Random Friday Thoughts — April 13, 2018

Happy Friday the 13th!  Are you superstitious and think scary things happen on this day and date?

For me, I instantly think of Jason Voorhees!

I hope “Friday the 13th” doesn’t spook you because we have another one coming up in July!

Thank you for checking out my “Random Friday Thoughts”!

SECURITY BREACHES

It seems like every day now we hear of another security breach at some large company that many of us do business with on a regular basis.

None of us want our personal information, especially our banking account information, out there in the world.

I make it a daily point to check my banking account online to make sure no unexpected charges are there and that my money is still where it should be.

However, sadly, it’s becoming such a regular thing that it’s really not all that shocking anymore!

It’s much easier these days for hackers to get our information than it is for companies to build firewalls for our security!

So, while Taylor sings “haters gonna hate”, I say be vigilant with your personal information online because “hackers gonna hack”!

MARIAH CAREY’S REVELATION

On the cover of the new “People” magazine, pop icon Mariah Carey discusses her long battle with being bipolar.

“People” reports that Carey was diagnosed with the disorder in 2001 after being hospitalized with a mental and physical breakdown.

I’m sure you might remember the whole ice cream cart debacle on MTV around that time.

Carey tells “People”, “Until recently I lived in denial and isolation and in constant fear someone would expose me.  It was too heavy a burden to carry and I simply couldn’t do that anymore. I sought and received treatment, I put positive people around me and I got back to doing what I love — writing songs and making music.”

She’s currently in therapy and on medication.

MY FAVORITE MARIAH CAREY SONG 

And, since I’m talking about Mimi, here’s my favorite Mariah song.

Ironically, it’s “Emotions”, a three-week #1 hit from the fall of 1991.

MOVING ON

It’s no secret now…

… but I’m leaving Florida and heading back north to four distinct seasons (although winter seems to last longer). 🙂

I’m moving to Duluth, Minnesota, to take a Chief Meteorologist position (a first for me) at the Fox affiliate for the Northland.

You can read the more personal story here.  It’ll open in a new window.

https://anthonypeoples.wordpress.com/2018/04/09/ill-let-you-in-on-a-secret/

GOING COUNTRY ON THE DANCEFLOOR

It’s great to have Kylie Minogue back.

Her new album, “Golden”, take us back to the dance floors.  And, it does so with a country twang to it.

The first taste of that new sound was the lead off single, “Dancing”.

I love that song and my other favorites are “Every Little Part of Me”, “One Last Kiss”, “Low Blow”, “Shelby ’68”, and “Raining Glitter”.

“Golden” is definitely a different sound for Minogue, but a fresh one!

GRADE:  B+

“REPORTING LIVE”

I just finished reading my 11th book of 2018, “Reporting Live” by Lesley Stahl, who’s now on “60 Minutes”.

While she shared some interesting stories on the presidents she’s covered — from Richard Nixon to George H. W. Bush — it wasn’t an easy read.

First off, there’s no set up of getting to know Stahl before she got her audition for CBS News in 1972.

We learned about her husband, Aaron, who suffers from depression.  He gained famed as the screenwriter for “Urban Cowboy” with John Travolta.

We also learned about her daughter, Taylor, and her parents and brother.  Yet, there’s very little about Stahl growing up in New England and nothing about her first marriage in the 1960s.

What I came away with from the book is that the now 76-year-old was not only a tough interviewer for “Face The Nation”, but also rather “bitchy” at times!  (I feel comfortable saying that because she used the “b-word”, too, in an indirect self-referential way.)

Stahl was very rough on the presidents.  It was hard reading her 50-plus pages on Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter because I idolize them so much.

However, she was fair.  She had no love loss for Nixon and Reagan either after fawning over Reagan for part of the Carter chapter.

Stahl also told an interesting story about Nancy Reagan and Barbara Bush.

Apparently early on in the Reagan presidency, the First Lady and the Second Lady were going to an event together and both were wearing red dresses.

One was told to change dresses and basically to never wear red again.

This went on through 1988 when Vice President Bush was running for president and Ms. Bush started wearing red again and getting away from her Barbara blues!

WOMEN’S WINE PREFERENCE

Do you prefer red or white wine?

A “Food & Wine” magazine Facebook poll shows that women prefer red over white about two to one!

Me, I prefer white.  Give me a Moscoto and I’m very happy.  I might even share the bottle with you.  Again, I “might” share. 🙂

In 2017, the Top Five brands by volume sold were #5 Carlo Rossi, #4 Sutter Home, #3 Robert Mondavi, and #2 Barefoot.

At #1, my favorite!

Much to my chagrin when I moved to Florida, you can only buy 3-liter boxes of wine (back in Illinois, I was used to 5-liter boxes).

Here’s hoping that Minnesota or Wisconsin sells 5-liter boxes!

SHRIMP

Behind desserts, shrimp is probably my favorite food.

I love shrimp cocktail and shrimp scampi.  And, check out this tasty photo of my homemade shrimp ceviche!

I’m not alone.

“Eating Well” reports that in 2012, Americans ate about 1.2 billion (with a “B”) pounds of shrimp.

But, only about 10% of it is farmed and wild-caught here in the U.S!  Most comes from shrimp farms in Asia and South America.

Another interesting fact, the average seafood consumption has been on the decline since 2004!

While I gave up beef many years ago, I’ll continue to do my part in keeping those shrimp and seafood numbers from dropping too much more!

THAT’S IT

With all the craziness in the world, make it the best in your little part of it!

Anthony