Minnesota Timberwolves sweep Phoenix Suns in first round; plus Oklahoma City sweeps New Orleans in first round

At the end of April, the NBA playoffs will showcase new teams in the 2nd round. The Phoenix Suns lost to the Minnesota Timberwolves in four games. The Timberwolves were led by Anthony Edwards, Karl Anthony Towns, and Rudy Gobert in their game 4 victory last night in Phoenix. Kevin Durant and Devin Booker combined for 82 points, but the #6 seed Phoenix Suns lost by six points to Minnesota on April 28. Bradley Beal scored nine points, and the Suns were outrebounded by 11. The huge difference in rebounding is another reason why the Phoenix Suns season ended quickly. Next, the Oklahoma City Thunder had the best record in the Western Conference. As the Western Conference #1 seed, this team is led by MVP candidate Shai Gilgeous Alexander and a great supporting cast of players. Chet Holmgren; Jaylin Williams; Josh Giddey; and Gilgeous-Alexander scored in double figures in game 4 tonight. This fourth game is the final game in their first round series, as Oklahoma City swept the New Orleans Pelicans. Oklahoma City's coach is Mark Daigneault, and he won NBA Coach of the year honors this season. The OK City Thunder are the youngest team to win a playoff series in NBA history. In addition, let's talk about the best regular season team in the NBA which is the Boston Celtics. The Celtics won 64 games and the team won the Eastern Conference by fourteen games. The Celtics won the first three out of four games, in their first rounds series against the Miami Heat. Game 5 is on May 1, and the Celtics should win that game at home in TD Garden in downtown Boston. The Miami Heat lost in the NBA Finals in June 2023, but the Heat could be ousted in the first round. In this penultimate paragraph, the Denver Nuggets won the NBA Championship in June 2023. This year, the team is the #2 seed and their first round opponent is the LA Lakers. The LA Lakers are the #7 seed. The Nuggets beat the LA Lakers in five tough games. Will the Nuggets go back to the NBA Finals in June 2024? Jamal Murray and Nikola Jokic are leading the team, and hope Nikola Jokic does not win NBA regular season MVP. In closing, hope you enjoy the picture above. The picture shows the starting five for the Oklahoma City Thunder. The last time that the OK City Thunder played in the NBA Finals was in June 2012. Good night and enjoy the rest of the NBA Playoffs!

After 'No Time To Die' movie in 2021, the next James Bond actor is a mystery

In October 2021, Daniel Craig played James Bond for the last time in 'No Time To Die.' This movie had its twists and turns, as James Bond died plus James Bond's daughter made a cameo. These two scenes were crucial ones, that are considered to be a first for the 007 movies. With Daniel Craig being cast as James Bond for five movies, it is going to take a couple of more years to find the next marvelous British spy. This enigma might have a few candidates in the mix now. Let's look at some respective names in the upcoming paragraphs. First, Idris Elba could be the first Black James Bond. The stellar English actor is 52 years young, and he could be a regal choice for the role. On the contrary, some critics think he is too old to play Commander James Bond. Another British name to arise out of the blue is Aaron Taylor-Johnson. Aaron is the right age at 33, and he has played a Marvel character in 'Avengers: Age of Ultron.' Taylor-Johnson played Kick-Ass superhero adapted from Marvel comics in two successful movies. Second, many people think of Henry Cavill as a multi-faceted adept actor. Remember that he played Clark Kent in three to four movies. The familiar movies were 2013's 'Man of Steel' and 2016's 'Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice.' Cavill reprised Superman in 2017's 'Justice League' and 2022's 'Black Adam' movies. Cavill can be seen in 'Argylle' of recent, which was released in February 2024. With the news of Aaron Taylor-Johnson's offer of the James Bond role, does it mean that Cavill got snubbed for 007? Third, Tom Hardy could be a possible choice for a 'Bond 26' flick. The 26th installment of the spy linked movies is about two years away from any major Hollywood announcement. Hardy received an Academy Award nomination for his villanous role in 2015's 'The Revenant.' In 2012, Hardy played the puzzling 'Bane' character in 'The Dark Knight Rises.' If the author of this post had to pick two, Hardy would be one of the top two choices. Hardy has received major recognition for the 'Venom' films, and will be back in 'Venom: The Last Dance' in October 2024. In closing, the list of James Bond actors may include Henry Golding. His fans know him from 'Crazy Rich Asians' in which he was the love interest of Constance Wu. In 'A Simple Favor,' Golding plays the husband of Blake Lively in an incredible crime comedy thriller. The four choices for James Bond are listed in this informative post, and the choice will be up to the public in 2025 or 2026. Enjoy the picture above of the SIS building. Good night from the MI6 building plus the headquarters of the Secret Intelligence Service, the United Kingdom's foreign intelligence agency.

