Last Monday of July 2026

Welcome to this week’s Monday Screencaps. It’s the last Monday of July, and as we gear up for football season, I want to take a moment before taking a little breather. With the kids diving into their school sports and a family trip planned before a new school year commences in just two weeks, I’ll be away for a few days.

Yeah, it’s that time again—your last chance for a family getaway. So, brace yourselves because Sean Joe will be rocking the content for the week.

• Seriously, if we find ourselves buying into all this stuff in July, we only have ourselves to fault. Let’s try to resist for the sake of our kids and, really, for everyone. We should cherish summer.

• Last Saturday, I spent around eight hours outside, keeping an eye on a bunch of 13-year-olds who decided to swim. I’m happy to report it was a drama-free zone. A Saturday without any pool issues? Major win.
• Then, on Sunday, I got to enjoy a round of golf with Chris B., Kanu Kirk, and One Leg Bell, a newcomer from Florida. Our final tally? 40 wins, 47 losses. No sugarcoating here. Honestly, hitting better shots from bunkers doesn’t need an expensive club. After a rough day on a challenging course, returning to a simpler one feels like a cheat code. Speaking of cheat codes, that 7w I picked up this summer has been a game-changer. Hitting around 200 yards with a 23-degree loft? Best investment I’ve made in years. I’d much rather spend $125 on that than drop $400 on a driver. And, by the way, $2.50 for Busch Light and $10 Kona pitchers—can’t complain there!
• I also came across a travel ball video that made me rethink things while preparing this post. Not much to it, except a 16U player going off on the umpire and the coach stepping in, which led to the umpire having enough and calling it a day. Game over.

Idaho teen umpire delivers a harsh reality check to a complaining coach

Tony Romo’s dismal golf score before his arrest paints a grim picture

• What’s going on here? I just saw the MLB Draft, and it’s wild to consider that my high school teammate’s son, who excelled at Ohio State and shined at West Virginia’s College World Series, went undrafted. He’s got a killer arm and is a solid left fielder and a decent base stealer. Played in the top-tier travel baseball leagues; still, no draft pick. Meanwhile, I watch videos of 16U kids acting out, and it reflects a concerning trend. Only 12 were drafted from Ohio State this year. We seriously need to revive recreational ball.
• And what’s up with American fascination with K-Pop? Does it even have a substantial audience here? I asked my 9-year-old about it, and he visibly grimaced. Does every little girl really want to be listening to Jang Won Young? What am I missing here?

• To be fair, Chan does have an impressive windup; it makes me wonder how pitching mechanics are taught in Korean and Japanese schools. How do these players come to our leagues and outplay our young ones so easily?

Imagine being out in public dressed that way—it’s a wonder what some people say about America while sitting in their Irish living rooms.

– Jeff E. emails: Comparing all the soccer games I’ve seen, American FIFA soccer doesn’t hold a candle. I believe I’ve watched about four or five games, aside from USMT. Here’s my rundown of the best and worst of soccer.

Best:

• Fan dedication to the team
• Exceptional leg coordination
• Reactions from visiting fans

Worst:

• Red cards, which are sometimes overdone—someone ought to teach them about hockey
• Timekeeping issues, like the inaccuracies and lack of clarity when it comes to added time
• Flopping—it’s just the worst aspect of the game, like a masterclass from LeBron James

– Marty from Idaho sends us interesting content: A lot of readers mentioned they have squirrel issues in their yards. I get it; squirrels can be bothersome. But let’s put things into perspective: a deer ended up dying in my tall grass in late June, probably from an antler injury. I decided to set up my game camera to see what happened. Not long after, a mountain lion with her cubs discovered it and fed on it for a couple of nights. The house is about 75 yards left from that scene, so I had to inform my neighbors to skip any night strolls.

– Loyal reader Ricky A. shares insights from his summer in Japan.

– Robert R. provides tips on avoiding Chicago on the way to Wisconsin: I lived in Florida for 35 years and moved to Tennessee in 2019. My family has been visiting Green Bay annually since 1997. I figured out how to dodge Chicago traffic about a decade ago; I leave I-57 and go west to Bloomington, about 40 miles before entering Chicago, then take I-72 to avoid the mess.

From Bloomington, you can go north to Rockford, then take Route 43 to Milwaukee or head to Madison and take Route 51 north to Fond du Lac. It’s a bit longer, maybe an hour or so, but worth it for the lesser traffic, costing just about $2 total (one toll in Rockford). I loathed driving through Chicago, often telling my daughter-in-law, “I’m in the seventh ring of hell.”

– John from Milford, Michigan has an unconventional suggestion. If you’re struggling with neighbor’s cigarette smoke, just take up smoking yourself. Trust me on this one. I smoked years back, and the urge never fully goes away for some reason. If you puff a pack a day for a bit and then quit, the smell from next door won’t bother you anymore. Easy fix!

– Jim from East Peoria, Illinois has a simple solution: How about a leaf blower? I should’ve thought of that myself! Seems natural for something annoying.

And hey, the girls from Miami are definitely giving Dallas a run for their money!

Kinsey: I had a leaf blower next to me while sitting outside over the weekend. When your neighbor lights up, you might just want to give it a try.

This recent incident happened in Madison, Wisconsin. The solution’s straightforward: a pepper spray water cannon. Clear the area. If they want to come back, just do it again. Make way for folks ready to enjoy the night with a beer or whiskey.

That’s all for today. I’ll be back Saturday morning, so please send any messages or thoughts to Sean Joe. And let’s continue to enjoy the summer while I’m gone.

Have a fantastic week!