today and tomorrow/August 30

Profile in Courage
It's important to remember that Naomi Osaka, the tennis star, is 22 years old.  22.  She says:  "I feel more comfortable as a follower."  Yet, when the NBA players staged their protest, and other sports teams followed, she says:  "I looked around at the tennis world and decided it was up to me."

The U.S. Open opens tomorrow.  I'll be watching. Most of the big name male stars are missing.  Lots of room for some newcomers to make their mark.  The women's side is strong.  Unfortunately, Naomi has a bum leg, so we may not see her.  But, we won't forget her statement.  A statement we call can make.  "I decided it was up to me."

today and tomorrow/August 29

R.I.P.
Chadwick Boseman, famous for playing in Black Panther, also played Jackie Robinson.  He died at age 43 of cancer on baseball's Jackie Robinson day. (Jackie's number was 43.)

Travels from my Couch
Here are two more messages from my favorite -- The Discoverer. I'm emailing.

Get Off My Lawn
That's the best quip I heard about the crowd breaking the law at RNC finale.

today and tomorrow/August 27

Coming to Netflix in October

Early in his career Bill worked on the popular film Searching for Bobby Fisher.  After it's successful run in theaters, it was one of Netflix's favorites for years.  Now, he has produced an edgier chess story: The Queens Gambit.   Can't wait to see it.  Here's a first look . . .

https://www.vulture.com/2020/08/the-queens-gambit-trailer-anya-taylor-joy-netflix-chess.html

today and tomorrow/August 22

If you are in the mood to DO SOMETHING, please take a look at the message Gerry sent the other day.  There are so many ways to participate.  I'm emailing.

Save Up Now
The Discoverer wants us to know about the most expensive cities.  I love reading about these travel possibilities.

today and tomorrow/August 17

When Silence Makes You Cry
Yesterday, my White Sox hitters delivered four homers in a row!  Yes, four batters, four in the stands.  It's only been done 7 times in all of baseball history.  Can you imagine the fans going crazy?  The roar after roar?  I know, everyone has their own sense of loss.  This one hurt.

Wine and Jazz
Here's a great combo.  City Winery is featuring a collection of wines with Bill's drawings of jazz greats on the labels.  Take a look.

https://citywinery.com/hudsonvalley/wine-shop/signature-series.html?p=2

Carole Loves Opera

She sent along notice of some free performances.  I am sending the email so you can put the dates in your calendar.

today and tomorrow/August 12

Kidz in the Hood

Marguerite was the first to tell me: "They're tearing down our apartment on Belmont.  I saw the bulldozers today."  Another place gone.  Nothing new about that.  Orrington House and my Sorority House at Northwestern barely survived my graduation.  A few weeks ago I drove by 454 Belmont.  With barely a moment for the memories to subside, a gleaming new highrise had popped up to alter the landscape.

So, I'm especially touched to see that Bill has captured 454 perfectly in one of his latest paintings.

Stuart, the Discoverer

Today, one of the messages from my favorite travel site, The Discoverer, was about gorgeous places in Arizona that we may not know about.  I'm emailing it.  Of course, I immediately thought of my friend Stuart who, from his home in Sedona, has probably explored every inch of Arizona.  The last time I heard from him, he said he was tired from taking 22,000 steps that day.  We love his photos...and his stamina!

Today and tomorrow/August 10

I just finished reading John Grisham's recent novel, The Guardians. It's about a tiny operation, always scrambling for funds, committed to exonerating innocent prisoners. Grisham was inspired by the work of Jim McCloskey, a minister who found his calling in this daunting work.
McCloskey's group, Centurion Ministries, takes on the cases where there is no DNA.

There's a new book out about Jim McCloskey, When Truth is All You Have.  Here's an excerpt from the review:
When Truth is All You Have is a riveting and infuriating examination of criminal prosecutions, revealing how easy it is to convict the wrong person and how nearly impossible it is to undo the error.

Up Next

Surprise!  After being number 400 and then number 200 the last time I looked, the new Ann Patchett book, The Dutch House, showed up ready for download.  Have you read it?

today and tomorrow/August 9

Travel
I'm sending along some upcoming lectures from Road Scholar.  And, one of the fascinating emails I get from the Discoverer.  I enjoy these.  Hope you do too.

Gerry's blog is about the view in our upside down world.  Check it out.

Message to Phyllis:  If you read this from your cabin in the forest, please end us a note.  Hope you catch a fish!

today and tomorrow/August 6

Let's Try Again...and Again

Bill's film noir, which got good reviews, was open for about one day in March when the lockdown began.  For those who crave a big screen experience, it is opening again tomorrow in Chicago.  It will also be available via streaming in September.

For those who crave a look at Mick Jagger as an actor (he got very good reviews), here's your chance.

Another Closing

Sorry to hear about the closing for good of the California Pizza Kitchen.  It was Diego's favorite spot in LA and he was so happy to go there the last time he was in Chicago.  Gerry and I enjoyed lunch at the Skokie location.

today and tomorrow/August 1

Thanks Nancy, for your Third Coast Review. The Fight, a documentary about how the ACLU has been on the front lines protecting us during Trump era abuses sounds like a "must see." 

https://thirdcoastreview.com/2020/07/31/film-review-the-fight

Lori is back with another astounding group of photos.  I'm emailing.