Welcome to Sunday Stealing. Here we will steal all types of questions from every corner of the blogosphere. Our promise to you is that we will work hard to find the most interesting and intelligent questions. Cheers to all of us thieves!
Since it’s the 4th of July weekend, we’re going to keep this simple. On us all! The first question came courtesy of AI. Sunday Stealing Is Artificial.
4th of July Questions
1) If you could attend a 4th of July fireworks display anywhere in the United States, where would you choose?
I want to be somewhere with a great sightline, and not a lot of people setting off their own incendiary devices. In Albany, I used to have a great view in my former church’s parking lot on Lark Street. About 12 years ago, my daughter and I loved the view from the field behind Albany High School. But on the way home, only a half dozen blocks away, I felt as though we were going through a war zone. So, sadly, I settled for watching it on television.
2) What book are you currently reading?
Nothing. I’m doing a book review on Tuesday, July 7, at 2 pm at the Albany Public Library, 161 Washington Ave. The book is African-Americans in the Wyoming Valley, 1778-1990, by Emerson I. Moss. I picked this book because I have an ancestor, and indeed, a whole family to whom I am related, mentioned substantially in this book. Preparing a book review involves rereading, taking notes, and the like.
CCL
3) What have you been listening to?
Last week, CBS Sunday Morning offered up Essential American songs of the last 250 years. The presentation featured Sara Bareilles singing “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman” made famous by Aretha, and Jon Batiste performing “Georgia On My Mind”
Here’s the Spotify roster. Lists like this always generate a certain controversy. “Where’s X? What about Y?” The missed choice I read about most was “Take Me Home, Country Roads” by John Denver. A guy named Mike Smith had a list of 15 alternatives; I totally agree with Midnight Train To Georgia, probably 16 Tons, and El Paso.
4) What shows or movies have you been watching?
I finally watched Idiocracy, an absurd 2006 film which is becoming more believable by the year. “Corporal Joe Bauers, a decidedly average American, is selected for a top-secret hibernation program but is forgotten and left to awaken to a future so incredibly moronic that he’s easily the most intelligent person alive.” Will stupidity win out? One fan on Rotten Tomatoes wrote: “The most prophetic movie ever created. It predicted Trump’s America in an amazingly accurate and satirical way!”
My wife and I are FINALLY watching The American Revolution. We’re 2/6 of the way through the Ken Burns documentary. It’s amazing how little we knew about the period between Lexington/Concord/Bunker Hill and July 1776.
Thank you for playing! Please come back next week.
Have you been watching any of the soccer games? The “unofficial” anthem for the USA men’s team is “Take Me Home Country Roads”! What is the time limit for your book review? I know your presentation will be interesting.
I quite enjoyed Idiocracy. And it does remind me of what is probably going on in Trump’s brain.
:o)
Cheers
PM
The book review window is about an hour, including questions and answers.
I hope you do great with your book review! It makes me nervous thinking about it. You will do great!
Yes, 39 hours of professional development and that is just that conference. I have to have 60 hours total and then when school starts I do 40 hours with kids. If I can complete that I will earn $5000. I do not make much money as a teacher in Missouri, so anything extra I can do helps. I typically spend an hour a day doing the professional development. I will be too tired when school starts back, so I am doing it in the summer. Loved your answers! Have a great day!
https://lorisbusylife.blogspot.com/
My favorite period of history to teach is Colonial America and I was riveted to the Burns series.
I need to watch Idiocracy. I’ve heard it mentioned by various people for a while now. Good luck with your book review.
Take Me Home, Country Roads has become a massive hit at the World Cup matches, and not just with USMNT fans. Tens of thousands of international guests singing it is quite impressive. Because it specifically mentions West Virginia, I was a little confused about why the team chose it as an anthem, but here we are and it’s created a great shared experience. Thank God it wasn’t Sweet Caroline.