Cliff Kaminsky (1969-2004)
Today would be my brother's 55th birthday. Cliff Kaminsky, passed away 20 years ago. To me he's still 35. Always will be. Isn't that odd?
Really what I have to remember him by is his music. In his 30s, mostly to woo a young woman (at first), he became very concerned with animal welfare and became a vegan. It meant a lot to him and while I don't follow him in that I did make one promise when he passed away: that I wouldn't ever eat foie gras again, after he explained to me how it was made. Cliff was an acoustical engineer; he worked at a company that helped manufacturers make their machines quieter. Machines like automobiles and washing machines. The science of it was quite fascinating even if mostly beyond me. Cliff was a wonderful, happy, selfless man who enjoyed traveling to foreign countries with his guitar and just sitting down on a sidewalk or in a park and playing music. I miss him.
I will share little clips of his music throughout the show.
Here's a website that has info about him. Please note that the Foundation is closed and we're not accepting donations but I'm sharing the site with you in case you'd like to see more about my brother.
Just One Thing: Keep your expectations rational
While Republicans came out of the RNC somewhat overconfident, they are in a very strong position. This despite news that the Kamala Harris campaign and related PACs and fundraising organizations hauled in $81 million in the first 24 hours after she became the likely Democratic presidential nominee. And if you include pledges and a little more than 24 hours, it's a LOT more. (Reports are talking about $231 million in 29 hours and I'm sure that will be updated by the time you read this, but much less than half of it is actually collected already and it's not crazy to be slightly skeptical about all of those pledges coming through. Still, it's a BIG number.) She and Trump will likely end up fairly close in money raised. And that’s fine for both sides. You don’t need the most money; you just need enough, which Biden would not have had. In betting odds, Trump remans close to 2-to-1 favorite to beat Harris. But remember, with those odds, the unlikelier outcome happens 33 times out of every hundred times the game is played. It’s NOT a sure thing and the return of undisciplined Donald Trump should make Republicans a little nervous. Not panicked, but concerned.
Live updates: Harris, Biden address campaign staff as fundraising soars (cnbc.com)
Today's Guests
Michael Oren is a former Israeli ambassador to the United States. He's also an author of both fiction and non-fiction and the host of a Substack, Clarity with Michael Oren
We'll discuss the Israel-Hamas war and US-Israeli relations, especially in the context of the current American and Israeli political turmoil
Amazon.com: Michael B. Oren: books, biography, latest update
Biden expected to meet Netanyahu on Thursday at White House, US official says (msn.com)
Israel’s Next War | Foreign Affairs
John Bennardo is the director of the Two Dollar Bill Documentary and a lover of that particular piece of American currency.
Other Stuff
This is THE political story you need to read today: How the Bet on an 81-Year-Old Joe Biden Turned Into an Epic Miscalculation - WSJ
Well that didn’t take long: Live updates: Harris has support from enough Democratic delegates to become presidential nominee | AP News
Don't let your kids study sociology: Teaching Sociology Is an Ideological Nightmare — The James G. Martin Center for Academic Renewal (jamesgmartin.center)
I support the murder charge: Body camera video shows Sonya Massey's final moments before she was fatally shot by a deputy (nbcnews.com)
I’m definitely…NOT…doing this, but I do like the concept: Colorado race travels 31 miles while stopping at 10 Taco Bells with eating requirement | News | denvergazette.com
Don't believe the green-energy hype: The ‘Green Energy Transition’ That Wasn’t - WSJ (archive.ph)
Don't pronounce it "Bway'-na": How to pronounce Buena Vista the Colorado way | FOX31 Denver (kdvr.com)
My answer is "eventually"...when prices are even lower and nationwide fast charging becomes available. Right now, at least as one's only car, EVs strike many (including me) as too risky due to inability to charge for significant distances if you're taking a road trip and length of time to charge. As a second car, I think they can make a lot of sense but of course that's a much smaller market. EVs Are Cheaper Than Ever. Can Car Buyers Be Won Over? - WSJ
Sunday night meetings and Sunday morning filings...Dave Williams has corrupted the Colorado GOP: Colorado GOP spent another $39,000 on Williams' mailers (coloradosun.com)
The $30 thing is kinda stupid but the main thing is that a child protection caseworker can lie about a family, potentially with very harmful results, and not lose certification to get a similar job elsewhere in the state after being fired or resigning from the job where (s)he lied. One state agency is charging another $30 an hour for records (coloradosun.com)
Indeed she is: Kamala Harris is painfully out of her depth - UnHerd
And nobody wants to work for her (at least not for long): (29) VP Kamala Harris Had 92-Percent Staff Turnover During Her First Three Years (substack.com)
Tech nerd stuff that really matters: Google Is Keeping Cookies in Chrome After All - WSJ
Huge numbers: Billboard 200: Eminem brings Taylor Swift's historic reign at No. 1 to an end | AP News
Today's Videos
Fascinating half-hour video about AI ruining the Internet
Hidden camera video of the Secret Service preparations for the Trump rally in Butler, PA and during the event itself