Capital One buying Discover Financial Services in first noteworthy merger of 2024

When you think of CapitalOne, the stock symbol is COF. The company has corporate headquarters in Mclean, VA. The company has Jennifer Garner, Samuel L. Jackson, Charles Barkley, Spike Lee, Jim Nantz, and Willie Nelson in their various commercials. One of the slogans of CapitalOne is 'What's in Your Wallet?'. The market capitalization of Capital One is $51 billion. Next, Discover Financial Services has a stock symbol of DFS. The company has corporate headquarters close to Chicago, IL. The company has a market capitalization of $30 billion. One of their slogans is 'It pays to Discover.' Two days ago, Capital One announced that the company will buy Discover for $35 billion. In addition, this merger in the credit card industry will make credit card users live under more pressure from high interest rates. The US public is known to be in record debt, and Elizabeth Warren is one Massachusetts senator that is asking for the FTC to block this deal. Warren is stating that the deal could reduce competition. Visa, Mastercard, American Express and Discover are the four biggest credit card brands in USA. Some stock analysts believe that the duopoly is Visa and Mastercard. In this penultimate paragraph, the author states that he used to have a discover credit card and a citigroup mastercard credit card. In 2015, my two accounts were closed due to debt in both of the credit cards. Currently, my only credit card is a Visa through Bank of America. Discover credit card and Mastercard credit card send me more promotions, for credit card offers. It may be better for me to decline those offers, as most world citizens should stop living in credit card debt. In closing, American Express is a credit card that is not for me. If CapitalOne and Discover merger is approved, it would happen in another 8-12 months. The deal could be blocked, and antitrust issues is the reason why the merger may not be approved. See the picture above of Disover's logo. One main advantage of Discover is earning unlimited 1% cash back on all purchases. You can earn 5% cash back at different places each quarter, when you activate. Hope this feature stays, if CapitalOne and Discover merge into one company.

At the Golden Globes 2024, The big winner is 'Oppenheimer'

Last night, the Beverly Hilton hotel was the location of the 81st Golden Globe awards. The host of the show was Jo Koy, and his monologue was not a great moment of the night. 'Oppenheimer' won five golden globes last night, and it was the big winner. Christopher Nolan won for best director, and the movie received the best motion drama picture award also. Cillian Murphy won best actor in a drama motion picture, which was a huge surprise for 'Oppenheimer.' Robert Downey Jr. won best supporting actor in a motion picture, which was a pleasant surprise. Meanwhile, the 'Killers of the Flower Moon' got one huge award for Lily Gladstone. She won for Best Female Actor in a Motion Picture Drama, for her incredible performance. In her acceptance speech, the fellow Native American gave a cool speech in the Blackfeet language. If you have seen 'Poor Things' movie, the science fantasy black comedy won two golden globe awards. Emma Stone won a golden globe award for the movie, in the best performance by a female actor in a motion picture – musical or comedy category. The movie won the golden globe in the Best Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy category. Next, the foreign language film 'Anatomy of a Fall' won two awards. Also, 'The holdovers' won two golden globe awards. Paul Giamatti won a golden globe for 'the holdovers' in Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy category. Da'Vine Joy Randolph won a golden globe for Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role in Any Motion Picture for 'the holdovers.' This movie is on my list of movies to see. In closing, the awards season will continue this month. The Oscars official nominees will be announced on January 23, 2024. The Oscars will be held on March 10, 2024 at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, CA. Other prominent awards shows will happen in February 2024. Until then, enjoy the picture above of Christopher Nolan receiving his first golden globe award for 'Oppenheimer' movie.

