This is an Open Thread
Good day, TNBers! How is everyone on this lovely Friday?
Things are doing alright in my neck of the woods. I’m in OKC right now, hanging, doing remodeling projects as I embark on a new life’s chapter, titled: being a landlord. My #1 goal? Do not be a slumlord. I mean, that shouldn’t be too unrealistic, right? So far, so good. 😬😂
But man, it is tough work. I am feeling every ache and pain. I ain’t no spring chicken any longer and my body is not being shy about letting me know it either. But the good news is, the hubs had to head back to Houston for a couple weeks and while I have a few items on my list to get done before he returns I am totally taking today off!
Because while, in my mind, I am heading into the weekend like…
In reality, it is more like…
And I do not feel guilty taking today off because I know he’s playing golf this morning!
Oooo, speaking of golf, ICYMI, check out this shot John Rahm made during Tuesday’s practice round! On his birthday! LOL.
If you ever needed more evidence of how ridiculously good professional golfers are at golf, look no further than the sorcery that Jon Rahm pulled off at Augusta on Tuesday.
It has been a tradition over the years to attempt to skip your shot off the water on No. 16 during practice rounds. And while any regular golfer would simply send their shot plunging into a pond (you know, because gravity), pro golfers turn that pond into a playable avenue of some sort.
…
“Yeah, pretty nice birthday present,” said Rahm, who turned 26 on Tuesday. “Can’t complain. Hit my normal tee shot to two feet and then skipped it and made it, which is the craziest thing, the second hole-in-one of the week.”
Indeed, it was his second ace this week. Rahm made a hole-on-one on the fourth hole on Monday.
Golfweek
Crazy! Okay, you slackers, enough fooling around. Let’s get down to business in case Tiff checks in on us!
But you know what Biden will not be doing? Golfing. Like someone else I could name.
Anyhoo…for Biden’s Friday, he will be participating in the annual Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meeting (APEC). It is hosted by New Zealand this year, but due to their strict COVID measures (which are paying off for them) the meeting will be held virtually.
Biden plans to discuss ongoing efforts to address the Covid-19 pandemic and support global economic recovery.
After not golfing and after doing his presidenting duties he will head to Camp David for the weekend.
For a little bit of background on APEC in case anyone is interested.
What is Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation?
The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) is a regional economic forum established in 1989 to leverage the growing interdependence of the Asia-Pacific. APEC’s 21 members aim to create greater prosperity for the people of the region by promoting balanced, inclusive, sustainable, innovative and secure growth and by accelerating regional economic integration.APEC has 21 members. The word ‘economies’ is used to describe APEC members because the APEC cooperative process is predominantly concerned with trade and economic issues, with members engaging with one another as economic entities.
APEC’s 21 member economies are Australia; Brunei Darussalam; Canada; Chile; People’s Republic of China; Hong Kong, China; Indonesia; Japan; Republic of Korea; Malaysia; Mexico; New Zealand; Papua New Guinea; Peru; The Philippines; The Russian Federation; Singapore; Chinese Taipei; Thailand; United States of America; Vietnam.
Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation
Huh. They have a Twitter page.
Oh. And a YouTube channel.
And there are Tensions…because, of course there are.
WELLINGTON, Nov 12 (Reuters) – U.S. President Joe Biden and Chinese leader Xi Jinping are expected to address leaders of the Pacific Rim late on Friday amid heightened regional trade and geopolitical tensions.
Reuters
China set the tone for the 21 member Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meeting this week, with Xi warning in a video recording on Thursday that the region must not return to the tensions of the Cold War era.
The comment was seen as a reference to efforts by the United States and its regional allies to blunt what they see as China’s growing coercive economic and military influence.
The APEC summit will be held in Thailand next year.
The United States has offered to host the 2023 round of APEC meetings for the first time in over a decade, although a consensus has not been reached on this proposal, officials have said.
Reuters
Just my two cents, but maybe if someone did not behave with a Cold War mentality others would not treat them as such. Don’t want nothing, don’t start nothing. I’m just sayin’. Maybe Xi and his CCP should consider focusing on cleaning up their real estate markets getting ready to implode instead of proving to the world communists really aren’t fit to play on the world’s stage.
Rounding out yesterday’s Biden Bits he tweeted two more times with Veteran’s Day tributes.
Quick jump over to view the other Biden @JoeBiden Twitter account…
For Friday, November 12, Biden has tweeted two times so far.
In VPOTUS news, Vice President Kamala Harris holds a press conference on her trip to France.
Rounding out Friday’s schedule, Press Secretary Jen Psaki will hold press briefing at 1:00 pm, eastern.
That’s a Friday wrap! See you tomorrow, same time, same place.
This is an Open Thread