Drink to Bad Bunny's Super Bowl Halftime Show's Emmy nominations on National Piña Colada Day

Happy National Piña Colada Day! Like last year, the day is doing double duty by toasting nominees of an awards show, the creative people behind Bad Bunny's Super Bowl halftime show. I begin with Gold Derby reporting Bad Bunny bouncing towards the Emmys as his Super Bowl halftime show scores unprecedented 9 nominations.

Puerto Rican superstar, who tallied three Grammys earlier this year, looks to add another statuette to his burgeoning collection.
...
Bad Bunny conquered the Grammys. Now he's coming for the Emmy Awards.

As Gold Derby predicted in January, the Puerto Rican superstar — whose real name is Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio — scored a nomination Wednesday for Best Variety Special (Live) for his sizzling, much-scrutinized halftime show at Sunday's Super Bowl LX between the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots. The special was one of the most-nominated programs, receiving nine total bids, including Production Design for a Variety Special, Choreography for Variety or Reality Programming, Directing for a Variety Special, Hairstyling for a Variety, Nonfiction or Reality Program, Lighting Design/Lighting Direction for a Special, Music Direction, Sound Mixing for a Variety Series or Special, and Technical Direction and Camerawork for a Special. That marks a record for a halftime show.

People listed Bad Bunny's competitors for Best Variety Special (Live).

The milestone comes after the performance drew a staggering 128.2 million viewers, making it the fourth-most-watched Super Bowl halftime show in history. The show is also nominated for Outstanding Variety Special (Live), where it will compete against four major awards ceremonies: the 83rd Annual Golden Globe Awards, the 68th Annual Grammy Awards, the Oscars and the 78th Annual Tony Awards.

I'm not going to handicap this category today; Gold Derby has its prediction page for the Creative Arts Emmy Awards up, but no one seems to have made a prediction in this category. When enough predictions have been tallied, I'll return to this category. On the other hand, the Super Bowl Halftime Show is leading the odds for Variety Special Directing and Music Direction; Gold Derby is not making predictions in the craft categories. I'll look at those when I examine Gold Derby's prediction for Variety Special (Live).

As I noted in February, Bad Bunny's performance elicited some controversy. Back to Gold Derby.

Going into the Super Bowl, there was much right-wing consternation over the NFL's selection of Bad Bunny for the coveted slot, given that he performs in Spanish — often wearing dresses — and is a vocal critic of Trump administration policies. The MAGA crowd went so far as to counterprogram in the form of a widely lampooned Kid Rock-led show for Turning Point USA.

I'll let Emmy winner and returning Emmy nominee Desi Lydic mock this reaction in Desi Lydic Foxsplains Bad Bunny's Super Bowl Halftime Show | The Daily Show.

Desi Lydic Foxsplains the outrage over the un-American, un-manly, and un-known superstar slated for the Super Bowl halftime show: Bad Bunny.

HAHAHAHA! No wonder she earned another two nominations!

Now to drink to Bad Bunny and the Super Bowl Halftime Show's Emmy nominations with PINIA COLADA FOR #badbunny SUPER BOWL HALFTIME SHOW (sic).


That was misspelled and really should have used a Bad Bunny song, like piña colada y bad bunny.


There, better.

That's a wrap for today's holiday celebrating Puerto Rico. Stay tuned for World Population Day on National Mojito Day.

Previous posts about the 2026 Primetime and Creative Arts Emmy Awards

• 'The Tale of Silyan' vs 'The Librarians' for Exceptional Merit in Documentary Filmmaking at the Emmy Awards

'The Tale of Silyan' vs 'The Librarians' for Exceptional Merit in Documentary Filmmaking at the Emmy Awards

As I promised yesterday, I'm beginning my examination of this year's Primetime and Creative Arts Emmy Awards nominees today. Unlike past years, I'm not starting with the nominees for Outstanding Commercial. Don't worry, I'll get to the category. Instead, I'm kicking off the series by examining the nominees for Exceptional Merit in Documentary Filmmaking, of which there are only two, The Librarians (PBS) and The Tale of Silyan (Nat Geo). Watch their trailers, beginning with THE LIBRARIANS | Official Trailer.

America’s war on books is more than a war on words. THE LIBRARIANS, a new feature documentary from Academy Award® nominee and Peabody Award winner Kim A. Snyder.

In Texas, the Krause List targets 850 books focused on race and LGBTQIA+ stories – triggering sweeping book bans across the U.S. at an unprecedented rate. As tensions escalate, librarians connect the dots from heated school and library board meetings nationwide to lay bare the underpinnings of extremism fueling the censorship efforts. Despite facing harassment, threats, and laws aimed at criminalizing their work – the librarians’ rallying cry for freedom to read is a chilling cautionary tale.

That's powerful and an example of why I pay attention to awards shows; they bring films and shows to my attention that are worth watching for the subject matter.

Next, The Tale of Silyan | Official Trailer | National Geographic Documentary Films.

A down-on-his luck farmer develops a unique bond with a wounded white stork as he nurses the bird back to health.

This is a film I can recommend to my environmental science students, as it's about both wildlife and farming, two topics in that class. Welcome to blogging as professional development.

Between the two, I think The Tale of Silyan is the favorite. First, it has a second Emmy nomination for Outstanding Cinematography for a Nonfiction Program, which I'll examine over the jump, while The Librarians has only one. Second, it earned a nomination for Best Documentary at the Critics Choice Documentary Awards in addition to Best Cinematography. The Librarians also earned a nomination at the Critics Choice Documentary Awards for Best Political Documentary, but not Best Documentary. Third, The Tale of Silyan earned nominations at the Film Independent Spirit Awards and PGA Awards and wins at the Cinema Eye Honors Awards and Golden Trailer Awards. Yes, the trailer I embedded is a winner in its own right for Best Documentary Subject. Meanwhile, The Librarians earned nominations at the Satellite Awards and Cinema Eye Honors Awards. When the two films earned nominations at the same awards shows, The Tale of Silyan won awards and more and better nominations. Gold Derby hasn't created a predictions page for the Creative Arts Emmy Awards yet, but I don't have to wait until they do; I can tell which nominee is more likely to win, especially since this is a juried award. The experts will prefer the craft and storytelling of The Tale of Silyan over the subject matter of The Librarians.

