I mentioned something similar a year or so back, but it's weird that there will be kids graduating this year that were born after 9/11. They probably view things at the same distance I viewed something like Vietnam (though this conflict hasn't really ended yet). I wonder how they talk about it in their social studies classes or what have you. Seems strange that were already so far removed.
I wish I had time to do a recap today, because this would've been a fun one. I'll just say that if this wasn't a one-off, if Berrios is truly back, the Twins playoff chances look a lot better. They're still an underdog, because it's still hard to win with just two reliable starters (and one of them really only reliable for five innings), but it's not impossible. With only one reliable starter, about the only chance you have is the general "it's baseball and anything can happen" chance.
I hope (somehow) they can continue to give Jose an extra day.
When I was co-teaching the course on Vietnam, I always asked students to answer this question during introductions to get a sense of who was in the room: “What is your earliest political memory?”
The change in answers over time was interesting. At first, I heard answers about the Oklahoma City bombing, then came the Clinton impeachment. After that, the two big points of convergence were the 2000 election & 9/11. By my last semester of teaching, it was the 2004 election. The crazy thing is, 9/11 is now as far away from today’s freshman in college as these events were to their counterparts on September 11, 2001: Reagan announcing his “Star Wars” initiative, the final episode of M*A*S*H, Michael Jackson’s first moonwalk at the 25th anniversary of Motown, the bombing of the U.S. Embassy in Beirut, Return of the Jedi’s cinematic release, Sally Ride going to space, and the Soviet shoot-down of Korean Air 007. If any of today’s freshmen can remember the 2004 election, that’s essentially the equivalent of the Challenger disaster or Chernobyl for a freshman in 2001.
I occasionally wonder what the Poissonnière’s first political memory will be. We don’t watch the news at home, and don’t talk about current events much around her. I have vivid memories of the CBS Evening News being on at home when I was her age. I could recite the names of all the reporters for 60 Minutes. I don’t think she even knows the name of the person living in the White House right now, and I’m okay with that. She’ll have plenty of time for the world to disappoint her.
"Good night, Chet." "Good night, David."
Yeah, I don't really engage much in such topics either. The boy hears NPR in the car sometimes, but that's about it.
My first "political" memory is running around the neighborhood with other kids chanting
Humphrey, Humphrey, he's our man!
Nixon belongs in the garbage can!
I love it.
1st Political memory was either:
Lighting of an eternal flame (Kennedy?) on TV.
Nixon, Nixon, he's our man.
Humphrey's in the garbage can.
This probably isn't the sort of thing you're going for, but my first political memory is of Lyndon Johnson being nominated at the Democrat National Convention in 1964. What I remember about it is all the balloons coming down from the ceiling. As a five-year-old, I thought that was pretty cool.
Come to think of it, I still think that sort of thing is pretty cool.
My first political memory was when Reagan was shot. I was in school when the teachers found out and announced it to the students.
I was 9 when Princess Diana died in '97. I think that's about the first big event I really remember well.
I vague recollection of Perot in 1996, mostly that he had big ears.
The other day my six-year old said, "China is bad." So I asked him why. He said, "China is bad because Trump tells them what to do."
My first political memory is voting in the 1988 election as a 2nd grader at my school. I remember one girl said, "I'm voting for Bush because my dad says Dukakis will raise taxes." I didn't even know what that meant but it sounded bad so I voted for Bush.
It's interesting--I grew up eating family dinners with the TV news on as well as seeing TIME magazine arrive every week. One of my first political memories is being terrified of Muammar Al Gathafi because I was certain we were on the cusp of WWIII. (Certainly, that's how it seemed to be portrayed in the media.)
We don't watch the news or discuss a lot of day-to-day political stuff, but it's interesting just how much the jalapeno (who is now 9 and in 4th grade) is aware of now. He has very strong opinions about the current president, and the peperoncino has picked up on some of that as well.
Because I know the boys are hearing things from who-knows-where, I am trying to make sure we have occasionally conversations about what's going on and thinking about what is a reliable source of information (and what is not!).
My earliest political memory was the Iran Contra Hearings. I certainly had no idea what they were or what they meant, I just knew that the were on every channel, so I couldn't ever watch Price is Right that summer.
Oh yeah, this triggered some OJ trial memories.
I remember when Mikhail Gorbachev visited Minnesota and when the Berlin Wall came down. Those are probably my oldest political memories.
Yeah, I think I'm in a similar boat. I also have very vague memories of Bush winning over Dukakis.
For me, it was probably also Gorbachev‘s visit - no real clear recollection of the ‘88 presidential race.
I know there were earlier, but I remember Nixon's impeachment proceedings well
I remember the '68 election because Humphrey. I also remember the reports on the Vietnam War and the accompanying protests on the nightly news.
Nightly body counts.
I was puzzling over this. I think my first super concrete one is the Persian Gulf War (I very distinctly remember watching the coverage on the tv). My first vague knowledge would be the Berlin Wall coming down. One of my very first memories involves what I think might have been the Challenger explosion.
I was thinking the same re: Challenger. I remember watching a shuttle launch in first grade ('87-'88) [I think] but I don't know that actually matches up with launch history.
My other early one was elder Bush winning the elementary school election, but having voted for Dukakis. I recall the announcement and cheers, and being surprised my Dad's choice didn't win.
My first is the 1984 election with Mondale. My friends and I agreed that Mondale looked "Sleepy", but he carried the state nonetheless.
I believe I found the old Basement via Howard Sinker’s ‘Section 219’ blog, either via direct reference, or in the comments. I know time marches on and he’s moved into more demanding/prominent roles, but I miss his perspective - like this.
If Eddie doesn't strike out four times against Strasburg, he's gonna homer. I should get bonus points
Garver. Again.
Polancron
Oh yeah. I'm riding that train til I can't anymore.
Garver, because that's about all we got going at the moment.
(I probably shouldn't tell anyone that garver isn't in the lineup today, should I...)
Pinch hit walk-off. Even better.
Cruz & Jorge, assuming they get a game in tonight.
Rosario and Astudillo.
Yankees can't pass Twins in homers tonight. Their game was rained out. Doubleheader tomorrow, however.