Good morning or good evening, wherever you may be. It is just past 3:00 a.m. in "The City."

I was listening to Coast to Coast AM and host George Noory, as George and his guest, former Judge Jame P. Gray, who is also a former Libertarian VP candidate, discussed the need for competition to improve products, such as cell-phones, automobiles, and many other consumer goods. In addition, Judge Gray opined that what is needed to improve public education, which he claims to believe in, is to bring in competition.

For example, Judge Gray says/believes that since there are fewer administrators in parochial schools, the teachers in those schools may get better salaries. they generally don't, and more input into how those schools are run and how children are taught. He believes that public school teachers are interested only in the money from taxpayers and the results are not important or only secondary. He fails to take into account the better results that come in schools with a more concerned/committed parent base, a concerned/committed parent base that demands better outcomes, However, that is only the beginning.

Judge Gray fails to take into account better socioeconomic conditions in the community at large, an often better educated parent base, and the fact that parochial schools often don't or can't provide special education opportunities for their special needs students. More often, do they even have to enroll them. If all things were truly equal, then he might be right about the outcomes being better in parochial schools. However, with politics being what they are, along with the fact that parochial schools are only now starting to provide services to special needs students. We don't have a level playing field. Plus, why would anyone go into the teaching profession, when they can easily become a target for a nut with a semi-automatic weapon.

Most parochial/charter/private schools are not subject to the same oversight that public schools receive. I could go on, but the point is that until all school systems receive the same tax dollars, the same oversight, or are required to have an IEP (Individual Education Plan) for special-needs students, then a valid comparison is not possible.

Too much for me, so I'll return now to my regularly scheduled blog, already in progress.

I made a vegan hammish yesterday in preparation for our trip to Kalamazoo. We'll pair some of that with the Polish rye bread that we picked up on our morning walk with the fur-children. The baking schedule at The Baker's Wife, a companion to the Village Baker store in Spring Lake, has Polish rye bread on their baking schedule three times per week. Thursday is one of those days. I also mowed the vast lawns of the PE.

Earlier this morning, I awoke to find that the Cubs had fallen to the 29 - 45, last place in the NL Central Reds, 2 - 6. I know, the Cubs have pitchers on the DL, and that they have pitchers on bereavement leave, and that they will soon have another pitcher on maternity leave, but good teams find a way to overcome, not succumb. Just saying. The Cubs try to defeat the Reds again tonight @ 7:10 p.m.when Jose Quintana takes the mound.

My beloved, 50 - 26, 2nd in the AL East Red Sox, easily defeated the 3rd place Twins, 9 - 2. Starting pitcher, Rick Porcello dominated and Mookie Betts went 3 for 6 with a home-run, as he paced the 16 hit attack. The Sox and the Twins try again tonight, also @ 7:10 p.m.

The 36 - 39, 2nd in the AL Central Tigers, are in Cleveland tonight to take on the 1st place, 40 - 33 Indians, also @ 7:10 p.m. This is a chance for the Tigers to move up, or down, in this weak division.

The 36 - 34 in the first half of the MWL East season, West, MI White Caps, were postponed for the 8th time this season, this time in Ft. Wayne, IN. They are now faced with a double-header today against the TinCaps starting @ 5:35 p.m. Technically speaking, the Caps are in 5th place and the TinCaps are in 4th, but both teams currently have a record of 0 - 0 in the 2nd half.

When I had the fur-children out earlier, I felt the chill in the air and noted that the skies were hazy/cloudy. Those cloudy conditions are forecast by the NWS to continue through the morning hours and there is up to a 50% chance of rain beginning around 6:00 p.m. today. Do I water? Once again, a game-time decision. We have a current temperature of 63°. The high temperature forecast for today is 72° for GH and 65° with rain for Kalamazoo, where we will be later today. I'd guess that the indoor part of the Kalamazoo Irish Fest may be more packed. The sun will rise @ 6:05 a.m. and set later @ 9:28 p.m.

I got up around 1:15 a.m. and went downstairs to empty the dishwasher and clear up the supper dishes. I forced the fur-children to go out around 1:30 a.m., so they should be good for the balance of this morning. I found Mary asleep in the La-Z-Boy, where she had been watching The Da Vinci Code, followed by MSNBC. I passed by and did not attempt to wake her, as this is never a good thing with Mary. As I previously noted, I had been watching the Cubs playing well, so I went off to bed around 8:00 p.m., where the game was on the radio.

I was sitting here at my keyboard when I heard that lonesome whistle blow. I threw open the blinds on the WW and watched as MMRR locomotives #2019 and #2025 passed by heading south on the RSTL. I seem to remember that the MMRR changes their schedule during the "Tourist Season" to ease traffic congestion. In any even, those locomotives were towing 113 DBTCs, yes, 113, along with one RTC (Red Tank Car) and one GTC (Gray Tank Car). I have never seen that many cars in tow before. What were those Dreaded Black Tank Cars hiding in the dead of night?

Today, we'll try to get an early start and enjoy a visit to the Air Zoo, also in Kalamazoo, before the Irish Fest begins @ 5:00 p.m. The Air Zoo is home to a display of over 50 aircraft and many interactive exhibits. Ciao.