Follow over the jump for The Tale of Silyan's other nomination.

Marsh Family sings 'Star-Spangled Banner'

Today's brief evergreen entry is the Marsh Family performing "Star-Spangled Banner" - Marsh Family adaptation of the US National Anthem for 250th 4th of July Day.

Wishing a very happy #4thJuly to our many friends and supporters in the USA. To mark the 250th anniversary today, we've re-adapted the British popular 18th-century song "The Anacreontic Song" which became the US national anthem the #StarSpangledBanner after Francis Scott Key wrote powerful and moving words to describe the survival of a fort under bombardment during the War of 1812 (against the British).

We've taken as our topic for the re-adaptation the current state of the United States in 2026 as seen against its majestic history, using the metaphor of a ship sailing. Lyrics below, with nods to some of the great speeches and moments in American history, and with hopes that the current distortion of its values and direction will not endure, but be another storm to pass through.

I never thought I'd enjoy the national anthem in a minor key, but I did.

That's a wrap for today's musical post. This year's Primetime and Creative Arts Emmy Awards nominees will be announced later today, so stay tuned as I begin my examination of them as early as tomorrow.

Be Smart describes 'The New Kind of Heat Humans Can’t Handle'

I promised a climate post today, so I'm sharing Be Smart describing The New Kind of Heat Humans Can’t Handle.

It's getting hot in here… can we survive it?
...
I pushed my body to the edge in a climate & sports research lab to discover what extreme heat really does to us. Why humidity, not just temperature, can make heat deadly, and how climate change and city design are making dangerous heat more common.

The climate part of the video harkens back to PBS Terra explains why 'America’s Disaster-Free Zone Has a Dark Secret'.

I guessed...that the dark secret was the heat...[My] guess was dead on. That's no surprise, as I blogged about Phoenix being the hottest city in the U.S. in 2021 and mentioned its record heat in 2023 twice. What is surprising is that heat waves don't count as federal natural disasters covered by FEMA. The commenters found the reason dismaying: "You don't get disaster declarations for mortality. You only do it for economics." Ecurewitz responded "That’s the most American statement ever." RandomAngle9 commented "The fact that heat doesn't 'qualify' as a disaster because it doesn't destroy buildings, only people, says everything about how we value human life in policy."

This part is something I can show to my environmental science students. The other part is the physiology of disposing of excess heat. That would be useful to Human Structure and Function students. Unfortunately, I don't plan on teaching that class ever again. So much for blogging as professional development, just personal development. Just the same, I hope my readers find it as interesting as I did.

That's a wrap for today's brief educational entry I can share in August. Stay tuned for another post I can share next month tomorrow.

CNBC's 'Inside The Rise And Fall Of Kohl's,' a tale of the Retail Apocalypse

It's time for another tale of the Retail Apocalypse as CNBC takes its viewers Inside The Rise And Fall Of Kohl's.

Kohl's rose to its peak as a department store in the 2000s, with a focus on a strong in-store experience, coupons and rewards. Now, after years of stagnant sales and a rough patch on Wall Street, Kohl's is trying to get back to what made it a household name.

In 2022, Retail Archaeology asked Kohl's: Who Would Want To Buy This? In that same post, I embedded a CNBC video from 2020 asking "Can Kohl's survive?" Last year, Company Man asked Kohl's - The Rise and Fall? Now CNBC has answered that question in the affirmative. If nothing else, Kohl's stock price, which is what CNBC really cares about, has fallen. The chain is also shrinking, as evidenced by my wife going to the closest store and finding that it has closed, apparently one of 27 stores that closed last year. Kohl's also has no plans to expand.

In addition to the identity and management issues both CNBC and Company Man reported, The Street article I linked to above cited competition.

Like many traditional department stores, Kohl’s is navigating intensifying competition from both digital and value-focused retailers. E-commerce rivals such as Amazon, Temu, and Shein continue to capture online shopping demand, while off-price chains including Ross Stores and TJMaxx attract budget-conscious consumers with lower pricing.

At the same time, macroeconomic uncertainty has reshaped consumer behavior, with shoppers increasingly prioritizing value and limiting discretionary spending.

If private equity doesn't appear in the story, Amazon probably will.

We probably won't be Kohl's shoppers in the future, as the nearest store is now nearly seven miles away instead of two. We'll go that far for Costco, but not for a department store. If so, there are better stores that distance, like a Macy's, and a Target closer.

That's a wrap for today. Stay tuned for a climate post tomorrow.

More fun with wombats and ice cream on Souther 2026

Happy Souther, the first Sunday after the first full moon after the Summer Solstice, a holiday created by John Michael Greer, who also designated the wombat as the animal mascot. Since the first Souther fell on National Ice Cream Day and usually occurs during July, National Ice Cream Month, the food for today is ice cream. Last year, I found a cartoon wombat who likes ice cream, so I'm returning to him and his friends in Work it Out Wombats Ice Cream for Breakfast Song.

Episode: Jun-Jun's Wake Up Call - From: Work It Out Wombats: PBS Kids Video

Work it Out Wombats is owned by Marcy Gunther, Robby Hoffman, Kathy Waugh, Marisa Wolsky, Pipeline Studios, GBH Kids, and PBS.

Ice cream for breakfast? I wish!

Since no actual ice cream appeared in the clip, I'm embedding National Ice Cream Month | July - National Day Calendar to make up for it.



July is National Ice Cream Month!
Ronald Reagan is associated with National Ice Cream Month but not National Jelly Bean Day? Surprising, given his love of jelly beans.

