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Déjà Vu’s Comforting Goal
Iceland 1 – Netherlands nil.
When will this nightmare end?
The shocking struggles of the Oranje, following a third place finish at last year’s World Cup with a strikingly similar squad, leaves fans of this small, yet immensely talented soccer nation in a sustained state of disbelief. With just three games remaining in the qualifying stage of the UEFA Euro 2016, the Dutch are in third place with 10 points, 6 shy of the Czech Republic and 8 short of football’s current Cinderella: Iceland.
Math is increasingly becoming the 12th eligible player against the Netherlands.
In Danny Blind’s first game as the new Dutch manager, he faced an uphill battle with an injury to his new captain Arjen Robben and a red card from defender Bruno Martins Indi in the first half and a penalty for Iceland minutes into the second half. It’s difficult to render a legitimate verdict against Blind at this point. He deserves time and a healthy roster to make a remarkable (and necessary) comeback for his home country in order to plan the coveted business trip to France for UEFA Euro 2016.
However, not substituting in Robin van Persie in the second half when they needed a goal? That’s one question that Mr. Blind needs to answer.
As a loyal Dutch fan for many, many years now, the Netherlands’ second group loss to Iceland was unthinkable. They have the talent, a new coach’s perspective and home filed advantage. Surely, a win was coming.
Nope.
It was a little more than year ago when the Dutch shocked Spain and the world in the best way imaginable. Spain’s reign at the top of world soccer was officially over and they knew it. Here’s a much-needed throwback this Thursday to the 2014 World Cup’s thrilling opening match.
I still believe: Hup Holland Hup.
A Symphonic Revelation
As Back to the Future I and II taught us, walking the same path as our parents is a mind-trip as wild as traveling through time in a DeLorean. Despite knowing our parents for literally our entire lives, watching them in non-family situations offers genuine surprises and insights into how they acted before they had children.
They behave like…us.
This realization is just one of life’s many entertaining curve balls. As we age, we presume that equates to more knowledge and control. Actually, that’s true, except the age we think that control occurs and when that really happens is much different than we might want to admit.
In the case of the trailer for the upcoming film Youth (December 4, 2015), having Michael Caine and Harvey Keitel say “I told you so” in this regard isn’t so bad.
As a matter of fact, it looks quite silvery.
Fiorina’s Second Debate Win
“In a victory for the former HP CEO, the cable network announced Tuesday that it is amending its rules for qualifying for the Sept. 16 debate at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library to include all candidates who are polling on average in the top 10 in surveys conducted after the Aug. 6 Fox News debate.”
–Zeke J. Miller (TIME)
This recent development is the sensible response by CNN. Plus, the second Republican debate on September 16th could prove to be the pivotal debate for Carly Fiorina. Why? Her fantastic performance at the “Happy Hour” debate was her first positive introduction to the country and Republican electorate, but now she has high expectations. Mrs. Fiorina has been given the opportunity to articulate her conservative message and vision at the wondrous Ronald Reagan Presidential Library.
If Carly Fiorina, in front of Nancy Reagan, can channel the charming wit and grand inspiration of the man for whom the library was built, her ascent in the polls will continue and sustain during the coming months.
To stand out in the house of Reagan, she must not fall victim to or engage in shouted interruptions by desperate poll climbers, but instead rise to inspirational storytelling that illustrates how the United States of America can successfully deal with its dangerous foreign policy threats and how it will rebuild its economic foundation (opportunistic tax reform, spending reductions by focusing on the priorities of the times, structural entitlement reform, a specific plan to repeal and replace Obamacare, legal and illegal immigration, etc.) that will lead to an optimistic (yet attainable) future.
This is her chance at a very rare second first-look. There will be a particularly bright spotlight on Carly Fiorina in how she will deal with the widespread anxiety and turmoil at home and abroad.
What would Ronald Reagan do?
“Peace through strength.”
That seems like a savvy approach for the debate’s venue and for the American people tuning in.
Happy Monday!
“First off, I want to apologize for having eyes, ears, a brain and experiences.”
Political correctness needs an end-date. That’s literally no joke. This topic was covered a little bit last week with a portion of an interview with comedian Bill Burr. His take was terrific and funny. However, SNL-alum Colin Quinn’s micro-analysis joke on this subject may have revealed the true insanity (no hyperbole) of society’s PC losers.
Colin Quinn: An impressive collection of bland molecular cells without any distinguishable features or opinions that could culminate in the micro or macro disruption of the sensitive nature of a fellow life form.
Colin Quinn: It’s scary how accurate that material is today, but thank you for creatively pointing out how ridiculous this absurdity has become and that it needs to stop.
Have an Awesome PC-Free Week!
Jimmy's Daily Planet 