I like stories like this, putting an historic perspective on a local treasure. Good to see they saved the place. I’d like to try a Finnish pancake. Might have to search for a recipe.

canadaram wrote:

I’m feeling very sentimental about Letterman retiring next week. The first time I ever saw him was on his short lived morning show. I began watching him religiously on Late Night in 1984. At the time I’d never seen anyone like him. His vocabulary made his humour seem almost refined at times, and his acerbic wit ensured that I never found him dull.

To me he was the master of the bit, especially the remotes. Crushing stuff with a steamroller, dropping stuff from the top of a five storey tower, working drive through windows at fast food joints, on the street stuff, how many guys in a bunny suit can fit into an H & R Block…the list is endless.

The studio bits with his staff were great too. Chris Elliot as Marv Albert, or the Fugitive Guy, or the Guy Under the Seats. Larry Bud Melman never disappointed either.

I loved the old show for the odd guests he would have on. Guys like Harvey Pekar, or the champion grocery store bag boys.

I haven’t watched the show as much in the past few years, but I still tune for his monologue, or Top Ten list if I’m still up. I’ll record the show if a guest that I like is on. However, I’ve been watching every night the last few weeks though, mostly because of nostalgia I think. Anyway, I’m going to miss him.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=HOGAKY-RqGw

I haven’t really watched much of him in years … because I’m old and unable to stay up anymore. But, yeah, those old shows, I’d watch them religiously, for all the reasons you mentioned. I had an old Top Ten List book that I kept in the john for years for a few laughs. Sometimes I remember one randomly. Like in Top Ten Least Impressive Superpowers, one of them was: Ability to always shake out exactly two aspirin. Who thinks of this stuff? The writers were great, but that’s partly because they worked for a host who let them be creative with the mundane. His interviews are the best, too, because he always set up the guest perfectly and let them be funny. His laugh always added to the interview.

The guy replacing him? He’s probably the funniest host on TV these days, so at least there’s that.

A few thoughts.

The NFL’s policy has a standard of proof as the preponderance of evidence. So, when people criticize the report of just finding a preponderance of evidence that Brady was guilty, well, yeah, that’s all the investigators are asked to find for proof.

The Patriots’ balls were under the acceptable PSI in the rules. That right there is a violation. It was all 11 balls, too. So, whatever happened, the Patriots were responsible for this. They should have been punished. The investigation looked into whether this was deliberate, and I don’t know how you can explain the balls being under the PSI after the balls were examined by officials. It should be obvious that the entire organization deserves punishment.

Yet, the report actually goes out of its way to say NOBODY ELSE in the organization outside of Brady and a couple of knuckleheads knew anything about this or did anything wrong. Mm-hmm. I guess if I were Kraft, I’d be upset at the punishment, too, if the report says this wasn’t anyone else’s fault.

But, no, that’s not right, either. Who is responsible for Brady? And, who is responsible for the culture of cheating in that organization? The buck stops with you, Mr. Kraft. You employ cheaters, and sometimes they get caught, and then you get punished. That’s how it goes.

Let’s see how the appeal goes.

I don’t see a lot of talk about how the Patriots did or did not cooperate with the investigation. I heard something about how their lack of cooperation hurt the organization, but haven’t heard any elaboration.

At the least, Brady should be suspended for several games. They sure waited a long time to report the findings. I’m thinking they were waiting for just the right time … long enough after the Super Bowl for most people to not care anymore, but not TOO long after. And, definitely not before the Draft, where Goodell might have to deal with, gasp, questions and public criticism!

That’s terrible to hear. I know of so many people who have fought cancer in recent years. It’s such a horrible thing. May his family and friends at least take solace in knowing he is no longer in pain.

Seems like when college athletes are involved, too often there is no true investigation. The Seahawks were stupid not to look into this further. Whatever heartache they get from this pick, they earned it.

The draft is going to hinge on whether Gurley is truly great, Havenstein is your starting RT, and on how many of other O-line picks pan out.

Gurley is a potentially great back, but it’s all potential because he’s had trouble staying on the field. Looking back, though, there wasn’t a lot of options at No. 10 that made sense for the Rams. I’m OK with the Gurley pick. It’s a risk, but could pay off big.

