure finally forced the baseball team to decide to retire (eliminate) the colourful little character and also the name “Indians” from the team. 

An “exhaustive” search was conducted over the past year to try to find a new and more appropriate name for “my” team. Over 1100 names of ever shape and size were studied and finally after much consultation and deliberation a new name was chosen. And it was revealed this morning!

My Cleveland Indians that I have faithfully followed all of my life will now be called —sound the trumpets — The Cleveland Guardians!

Of course, I am overjoyed with the name! After all of the input and study what could be more uplifting and exciting than The Guardians? I am sure that the baseball world will be delirious to learn of this new colourful and meaningful moniker! Be still my beating heart! I would have been more thrilled if they had been called the Dipsticks or the Nerds or the Baseball Team! What the hell does The Guardians mean? What image does it conjure up? What will their logo look like? An insurance company building?

I can only assume that the naming committed consulted with the same naming experts that selected the name the Edmonton Elks to replace the old Edmonton Eskimos football team ( Apparently, “Eskimos” was demeaning and racist to two Inuit people.) But life will go on and I will just have to practise more tolerance and understanding than I possess at the moment. 

Do I hear three cheers for the Cleveland Guardians? ( I can’t hear you!)

HELP A CHILD OR TAKE A JOYRIDE?

 HELP A CHILD OR TAKE A JOYRIDE?

We have all experienced and witnessed extremes in the life and living standards of different people. Our world is full of examples of overwhelming poverty and exorbitant wealth. If I had my choice of lifestyles I would prefer to be in the middle, with a tendency to enjoy the luxuries that money can buy as opposed to needing to search for my own food daily. Today, I watched the launch of the Good Shepherd space craft funded by billionaire Jeff Bezos as it took a ten-minute venture into the edge of outer space. This space tourism project raised a lot of questions for me.

A vivid memory I have of my trip to Uganda many years ago was watching a group of young boys playing soccer, without any shoes and many without any clothes, using a ball they constructed from palm leaves wrapped with twine. The temperature was very cool and the field sat on a mountainside blanketed by a thin fog. The smiles and joy that the kids exhibited were etched into my memory despite all of their issues. How could they be so happy in their poverty? Imagine how high they might have flown if their basic needs for food, clothing and an education had been provided for them.

Today, I watched a 2.9-billion-dollar project, thrust four humans into space for ten minutes to experience the thrill of a rocket launch and a couple of minutes of weightlessness. The price of a ticket for this little thrill ride was $28 million. Bezos’ intention is to build this activity into a modern version of old-fashion carnival rides or the Space Mountain ride at Disneyland. He envisions a profitable business with assorted millionaires standing in line for tickets. And he is probably right!

The disparity between my two mental images bothers me. The world always has had and always will have a huge chasm between the top ten percent who are extremely wealthy and the greater numbers who have inadequate food, water, shelter, clothing and health services. It just seems to me that the extravagance on display by today’s little rocket trip is of little real value to anyone but a few of the rich and maybe famous. 

The flight lasted ten minutes with a rocket that carried a manned capsule 100 km into the stratosphere and then it parachuted back to earth. For three minutes the passengers experienced weightlessness. I can admire the technology and expertise necessary to produce such a venture, but none of it was new or developmental in assisting future space flights. It appeared to be a pet project of a very rich man who was looking for a unique kick. As a young man, he probably drove fast cars and supercharged boats and planes and was looking for another personal high. I am sure he never spent any time shoeless or without clothes to wear or had to make his own play things. Of course, when you have more money than any human ever needs, you try to find ways to spend your loot. And Bezos spent billions on his Good Shepherd venture. He has every right to spend his money as he pleases. I just feel that it could have been used in a more humanitarian manner.

On the other hand, our world overflows with millions of people who would benefit from some financial assistance. There is no need to go into details as they are well known, but my thoughts return to my naked boys on a mountain top in the cold. Or to the kids who couldn’t go to school in Uganda because they needed to forage for food for their family. Or the young African boys forced to become soldiers or the young girls who turn to the sex trade to survive. A lot of people need a lot of help, especially young children.

I know that we cannot solve all of the world’s many problems, but they seem far more important to address than a rich man’s thrill-ride project. I should note that one of the four passengers was an 82-year-old female, so I should perhaps become more politically correct and call it a rich person’s thrill-ride. 

If you have read my second-last blog and this last sentence you will see that an old dog like me can still learn some new tricks! 

REPEAT? REPEAT? REPEAT? REPEAT? REPEAT?

