On August
1, Margaret McCarty retired for the second time. This
time, from Duluth Trading Company. After retiring
originally from the US Postal Service in 2014, Margaret
joined DTC in 2017. She helped open the first Michigan
store in Macomb and has been there since. Margaret was
also asked to help with the launch of the Duluth Trading store in
Wixom, Michigan a year later. Asked what she'll be
doing in the future, she says she wants to travel a bit,
however, there currently is a betting pool at the Duluth
Trading store on when
Margaret will return. Congratulations Margaret!
.
DATELINE: FACEMASK
TIPS
With facemasks
being required just about anywhere, we came up with 8 helpful tips to help
you avoid an embarrassing situation.
1. Do not touch or adjust (especially in public)
2. Do not borrow or lend
3. Make sure it fits tight but comfortable
4. Make sure it's clean (daily or as needed)
5. Be sure to wear the correct side out
6. If there's holes in it, throw it away
7. If it's stained, throw it away
8. If it's damp, change it
DATELINE: NEW
HIGH RISK GROUP
.
DATELINE:
SESAME STREET
The Weirdly Racist
History of Oscar the Grouch
If you haven't taken a deep dive into the Sesame Street canon lately, you'd be forgiven for thinking Oscar the Grouch earned his nickname by being a huge, cranky jerk.
Unfortunately, as is so often the case, it's not only much weirder than that but also more racist. Yep, it turns out that
"Grouch" is his race. According to the movie 'Adventures of Elmo in
Grouchland', he hails from a rich culture of grouches who have their own city somewhere in the
US. Is that segregation? Arguably. Does that make it racist to call him
'Oscar the Grouch'? Maybe. It's not clear how all of this works
like, there are human grouches? But race is a construct anyway, and we're coming down on the side of not calling people
'(Name) the (Race).'
What about his crappy attitude and habit of rolling around in garbage? Is that a grouch stereotype? It sure seems like an exaggeration of racist cultural misunderstandings: It's against the law in Grouchland to ask for help, suggesting that they simply value independence to the degree that's confusing to the broader Muppet culture. They're not jerks!
You're the jerk for being all up in their business. Ok.
So they're not as obsessed with cleanliness as other Muppets. Is that a crime?
None of this is unintentional: The whole reason Oscar was created was to use differences in personal "manners and tastes" as a metaphor for promoting racial and ethnic diversity. That's nice and all, but did the stand-in for racial minorities really have to be an asshole who lives in the garbage? Couldn't he have just been a guy who puts ketchup on too many things or something? They claim they didn't intend him to be a direct representation of "urban minorities," but black viewers sure saw it that way. Alas, it was the '60s, so they got away with 60 years of having a character who is basically Oscar the Filthy Minority.
.
ACTUAL
NEWS FROM AROUND THE GLOBE
.
DATELINE: TOKYO,
JAPAN
With their stadium devoid of fans due to coronavirus restrictions, Japanese baseball team
the Fukuoka Soft Bank Hawks have come up with an imaginative replacement: dancing robots.
Before their most recent Nippon Professional Baseball
(NPB) game against the Rakuten Eagles on Tuesday, over 20 robots danced to the team’s fight song on a podium in the otherwise empty stand.
Two different robots, including
Soft Bank's humanoid robot ‘Pepper’ and others on four legs like a dog, stamped and shimmied in a choreographed dance that is usually performed by the Hawks’ fans before games in the 40,000 capacity Fukuoka Dome.
Some of the robots wore Hawks caps and waved flags supporting the team.
Fans on social media had mixed reactions.
“I think this is like a dystopia,” wrote one Twitter user.
Another called the performance “insanely beautiful.”
Soft Bank Corp's humanoid robots Pepper and Boston Dynamics' robots SPOT in baseball uniforms cheer the team next to empty spectator seats at a baseball game between
Soft Bank Hawks and Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles as Nippon Professional Baseball league behind closed doors due to the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Fukuoka, Japan in this
video taken by Kyodo July 7, 2020.
Boosted by the supportive robots, the Hawks won 4-3 as they look to defend their 2019 NPB title.
The NPB season began three months late on June 19 due to the coronavirus pandemic and currently no supporters are allowed to attend games.
However, from Friday, up to 5,000 fans will be allowed to attend professional baseball and soccer games in Japan due to an easing of restrictions.
Here are some of the recent travel destinations from our
faithful readers
Brad, Valerie, and the girls did a weekend trip to
Frankenmuth, Michigan
Kelly & Margaret took a day trip to Holland, and
visited with Mike & Karen
BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC, TRIPS WERE LIMITED.
