Good morning and welcome to your weekend!  Here are the most interesting items I read or watched this week. I hope you enjoy these and wish you a wonderful weekend!

Let’s start with some humor. With the 2016 Olympics drawing to a close, some have discovered a neglected sport: team Preaching (h/t Adam J!!).  Funny preview:

…the Scottish-American preacher was disqualified upon the discovery by an Olympic investigative committee that he has been faking his accent for the past thirty years.

Shakeup in the Trump campaign came this week amid discoveries that the campaign chairman (Paul Manafort) had a complex relationship with the ex-President of Ukraine – a pro-Putin ally.  The new campaign manager position is being filled by Kellyanne Conway. Also, the CEO of Breitbart is going to be in an advisory position – which drew some fire from the right and the left.

I personally doubt that any of this really makes much of a political difference for Trump in the minds of voters. The political optics aren’t good, but its a complex issue to sort through for anyone, and unlike some politicians I’ve seen in the past, Trump wasted no time in hiring top talent to replace Manafort – Conway is a very well respected pollster in GOP circles, and was the manager for Ted Cruz’ superpac during the primary season. I think the next big thing to shake up the campaign on either side of the aisle will be the debate in September (h/t to my Pops who pointed this out). That could actually change some minds for folks on the sidelines, or harden their opinions…stay tuned.

The Olympics are pretty much wrapped up, and this was from a week ago (I’m sure he did more damage since): Michael Phelps ties 2,000-year old Olympic record (h/t Alex W.).  It’s too bad that his teammates are such imbeciles, the whole U.S. Swimming team was disgraced by the behavior of those few who lied about being held up at gunpoint last week.

Speaking of the Games, I saw this article which intrigued me:A Visual Guide to How Terribly the World’s Best Human Athletes Fare Versus Most Average Animals. I tried to find some third party verification, but actual videos showing me their thesis was correct are scant. However, there seems to be a consensus about the numbers they’re using.

No Kidding: Obama Betrayed Cuba’s Dissidents (Wall Street Journal)

More bad news for POTUS this week: Aetna pulling back from ObamaCare in blow to health law.

VIDEO: This was pretty interesting stuff…How the World Map Looks Wildly Different Than You Think

These people! (shakes head) Target’s $20 million answer to transgender bathroom boycott

Wonky but good: Seattle’s Minimum-Wage Education

Coolest thing I read all week (WSJ): Hyperloop Technology to Be Studied as Shipping Tool.

Hyperloop, a concept popularized in recent years by billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk, is a technology that would transport people or cargo in suspended capsules through miles-long near-vacuum tubes at speeds reaching more than 700 miles, or 1,120 kilometers, an hour.

I was really into the Journal this week, so you had probably better get a subscription I guess!  I don’t know how much of this is public versus behind the paywall.  I apologize for the inconvenience…but here’s one more that was good: The Rules That Make Airline Passengers Crazy.

Sobering: Haunting image of boy in an Aleppo ambulance captures plight of children caught in Syrian war

The Middle East (Con’t.): Russia deploys bombers to Iranian air base

The move shows Russia is expanding its role and presence in the Middle East and comes amid Russian media reports Moscow has asked Iran and Iraq for permission to fire cruise missiles at Syrian targets across their territory from the Caspian Sea.

AproposI suppose…Sproul: Are We Living in the Last Days?

In case you missed it from a few weeks back: John Piper’s Funeral Prayer for a Family of Five

I haven’t finished this but it looks good, from Powlison: Stop Having Quiet Times

AND…new video out from the Bible Project people, this one is on Ecclesiastes. 

That’s it!  I hope you have a wonderful weekend with your friends and family!

PJW