 REPEAT? REPEAT? REPEAT? REPEAT? REPEAT?

I don’t know about you but mindless repetition kills me. I think we have been assaulted by the media in many ways by annoying repetition. I often watch a baseball game on my computer and the endless repetition of the same commercial is driving me over the edge. Yesterday, I counted between seventy and eighty repetitions of the same fifteen-second commercial advertising Lotto Max tickets. Between every half-inning and every change of pitchers the annoying message blasts out of my speakers at a louder volume than regular programming. All I know for sure is that this form of audio abuse simply turns me off from buying the product being touted.

Another terribly mind-numbing repetition is evident if you listen to any popular music these days. Some songs either have a five -word lyric eg “I will love you forever” and it is repeated endlessly without interruption for the entire song. This is music? Or some musical refrain like na na na na, na na na na can add to your listing pleasure ad nauseum. I have reached a point if there is no pleasant melody or the words are so garbled that I can’t understand them, I shut the music(?) off.

I believe that the advertising empire is built upon the theory that the more times you hear an advertisement the more you will remember the product and hence purchase it at the first chance you get. It is intended to be commercial brainwashing. It works just the reverse in my senior universe. If you drive me crazy with your non-stop repetition, then you can be sure I will never consider the product. How about trying to be creative, subtle and interesting for a change?

Another annoying example are the people who post five to ten entries on FaceBook each day with some variation of the same message. I have one “friend” who posts “nice little heart-warming slogans” day after day. Another is a vegan who regularly posts of the evils of eating meat with rich illustrations of our cruelty and abuse of animals. I have no problem with either of the sentiments, but overkilling the message is a very poor technique for impressing me. My mind generally responds with a “Get a life” message to these authors. If I replied to each of their posts with my comment, I would become one of them!

On the positive side, repetition is an essential practice in learning some new facts, procedures and skills. However, this kind of repetition is usually quiet and does not intrude into the space of others. If it is noisy repetition, you will quickly become my annoying enemy.

As I matured, I found that repetition to aid learning was not as successful as it used to be. In high school, I learned French vocabulary by writing each word five times on a piece of paper. Years later, when I was trying to learn Turkish vocabulary, I had to copy each word at least ten times in order to remember it. I recently decided that I wouldn't even try to learn Spanish when I went to Mexico. I learned the ten basic phrases in order to get by and then utilized a translation app on my smartphone. Old repetition techniques have become obsolete when learning a language. 

In summary, repetition drives me crazy. I hate it when commercials repeat over and over. I don’t like the repetitive lyrics of modern music. Mindless repetition is completely annoying. I won’t repeat this message again. Repetition is maddening. Don’t repeat things when you talk to me. Have I made my point?

IS OUR POLITICAL CORRECTNESS EVER GOING TO END?

 IS OUR POLITICAL CORRECTNESS EVER GOING TO END?

As I have ranted many times before, our obsession with political correctness has to have some limits imposed. It seems no matter what we say or how we say it, it is now open to scrutiny from all directions. We must be sensitive to racial and ethnic diversity. We must be considerate of different religions and sexual orientations. We must choose every word that escapes our mouths very carefully. 

Today I am picking on Lufthansa Airlines. It will greet fliers using gender-neutral language from now on. Lufthansa Airlines have historically welcomed travellers on board by referring to them as "ladies and gentlemen.” In a statement, the airline said that on future flights travellers will be referred to as "guests," or simply greeted with a cheerful: "Good morning here on board."

"Diversity and equality are core values for our company and our corporate culture. From now on, we want to express this attitude in our language as well -- and show that diversity is not just a phrase, but a lived reality," reads the Lufthansa statement. Well, isn’t that just wonderful! And what difference does their greeting really make to the tired traveller who just wants to get home or to their holiday destination. 

On a related issue, In June 2021, a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) committee report on the drone industry recommended that aviation terminology such as "airman" and "unmanned" should be changed to a more gender-neutral alternative, such as "aviator" and "uncrewed" and that this change should be adopted by the industry more widely. The super-sensitive element in our societies is driving those of us who are generally already tolerant and understanding of gender issues nuts with their nonsense. 

My biggest gender issue is when I am in a restaurant and have to go to the bathroom. I am not referring to whether I will use the room with the urinals or surprise the ladies in the commode-only restroom. My difficulty is the cute, but often bizarre designations, posted on the doors of the restrooms. I can understand “men” and “women” labels but in the past, I have had to stop and try to decipher the meanings of signs that read, “ XX or XY” or “holsters or pistols” or “eggs or sausage” or “heifers or steers” or “blokes or sheilas” or “cat or rooster” or “standers or sitters”. 