PLEASE
SUBMIT YOUR TRIP FOR OUR NEXT EDITION OF THE METRO.
.
Did you travel recently? Send us your destination and pictures to mccartymetro@gmail.com
.
Dear Editor:
Since March, I have been home schooling my child. We
did well, but I had problems with teaching Math, and
teaching Life Skills. With the pandemic still prevalent,
I am going to continue to keep him home. Do you have
any suggestions or tips on how I can make this work
better? -Stay at home Mom
ED
NOTE: Probably the best I can suggest is
something from my own life. Suppose I have $400, and
Chris texts me he needs $100, Brad texts and says he
needs $150, and Austin texts he needs $75. How much
do I have left. The answer is quite simple... $400
and 3 unread text messages!
Dear Editor: I am confused. How is it possible that you, Dennis and Dan have birthdays that are only one week apart -- when pregnancies commonly last more than nine months? As my favorite lawyer, Vinny Gambini, might say: "Well, perhaps the laws of physics ceased to exist when you three were born. Were these magic pregnancies?" And furthermore... oh! Never mind.
-Momentarily Confused in Hudsonville
ED
NOTE: You are definitely without a doubt confused. However,
you are correct that the 3 of us have birthdays exactly one
week apart. What kills your premise unfortunately, is that
we were born in different years. With that said though, I can only assume
that you didn’t know everything that was going on or about on Devils
Night and Halloween with Mom & Dad back in the day! (I
just threw up in my mouth a little)
.
Dear Editor: Last year, I submitted my 'skull' eggs
to the recipe corner. This month, I had all this ground beef in the
freezer, so I decided to thaw some and make a meatloaf baby (a meatloaf in the shape of a
baby) with bacon for a diaper and onion eyes. Now, no one
in the house wants to eat and all the kids won't stop screaming. Any suggestions?
-A continuing Le Food submitter
ED
NOTE: HOLY MARY!!! WHAT THE H E DOUBLE HOCKEY STICKS IS WRONG WITH YOU! THAT IS JUST
DISGUSTING! Also... I'll take a leg and an eye with
a side of diaper!
Dear Editor: I sent an idea for your Editor's
Poll to find out your readers 3 favorite things in
their life. For example, mine would be traveling, a
nice bottle of wine, and spending time with my family.
Wondering what you and your subscribers would say?
-Tony
ED
NOTE: I was actually going to post your question on the
home page this month. Unfortunately, I thought that our
readers answers might range drastically because of being
home-bound from the Coronavirus. I do like your list though
for a future edition... and
just an FYI... my answer would be Chicken Pot Pie!
CORRECTION:
I just noticed the error of my response. You may think that I only listed
1 thing, when actually, I just forgot to add the commas to
my choices. My bad!
Dear Editor: Keep doing what you are doing, I enjoy reading The
Metro.
Will my grandchild be going back to school this fall? I need the rest. -Elias
ED
NOTE: Thanks Eli. As far as school starting, right now I'm not sure. However, to relieve some of your stress, try to get
some light exercise daily. You can start slowly by walking 3
miles a day for 10 days. After 10 days, if your grandchild
still isn't in school, it won't be so bad because you'll be
30 miles away from him. Also, here's a shout out to all
the grandparents… Because that’s the only way they can hear me!
Dear
Editor: I hope you can come out from underneath your
basement stairs soon...
I just wanted to say that you're doing a good job there! I loved, loved the video of your mom in 'Jean's Motel' in the last issue. She was a sweetheart, and that was really cute. -Kitty
ED
NOTE: Thanks Kitty. Mom never liked to be filmed but I
think she really enjoyed doing that bit for the Metro. All
the best to you!
We appreciate our McCarty Metro readers and always want to hear your questions, comments, rants,
or editorials.
Just submit them anytime during the month to mccartymetro@gmail.com
for inclusion in the next issue.
For those
that do not speak the language, Le' Food is French for
"The Food"! Readers, email me at mccartymetro@gmail.com
to submit your
favorite recipe for inclusion in an upcoming issue.
This month we have a
great summertime griddle dish and a delicious dessert. Bon Appétit!
Submitted by
Steve
INGREDIENTS:
Ground Round
Hamburger Buns
Cheese Slices (whatever you like)
Butter
Bread & Butter Pickles
Mayonnaise
Salt & Pepper
DIRECTIONS:
I am getting pretty darn good at smash burgers. Roll up a couple balls of meat. Throw them on the griddle and smash them down. Nice sprinkle of salt and pepper. Then butter your buns and put them face down on the griddle. Flip the burgers after just a couple minutes, hit with the salt & pepper and layer on a couple cheese slices. Pull the buns and add mayo. Take the smashed burgers off and layer them on the bun double-decker style. Add three bread and butter pickles and you won’t ever set that bad boy down!