I close with Ice cream- The Wombats, the song for today.

That's a wrap for today's faux holiday. Stay tuned for something I can share in August, since the blog passed its page view goal for July yesterday.

Drink to the Colts 'American Experiment' for a drum corps 4th of July

Happy 4th of July! Change of plans — instead of revisiting Drink to America Sings for July 4th, I'm observing today as one of my trademark drum corps holidays by featuring a show currently on the field, Colts 2026: American Experiment.

Colts Drum and Bugle Corps is proud to present…

American Experiment!

That's just the show announcement, but it makes for a good preview image. Here's an actual performance, Most Certainly not Colts 2026 - American Experiment.



Colts 2026 - American Experiment
That's both a patriotic show and a completely modern one, so I'm happy with the concept. I'm not as confident this upload will last. As I wrote in 2012's Christmas in July, enjoy it while it lasts. On the other hand, I'm more confident that NOT the Colts 2026 “American Experiment” 07/02/26 will remain up; it's a rehearsal video shot by the uploader.

I close with Red, White & Boozy 4th of July Cocktail | How To Make Recipe from Alyena's Kitchen.

Looking for the perfect red, white and blue drink? This cocktail is festive and just the right amount of boozy and perfect for your Independence Day, 4th of July party!

Enjoy! Please drink responsibly and NEVER drink and drive!

What Alyena said.

That's a wrap for the second of three patriotic holidays I celebrate during July with the third being Bastille Day. In the meantime, stay tuned for fun with wombats and ice cream on Souther!

'Last Week Tonight' examines redistricting

I'm in a mood where I want to laugh so I don't cry but not yet ready to celebrate the 4th of July holiday, so I'm embedding Redistricting: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO).

John Oliver discusses how the Supreme Court has paved the way for the redrawing of congressional maps across the country, and what it means for the midterm elections. Plus, an urgent update on Gavin Newsom’s summer reading.

Yes, John Oliver has been covering redistricting and gerrymandering since 2017. Hey, I've been blogging about redistricting since March 2011, the blog's first month!

As for the Supreme Court's opinion on the Voting Rights Act, I wrote "the conservative majority of the Supreme Court shot multiracial democracy in America in the leg, if not an even more vital part of the body. The bullet is still traveling, injuring tissues and organs on its way." Oliver documents the damage, which isn't done yet.

I close by agreeing that all options should be on the table, especially Supreme Court reform. That might have to wait until 2029, when both houses of Congress and the White House are controlled by Democrats. To get there, "people in favor of multiracial democracy are going to have to vote in large enough numbers this fall and in 2028 to overwhelm the forces trying to send the U.S. back 60 years or more. May we succeed."

That's a wrap. Stay tuned for a 4th of July post. I'm thinking of revisiting Drink to America Sings for July 4th. Disney!

Randy Rainbow sings 'He's De-Mented!'

Randy Rainbow surprised me yesterday when he uploaded He's De-Mented! - A Randy Rainbow Song Parody. Good thing I didn't announce any plans for today when I wished my readers A happy drum corps Canada Day 2026!

Parody of “It’s De-Lovely” by Cole Porter

Parody Lyrics by Randy Rainbow

Song Produced, Orchestrated, Mixed, Mastered by: Michael J Moritz Jr @michaeljmoritz

Vocal Arrangement - Brett Boles
All Vocals: Randy Rainbow
Piano, Synths -Michael J Moritz Jr
Drums - Tom Jorgensen

Randy focusing on Donald "Pervert Hoover" Trump's mental condition reminds me of what I wrote in Updates on three Trump trials.

"Bordering on the pathological" — it is pathological! Speaking of pathologies, I've only mentioned narcissism in connection with Trump once in Since Trump is acting like Dr. Evil, it's time to read The Evil Overlord List.

I will see a competent psychiatrist and get cured of all extremely unusual phobias and bizarre compulsive habits which could prove to be a disadvantage.

Does malignant narcissism count?

Yes, it does, but I've made more of his his vulnerability to conspiracy theories. Now I wish I had mentioned Bandy X. Lee before. She understood Trump's pathologies and warned people about them in 2017!

Randy added Pervert Hoover's mental and physical decline to the list. I've stayed away from those, as I've only used the word senile once on this blog, and that was quoting Seth Meyers in 2020: "Seth takes a closer look at Trump trying to paint Biden as drugged up and senile while attempting to steal the election by lying about voter fraud." In retrospect, that strikes me as projection on Pervert Hoover's part. I once wrote about him that "people in glass houses shouldn't throw stones," but that has never stopped him.

That written, it will take a lot for the age-related part of Pervert Hoover's condition to gain enough traction to make a difference. That's what Steve M. at No More Mister Nice Blog thinks, too. In May, he asked HOW BAD IS TRUMP'S HEALTH?

I'll believe he's really losing it when he launches into one of these attacks and freezes up, unable to summon up the next nasty word he wants to say. I look forward to that the day, the day he tries to slip the verbal shiv in but can't manage to do it. I hope it happens.

Maybe he's experiencing some form of dementia. But for now, his words, even when they're incoherent, have power. And that's primarily why he's not judged the way Biden was, even though he's probably in terrible physical health, and he knows it.

Pervert Hoover isn't there yet and I'm not holding my breath waiting for it to happen. Too bad.

Watching Randy promote Ground News reminds me that I should still compose a comparison and contrast between Ground News on the one hand and the Media Bias Chart and Allsides on the other. Not today. In the meantime, stay tuned for posts to celebrate the holiday weekend.

A happy drum corps Canada Day 2026!

Happy Canada Day! I'm shuffling my regular order of presentation of Canada's drum corps by beginning with Drumcore's Drum Corps Percussion: Top 12 Canadian Drumlines (“TICK” System) to represent the first decade of the DCI era.

This video chronicles the Top 12-scoring percussion sections of junior drum & bugle corps hailing from CANADA under the “tick” system (1983 and prior).

