by John Walters

Starting Five

1. Hiroshima

Today is the 70th anniversary of Hiroshima, when the United States became the first and still only nation to drop an atomic bomb on an enemy at war. The stubborn Japanese still refused to surrender unconditionally and so, three days later, President Harry S. Truman ordered a second nuclear attack on Nagasaki.

As 17 Republican candidates square off in Cleveland tonight — seven in the jayvee game, and 10 in the varsity — I’m trying to picture a leader under those conditions surviving today’s social media gauntlet. Truman had only been president for about four months, and he had not been elected: he’d been elevated to the port with the death of FDR.

And yet Mr. “The Buck Stops Here” gave the command that led to the largest single-day loss of life known to man. Of course, it may have saved countless lives in the long run. But I doubt the antagonist party and pundits would have cared to see that nuance.

2. The Far Side (of the Moon)

Astounding photo of the moon and the earth here (Do you fully appreciate how few people in the planet’s history have had access to such a view??? Sit up and show a little respect and gratitude. Geez, you people…). For the record, this is ALWAYS the far side of the moon, but it is incorrect to call it the “dark side of the moon.”

What’s the difference? The far side of the moon never changes, since the moon’s rotation is such that we only ever see the same half of it from earth. This side you are seeing here, the far side, is never ever seen from earth.

The “dark side of the moon,” besides unofficially being the soundtrack to The Wizard of Oz, is the half that the sun is not illuminating at any given time (just as the “dark side of the earth” is what we’d call “night.”). So, looking at this pic, you are actually NOT seeing the dark side of the moon. Got it?

3. Deadliest Kvetch

You’ve probably already seen this, but just in case and, by the way, just one more example of over-analysis being a terrible trait (and trend). These crab fishermen off the Alaskan coach, the cast of The Discovery Channel’s Deadliest Catch, were, for this one play, far wiser than the Seahawk coaching staff. “WHY DID THEY THROW IT?” asks one of them in utter disbelief. Why, indeed?

4. At Least The Hed Did Not Read “Notre Dame Is Back”

Heading into the 2015 season, are the Fighting Irish one of the four best teams in the country? Sports Illustrated seems to believe so (or it recognizes that the Irish will do better  at the newsstand than Baylor or Oregon), but this alum is skeptical.

(For the record, SI put out four “regional” covers, but two of them had teams from the Midwest, ND and Ohio State; also included, Auburn and TCU. Apparently “East” and “West”, as in west of the Rockies, are no longer regions).

I do agree that Alabama is not finishing in the top four this season. It’ll be a down year in Tuscaloosa, even if the Coaches’ Poll has the Tide at No. 3. Here’s SI‘s Top 25.

Do the Irish have the potential to be so, with 18 returning starters? Sure, but they are thin at tailback, even though they have one great one (Tarean Folston) and one with the potential to be great (C.J. Prosise) and their QB, Malik Zaire, is a first-year starter. And his backups are neophytes.

I can’t shake the manner in which the Irish just laid down last November in Tempe and Los Angeles, and unforgivably at home against Northworstern. Louisville was a solid team, but the Irish still should’ve won.

Just my opinion, but Notre Dame wins at least two of those games if Joe Schmidt is in the lineup. They were a rudderless team without his leadership. Joe’s back this season, which is why it is possible that SI may be correct. And keep an eye on sophomore Drue Tranquill.

By the way, I met a few Notre Dame students last week. Absolutely great kids, but when did the prefix “rising” get attached to your year in school? “I’m a rising sophomore.” Hey, kid, I’ll let you know if you’re rising or not. Until then, shaddup!

Best soundbyte from Brian Kelly’s presser this a.m.: “We don’t play for conference championships.”

5. There’s No WiFi in Heaven

Interesting piece in Outside magazine noting that outdoor gear has never been more advanced but that the target demo would rather just stay indoors and play DraftKings or Call of Duty (why live real life when fake life is so much more gratifying?).

Music 101

See Me, Feel Me

So many songs from The Who to choose from for their first appearance here, but I went for  one that doesn’t get as much radio play. This is a live performance from Woodstock, which took place 46 years ago this month (The Who are currently on tour, by the way). Roger, Pete and the lads went on at 5 a.m. and played a 24-song set at that festival. The single-day ticket cost $6 and included Santana, Janis Joplin, Sly & the Family Stone, The Grateful Dead and Creedence Clearwater Revival as well)

Remote Patrol

The Daily Show

Comedy Central 11 p.m.

Good night and good luck… finding someone who will ever be able to so astutely and adeptly rake through the bullshit that pols and pundits toss at us.