Dr. Henry Kissinger and Charlie Munger go to heaven

When you think of Berkshire Hathaway, two names come into the minds of investors. One name is Warren Buffett, the Oracle of Omaha. The other name is Charlie Munger, the 99 year old vice chairman of berkshire hathaway. On 11-28-2023, Warren Buffett is losing his friend Charlie Munger. Munger died in Santa Barbara, CA. Does Warren Buffett have a designated successor to the Vice Chairman role? Next, Charlie Munger wanted to catch a 200-pound tuna fish before he died. This feat did not happen for the Harvard educated lawyer. Munger and Buffett met in 1959, and were friends for the past 64 years. Munger attended University of Michigan and California Institute of Technology, but did not have a degree from either of these renowned institutions. Munger served in the US Army Air Corps, and he lost an eye to failed cataract surgery. Furthermore, the investing legend worked as a teenager at a grocery store called Buffett & Son. This grocery store was owned by Warren Buffett's grandfather. Munger was known as Buffett's sounding board. He helped Buffett to grow Berkshire Hathaway into a multinational holding company. The company's stock symbol is BRK.A, and its market capitalization is above $700 billion. In contrast, Henry Kissinger emigrated to the USA with some family members at the age of 15. He escaped Germany before Europe's present day strongest economy invaded Poland to start World War II in 1939. Kissinger became Secretary of State under President Richard M. Nixon, and Kissinger earned an MA and PhD from Harvard University. Kissinger won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1973, along with North Vietnam's Le Duc Tho. This award was a controversial victory, as Le Duc Tho declined the Nobel Peace Prize award. In this penultimate paragraph, Kissinger can be described as the man who negotiated a ceasefire in Vietnam with major help from Le Duc Tho. Henry Kissinger served in the United States Army from 1943-1946, as an Sergeant in the 84th Infantry Division 970th Counter Intelligence Corps Detachment. Kissinger was a Republican that left a lasting legacy on foreign policy. He became former President Richard Nixon’s national security adviser in 1969. Besides conducting negotiations to settle the war in Vietnam, he helped normalize relations between the U.S. and China. In closing, Kissinger continued to be Secretary of State during the Ford administration until the end of the former President’s term in 1977. Kissinger chaired the the National Bipartisan Commission on Central America in 1982. He served on the President’s Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board under Reagan and former President George H.W. Bush. Kissinger released several books in his lifetime, including “Leadership: Six Studies in World Strategy,” published in 2022. Kissinger is survived by his wife, Nancy Maginnes Kissinger, and his two children, Elizabeth and David, from his first marriage. The picture above this weblog post is the revered Dr. Henry Kissinger. The world will miss both of these highly successful and intelligent people.