Ranking is by average score of DCI Finals Week, in order to take into account all end-of-season performances.

The scope of this video covers only DCI competition, as access to Canadian contest recaps is limited.

I thanked the uploader.

Good work, Tumour! I'm planning on featuring this video for my Canada Day post next week, so thanks for putting it together. Are you going to make a top 12 Canadian corps under the build up system after you finish the top 12 most legendary drumlines series? If so, I'll feature in next year's Canada Day post!

He answered he would, so I expect to feature his second video about Canadian drumlines next year.

Follow over the jump for corps representing the pre-DCI era, and the decades from the 1980s to today.

PBS Eons explains 'How We Figured Out an Asteroid Killed the Dinosaurs' for Asteroid Day

Happy International Asteroid Day, the younger but paradoxically more established version of Apophis Day! For this year's observance, I'm sharing PBS Eons explaining How We Figured Out an Asteroid Killed the Dinosaurs.

66 million years ago a giant space rock crashed into our planet and killed the dinosaurs. In the span of just four decades, we’ve gone from not knowing there was a space rock at all to knowing exactly where that planet-killer came from.

I've been following this story for as long as I've been a geologist, but I still learned new things from this video, or at least was reminded of things I'd forgotten, like Luis Alvarez having earned a Nobel Prize in Physics. I will say I was skeptical at first, but by the time I earned my M.S., I was convinced.

Be Smart has more from Inside the Vault Where They Keep the Dinosaur Apocalypse.

A giant asteroid impact ended the age of the dinosaurs 66 million years ago. How did this mass extinction play out, moment by moment? In this video we meet a geologist who has explored the asteroid crater and learn what the rocks tell us about the last days of the dinosaurs. It was pretty bad!

Not only did Dr. Joe Hanson and Sean Gulick describe the details of what we now know about the Chicxulub impact and its effects, Joe concluded with a "so what" message. Unlike the dinosaurs, we have a choice.

That's a wrap for June's blogging. Stay tuned for Canada Day to begin July.

Marsh Family sings 'Scratches' about the Reflecting Pool plus 'Algae Foam' and 'Pool Change'

For today's post I can share in July, which begins tomorrow night at midnight GMT on the blog, I'm revisiting 'Green Water' and 'Algae,' two songs about the Reflecting Pool beginning with "Scratches" - Marsh Family parody of Clarence Carter's "Patches" (about Trump's Reflecting Pool).

"Patches" with its soaring vocals and soulful energy, and its sad and empathetic storyline about a farmboy from Alabama being given a mission by his dying father, has always been a favourite for us. Sung by the late Clarence Carter - who sadly died just last month, aged 90 - it was written by lead singer of "Chairmen of the Board" General Johnson along with Ron Dunbar in 1970, before Carter turned it in to a blues hit.

We are using it for a much more mundane topic than the affliction of southern rural poverty on a family, which is to reflect on Trump's disastrous ($14m and counting) renovation attempts of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool in Washington DC, which will now not be complete in time for the anniversary celebrations. The story has travelled around the world and prompted lots of hilarious online memes and commentaries, being such an accessible and colourful microcosm of his presidency and its impact.

Brilliant!

Next, Patrick Fitzgerald returns with Algae Foam ("Kodachrome / Maybellene" song parody).

One of my favorite versions of "Kodachrome" is from Simon and Garfunkle concert in Central Park, where they mashed it up with "Maybellene". This song parody turns it into "Algae Foam" to continue making fun of Donald Trump's Reflecting Pool debacle.

The Reflecting Pool hasn't made Patrick Fitzgerald forget about the Epstein Files.

Rocky Mountain Mike also returns with Pool Change (Parody of "Cool Change" by Little River Band).


That's a wrap for today's musical parody post. Stay tuned for International Asteroid Day, the younger but paradoxically more established version of Apophis Day, to close June, and Canada Day to begin July.

Paul Bunyan statues for Paul Bunyan Day

Happy Paul Bunyan Day! I'm returning to the holiday after skipping it in 2025 with three videos about Paul Bunyan statues. I begin with FOX 9 Minneapolis-St. Paul reporting Bemidji's Paul Bunyan statue turns 90, legacy examined.

The legend of Paul Bunyan is ingrained in Minnesota history, and his statue is a symbol of local pride to Bemidji residents. FOX 9's Maury Glover takes a closer look at the legacy the statue represents as it nears its 90th birthday.

The first record of loggers telling Paul Bunyan stories may have been in Wisconsin, but the first Paul Bunyan story was published in Michigan in 1906. News Center Maine mentions the date, but not the location, in History and folklore of Bangor's Paul Bunyan statue now on display.

New signage aims to educate visitors about the folklore and history behind the iconic statue.

I learned something new about the importance of timber to Bangor from this video. Any day I learn something new is a good day.

I close with Insider explaining How A Deteriorating Paul Bunyan Giant Is Restored | Refurbished | Insider.

Joel Baker is the owner of American Giants, a company that restores muffler men. Muffler men are 18- to 25-foot advertising giants that were popular in the 1960s and are becoming popular again.

He shows us how his team restores a Paul Bunyan muffler man. This includes patching up cracks on the giant, adding a structure inside, repainting it, and placing it in its new location.

I could have used this information 25 years ago when I was a tour guide and consultant for Pre-Historic Forest in the Irish Hills, which had fiberglass dinosaurs and other extinct animals that needed repairs. It's still worth knowing now, even if I don't have an immediate use for it.

That's a wrap for today. Stay tuned for another post I can share in July tomorrow followed by International Asteroid Day, the younger but paradoxically more established version of Apophis Day, to close June, and Canada Day to begin July.

Best box office since 2019 as Gen Z saves the cinema!

Out of the options I posted yesterday, I chose "the Sunday entertainment feature early" thanks to CNBC uploading How The U.S. Box Office Made Its Comeback this morning.

