“Hot Air Balloon”
Hot air balloon ride
Fully inflated tour sphere
Up, Up, and away
© Ryan Stroud 2021
Poetry Wednesday 159
A ride in a “Hot Air Balloon” sounds like a good entry for today’s original poem
Author: Ryan Stroud
Passionate about the Chicago Cubs, Indianapolis Colts, and Politics. Food and Silly Humor impresses me. | 1 Peter 3:15
Poetry Wednesday 158
Today’s original poem is caught between a “Rock and a Hard Place”
“Rock and a Hard Place ”
Over thinking it
Difficult situation
Rock and a hard place
© Ryan Stroud 2021
Poetry Wednesday 157
Sometimes you have to wait for “The Ship” that’s right for you at the right time
“The Ship”
Looking back on a voyage that started so sweetly
A ship that would wreck our lives so completely
Suddenly and without warning, something I knew to fear
A gigantic dark cloud just beyond the horizon began to appear
And now I’m not stumbling through the dark night
The way is clear to me; I’m guided by her love—like a light
Better to let you go; get a grip
Now I can get on with my life
Safe in life’s storms as I’m on board this ship
Remember we were content, even when we barely had a dime
Now I’m finding better use for my money and time
You said all the hurtful things you could to make me cry
Suddenly, I was so depressed and felt like I was about to die
And now I’m not stumbling through the dark night
The way is clear to me; I’m guided by her love—like a light
Better to let you go; get a grip
Now I can get on with my life
Safe in life’s storms as I’m on board this ship
Better to let you go; get a grip
Now I can get on with my life
Safe in life’s storms as I’m on board this ship
© Ryan Stroud 2021
Current Event Friday #118
Has Coke learned anything from their 1985 launch of New Coke?
“Who are the ad wizards who came up with this one?” This line was a repeated line in a Saturday Night Live skit parodying Jerry Seinfeld and other stand-up comedians in the 90’s in a fictional game show. The same question might be asked of the Coca Cola company lately. The latest venture from the soda giant is today’s #CurrentEventFriday.
Coca-Cola announced this week that they are changing the design of their zero-sugar version of their soda. This is somewhat odd since the company redesigned the look of the soda fairly recently and it’s easily recognizable as a separate offering than the original Coca-Cola formula and the Diet Coke formula. Branding specialists from Coca-Cola want their Coca-Cola Zero Sugar to use less of the black gradients in their packaging design and resemble the original formula’s designs. Coca-Cola has also promised to work on the formula of the zero-sugar recipe to make it taste like original Coca-Cola.
The change in design and formula for the zero-sugar soda is to convince consumers who want zero sugar Coca-Cola without the guilt. Not exactly an unexpected idea by Coca-Cola. A lot of folks want to indulge in sugarless offerings of their favorite foods and drinks without any effect or to blend in with their friends and family.
Now, I’m not sure how this will turn out, but given Coca-Cola’s track history with New Coke in the 80’s this could be a potential for disaster. So, I’m surprised the company is proceeding with a new design and formula based on New Coke’s failure.
I also imagine that regular Coca-Cola drinkers will inevitably get mad when they buy Coke Zero Sugar because they are confused by the design similarities. I’m sure those folks will be like the Disgusted Otter meme that many relate to with the sweet and unsweet tea debate. Although, I’m probably the odd one who reacts negatively to receiving sweet tea instead of unsweet or regular Coca-Cola instead of the sugar-free version.
Should Coca-Cola redesign their Coca-Cola Zero Sugar?
Poetry Wednesday 156
Time to go “Climbing” for today’s original poem
“Climbing”
Summit achieved now
Top—heavy duty climbing
Mountain high, great view
© Ryan Stroud 2021
History Monday #112
Take me out to the ballgame, buy me some disco records and fireworks…
A new week is upon us and it’s time for another edition of #HistoryMonday. Today’s entry is dedicated to the demise of a musical fad and the fallout that ensued afterwards. I know, kind of an odd topic, but given the half-life of TikTok dances and songs, it seemed somewhat apropos.