AND
FOR DESSERT...
Submitted by
Kitty
INGREDIENTS:
1 can of your favorite pie filling
1 box of Yellow Cake Mix
1 stick margarine or butter
DIRECTIONS:
This
is really good, and super easy. It is almost
like a cobbler.
Spread
pie filling in a 9x12 baking pan. Sprinkle the
cake mix over the pie filling (dry cake mix).
Melt 1 stick of margarine or butter and pour
over the top. Bake 40 minutes in a 360 degree
pre-heated oven.
ADDITIONAL
BONUS RECIPE FROM STEVE: GREASE BREAD
I made a nice steak the other day. There was butter and fat still in my cast iron pan. I quickly mopped it up with a couple pieces of bread. Some of the little steak bits even got in there. It tasted just like Mom’s. Delicious. Bad for you
absolutely... but delicious.
You can submit videos by sending it to
me, send me a link, or uploading to YouTube and sending me the
info to mccartymetro@gmail.com
Getting
Teed Off
Rick tees off
at Wyndgate
during the pandemic
First Day
Of School
Kevin and
Audri on
their first day of school
My
Aim Is True
Rick,
Steve, Mike, and Larry
Try To Hit Their Respective Targets
Olivia
Is The Super Fan
Olivia gets
honored between innings
as the "Fan Of The Game"!
PLEASE
PRAY FOR OUR METRO FAMILY AND FRIENDS
.
. If you know
someone who could use our prayers, please email me at mccartymetro@gmail.com.
.
GONE
BUT NOT FORGOTTEN - THOSE WHO HAVE PASSED AWAY
SINCE THE LAST ISSUE
Carl Reiner, 98, actor, film director and writer (The Dick Van Dyke Show, Ocean's Eleven, The Jerk), Grammy winner (1999),
9-time Emmy winner.
Tim Brooks, 72, professional wrestler (NWA, Big
Time Wrestling), cancer. Hugh Downs, 99, broadcaster and television host
(Concentration, 20/20, Today). Charlie Daniels, 83, Hall
of Fame country singer-songwriter and musician ("The Devil Went Down to Georgia"), Grammy
Award winner (1980), hemorrhagic stroke. Kelly
Preston, 57, actress (Jerry Maguire, Twins, Sky High) and wife of John Travolta, breast cancer. Tony
Taylor, 84, baseball player (Chicago Cubs, Philadelphia Phillies, Detroit Tigers), complications from a stroke.
John Lewis, 80, civil rights leader and politician, member of the
US House of Representatives (since 1987), Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient (2011), pancreatic cancer. Regis
Philbin, 88, entertainer and television personality (The Joey Bishop Show, Live with Regis and Kathie Lee, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire).
Peter Green (no photo), 73, Hall of Fame blues rock singer-songwriter ("Black Magic Woman") and guitarist (Fleetwood Mac). Eddie
Shack, 83, hockey player (Toronto Maple Leafs, New York Rangers, Pittsburgh Penguins),
4-time Stanley Cup winner (1962–1964, 1967), cancer. Olivia de
Havilland, 104, actress (Gone with the Wind, The Adventures of Robin Hood, To Each His Own), Oscar winner (1947, 1950). Herman
Cain (no photo), 74, food executive (Godfather's Pizza, Pillsbury Company) and
Republican politician, chair of the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City (1995–1996), COVID-19.
Jamie Samuelsen, 48, Detroit sports broadcaster (WXYT-FM) and TV commentator, colon cancer.
Wilford Brimley, 85, actor (The Natural, The Thing, Cocoon) and Quaker Oats spokesman, kidney disease. Brent
Scowcroft (no photo), 95, National Security Adviser (1975–1977, 1989–1993).
Kamala, 70, professional wrestler (WWF), COVID-19. Robert
Trump, 71, business executive (The Trump Organization).
Herb Orvis (no photo), 73, Hall of Fame football player (Colorado Buffaloes, Detroit Lions, Baltimore Colts).
Dale Hawerchuk (no photo), 57, Hall of Fame ice hockey player (Winnipeg Jets, Buffalo Sabres, Philadelphia Flyers) and coach, stomach cancer.
DATELINE: POTENTIAL
TOILET
PAPER SHORTAGE
Faced with the
possibility of some limited household essentials, the McCarty Metro has
uncovered proof that you can survive without toilet paper!
Brad, Valerie, and the girls did a weekend trip to
Frankenmuth, Michigan
