Work In Progress Newsletter
Edition 25 | November 7, 2022

WRITE THIS WAY…
Greetings and welcome to another edition of the Work In Progress newsletter! I’m Ryan McCrary, your reporter of revelry. This newsletter was made possible primarily because my Power Ball numbers did not hit. I shall endeavor to do better before the next drawing.

For the last 25 weeks and counting I’ve been scouring the news, interwebs and the occasional fax machine to share stories of hope and joy and triumph. Before we go any further, allow me to set your mind at ease: I will not be charging eight dollars per month for a blue check mark.

BEST THING I SAW ON THE ‘GRAM LAST WEEK
What does a humpback whale eat? Anything it wants… Anything… → WATCH

BEST THING I SAW ON THE TWITTER LAST WEEK
Vikings bowling. Intrigued?  →  WATCH

THE RON BURGUNDY “YOU ATE THE WHOLE WHEEL OF CHEESE?” AWARD
This dude ate an entire rotisserie chicken for 40 consecutive days. And lived… → THREAD

THREE DOTS… GOOD NEWS ONLY
Kentucky head men’s basketball coach John Calipari shared a photo of Micheal McGuire, a coal miner fresh off his shift with his young family at the the recent Blue & White Game… the son of coal miners himself, Calipari invited the entire family to an upcoming game for a VIP experience at Rupp Arena… Honda is making cars for very special patients at Children’s Health of Orange County (CA)… The car giant has designed tiny electric cars allowing children battling cancer to drive to their treatment appointments…If you’ve seen the movie “Sully” you know how dangerous bird strikes can be for airplanes… New Zealand researchers have developed the “RobotFalcon” which can make a flock of birds disperse… No second or third time necessary… Kenyans Evan Chebet (2:08.41) and Sharon Lokedi (2:23.23) won the 2022 New York Marathon in their race debut… in fact it was the first ever professional marathon for Lokedi.

CONGRATS, DUSTY
Dusty Baker entered Game Six of the 2022 World Series with 25 seasons as a Big League manager and 2,093 career regular season wins – good for ninth place on the career list. The only “yeah but” argument on an otherwise sterling resume, which includes leading all five teams he’s managed to a division title, was a lack of a ring as a manager. Sunday, Baker became the oldest (73) manager to win a World Series as his Astros dispatched Philadelphia 4-1.  FULL STORY → HERE

OTD – NOVEMBER 7
Enjoy the Election Day edition of On This Date… 

Notable Historical Moments… Magic Johnson announces he has tested positive for HIV and retires from the Los Angeles Lakers in 1991… Joe Biden declared the winner of the “hanging chad free” 2020 election… Meanwhile in 2000, George W. Bush wins the 2000 election over Al Gore by one electoral college vote and is declared the winner by the Supreme Court.

Famous Marriages… Frank Sinatra married second wife Ava Gardner in 1951… Pioneer Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin married Valentina Gorycheva in 1957.  

Famous Breakups… Actress Ingrid Bergman divorced Roberto Rossellini after seven years in 1957… Hollywood icon Elizabeth Taylor notches divorce No. 7 in 1982, leaving politico John Warner.

Famous Deaths… Former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt (1884-1962)… Prominent pugilist and Ali foil, Joe Frazier (1944-2011). 

Famous Birthdays… Now this guy really was a Marxist… Leon Trotsky (1879-1940)… Folk singer Joni Mitchell turns 78… Legendary Polish scientist Marie Curie (1867-1934).     

Bonus Leon Trotsky Quote: “The end may justify the means as long as there is something that justifies the end.”


WHAT I’M READING NOW
For Improvement: The 5-Second Rule by Mel Robbins

**One sentence review: One of the most practical approaches to self care I have ever read… relatable and applicable.  

Embracing my inner history nerd: The Coldest Winter by David Halberstam

**One sentence review: “One of the most compelling authors of our time immerses the reader in America’s most forgotten, misunderstood and brutal wars.”

For an Escape: The 6:20 Man by David Baldacci

**One sentence review: “Travis Devine left his high stress job as an Army Ranger in Iraq for life as a junior investment banker in a firm with dozens of secrets below the surface.

ESCAPE POD
Once again, my inner history geek rejoices. The American Scandal podcast is diving into the Patty Hearst Kidnapping. You’re not going to believe this, but it’s complicated… The first episode dropped last week. Truly remarkable to listen to history come aliveAll episodes are available for free on Spotify.

WHAT I WATCHED
A reader pointed out to me I had not mentioned Top Gun Maverick in this space for quite a while. Thank goodness for alert readers. Am I right? After purchasing the digital copy via Amazon within hours of its release, I have now watched this thing at least five times bringing my total tally to somewhere in the “triple ace” range. Think it’s probably time to buzz the tower once again. Strap in!

WHAT I’M LISTENING TO AS I WRITE
Right now I am listening to a mix of Bill Withers, Jackson Browne and James Taylor. A quality way to start the work week right!

CLIP OF THE WEEK
One of the most underrated comedies of the 1990s, So I Married An Axe Murderer features Mike Myers before he became Austin Powers → WATCH

MY GIF TO YOU
Current mood as I wrap up my first November newsletter… channeling my inner Dusty Baker! → WATCH

QUOTABLE
“Courage is more exhilarating than fear and in the long run it is easier.”
Eleanor Roosevelt, Activist, First Lady

THIS WAY OUT
Thanks for reading the latest edition of my Work In Progress newsletter. My goal is to spread inspiration and hope in a world that needs both more than ever. My goal is to release these newsletters each Monday – because who doesn’t need a shot of good news to start the work week? Look for a new article on my timeline later this week. Special thanks to Kim Kaupe and Terry Rice for encouraging me to launch this into the universe. As always, feedback is welcomed!