If Lufthansa really believe in their core values of diversity and equality, then there are other ways to show it on their planes. For example, you could sit where you want on the plane and the first people to buy a ticket should get to board first. That would be fair and equitable. If they wanted to be fair, their seats should all be the same size and spaced equally. Is not the curtain that they so ceremoniously close between first class and coach a direct conflict with the value of equality? Should I write them a letter to raise the issue?

I could go on and on, but I am trying to maintain my sanity when it comes to issues like this. Have a nice day, friends, family, acquaintances, government censors, accidental readers, and former friends. I hope I have not missed anyone!

HOW OFTEN HAVE YOU SPLASHED YOUR SWEAT?

 HOW OFTEN HAVE YOU SPLASHED YOUR SWEAT?

During the pandemic we have been faced with a never-ending series of issues and concerns that in retrospect now seem rather minor. At the time, the media and medical community were in a constant state of stress and panic. Today we look back and wonder why were we so paranoid about many of them. 

For example, initially, we were in a Clorox panic as every disinfectant was whisked off the shelves the moment it was restocked. All sanitary wipes and solutions washed every surface in many homes. It was precautionary of course, but also rather excessive. We debated at nauseum whether paper masks were adequate or did we need cloth or medical masks to keep us safe. Researchers actually measured the size of openings that the virus could escape through! Whether we needed to distance ourselves from others by six feet or was five feet adequate as some countries advocated? Could we actually extract five instead of four vaccination doses from one vile was an issue? Could we mix doses of two different vaccines or not? The questions were endless and very often were rather trivial in nature but we were bombarded by them.

Well, today I read of an issue that caused me to stop for a moment and ask if we were starting to lose it. Gyms in South Korea's capital Seoul and its surrounding region have been told not to play music with a tempo higher than 120 beats per minute (bpm), in order to limit the spread of Covid-19. Treadmills will be limited to a maximum of 6 km/h (3.7 mph).Health officials say the restrictions will prevent people from breathing too fast or splashing sweat on each other. Of course, I understand that it is an attempt to prevent spread, but measuring the tempo of music to exercise is pretty extreme and unnecessary.

Those attending exercise classes such as Zumba, spin and aerobics in the greater Seoul area will face the 120-bpm limit starting today People are also only allowed to spend two hours at a time at indoor sports facilities and must not use the shower. Gym owners ask how can they regulate the music of people who exercise to music on their own earphones. All sports facilities must close by 22:00. Just another example of overkill, in my opinion!

I am just very grateful that after 16 months of a wide variety of restrictions and regulations we have reduced the infection rate and spread of the virus to allow us to resume more normal activities. I apologize if during any of our chance encounters over that time that I may have “splashed my sweat” on you! I am very sorry!

DO WE NEED A MINISTRY OF COMMON SENSE?

 DO WE NEED A MINISTRY OF COMMON SENSE?

Yesterday was a busy day for Alberta politics. Premier Jason Kenney announced that he would be shuffling his cabinet to improve government performance. In anticipation, I fully expected Education Minister Adriana LaGrange, who was responsible for the ludicrous curriculum revision that prescribed for meaningful lessons on the Mongol invasions and Islamic religion in Grade one, to be bounced from cabinet. She was not. I also expected Health Minister Tyler Shandro, who has unilaterally proposed major revisions to the working conditions and contracts of provincial doctors and nurses, to be seeking employment elsewhere. He is not. So, if the two major bungling ministers of the past year and half were not removed, what happened?

Basically, there were several lateral shuffles among minor ministries, one expulsion from cabinet and the addition of one major new minister. Now, unfortunate MLA Tanya Fir, has been saddled with the dubious title of Associate Minister of Red Tape Reduction! Of course, my first reaction was that Kenney was just introducing a little levity into the boring exercise of shuffling the deck. But no, this appointment was for real. My second reaction was what the hell is a Ministry of Red Tape Reduction? And thirdly, what did Kenney have against Fir?

I thought that the admission by the government that there was obviously too much red tape in government procedures and practise was a brave admission. It is equally remarkable that a ministry has to be organized to reduce the red tape that binds the hands of people on so many fronts. Why operational practises and inefficiencies are not monitored and dealt with on a continuous basis is another mystery to me. It just seems like normal and good business practice to always strive towards better service and performance. But perhaps that is just another example of my own naivety  

If Red Tape Reduction is a basis for a ministerial department (I am certain employing dozens of staff) then there are a number of other possible new ministries that I would propose . How about a Ministry of Common Sense! Before the government decides on some expensive project or initiative, poll a few people on the street to see if common sense can help clarify the issue. For example, the finance minister’s announcement that Alberta nurses should face a five percent wage DECREASE after they have spent eighteen months working feverishly during the pandemic, is an outrageous example of government insensitivity and poor judgement!

