Only 10% of people are left-handed. The uniqueness is believed to be determined from the mother’s womb, where testosterone levels play a vital role. Some advantages of being left-handed are: 1. Better multitasking skills because both sides of the brain are used to adjust in a right-handed world. 2. Higher Prodigies’ Percentage, meaning they are smarter, there again because they use both sides of their brains, which makes them smarter. 3. Higher Vision Adjustability Underwater. I don’t know how that helps except maybe as their eyes adjust, they can see the sharks coming faster than their fellow swimmers. 4. Earn more. Research has proven that most left-handed males who have enrolled in college earn about 13% more than their right-hand friends. 5. Better in sports because of the added benefit of people not accustomed to their different ways/techniques of playing. 6. Better at video games and can type faster. 7. Enhanced memory. Hmmm. You can definitely tell that I’m right-handed. 8. Lefties are much better in driving school despite the fact that every car design is for right-handers. 9. They recover faster from strokes because their non-dominant hand is better than their right-handed friends. Sounds like we need to do brain exercises where we use our left hand all day long no matter how bad our writing looks (and it does look bad.) What were we talking about?

Some of the world’s super-rich are funding a massive treasure hunt (helicopters and transmitters) on the west coast of Greenland since the ice is melting at a very rapid rate, exposing ground that has been concealed under the ice for as long as millennia (1000 years) and could now serve as a site for mineral exploration… precious metals copper, gold, rare-earth elements, and zinc, necessary for electric cars.

Viola Davis is set to play a warped villain in “The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes,” the Hunger Games prequel. She will star as Dr. Volumnia Gaul, Head Gamemaker of the 10^th Annual Hunger Games. It will be based on Suzanne Collins’ 2020 novel and will arrive in theaters November 17, 2023. I loved reading those books and then watching the movies with my kids. That was the rule with my kids… read the book, then we went to opening night at the movie theater, standing in line for hours with the other fans. It was fun. For those that enjoyed the books or movies, the official synopsis reads, “Years before he would become the tyrannical President of Panem, 18-year-old Coriolanus Snow is the last hope for his fading lineage, a once-proud family that has fallen from grace in a post-war Capitol. With the 10th annual Hunger Games fast approaching, the young Snow is alarmed when he is assigned to mentor Lucy Gray Baird, the girl tribute from impoverished District 12. But, after Lucy Gray commands all of Panem’s attention by defiantly singing during the reaping ceremony, Snow thinks he might be able to turn the odds in their favor.”

Starbucks has a replacement in Russia – it’s called Stars Coffee and the logo looks just like Starbucks. Hmmm.  In place of the Starbucks mermaid, Stars Coffee’s logo is using a woman wearing a traditional Russian headdress called a kokoshnik. Starbucks closed 130 stores following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, then pulled out completely in May, selling all 130 Starbucks to a group of three that includes a Russian rapper known as Timati. Russia’s rebranded McDonald’s, which is running out of Coke (because Coca-Cola also left the country) and can’t use the words Happy Meal, is trademarking TochkaCola and Kids Combo as replacements. Nine miles off the coast of Italy, a video showed a 131-foot superyacht sinking in the Mediterranean Sea. All passengers and crew members were saved. There have always been giant dinosaur prints (dating back just 113 million years) in the riverbed of the Paluxy River at Dinosaur Valley State Park in Glen Rose, Texas. When I lived there, we had great parties on those riverbanks. So many tracks that have normally been hidden under water and mud, are now exposed in the new drought-dry riverbank. Really good ones. What a great week-end trip to take your children or grandchildren. The Dallas Cowboys became the first NFL franchise to receive a valuation of $8 billion.

RECENT BIRTHDAYS: Singer Jackie DeShannon is 81. One of the leading pop composers of the 1960s, her signature tune was “Put a Little Love in Your Heart.” Newsman Harry Smith is 71. Singer Glenn Hughes of Deep Purple & Black Sabbath is 70. Actor Kim Cattrall of Sex and the City is 66. Actor Cindy Williams of Laverne and Shirley is 75. Guitarist David Marks of The Beach Boys is 74. Singer Howie Dorough of the Backstreet Boys is 49. Actor Ann Archer is 73. Actor Vera Miles is 90. Psycho. Actor Tom Skerritt is 89. Singer Rob Halford of Judas Priest is 71. Keyboardist Geoff Downes of Asia is 70. Discovered by Sammy Davis Jr., he is best known for his 1965 recording of Red Roses for a Blue Lady. Director Tim Burton is 64.

Singer Valerie Simpson of Ashford and Simpson is 77. Singer Bob Cowsill of The Cowsills is 73. Bandleader Branford Marsalis is 62. Guitarist Jimmy Olander of Diamond Rio is 61. Actor Macaulay Culkin is 42. Home Alone. Actor Tuesday Weld is 79. Actor Paul Reubens of Pee-Wee Herman is 70. Guitarist Alex Lifeson of Rush is 69. Singer Ian Gillan of Deep Purple is 77. John Deacon of Queen is 71. Actor Adam Arkin is 66. Singer-songwriter Gary Chapman is 65. Guitarist James Burton who played with Elvis Presley is 83. Musician Elvis Costello is 68. Singer Vic Dana is 82. Newsman Morton Dean is 87.