On this day in 1979, the interlude of a doubleheader between the Chicago White Sox and Detroit Tigers devolved into a riot. The break between the day and night game of the doubleheader had been organized as part of Disco Demolition Night.
Radio DJ Steve Dahl planned the event in response to having lost his job when radio station WDAI went from Rock to a Disco format 7 months prior. Dahl began harboring ill feelings towards the musical trend along with many other musical critics who disliked its reliance on synthesizers and mechanical sounds along with suspicions about the foreign influences of the music.
Dahl coordinated with Mike Veeck, promotions director for the White Sox to destroy disco records for discounted admission. Veeck’s father, Bill was known for extreme promotions from his early days as a team owner, including hiring a little person as a player who could easily draw a walk and amuse the fans at the same time. Dahl and the younger Veeck worked with local station WLUP in Chicago to promote the event that would feature a dumpster of disco records being blown up to the delight of the crowd.
The promotion hoped to draw around 20,000 fans to the nighttime game of the doubleheader and the Disco Demolition Night beforehand. Roughly, 20-30,000 more fans than expected showed up with disco records planning to destroy them. Security was unable to contain the unruly fans who began setting fires near the dumpster that Dahl had filled with ‘disco records’ and other pyrotechnics. The fans also began breaking and throwing their records while trampling all over the field. Due to the unruly fans on the field and the destruction they produced, MLB officials ruled the surface of Comiskey Park unplayable and awarded the Tigers a win by forfeit.
Of course, the popularity of disco began to wane even further after the event and many record labels repackaged anything resembling disco as dance or funk music. The popularity of the phrase ‘Disco Sucks’ also began to trend after the riot.
Both Bill and Mike Veeck would be forced out of the White Sox organization and struggled to find work in baseball for many years afterwards. Eventually, Mike Veeck would become owner of a minor league team that hosted a destruction of Justin Bieber and Miley Cyrus records night in 2014. Thankfully, this promotion learned from the mistakes of 1979 and took precautions to prevent a disaster.
Fans of disco and performers of Disco also lamented that the reaction to their music was an overreaction to their music and that it was comparable to Nazi book-burnings when they wanted to remove objectionable material from their society. Historians support this reaction and note that much of the disco movement celebrated African-American rhythms and the gay scene, that white heterosexuals were over-reacting to the encroachment of new influences. Historians also note that many of the same who rejected disco would reject the Democrats in the 1980 election and vote for Ronald Reagan and Republicans down-ticket.
Disco Demolition Night and other events like it always create debate over the freedom and responsibility of free speech. Anybody can listen to whatever music they want or not, but sometimes peer pressure and mob mentality prevail, and the results can be disastrous as even the events of January 6, 2021, have shown us.
What’s your favorite Disco album?
Poetry Wednesday 155
It’s no lie, “To Tell the Truth” is today’s original poem
“To Tell the Truth”
You tell me white lies
It’s simpler and easier
Than to tell the truth
© Ryan Stroud 2021
Live Free and Fry
I like my chicken fried and my tea iced
Hey y’all it’s been awhile since I’ve posted and hope you’ve had an enjoyable few weeks. I ended up moving because of my job and also included a vacation right before the move so that’s why I’ve been on hiatus lately. It’s definitely been a busy season and I’m hoping things are slowing down. With that in mind, I could use some comfort food and today is a day to celebrate one of the most popular comfort foods—fried chicken.
Today is Fried Chicken Day, and given that I live near the birthplace of Col. Harlan Sanders I couldn’t think of a better holiday. Fun fact about Colonel Sanders, he was born in Henryville, Indiana. So KFC very well could be IFC if Col. Sanders didn’t move to Kentucky. Although, as a proud Hoosier I’ll admit that Indiana Fried Chicken doesn’t have the appeal as Kentucky Fried Chicken.