How about forming a Stop the Bullshit Department that would allow it to attach oral or written comments regarding the truth or lack of truth to every government speech or dispatch that comes out of Edmonton. It would be similar to the infamous Fact Checker system imposed on Trump’s rantings. How about a Legislative Performance Department that hosts a website recording the attendance and voting records of each MLA on a continuous basis, as well as updates on their expense account claims. After all, they are representatives of the electorate and those who elected them should be able to monitor their performance daily if they wish.

If red tape reduction can rate a ministerial department than I think my suggestions are just as valid. What do you think?

HAVE YOU READ THESE ABSURDITIES OF THE WEEK?

HAVE YOU READ THESE ABSURDITIES OF THE WEEK?

Parents of children called Alexa say their daughters are being bullied because it is the same name that Amazon uses for its virtual assistant. Some have even changed their child's name because they say the barrage of Alexa jokes is “relentless". They are calling on Amazon to change the default wake word for its devices to a non-human name. Amazon says it is "saddened" by these accounts, and that alternative wake words are available. My advice is get a life, get a life, get a life!

There are hundreds of thousands of stray animals across Turkey. They are generally healthy-looking, as activists, volunteers and residents feed and groom them Figures from 2018 indicated that there are 162,970 stray cats and 128,900 ownerless dogs in Istanbul,. The dogs are generally tagged, spayed and neutered. I just wondered if there were actual animal census takers and how did they keep track of the cats?

In order to reduce personal contact during the pandemic, the mayor of Florence has signed an ordinance banning people from wandering around popular areas on Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings until further notice. Access to six areas of the historic city centre is not allowed from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m., unless people are using the bars and restaurants there. Anyone breaking the rules will be fined between €400 and €1,000. It is a sad commentary that leisurely strolling is now considered law breaking in Florence - one of the greatest wandering cities in the world!

Recently, Kataluna Enriquez was crowned the first openly transgender winner of Miss Nevada USA pageant When asked to comment on her selection she said, “People think pageantry is just superficial beauty, but it’s beyond that. The direction of Miss Universe and Miss USA going forward is expanding the definition of beauty and the definition of womanhood, and that’s something I want to be a part of.” Who knew beauty pageants were performing such a valuable service?

Most of us were occasional spelling bee contestants during our school years. The Scripps National Spelling Bee, is quite famous. Did you know that since 2008, a South Asian American kid has been named a champion at every Scripps bee? This year, two-thirds of the semi-finalists were of South Asian descent, and at least nine of the 11 finalists are of South Asian descent. Over the past two decades, spelling bees tailored to South Asian children have proliferated. So have spelling bee coaching companies founded by South Asian Americans. Flyers for local bees are handed out at Indian supermarkets, and the activity is spread through word of mouth at temple events. Who knew? I didn’t. But more importantly, what does it really mean?

How has the absence of a Canadian Governor General affected your daily life over the past six months? I am sure that most Canadians are unaware of this gross negligence on the part of our esteemed PM. Former Governor General Julie Payette, resigned in January 2021 and no permanent replacement has yet been announced. I challenge you to name the temporary fill-in! Smiling Justin has formed a committee (that’s his new share-the-blame technique) to vet potential candidates after he screwed up so badly in his initial appointment. An announcement is expected in the near future (possibly to commemorate Halloween or as a Christmas gift)!

And just in case you missed it, Joey Chestnut won his 14th Nathan's Famous Fourth of July Hot Dog Eating Contest in dominant fashion devouring a new record 76 franks in 10 minutes to keep his mantle atop the sport. Chestnut, who goes by "Jaws," put on another eating clinic to claim the Mustard Belt, out-eating second-place finisher Geoffrey Esper who ingested a paltry 50. Chestnut has now won 14 of the last 15 hot dog eating contests. The event was televised on ESPN, thus elevating this piggish display to a sporting event! I questioned Texas Hold’em Poker as a sport in the past , but I have now discovered a new sport(?) to shake my head over! Perhaps the Scripps Spelling Bee and the US Beauty Pageant should also apply for status as a sport! Why not, it seems anything goes!