Americans are back at the movies. Summer blockbusters like Michael, The Devil Wears Prada 2, Obsession, and Backrooms have all contributed to the best first half of the year since 2019. CNBC’s Sarah Whitten breaks down the data.

Unlike drum corps, where returning to business as usual once the pandemic was almost over is the problem, Hollywood in general and movies in particular see it as the solution. Americans want their entertainment, and will do just about anything to keep it going. Hollywood is happy we are and is doing its part.

CNBC missed one element that contributed to the story, which CBS19 in Tyler, Texas featured in Movie theaters see major comeback as Gen Z audiences return to the box office.

Movie theaters are enjoying a post-pandemic resurgence, with Gen Z driving ticket sales and helping fuel one of Hollywood's strongest summer seasons in years.

This story looks familiar.

After all the "Millennials are killing" some institution, cultural activity, food or other product I've been reading since before the pandemic, I shouldn't be surprised that news media and popular culture would discover a contrasting feature about Gen Z to report. Gen Z reversing the trend by saving malls certainly fits.

So does Gen Z saving movie theaters. While I'm planning to retire this year, it's not because of my students. I like them and think they're good people (I'm tempted to write kids, but they're adults and deserve to be treated as such).

That's a wrap for today. Stay tuned for Paul Bunyan Day.

Marching Arts Network asks 'The Perfect Storm: Can Drum Corps Survive?'

I told my readers twice to "Stay tuned for a particularly doomy preview of the drum corps season," which begins today. That's Marching Arts Network asking The Perfect Storm: Can Drum Corps Survive?

Food, fuel or inflation? What breaks first? This is possibly the most important podcast we have done to date. I know its a long one and a departure from our normal format, but this is definitely worth your time and we'd love to hear yourt thoughts and ideas...

I first predicted "I fully expect Peak Oil, economic decline, and social upheaval to end the national touring model, which has been around since 1971, by 2020" on this blog in 2012. I came to that conclusion four years earlier, as "I started mourning in 2008, when I quit writing for Drum Corps World and stopped going to shows." I even warned a corps director about it.

That prediction sort of came true in 2020.

Well, the 2020 drum corps season has been cancelled, so the national touring model is in a coma, not dead, but Peak Oil had nothing to do with it. Instead, it was the pandemic that drove what passes for economic decline and social upheaval and that caused there to be no competitive drum corps this year.

The national touring model was still unconscious in 2021, as there were no competitive shows and no national tour, just DCI Celebration, three nights of exhibitions in Indianapolis. The national touring model didn't get out of the hospital until 2022. I was right for the wrong reason, but I'll still claim a successful prediction.

That written, the current situation the panelists at Marching Arts Network are describing is more what I was envisioning beginning in 2008, an oil shortage, although because of war, not Peak Oil directly, and economic disruption and even people in the activity who are not doomers see the national touring model as the problem. I think its return in 2022 will turn out to be a temporary triumph of business as usual once the pandemic receded enough to reinstitute what the activity was doing in 2019 and is still doomed, although I'm not predicting the year of its demise today. I think what I wrote on Christmas 2012 will extend the existances of both drum corps and the national touring model for years after the latter should have ended: "As for drum corps' hopes, they rest on the one thing that makes Americans act, messing with their entertainment. Americans want their entertainment, and will do just about anything to keep it going." So far, that observation has remained true.

That's a wrap for today. Stay tuned to see if I celebrate Paul Bunyan Day or the Sunday entertainment feature early or if I post a compilation of last night's monologues to share next month, which begins Wednesday, Tuesday night according to Greenwich Mean Time.

'Green Water' and 'Algae,' two songs about the Reflecting Pool

I promised a musical post today, which I'm opening with Green Water (reflecting pool song parody, Doobie Brothers "Black Water") by Patrick Fitzgerald.



Song parody to the tune of the "Black Water" by the Doobie Brothers.

I'm adding Algae (parody of "Alfie" by Dionne Warwick, sung by Mary in Ann Arbor) by Rocky Mountain Mike as an encore.


HAHAHAHA!

I can't resist embedding Trump Tries to Catch Reflecting Pool “Vandals” & Miami Gets a Scottish Takeover | The Daily Show for a finale.

Josh Johnson dives into the Scottish takeover of Miami for the World Cup, the flock of tourists visiting D.C.'s bright green reflecting pool, Trump’s security escalation to catch possible pool “vandals,” and whether Trump's pool disaster is karma for trashing Biden and Obama’s previous reflecting pool projects. Plus, conservative media can’t stop talking about the pool, while Michael Kosta can’t stop dreaming about drinking it.

Everything Trump touches dies, including the Reflecting Pool. Then he blames someone else.

That's a wrap for today. Stay tuned for a particularly doomy preview of the drum corps season, which begins tomorrow.

Storied recounts 'The Most Puzzling UFO Case of the 20th Century' for World UFO Day 1

Happy first of two World UFO Days! I'm observing today by sharing Dr. Emily Zarka of PBS Storied recounting The Most Puzzling UFO Case of the 20th Century.

In 1952, a terrifying creature was spotted in Flatwoods, West Virginia — a 10-foot-tall creature with glowing eyes, a spade-shaped head, and cloaked in a metal skirt. Was it an alien, a Cold War experiment, or mass hysteria?

Dr. Z doesn't make up her mind to resolve her question, although she certainly leans heavily on cultural context influencing how people interpret what they see.

Speaking of cultural context, there is a UFO movie out now. Watch Disclosure Day | Final Trailer.

Universal Pictures is proud to release a new original event film created and directed by Steven Spielberg. The film stars SAG winner and Oscar® nominee Emily Blunt (Oppenheimer, A Quiet Place), Emmy and Golden Globe winner Josh O’Connor (Challengers, The Crown), Oscar® winner Colin Firth (The King’s Speech, Kingsman franchise), Eve Hewson (Bad Sisters, The Perfect Couple) and two-time Oscar® nominee Colman Domingo (Sing Sing, Rustin).

