Thankful Thursday | December 22, 2022

WRITE THIS WAY
Hello and welcome to another special holiday edition of Thankful Thursday. I wish nothing but joy and peace and happiness during this holiday season.

A Thankful Public Service Announcement: During this holiday season please check in with your loved ones. If you are thinking about someone you haven’t seen or talked to in a while, reach out with a text or a call. You just never know how much it is needed during a time of year that can be awash in emotion. 

Now with the temperatures plummeting and with snow, ice and sledding in the forecast, I wanted to share some goodness with you to give your Thursday a boost. Onward!

THANKFUL FOR THIS
Moroccan World Cup star Hakim Ziyech revealed he is donating his entire salary ($318,200) from his appearance on football’s biggest stage to the poor in his homeland. This continues a long record of giving for the Chelsea star who has donated all proceeds from playing for the national team. Ziyech captained the Atlas Lions to a stunning World Cup semifinal appearance – the first ever for an African nation. 


BEST THING I SAW ON THE ‘GRAM TODAY
As part of an ongoing class discussion on homelessness, this group of Toronto schoolchildren put together an initiative to provide food for the homeless. In one afternoon the team made 187 sandwiches for distribution. → WATCH

BEST THING I SAW ON THE TWITTER TODAY
This reunion is so pure and heartwarming. Slava Ukrayini! →  CLICK

BEST TWITTER THREAD
Longtime readers will know that there are few debates I argue more passionately about than TV theme songs. This thread takes a deep dive into this all-important topic. For the record, my current top-5: 1) Rockford Files 2) Magnum PI 3) Hawaii Five O 4) Mission Impossible 5) A-Team → THREAD

THE WEEK THAT WOULD NOT STOP
So, after just four complete days, it seems safe to say that this has already been a pretty momentous week. Allow me to reminisce… 

Sunday – Argentina defeats defending World Cup Champion France 4-2 in penalties to secure its third overall cup and its first since Maradona made the “Hand of God” a thing. The otherworldly Lionel Messi scored two goals to lead Argentina to a win seemingly a lifetime in the making, while overcoming a dazzling hat trick from France’s Kylian Mbappé. → HIGHLIGHTS

Monday – The former owner of the USFL’s New Jersey Generals was referred to the Department of Justice by the January 6 Committee on four charges stemming from a failed insurrection. It is the latest in a seemingly impossible list of “firsts” for the twice-impeached, single-termed chief executive.

Tuesday – Congressman-elect George Santos (R-NY) may have a completely fact-free bio and work/life history. You can’t make this stuff up, but apparently he can and did! Then, in the wee hours of the morning, coveted free agent shortstop Carlos Correa spurned a 13-year, $350 million offer from the San Francisco Giants to sign with the New York Mets on a 12-year deal for $315 million.

Wednesday – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky left his wartorn country for the first time since the Russian invasion 300 days ago to meet with President Joe Biden and later addressed a joint session of Congress. The parallels between Zelensky and Winston Churchill’s first appearance before the joint session in 1941 – in the dark days of World War II and mere weeks after the Pearl Harbor attacks – are striking. WATCH

ON THIS DATE – THAT SEEMS FAST
Not bad for its first flight. The Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird made its maiden flight in 1964 and instantly set a record flying at Mach 3.4 (2,608 miles per hour). Designed by the famed “Skunkworks” (avid Maverick watchers may recall the logo appearing in the Darkstar aircraft) the Blackbird remains the fastest and highest flying manned aircraft ever produced. → WATCH

LIVES LIVED
One of the first commercials I remember watching was the Mean Joe Greene Coke and a Smile ad which exposed me to the Pittsburgh Steelers dynasty. One of the first highlights I remember watching was the “Immaculate Reception” where Steelers Hall-of-Famer running back Franco Harris caught the most unlikely pass of all and rumbled in for the score to break Oakland’s heart in the AFC playoffs. Harris passed away Wednesday, December 21 just shy of the 50th anniversary celebration of the play. A legend on the field, Harris made a lasting impact off it with his fingerprints in dozens of charities and programs in his adopted home of Pittsburgh. →

TODAY’S SIGN OF THE APOCALYPSE
Thinking the chances this guy owns at least one red hat are astronomically high. Also: switch to decaf… immediately. → CLICK

QUOTABLE
“Your money is not charity. It’s an investment in … global security and democracy.” Volodymyr Zelensky, President Ukraine

MIND THE GAP
Thanks for reading. Tune in next Monday for another edition of the Work In Progress newsletter.