Wednesday Night Lights

Peter Alexander, “Weekend Today” Co-Host and Chief White House Correspondent for NBC News, referred to last night at the Democratic National Convention (DNC) as “Wednesday Night Lights” this morning on “Today.” Peter was talking about Minnesota Gov. “Coach” Tim Walz accepting the nomination for vice president at the DNC. Cool. See the featured photo.

There were plenty of great lines last night from the convention stage. One of my favorites was from “SNL’s” Kenan Thompson when he walked onto the stage with the Project 2025 binder and said:

“You ever see a document that can kill a small animal and democracy at the same time?”

Too funny.

This was another great line from last night. Here is from USA Today:

CHICAGO − Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel had a pointed message to any Republicans, or anyone on the U.S. Supreme Court for that matter, who might be thinking about reversing same-sex marriage protections.

“You can pry this wedding ring from my cold, dead, gay hand,” said Nessel, ad-libbing a line to the prepared text for a short speech she gave in support of Vice President Kamala Harris’ election at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago.

“And I’m retaining a lot of water, so good luck.”

It was a take of sorts from the Charlton Heston line at an NRA gathering years ago.

Commentary said this the last couple of days:

The GOP hates it. Commentary is talking about last night’s lovefest at the Democratic National Convention. The GOP can’t handle the love, appreciation, and affection that was on display last night in Chicago. The GOP isn’t capable these days of creating the vibe that we saw yesterday in Chicago.

Once again, I have to give a ton of credit to the folks who are running the DNC in Chicago. They know that Donald Trump is enamored with celebrities. Last month, the Republican National Convention had Hulk Hogan, Kid Rock and Amber Rose. Last night alone, the DNC had Mindy Kaling, John Legend, and Stevie Wonder. Oh, and Oprah. You know that just drives Trump crazy. I love it.

The DNC wraps up tonight.

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Raj Mankad is a big shot at the Chron. Heck, he is on the Chron masthead listed as the Deputy Opinion Editor. He wrote today’s E-Board take and here is the headline and the start of the take:

Can’t pronounce ‘Kamala’? Here’s why I won’t judge you. | Opinion

Vice President Kamala Harris has simple guide for pronouncing her first name. For years she’s told people to say it like the punctuation mark “comma” with a “la” added to the end. This week at the Democratic National Convention, nearly all the speakers singing her praises have said it the way she wants.

Yet, “comma-la” is not a traditional way to say the name in India, and Harris knows it. In a 2017 interview for the podcast The Axe, she shared that her grandmother would say it “kuh-muh-luh,” and then repeated her preferred “Comma-la” pronunciation.

For Indian Americans like me, this deliberate mispronunciation of one’s own name is very familiar. Every time I hear Harris do it, I feel both solidarity and pain. The same for former Louisiana Gov. Piyush Jindal, who goes by “Bobby,” and former South Carolina Gov. Nimarata Haley, who goes by her middle name “Nikki.”

Here is the entire very good take: Trump says Kamala with perfect derision. I prefer imperfect joy. (houstonchronicle.com).

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From the Chron on the late Dr. Tatcho Mindiola:

Tatcho Mindiola Jr., a retired University of Houston professor who turned the UH Center for Mexican American and Latino/a Studies into one of the premier programs of its kind, died over the weekend. He was 85.

Mindiola died surrounded by his family Saturday evening at Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center after a sudden illness, said his wife, Cindy Mindiola.

Born and raised in Houston, the professor led the Center for Mexican American Studies as its director from 1980 until his retirement in 2015. Mindiola saw his position as a way to increase the educational opportunities for Houston’s growing Mexican American and Latino communities, and the center grew to include tenure-track faculty, fellowships and scholarship programs.

And this:

During a breakfast at Eric’s Restaurant on the University of Houston campus last year, Mindiola reflected on much of his life in an hour-and-a-half-long interview. 

He had grown frail, requiring the assistance of a nurse at his home in Third Ward near UH and relying on a chair lift to get upstairs. But he recalled his academic career vividly and candidly.

In the early days after becoming director, Mindiola recalled going behind the backs of UH administrators to find money for the program. He successfully lobbied his connections in the state Legislature for the money.

“I developed this reputation of being uncooperative,” he said with a laugh. “But I didn’t give a s—. I knew what I wanted, and I eventually succeeded with some help.”

During breakfast, he had reflected on why his work mattered. 

“Well, for our history,” Mindiola said. “So that people know who we are and so that books can be written about us.”

Mindiola is survived by his wife, Cindy; their two sons and twin daughters, Trae, Gilbert, Maribel and Maricela; and four grandchildren, Luca, Matias, Liv and Aden.

Here is the entire read: Tatcho Mindiola, former UH Mexican American studies director, dies (houstonchronicle.com).

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Alex Bregman is now dinged up.  He says he doesn’t know if he can regularly play third base. Sigh. We start a seven-game roadie today with four in Baltimore and then three in Philly. At least we are still five games up in the AL West.