Based on a story by Spielberg, the screenplay is by David Koepp, whose previous work with Spielberg includes the scripts for Jurassic Park, The Lost World: Jurassic Park, War of the Worlds and Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. Combined, those films earned more than $3 billion worldwide. Koepp also wrote the script for this 2025’s Jurassic World Rebirth.

Disclosure Day is produced by five-time Academy Award® nominee Kristie Macosko Krieger (The Fabelmans, West Side Story) and by Spielberg for Amblin Entertainment. The executive producers are Adam Somner and Chris Brigham.

Steven Spielberg is one of the industry’s most successful and influential filmmakers. The top-grossing director of all time, Spielberg has helmed such blockbusters as Jaws, E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial, the Indiana Jones franchise and Jurassic Park.

Among his myriad honors, he is a three-time Academy Award® winner, including Oscars® for Best Director and Best Picture for Schindler’s List, which received a total of seven Oscars®, and for Best Director for Saving Private Ryan. His most recent film, The Fabelmans, was released by Universal in 2022 and received seven Academy Award® nominations, including for Directing, Best Original Screenplay, Best Actress and Best Picture.

While I fully expect to see Disclosure Day earn nominations at the Critics Choice Super Awards next month and the Saturn Awards in January, if they stick to this year's schedule, I also expect it to lose to Project Hail Mary in most of its categories, especially Best Science Fiction Film or equivalent. Its best bets are best actress for Emily Blunt followed by supporting actor for Colman Domingo. That written, will it influence how people see UFOs/UAPs? Yes, but not as much as previous Spielberg movies on the subject.

I close with National Day Calendar's World UFO Day.

Is anyone out there? On this episode of the National Day Spotlight (https://nationaldaycalendar.com/), Marlo Anderson (https://marloanderson.com/) and co-host Alice Anderson are diving into the unexplained mysteries of the cosmos for World UFO Day (https://nationaldaycalendar.com/celeb...) . They’ll explore why humanity keeps looking to the skies for answers and celebrate the fun of cosmic curiosity. Tune in for an episode that is truly otherworldly!

That's a wrap for this week's series of holiday entries. I have a musical post planned for tomorrow followed by a particularly doomy preview of the drum corps season, which begins Friday. Stay tuned.

Lost in the Pond delivers 'British Verdict on the Detroit-Style Pizza' for Detroit-Style Pizza Day

Happy National Detroit-Style Pizza Day! I'm continuing last year's theme of Brits try Detroit Pizza for Detroit-style Pizza Day with Lost in the Pond delivering British Verdict on the Detroit-Style Pizza.

I gave you my verdict on the New York and Chicago style pizzas, now it's time for something in between. Here's my verdict on Michigan's own, Detroit-Style Pizza. But how many Lorenzos did I give it?

I'd give it more than four, but I live in metro Detroit.

Laurence recorded and posted the above video on National Pizza Day 2020, more than a year before the first National Detroit-Style Pizza Day, so can be forgiven for not recording on the right day. It didn't exist yet! As he and his wife Tarah mentioned, he also reviewed New York and Chicago pizza. Here's the first of the two, A Brit's Verdict on Chicago-style Pizza.

After the controversy surrounding Jelly-gate, I thought I'd try an American food item closer to home: a Chicago-style pizza.

Well, at least I know what Jelly-gate was about. Also, this video lacks something — two things, actually, Lawrence's sing-song, self-mocking delivery that is on display in his more recent videos, like 'Let's Talk About America's Iconic Bald Eagle' and Tarah. She's in the next video, British Verdict on America's New York-style Pizza, recorded during National Pizza Week 2020.

Since it's National Pizza Week, it only seems right that I present to the world–with the help of Old Fashioned Af–my verdict on America's New York-style Pizza.

I grew up on New York style pizza in Los Angeles, but people from the East Coast looked down on it. They said it was better cold. Now that I think about it, they were right.

That's a wrap for Lawrence's take on pizza. I have more videos of Brits eating Detroit-Style Pizza that I'm saving for next year. I'm an environmentalist; I conserve my resources. In the meantime, stay tuned for the first of two World UFO Days, the last of the current string of holidays.

'North America's LESSER KNOWN Inland Rainforest' for World Rainforest Day

Happy World Rainforest Day! After concentrating on one group of tropical rainforest animals last year, I'm returning to temperate rainforests with Urban Atlas exploring North America's LESSER KNOWN Inland Rainforest.

In this video, we will discuss what is perhaps one of the world's rarest ecosystem, the lesser-known North American Temperate Inland Rainforest.

The Weather Network, Canada's answer to The Weather Channel, uploaded their own video listing FIVE Facts About B.C.'s Rare Temperate Rainforest.

It's considered to be one of only two inland temperate rainforests in the world. This forest contains a diversity of rare species and ancient trees. The Weather Network's Mia Gordon shares five facts about this rare ecosystem.

Those are the facts, now how does this forest make us feel and what can we do about it? Valhalla Wilderness answers that question in Walking Among Giants: Saving BC's Inland Temperate Rainforest.

Take a walk through BC's ancient, globally unique Inland Temperate Rainforest with veteran conservationist Craig Pettitt of the Valhalla Wilderness Society. These forests and the mountain caribou they support are endangered by clearcut logging, which continues despite the urging of a recent provincial commission to protect what remains of our old growth. Pettitt describes Valhalla's thoughtful plan to do just that, through the formation of three new provincial parks which would link up with existing protected areas to create intact wildlife corridors and ecological connectivity. Learn how you can take action now to save the Inland Temperate Rainforest and mountain caribou at VWS.org

This video is about preserving the remnants of the ecosystem in British Columbia. I'm not a resident of that province or of Canada, but those of my readers who are can act as Craig Pettitt requests. Now I feel like I should see what, if anything, is being done to preserve the U.S. portion of the inland rainforest. Next year.

Stay tuned for a less serious post tomorrow on Detroit-style Pizza Day.