The Sphere is open in Las Vegas. U2 starts their residency at the Sphere

U2 started their residency in Las Vegas, at the Sphere at the Venetian resort. The first show of their twenty five performances was a spectacular display. The Irish band's residency is titled 'U2:UV Achtung Baby Live at Sphere.' The Sphere opened on 9-29-2023, to the public. People can invest in the Sphere, as the stock is listed on the NYSE under the ticker symbol of SPHR. The sphere is located just off the Las Vegas Strip. By the numbers, the sphere-shaped project is designed by Populous architect. The sphere contains the world's largest LED screen. The sphere is the most expensive entertainment venue in Las Vegas history. The expected cost is $2.3 billion, which beats out the Allegiant stadium's $1.9 billion. The land beneath the Sphere and the Venetian hotel is purchased by Vici Properties. The general contractor on the Sphere is Madison Square Garden. Furthermore, MSG estimated the cost of the property to be $1.2 billion only. MSG took over as general contractor in December 2020. MSG plans on hosting four to six residencies each year at the Sphere. The Sphere displays different images, such as the surface of Mars or the Moon or an eyeball. MSG's Jim Dolan is the visionary behind the Sphere. Going back to James Dolan, he is the same man behind the Beacon Theatre; Madison Square Garden; and Radio City Music Hall. The Sphere is largely paid for by Mr. Dolan. James Dolan is the CEO of Madison Square Garden Company. The Sphere is standing 366 feet (111 meters) high, and the capacity is close to 19,000 seats. The Sphere is home to the world's most advanced audio system, and to five Aura robots that greet guests as they enter. In closing, the Sphere is being billed as the world's largest spherical structure. The spherical structure is 516 feet wide. The arena could fit the entire Statue of Liberty. On September 29, there was a red-carpet premiere attended by Paul McCartney, Oprah Winfrey, Snoop Dogg, Jeff Bezos and dozens of other celebrities. If you go to Las Vegas or Sin City, make sure to enjoy the panoramic views of the Sphere. Good day from G. Ripley!

College football realignment for 2024; as Pac-12 conference will disappear next year

In the past two months, four teams moved from the Pac-12 conference to the Big 12 in a huge transformation. University of Colorado Buffaloes started the alteration, with their move back to the Big 12 conference in a major news conference in July 2023. In 2024, the Buffaloes will join UCLA and USC as huge universities, which left the Pac-12 conference. UCLA and USC are moving to the Big 10 conference in Fall 2024. Arizona State University; University of Utah; and the University of AZ will go to Big 12 conference in Fall 2024. Stanford and University of California will leave the Pac-12 conference in Fall 2024, for the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). In addition, the University of Texas and University of Oklahoma are moving to the SEC in Fall 2024. Both universities will move a year earlier in a massive financial plan, which is cleared by all Big 12 conference officials. The inclusion of the two universities will bring the SEC league, to a total of sixteen universities. The SEC league is split into two divisions: West and East. Sixteen universities are split into eleven states, which covers the Midwest; Southeastern; and Southwestern USA. Next, Southern Methodist University is moving from American Athletic Conference (AAC) to the Atlantic Coast Conference in Fall 2024. With the addition of SMU, the ACC is seventeen universities in Fall 2024. The ACC stretches from the Atlantic Coast to the Pacific Coast in 2024. University of Pittsburgh; and the University of Louisville are not in any coastal states. Pennsylvania is in the Mid-Atlantic or Northeast; and Kentucky is in southeast USA. In this penultimate paragraph, the discussion of the Power Five Conferences continues. The college football realignment shaved the nationwide University sports from five strong conferences, to a Super Four in collegiate athletics. The Pac-12 conference was stripped for parts that were redistributed, to its competitors for financial gain. The most disruptive round of conference realignment at the highest level of college sports appears to be over, for the near future. Two northern california universities, Stanford and Cal-Berkely; joined the ACC out of pure desperation. The Super four conferences are the Big Ten, Big 12; ACC and the Southeastern conference lastly. In closing, 2021 is considered the first year of the three year realignment phase. The Big Ten conference made a transformational shift to the WEST, by adding Southern California and UCLA in Summer 2022. In the Atlantic Coast, the monumental process of expanding its footprint serves to address both short and potential long-term issues. In 2024, the Southern California coast will change the Midwest and mid-atlantic areas by adding the Hollywood culture. All of these conference changes will make the NCAA a huge moneymaker in the next decade, for athletics and academics. Good night from the gridiron!