Poor Bed Bath & Beyond. Shares sank 16% on reports that some suppliers have stopped shipping products because of late payments, just days after one of its largest shareholders dumped his entire stake. My daughter and I shopped there for college because her dad had given her a gift certificate. We got some great deals – even better than advertised when we got to the register. Isn’t it interesting how some super successful businesses have made a complete turnaround in the past five years. Don’t you ever wonder how the small family-owned businesses are making it when even the BIG stores are struggling right now? The next time you get ready to order a gift on Amazon (yes, I know you order from Amazon), why don’t you try Grapevine Gifts or Forever Treasures in LJ, or how about Lady Bug and Carta Valley in WC. I dare you to tell me that you can’t find something awesome when you SHOP LOCAL and help these small businesses stay in business. It’s up to you. Please read on.

Amazon’s acquisition of businesses continues. On August 5^th, the company announced they will purchase (for $1.7 billion) iRobot, the manufacturer of Roomba, the popular robotic vacuum cleaner that wanders around my house sucking up dirt and scaring the cats and dog. Hmmm. Now why does Jeff Bezos need to own Roomba. Was he tired of walking on dirty floors. Nah. Now Amazon has a detailed map of everyone’s home that owns a Roomba. I have one and I love it! His name is Cousin Greg and I adore him. Millions of homes have them. But it’s a company built on mapping the inside of people’s homes. Now if you don’t think that’s a little creepy…  data-privacy experts say it is the most dangerous, threatening acquisition in the company’s history. Oh, and by the way, Amazon also owns my doorway at my home because I have a Ring doorbell, too. Do you have Alexa? Yep, Amazon owns her, too.

The historic Battleship Texas will sail from its La Porte home to the Gulf Copper Shipyard in Galveston for necessary repairs on August 31. The Battleship Texas Foundation is working on a plan so visitors can still see the ship while it is dry-docked at pier 21. Pumps were installed that will be used during towing to limit the ship’s water intake from leaks, and in May crews removed about 23,000 cubic yards of mud from the stern around the ship to clear a path for towing into the Houston Ship Channel. There is not a permanent home planned after the repairs, but they know it won’t be returned to LaPorte where it called home since 1948.

The first news article said a giant slide in Detroit closed the same day it opened, after children were getting a little too much air-time and bounce as they came down the slide. The news report the next day, said the children were catapulted into the air while attempting to slide down. The video showed some very happy, laughing children that when asked if they wanted to go again, said NO. The word catapulted seems so much different than too much air-time.

Denial must be my middle name, and I seem to use it often when I start thinking about storm season. Hurricane season officially runs from June 1 to November 30, but historically, most storms occur between August and October when the Atlantic Ocean is at its warmest, therefore creating the most perfect conditions. There are two systems that forecasters are watching this week in the Atlantic, but if they do nothing, then this could be just the third August since 1961, and the first August since 1997, without a named storm. Dry air, Saharan dust and wind shear are the main reasons no named storms have developed recently, and only three, Alex, Bonnie and Colin, have developed so far this season.

“I cannot continue to be a part of a political party that is okay with a violent attempt to overturn a free and fair election and continues to peddle claims that the 2020 election was stolen.” Colorado State Senator Kevin Priola announcing he is leaving the Republican Party and becoming a Democrat.

Somehow, through some crazy sort of thought process (yes, sometimes I scare myself), I Googled Leon Russell and listened to his, A Song for You. It’s so beautiful, slow, grieving pleas for forgiveness and understanding from an estranged lover. The words are everything you always wanted to hear from the person that has pained you or ‘done you wrong’ in a relationship, but you didn’t get. I guess I was surprised to find out that the song has been covered by more than 200 artists including Andy Williams, The Carpenters, Willie Nelson, Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles, Ray Charles & Willie Nelson & Leon Russell together, Herbie Hancock & Christina Aguilera, Whitney Houston, and even Amy Winehouse, a soulful version that was released after her death. If you get a chance, pull it up on YouTube. Sometimes we forget that the most magical music was recorded in the 1970’s.

Ford is cutting 3,000 jobs as it prepares to shift from traditional internal combustion engine vehicles to electric vehicles. Ethan, a little 1-1/2-year-old boy was chasing and playing with drifting bubbles when he found a missing 82-year-old woman with early-stage Alzheimer’s. He told his momma, “Feet,” after spotting the woman in the woods nearby. His mom looked but couldn’t see anything until she crouched down to Ethan’s level, and it was then that she saw a pair of feet poking out from the overgrown trees. Nina Lipscomb had been missing for 4-days. Dr. Fauci is retiring! I can’t wait to see what wonderful things he does in this new chapter of his life. Bet it’s fabulous. In celebration of Queen Elizabeth’s 96^th birthday, Mattel released the limited-edition Platinum Jubilee Doll (Barbie), which sold out in a day. The San Diego Zoo Safari Park announced the birth of a southern white rhino. His first-time mother is Livia, and he was conceived through natural breeding. He really is so ugly, he’s cute.

The mailman said, “My doctor asked me if I had any symptoms of Mailman’s Disease. I told him, no, I’m just a carrier.”

Scientists have discovered that dogs cry tears of joy when reunited with their owners. Victoria’s has a new first male celebrity brand ambassador. His name is Darren Barnet, and he will promote Pink’s Gender Free collection. The Biden administration has proposed to standardize about 500,000 electric vehicle chargers across the US so they can work with any electric vehicle, similar to the way a gas pump works with any car or truck.  On my way to work today, I noticed that Oyster Creek is already rising, and it looks like we have quite a few days of rain ahead of us, so be sure to read a good book or cook a great meal. Remember life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass, it’s about learning to dance in the rain. Have a great week.

😊 LISA

Send comments to Lisa Baker at lisa@thesourceweekly.com