The science of 'dad brain' plus giraffe calf meets dad for Father's Day on World Giraffe Day

Happy National Seashell Day, the Summer Solstice, World Giraffe Day, and Father's Day! I'm working my way backwards through all four, beginning with The Surprising Science of How Fatherhood Changes a Man's Brain | Father's Day Special | WION Pulse.

Think dad jokes are just a phase? Well MRI scans show that becoming a father literally alters a man's neurological blueprint. On Father's Day, we explore the incredible biological upgrade that transforms men into caregivers.

I couldn't resist some Father's Day science!

I'm combining Father's Day with World Giraffe Day by sharing Inside Edition's April The Giraffe's Baby Reunites With His Father from 2017.

Internet sensation April the Giraffe gave birth to her son, Tajiri, live online in front of millions of people this April. The baby giraffe met his father, Oliver, shortly after, but the two have not seen each other since. This week, at the Animal Adventure Park in Harpursville, New York, the three were reunited. It made for a wonderfully memorable moment and delighted fans all over the world.

Tajiri may be the star, but I'm going to wish Oliver a happy Father's Day and the entire family a happy World Giraffe Day!

Next, the reason both World Giraffe Day and National Seashell Day are today, the Summer Solstice. Watch WMAR-2 News' Science with Stevie: Summer Solstice.

The sun is ready for its big moment in the spotlight! Meteorologist Stevie Daniels talks about the summer solstice in this Science with Stevie segment!

Here's to Stevie becoming a mom next month so her viewers can wish her a happy Mother's Day next year!

I close with WSAZ NewsChannel 3's National Seashell Day.



June 20th is National Seashell Day.
It was last year and I normally celebrate it that day to avoid pile-ups like today's, but I wasn't feeling it. I'm also not feeling like turning today into the Sunday entertainment feature. I'll make up for it later in the week, when I plan on sharing a particularly doomy preview of the drum corps season, which begins Friday. In the meantime, stay tuned for World Rainforest Day, Detroit-style Pizza Day, and the first of two World UFO Days. I love holidays!

'Let's Talk About America's Iconic Bald Eagle' for American Eagle Day

Happy American Eagle Day! I'm celebrating by sharing Lawrence of Lost in the Pond's Let's Talk About America's Iconic Bald Eagle.

The time has finally come to break my silence on America's national bird, the bald eagle.

There is also an AI summary.

Lawrence explores the fascinating reality of North America's endemic Bald Eagles, examining their surprising habitats and unique behavioral traits. This look into the conservation success story uncovers the history behind their near-extinction and remarkable recovery.

This is only the second time I've embedded one of Lawrence's videos, the first being Lost in the Pond explains 'How US Thanksgiving Wasn't What I Expected', and I'm glad I did. It's also my favorite video about Bald Eagles since Animalogic's Bald Eagle: America’s Fursona, a title that I think is too cute by half, that I embedded in Celebrate American Eagle Day with an ice cream soda. Sharing both videos brought a smile to my face each time.

I've been slacking on one of my traditions, including a drink video for my holiday entries, so I'm making up for by including National Day Calendar's WORLD MARTINI DAY | JUNE 20.

Shaken, not stirred. Do you enjoy a good martini once in a while? Let us know in the comments.

Drink to the health of the bald eagle!

That's a wrap for today's short educational entry. I'll make up for it tomorrow when I celebrate four special days in one, National Seashell Day, the Summer Solstice, World Giraffe Day 2025, and Father's Day. Will I even find a way to make it the Sunday entertainment feature? Stay tuned!

A joyous Juneteenth from Michigan!

A joyous Juneteenth to all! This year's theme is Juneteenth in Michigan and I begin with Click on Detroit/Local 4/WDIV reporting Juneteenth 2026 in Metro Detroit — what to know.

From parades and block parties to artist markets and talks, there are plenty of ways to commemorate Juneteenth across Metro Detroit this week.

Sounds like a lot of fun! WXYZ has more in Juneteenth celebration scheduled at Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Centennial Park on Fri[d]ay.

The Detroit Riverfront Conservancy is celebrating Juneteenth with an event at Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Centennial Park.

This entry has now earned the poem label.

Detroit isn't having all the fun in the Great Lakes State. WNEM TV5 in Saginaw, Flint, Midland and Bay City reported Juneteenth plans in Flint for 54th year.

Flint Mayor Sheldon Neeley said Flint was the first city in Michigan to officially recognize Juneteenth in 2020, a year before the federal government.

I didn't know that about Flint, so I learned something new. That makes today a good day.

I close by crossing the state with WOOD-TV reporting Juneteenth Solidarity Parade and Celebration happening in Grand Rapids.

Juneteenth was declared a federal holiday in 2021. (June 19, 2026)

That's a wrap for today's celebration of the newest federal holiday. Stay tuned for more, American Eagle Day, National Seashell Day, the Summer Solstice, World Giraffe Day 2025, Father's Day, World Rainforest Day, Detroit-style Pizza Day, and the first of two World UFO Days. I love holidays!

PBS Terra explains why 'America’s Disaster-Free Zone Has a Dark Secret'

Today's "evergreen educational entry I can share in July" features Weathered on PBS Terra explaining why America’s Disaster-Free Zone Has a Dark Secret.

When you look at Federally declared disasters across the U.S., there’s a surprising blank spot in the Southwest region. What’s up with that? Is the Southwest really a safe haven from natural disasters? Or is there a more sinister explanation for this giant hole in the map? On this episode of Weathered, we talk to the folks who made this map, and some of the world’s leading experts on climate risk to find out what’s really going on.

My wife and I watched this video together on the big-screen TV in our bedroom. I guessed the lack of natural disasters in the American Southwest was because there aren't a lot of people there and that the dark secret was the heat. The first guess wasn't true; the Phoenix–Mesa–Chandler, AZ MSA has an estimated population of 5,228,938 while the Las Vegas–Henderson–North Las Vegas, NV MSA has an estimated population of 2,407,226.