Fried chicken is a dish that many restaurants serve given that so many people enjoy some form of the dish. As chicken can be fried quicker than roasting and usually includes seasoned breading, it has gained popularity in the last century or so. Most of the first people to eat and prepare fried chicken were African slaves in the American South who found uses for the less desirable cuts of chicken.
Although the dish is primarily associated with the American South and country style cuisine, fried chicken has also found popularity across the globe. Koreans have created their own version of fried chicken and the Japanese have tempura chicken. Nashville has created their own spin on the dish by including spices and seasonings to make Hot Chicken that is being featured on menus the last few years.
For what it’s worth, my opinion on fried chicken generally means bone-in cuts of chicken that are breaded or battered and deep fried or pan fried. I guess boneless pieces of chicken that are battered and fried technically would be fried chicken but seem like they should be a separate categorization. Also, the best cuts of fried chicken are the dark meat. Particularly, drumsticks are my go-to cut of fried chicken given their built-in handle that allows for eating it without utensils. Dark meat is also superior given that it is juicier than the white meat.
So, if you’re trying to decide on lunch or dinner today, stop by your local fried chicken joint and pick up some fried chicken, biscuits, and your favorite sides. You might also enjoy a cold beer with the chicken, or iced tea if you don’t do alcohol.
What’s your favorite fried chicken joint?
Poetry Wednesday 154
Today’s original poem asks “How Bout Me?” to that girl who hasn’t noticed
“How About Me”
You’ve wasted so much time looking for the right guy
Promise I’ll be sweet and comforting as Iced Tea
How bout me?
You’re fed up with those thirsty players
Don’t you know I would love you so faithfully
How bout me?
How bout me on a scorching summer night?
How bout waking up next to you in the morning light
How bout me?
How bout me being next to you as you fall asleep
How bout me being the one you trust with all the secrets you keep
How bout me?
You say you like chocolates and flowers every day
You attract so many, but I’ll be the bee that makes you mine, Honey
How bout me?
You finally figured out how to untangle from the Web
I’m not some fake profile, what you get is what you see
How bout me?
How bout me on a scorching summer night?
How bout waking up next to you in the morning light
How bout me?
How bout me being next to you as you fall asleep
How bout me being the one you trust with all the secrets you keep
How bout me?
You’ve wasted so much time looking for the right guy
Promise I’ll be sweet as Southern tea
How bout me?
You’re fed up with those thirsty DM’s
Don’t you know I would love you so faithfully
How bout me?
Honey, how about me?
© Ryan Stroud 2021
Poetry Wednesday 153
A poem about cowboys isn’t that original, but today’s poem, “Cowboy” is original for me
“Cowboy”
Don’t want to be tied down to one place too long
Leave you sad and lonely, with nothing but my song
You’d love for me to find somewhere to lay my boots
My life calls me beyond your bed, can’t put down roots
I love you, but being everywhere sounds too good—like a Cowboy
Like a tumbleweed rolling, got to stay wild like the West
Lonely but free, I’ll be found—it’s the kind of life that’s best
I love as I ship out, your face comforts me like Helen of Troy
Only found one good reason to stay, and doing what’s hard to do
It must be love, but staying here is the best for me and for you
Your arms feel great, but I want to see more towns and every city
I know you’ll be lonely, maybe find other company like Miss Kitty
You know I’d love to stick around, find someplace stable to stay
My head only can think of the world, can’t find a place for itself to lay
I love you, but being everywhere sounds too good—like a Cowboy
Like a tumbleweed rolling, got to stay wild like the West
Lonely but free, I’ll be found—it’s the kind of life that’s best
I love as I ship out, your face comforts me like Helen of Troy
Only found one good reason to stay, and doing what’s hard to do
It must be love, but staying here is the best for me and for you
© Ryan Stroud 2021
On the Radar 