Pictures of the Day From Around the World

Bergen, Norway

Venice, Italy

Cairo, Egypt

Hillary Clinton For President

The 2016 Presidential election cycle will be historic.  A Clinton and a Bush will be once again be at, or near, the top of their respective party's primary process.  This means the Clinton and Bush family political dynasties, two of the most formidable and dominate in American political history, ranking up there with the Adams', Roosevelt's and Kennedy's, will be front and center. 

Their political machines and apparatus will be front and center as well.  Their's are the last of the dominate political machines.  It will be an all-out ideological, cultural, and political war.  That's how we do it.  Actually, it's is very American.  We are competitive, we go all in. 

2016 will be classic.  As much as many non-political types will dread it, it is who we are.  Among other things, once again, it will be two and a half year job interview by the American people.

The process is another 18 months away from taking off.  But then, fasten your seat belts.  It will be on.   

Fascinating Illustration of Exponential Global Growth and Health

It is fascinating how rapidly the world is changing. What if you were to have all the information about global GDP and life expectancy, what trends can you predict? This is the question Hans Rosling, a professor of international health in Sweden, is trying to answer.

Using more than 120,000 bits of data and augmented reality, the professor takes us through the last 200 years of global history and its uneven growth of wealth and health. Rosling has continually struggled to find new ways of presenting data that speaks to and engages the audience.

There are serious problems regarding the exponential growth and global health, but there are solutions. Demonstrations like this one could help broader audiences not only grasp the seriousness of the situation, but have hope that we can improve the world with new policies and technologies.

Picture of the Day

I love Facebook for many reasons, not the least of which is the wonderful images I see and have access to.  Here Tony, a friend from Florida posts: "Good morning my friends & faces! Raining here in Florida but still a beautiful day. ;)"

Greensboro's Marty Sheets - A True Hero and Inspiration

This is a remarkable portrait of my friend Marty Sheets, with Eunice Kennedy Shiver, which hangs in the National Gallery of Art in Washington. Marty, 60, will be enshrined in the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame on Thursday, part of the hall’s 50th induction class, for his long participation in Special Olympics World Competition. He won more than 250 medals in local, state, national and world competitions. He won seven medals at six Special Olympics World Games, including the inaugural Games at Chicago’s Soldier Field in 1968. 

 

Marty is a long-time member of First Baptist Church - Greensboro.  Tragically, in recent years, dementia has robbed Marty of far more than Downs syndrome ever did.

 

Marty's father Dave, long-time manager of Thalheimers in Greensboro, and tremendously effective with Marty over the years, says dementia will stop Marty from standing at a podium and speaking on induction day as he receives this high honor.  A stellar and productive member of the community over the years, having worked for 30+ years at Thalheimers himself, all of Greensboro should be immensely proud of Marty Sheets.  He is an inspiration, to say the least. 

April, 2013 Baseball

I could not be happier with April, 2013 baseball.  What a start, and there are 6 months left in the glorious season. 

I have seen the AAA Bulls play in Durham, with Will Myers in the line-up, the top minor league player in the country. I have been to the beautiful park on the Chapel Hill campus to see the nation's #1 college team, the Tar Heels, with Colin Moran in the line-up, the #1 college player in the country.

The Grasshoppers are off to a great start. I had a wonderful group of old friends in the owners box for a Hoppers game.  Jack McKeon has been around a number of times.

Above is a great shot of the downtown park from my seats.  Atlanta Braves All-Star catcher Brian McCann is at the plate in the photo for the Rome Braves.  He was here with Rome for a 4-game weekend series rehabbing from shoulder surgery over the winter.

My Yankees are off to a good start, despite injures.  Justin Upton has 12 HRs in April for the Braves, putting on pace for a 60+ home run season.

Yes, it's been a great April on the diamond at the old ball yard.   

"The Big Apple"

Something mysterious, intriguing, even scary, about the big city for me.  Here, the Empire State Bldg. in the distance, with One World Trade Center further downtown to the right, at twilight today, April 29, 2013, taken from 30 Rock.