From the 8/23/26 New York Times -- Humor in Diplomacy

 A quote from John Coale on his relationship with Belarus' strongman Aleksandr Lukashenko:

"Humor is a gigantic weapon. If you can get the other guy  laughing, you're halfway there and you're not a threat."

Fun Here. Fun There.

 A quote from the showrunner of The Daily Show: 

“I used to say to Trevor, if we’re having fun in here, you’ll feel it onscreen.” 

I Know that Classical Music Tune - Just not Where it is From

I was watching television the other night and in a late scene the sounds of the opening movement of Bach’s Cello Suite #1 came forth. I smiled in recognition. And then thought, this is a tune that gets used over and over again and I suspect there are many who recognize it but don’t know its origin.

Are there other classical music snippets that you can think of that are similar in being immediately recognized but its source unknown? (Skip Beethoven’s 5th for example.)

One that I thought of is Wagner’s "The Ride of the Valkyries”. The tune is associated locally with our WNBA basketball team – the Golden State Valkyries – but how many know it is also from an opera.
Others?

Building Community Through Fun

 This was proudly declared at an event sponsored by San Jose Parks and Recreation and I couldn't agree with the sentiment  more.

Steve Kerr (Warrior's Head Coach) on Joy and Much More

 I found this in the 2/28/25 issue of the East Bay Times and paraphrase.

The article centers on Steve Kerr's essential human values: joy, competitiveness, compassion, and mindfulness. He then goes on to say about joy: "You don't come in every day and write joy on a wall. You have joy every day. If it is a real value, then you're a joyful person."

He continues: " I love the game. I love the camaraderie. Love the process of work. So that has to be on display every day in your building. That's what I think the great programs, organizations do.

So, it is easy to say the words, but so much harder and more compelling to live by them.

What do you see?

 

Book Bingo (offered by Livermore Public Library)

 Create a bunch a bingo cards with book titles randomly presented throughout.

Place the book titles in a raffle drum and give it a good spin.

Draw a book title - announce it - and spin again.

Continue until someone has their card filled with book titles going up, across, or diagonally.

TaDa! - Book Bingo.