Monthly Archives: January 2016
America’s Monumental Vote
(George Washington, History.com)
How did we start with George Washington and get to the absurdity of 2016?
A question and answer for another day…
Today’s Throwback Thursday will be cheered by Americans.
(Brits who loved their 18th century monarchy, not so much)
“On this day in 1789, America’s first presidential election is held. Voters cast ballots to choose state electors…George Washington won the election and was sworn into office on April 30, 1789.”
–“First U.S. presidential election,” History.com
George Washington led this nation as its first president without any predecessor to seek guidance from. The pressure he must have endured is almost unthinkable. He had to be a great, unifying leader with a strong vision because the very future (and beginning) of America was at stake.
227 years later and America would do well to vote like it’s 1789.
‘The Kid’ Gets His Own Place
Cooperstown’s population will be getting two new permanent residents.
Ken Griffey Jr. and Mike Piazza were voted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York today. To be candid, Griffey Jr. was my favorite player back in the day when SportsCenter was on channel 11.
And by “day,” I mean the ’90s.
The former outfielder for the Seattle Mariners and Cincinnati Reds was incredible with his glove and bat. Here are a few of his achievements throughout his 20+ year Major League Baseball (MLB) career:
- League MVP (1997)
- Gold Glove (1990-1999)
- Silver Slugger (1991, 1993-1994 and 1996-1999)
- All-Star Game MVP (1992)
(Source: ESPN)
As a lefty, Griffey Jr. always had a curve ball of his own (so to speak) when at the plate or when climbing the outfield wall to deny a home run. Perhaps it was fitting that his first-time ballot vote had a special twist.
“A star slugger during the steroids era who was never tainted by accusations of drug use, Griffey was on 437 of 440 votes in his first appearance on the Baseball Writers’ Association of America ballot. His 99.3 percentage topped the previous mark of 98.84, set when Tom Seaver appeared on 425 of 430 ballots in 1992.”
–“Ken Griffey Jr. (99 percent of vote), Mike Piazza head to Cooperstown,” ESPN
Ken Griffey Jr. is a great person and he was great on MLB’s big stage.
His remarkable talent was famously showcased on the silver screen. Little Big League, you’re up.
Sometimes in movies, characters and events are exaggerated to enhance suspense, drama and action. However, Griffey Jr.’s smooth swing and monster of a home run was a scene right out of a real Mariners game.
And it’s awesome that 99.3% of Hall of Fame voters chose to give “The Kid” his feel-good movie ending set for release this summer.
Time to Fold on TV
(LG Display)
“The company will also showcase futuristic concept displays that highlight the dynamic forms that OLED can achieve, including the world’s first 30R 18-inch rollable display that can be rolled-up like a newspaper…”
(LG Press Release)
The January 4, 2016 press release from technology giant LG (Life’s Good) disclosed many exciting products in-and-out of development for the annual forward-thinking Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. Specifically, the OLED screen that bends with impressive flexibility and resolution presents a unique opportunity for a more convenient future.
As phones and tablets continue to increase in size and inflexibility (iPad Pro, damn), there is a natural instinct to ponder if a Zack Morris phone-wave is upon us?
Keep in mind that retro is always in style, especially the nineties.
Fortunately, LG may have just changed shrunk rolled the game back to size while peeking forward towards what may be commercially sold during the forthcoming third decade of the 21st century.
Envisioning LG’s flexible screen for televisions makes anyone impossibly curious about how TV-watching will change in the future. The question that comes to mind is if we (consumers) will actually have the option to roll up a high-definition TV like the Wall Street Journal and carry it to any flat surface in our home and simply stick it up like a magnet on a fridge?
Crazy.
The even crazier question: Who’s been bringing the Fruit Roll-Ups to LG’s innovation lab?
Happy Monday!
Back in 1963, director Alfred Hitchcock sent chills down the spines of moviegoers everywhere with his terrifying portrayal of the seemingly peaceful, elegant winged-creatures in the sky. The Birds (a critically-acclaimed movie) made us fearful of what glides above us, ready to attack with friends aplenty.
Today, in the newly-minted 2016, the British quartet Coldplay is aiming to counter Hitchcock’s nightmarish reputation of birds.
Ladies and gentlemen, fly into the new year with the help of birds.
Have an Uplifting Week!
Jimmy's Daily Planet 