You have to hit on Havenstein as a starting right tackle in order for this to be a good draft.

If the Rams miss on Havenstein, and if Gurley isn’t the great back they think he will be, it’s an awful draft. If Gurley pans out, and Havenstein doesn’t, it’s a mixed bag.

For this draft to get an A, you need Gurley to be an All-Pro back, Havenstein to man the RT position for years to come, and for at least one of the other O-linemen to step forward as a starter on the interior at some point in the next few years, and one of the other linemen to be a worthy backup.

Even if the Rams get these O-linemen to play well, and even if Gurley is really good, I still wonder about the passing game. Can the O-linemen pass block? Can this team throw when it needs to throw? You better not get too far behind in a playoff game, because I doubt the Rams will be built to come from behind.

I guess the big question is whether this team is being built for a Super Bowl run. Fisher’s only been there once as a coach, and he didn’t quite have the offensive firepower to pull it off. This feels like it could be that type of team. A future playoff contender that will rely very heavily on defense to win a title.

Looks like when the Rams go back to L.A., they’ll be bringing Ground Chuck back with them.

OK with Mannion there. You don’t wait around and hope he’s there if he’s your top QB left on the board. This was a real big need. I’m happy with what the Rams did here, and happy the Rams added some O-linemen, but worry that Havenstein will struggle against edge rushers.

I’ve expressed this elsewhere. My strong allegiance to the Rams has waned. I am a little surprised at how much. I will try to watch the beginning of the first round of the draft, and try to be part of the chat room, but even as I type that, I realize that I’m not nearly as excited as usual. And the NFL Draft used to be “the thing” for me this time of year.

I think my waning interest is due to two factors:

1) The Move. It’s not just that the Rams may move, it’s that Kroenke has pre-determined that they should move to L.A. If there were discussions, I would be optimistic. But, there aren’t. And, that means the Rams’ move sure seems inevitable. I’ve looked at it from various angles, and it all comes back to Kroenke is doing everything he can do to hightail it to the West Coast. And, that bums me. Because I thought the franchise was at least headed upward. However …

2) … I am tired of a weak offense and inconsistent defense. But, worse, are the slow starts each year. After reflecting on last year, and looking at Fisher’s history, I wonder if he has the coaching acumen to bring the best out of an offense. He might be too “old school” and not innovative enough. Now, we have Foles at QB, and that doesn’t excite me, either. The whole QB situation is pretty weak. There’s not much to this team that really excites me right now, until I know that the D will be dominant, and I’m not sure about that. … Still, if the Rams weren’t trying to move to L.A., maybe I’d be more optimistic or engaged, I don’t know. Perhaps that’s coloring my view of the team (or, opening my eyes).

So, Demoff’s saying there’s a chance.

What are the causes of their violence? Are these rioters not a product of a system? Did they grow up in a vacuum?

Is there a correlation between poverty and crime, poverty and suffering, poverty and violence, poverty and withdrawal, etc.?

I say, of course.

I know the looters are wrong. But, the outcry against the looting usually ignores the underlying causes that lead to this type of situation. Not every injustice leads to a riot. That only happens when it’s a “last straw” on straw mountain.

Wow, nailed it.

Sorry, haven’t been on this forum in a while. Been busy trying to get my house for sale. Thought I’d come over here just to see what’s going on. I’m so sorry to hear about your nephew’s condition, Herzog. I hope things are going better.

I will say that trying to find a reason for this type of affliction can drive people a little crazy. I know that some Christians will say it’s God’s will, He has a plan for all of us, and He won’t give us more than we can handle … I ain’t one of those people. Of the little I’ve learned about life, I believe that in times like these, it’s best to concentrate on what we can control. You, personally, may not be able to do anything, and you have to come to terms with that. Now, if you CAN help the family in some small way, whether it’s taking your nephew to a treatment once in a while or just being there to watch a pet … whatever … you may find that your “tiny” contribution is appreciated a hundred-fold.

Good luck to you, your nephew and your family, Herzog.