Dome Pondering

Always,  in a state, of sacrificing for the best,  neverendingly, worrying about the worst,  with moments in between. That's where I mentally live.  Parenting.  Always. 

3 Up 1. Odysseus Spacecraft - It's pretty cool that the United States is landing on the moon again. Unlike the first time where it gripped the nation, this story feels rather niche. Regardless, still very cool.  2. Beyonce - First black woman to top the country chart. Read that again. That's so awesome. And just another nod to Beyonce's legendary career. 3. Ashwath Kaushik - Imagine being 8 years old and defeating a Chess grandmaster? That's what Kaushik did becoming the youngest player ever to do it. Imagine that? Eight years old!  3 Down 1. National Shortage of Teachers - We are already seeing the teaching profession taking a hit regarding interest and quality. Now, the dilemma gets more complex as more and more teachers are taking advantage of their vacation and sick days, combined with a shortage of substitute teachers.  When I was growing up, subs really had it tough. I can't even imagine what it is like now.  2. Femicide in Kenya - The nation of Kenya is unde

There's something wrong with the All-Star Game.  Yeah, we've definitely had this conversation before. Expect to pick up this very discussion (again) in July when Major League Baseball has their version in the "Mid-Summer Classic" when it is the ONLY current topic to bounce around in the stratosphere of sports discourse.  What's wrong with the All-Star Game?!  I'm not dismissing the obvious - yes, the NBA All-Star Game is very much at an alarming point of necessary refinement and change - evaluation is needed. What we saw on Sunday night was not disappointing, but outright embarrassing. Also yes, gone are the days when the game flooded your television screen at a respectable 6:30pm on NBC, and you were wowed by the athleticism and star power of the first half of the game, and treated to what felt like the world's best players playing pickup basketball on the grandest stage.  Now? Not so much. So yeah, we got the message. The outrage - and shock TV and hot t

3 Up 1. Beyonce Country Music - Bey Bey is sure to annoy a lot of people with the release of several country songs that will climb the charts. The question looking forward will be if "Country America" will accept it. If they do, The Queen is about to add to her legacy for sure.  2. Caitlin Clark Breaks Record - Well, she did it. And she did it with quite the shot. Clark is box office and is quickly becoming one of the biggest attractions in basketball. I just don't see how Clark leaves Iowa for the WNBA, and the awaiting Indiana Fever.  3. Jenny Cavnar -  The Oakland A's appointed Cavnar as the first female primary play-by-play announcer. That's really cool. The A's are an absolute mess. This, is definitely a win for the franchise One of the few they'll get this year. Yeah, I went there... BTW - I'm hoping they stay in Oakland.  3 Down 1. Chiefs Parade Shooting - Guns, guns, guns. Can't enjoy anything, anymore.  2. Kelvin Kiptum Dies - The world re

What is it about? Two astronomers discover a meteor that is projected to smash into Earth and attempt to warn the world of the impending doom. The attempt leads to a giant media tour and various societal hurdles.  Who is in it? Leonardo DiCaprio - Dr. Randall Mindy Jennifer Lawrence - Kate Dibiasky Meryl Streep - President Orlean Cate Blanchett - Brie Evantee Favorite Scene: The initial scene of Randall and Kate meeting President Orlean in the Oval Office.  Favorite Quote: We really did have everything, didn't we? I mean, when you think about it. Review: Don't Look Up has been on "My List" for a long time. I finally got around to watching it and it very much lived up to the hype. The film is funny, with lots of talent, and of course, carries a profound and thoughtful outlook on life. The overall concept of a meteor hitting Earth is drastic, but it's the silly, yet, very real outlook of everyone being concerned with everything else that makes the film so profound.

What is it about? A long-time scout, Stanley Sugarman, grinds out the life of an NBA scout and the politics of the NBA by taking a chance on a prospect he believes in to change both of their lives.  Who is in it? Adam Sandler - Stanley Sugarman Juancho Hernangomez - Bo Cruz Queen Latifah - Teresa Sugarman Favorite Scene:   Kermit and Bo line up at center court and Kermit begins the trash talk to get inside of Bo's head, eventually taking him off his game.  Favorite Quote:   "I'll say one last inspirational thing to you: they can't kill you if you're already dead." Review:  Hustle sat on "My List" on my Netflix account for quite a long time. Parked on the couch in the middle of the night with a newborn, and jonesing for some hoops, I dove in on what I read (and heard from others) was a "really good film". I'll give away the suspense, I thought Hustle was decent. It felt too cliche and had little depth, but still, a really good film.  The

3 Up 1. Super Bowl - That was an entertaining game! I'm definitely your football casual, so appropriately adjust your take in reading this. I rarely dive into the Super Bowl other than for social interest and custom, but I genuinely was glued to my seat watching this event - game and halftime performance. Well done, NFL.  Also, a record of 123M people watching it - that's pretty good, too.  1a. Patrick Mahomes/Chiefs - Congratulations to the Chiefs on a rarity in the NFL - back-to-back titles! Even more so, is the props towards Mahomes. Again, a super causal here, but that dude pulls me in. He's amazing.  1b. Usher Performance - I was all about it. Amazingly, I'm now the age of the target demographic of the NFL for these halftime shows. Regardless, Usher killed it!  2. Annie Ray - We often don't see these Grammys handed out, but kudos to Annie Ray for receiving a Grammy for her amazing work in music education. Definitely give this a quick read.  3. Record Stocks -

What is it about?  An unexpected promotion at a cutthroat hedge firm pushes a recently engaged couple's relationship to the brink and exposes far more than they realized.  Who is in it? Phoebe Dynevor - Emily Alden Ehrenreich - Luke Eddie Marsan - Cambell Favorite Scene:  Emily asks Luke for numbers that keep him working longer than expected, revealing the expectations and drive of the two that are clearly different.  Favorite Quote:  I think expectations are way out of whack. Review:  Fair Play is a very thoughtful and profound film, especially so once the credits roll and you quickly reflect on what just unraveled. The film is so much more than Wall Street, power brokers, and how ambition - different expectations and accomplishments - can create inharmony within a couple. The film very much exposes the the expectations, stereotypes, and norms of gender roles.  Throughout the film, Luke cannot deal with the promotion of Emily and attaches every stigma for powerful and successful

Imagine, if we can see the dents and scratches, the smashes and chaos,  on the daily armor, each of us put on. Just imagine. 

3 Up 1. Tracy Chapman - It was pretty damn cool to see Chapman grace the stage - seemingly coming out of wherever she's been to lay down some tunes on her smash hit. Sorry, Luke Combs version is okay (not overly a fan of the cover), but having Chapman at the Grammys to sing alongside was an awesome moment. I'm a sucker for those collab moments in music.  1a. Taylor Swift - Sticking with the Grammys, Taylor won best album of the year - as expected. Of course, Swift caps off an amazing 2023 by announcing she's dropping a new album in 2024 - thus crushing the hopes of every artist out there. Did you see faces when she announced that?!  2. Neo Hutiri - Innovation in the healthcare field is needed, and Hutiri is doing in a space where it is very much needed in Africa. It's a great story where he is changing the game via a smart locker dispenser system, getting meds and prescriptions to patients at a much quicker pace.  3. Carl Weathers - My guy. From Rocky, to Predator, to A