The second guess was dead on. That's no surprise, as I blogged about Phoenix being the hottest city in the U.S. in 2021 and mentioned its record heat in 2023 twice. What is surprising is that heat waves don't count as federal natural disasters covered by FEMA. The commenters found the reason dismaying: "You don't get disaster declarations for mortality. You only do it for economics." Ecurewitz responded "That’s the most American statement ever." RandomAngle9 commented "The fact that heat doesn't 'qualify' as a disaster because it doesn't destroy buildings, only people, says everything about how we value human life in policy." Speaking of policy, Florida banning municipalities from protecting workers from heat shows that DeSantis wasn't only bad on COVID-19. He and the rest of the Republicans on Florida are bad on climate and weather, too.

While the lack of natural disasters in the American Southwest exists because of a flaw in the criteria for disaster declarations, the lack of natural disasters in and around Michigan is real. As I wrote in 2022, "Michigan is currently the safest state in the Union for natural disasters..." This gives me another opportunity to tout the Great Lakes State as a climate haven.

That's a wrap for today. Stay tuned for a string of holidays, Juneteenth, American Eagle Day, National Seashell Day, the Summer Solstice, World Giraffe Day 2025, Father's Day, World Rainforest Day, and Detroit-style Pizza Day. I love holidays!

'Underdogs' wins two News & Doc Emmy Awards plus a late World Sea Turtle Day

I closed 'Secrets of the Penguins' wins two News & Doc Emmy Awards by telling my readers, "Speaking of Underdogs, it also won two News & Doc Emmy Awards, so I think I will cover it next." I promised that again at the end of A late National Megalodon Day. Without any further ado, I'm revisiting what I wrote in 'Underdogs' earns four News & Doc Emmy Award nominations.

The trailer alone demonstrated that Underdogs deserved this nomination. Unfortunately, I doubt it will win this award. It's competing against 2000 Meters to Andriivka with six nominations including Best Documentary, Songs from the Hole with four nominations including Outstanding Arts and Culture Documentary, and The Stringer, also with four nominations including Outstanding Investigative Documentary. I expect grit will win over wit.

I was wrong; wit beat grit in Outstanding Writing: Documentary.

The #DocEmmys Award for Outstanding Writing: Documentary goes to Underdogs (Wildstar Films). pic.twitter.com/e0Za8c3VkB

— The Emmys (@TheEmmys) May 29, 2026

Congratulations!

Now for Outstanding Sound: Documentary.

Secrets of the Penguins deserved this nomination, but I doubt it will win. Instead, I think it's between Turning Point: The Vietnam War with five total nominations and Love + War with four nominations. Both are also nominated for Best Documentary. The sounds of combat would probably impress the journalists and documentarians, possibly even more than the sounds of nature or music. If the entertainment professionals in the Creative Arts Emmys were voting, they might give WE WANT THE FUNK! the advantage. Not here; electorates matter.

I think the same of Underdogs' chances for Outstanding Sound: Documentary. Given the competition in its categories, it has an apt title.

I was wrong here, too. As I wrote about Outstanding Cinematography: Documentary in 'Secrets of the Penguins' wins two News & Doc Emmy Awards, "I'm glad that nature beat warfare."

The #DocEmmys Award for Outstanding Sound: Documentary goes to Underdogs (Wildstar Films). pic.twitter.com/wiCqcKtVG8

— The Emmys (@TheEmmys) May 28, 2026

Again, congratulations! I'm never more happy to be wrong!

By the way, yesterday was World Sea Turtle Day, so I'm embedding National Day Calendar's WORLD SEA TURTLE DAY | June 16 for a late celebration.

Have you been able to see a sea turtle in times past?

May I remember to observe the day on time next year.

That's a wrap for today. Stay tuned for an evergreen educational entry I can share in July tomorrow, followed by a string of holidays, Juneteenth, American Eagle Day, National Seashell Day, the Summer Solstice, World Giraffe Day 2025, Father's Day, World Rainforest Day, and Detroit-style Pizza Day. I love holidays!

Previous posts about the 57th News & Doc Emmy Awards

• 'Sally' leads Science and Technology Documentaries at the News & Doc Emmy Awards
• 'Secrets of the Penguins' leads Outstanding Nature Documentaries at the News & Doc Emmy Awards for Earth Day
• 'Underdogs' earns four News & Doc Emmy Award nominations
• 'Songs from the Hole' leads arts and culture documentaries at the News & Doc Emmy Awards
• 'Prime Minister' leads nominees for Outstanding Politics and Government Documentary at the News & Doc Emmy Awards
• 'Katrina: Come Hell and High Water' leads social issue documentaries at the News & Doc Emmy Awards for Flashback Friday
• 'The Stringer' leads nominees for Outstanding Investigative Documentary at the News & Doc Emmy Awards for Flashback Friday
• Vietnam War and Hurricane Katrina subjects of leading nominees for Outstanding Historical Documentary at the News & Doc Emmy Awards
• '2000 Meters to Andriivka' leads Outstanding Current Affairs Documentary and Best Documentary at the News & Doc Emmy Awards
• 'Love + War' at the News & Doc Emmy Awards for Wayback Wednesday
• 'The Strike' leads Outstanding Crime and Justice Documentary at tonight's News & Doc Emmy Awards for Throwback Thursday
• 'The Memory of Darkness, Light, and Ice' wins Outstanding Science and Technology Documentary at the News & Doc Emmy Awards for Wayback Wednesday
• 'Trafficked with Mariana van Zeller' wins 7 News & Doc Emmy Awards for World Oceans Day
• 'Prime Minister' wins two News & Doc Emmy Awards including Best Documentary for Throwback Thursday
• SciShow explains 'How Instagram Hacks Your Brain' plus Howtown on brain rot for Flashback Friday
• 'Secrets of the Penguins' wins two News & Doc Emmy Awards