Links

http://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/ncaabk/donnie-tyndall-out-as-tennessee-coach-amid-ncaa-investigation/ar-AAa5ssv

Remember when he was the big name?  Morehead State upset Louisville, he went to USM...and then UT, and now this.  To be sure, this has been par for the course lately, but I wonder what people are thinking when they hire guys with these..questions, if you will, following them.

http://www.slate.com/blogs/browbeat/2015/03/23/john_oliver_on_municipal_fines_last_week_tonight_on_how_small_violations.html

Let's review:  First, community service has disappeared, because then you wouldn't be able to have all of the public workers on the payroll.  Second, if you don't have all those public workers, you don't need the high taxes and fees.  Thus...this will never happen.  Not that saying that it shouldn't happen, of course, but the whole system is designed for its self-preservation...and nothing fights more strenuously than that which is threatened with its survival.

Reek

My annus horriblis continues...my house has had an awful smell -- mainly in where my garage, kitchen door, and basement chimney intersect..  Just unpleasant, like something rotting.  So, I call the recommended (by my insurance guy) animal specialist, who is pretty sure that it IS an animal...but he cannot find it.  Puts a couple of holes in the drywall...nothing.  So, he suggests I crank up the furnace to about 80 for a couple of days...once I see a big wet spot in the wall, that will be where the thing is, and then I can dig out the drywall (and the animal).  Alas.

So, for the last day and a half, the place has been a sauna...and today, when I got home from work -- a day and a half of this treatment...no wet spot.  I can't smell the stink, so maybe the holes in the drywall have aired the thing out...but at the very least I will have to fix the drywall and then re-paint.  Ugh.  One "bright" side to this is that I've decided to fix the front steps, which are looking a little shady...I am not a fan of spending more money, but now is the time, and the steps need to be done.  Alas.

Salazar was sent down.  I do not really have a problem with this, given his struggles, and his work last year; the problem is that the alternatives aren't that much better.  McAllister has not learned a new pitch, I think, and while I like Tomlin, I don't think he is a long-term answer.  House could be suitable, given his youth and lefty-ness, even if he does not exactly get it up there, but...the rotation being what it is, I just do not share the confidence of some publications.

Arisen

As my plan for an early bedtime has been dashed, I may as well post...I have returned to the film list.  I watched "Salesmen" on TCM last night, a 1969 documentary about door-to-door Bible salesmen.  Interesting; the film was not too bad, but the look at life and society (How trusting!) back in the day was fascinating.  Tonight I watched "Fargo," which I had seen in bits and pieces over the years.  I liked it -- the accents were cloying -- but I am not sure it is as wonderful as everyone says; not that it is not a very good film.

I am reading Steere's Wilderness Campaign, which -- as you can tell -- is an account of the battle; what I like about it is 1) How he breaks down, unit-by-unit, what happened every day; and 2) His careful assessment of the battle in this view.  He ties together Grant's main objective -- crushing Lee's army -- and the tactical accounts to show that Grant actually had a good plan to destroy Lee, but due to faulty (non-existent) staff work, the terrain, HQ confusion, and some good fighting by the A.N.V., he couldn't pull it off.  The author was a WWI veteran, and thus had some experience of the fog of war; I think that experience underlies many of his assertions and theories as to what happened.

Hoops!

Hoops intervened in blogging; that, and an attempt to sleep in the interim.  I actually went for a run last nite -- the gym was closed, and after a fest of food, I figured a jog in the cold would be awesome -- and got home just in time to see 'Nova lose.  Should have called that one.  Alas.

http://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/ncaabk/brennan-to-grow-ncaa-womens-tournament-move-it/ar-BBipxmd

There are three problems with this...namely, men don't watch, and more importantly. women don't watch women's college basketball, which makes it doubly hard to get viewers.  I certainly watch some games, but I really don't think the quality of play/entertainment is all that high...mind you, I am trying to care.  Anyone who doesn't will find something else to watch.

Quickies

I sometimes wonder if I should have gone into medicine; if there is one thing I love, it is odd diseases and conditions, particularly those of the skin.  I know I love train wrecks, but looking pustules and worse...well, I would be like "cool" followed by "let's solve this!"  Knowing me, it would probably involved cutting everything out, instead of medication...

The UD is most impressive, speaking of train wrecks...

One of my co-workers gave me the Bastille CD, and it is pretty impressive.  The kit includes a second one, where they do covers...including that "What Would You Do" song from City High, which I had not heard in years...had to do a double-take there.

I have gotten a kick out of the hem-hawing regarding Jim Boeheim...I mean, with all due respect, this is what Syracuse is paying him to do -- win basketball games -- and given the way the NCAA handles things, it really isn't that much of a punishment, and certainly not enough to deter anyone from doing it.

Novels

The trainer really worked my arms today; either I am still behind (true) or I am just working harder (also true), but it was sore.  To be sure, I can see and feel some improvement; at least now that I have my own vehicle, I can get there more often and do some more machine work or some cardio...I think I need to be in shape, in general, and that means more of such stuff like that.  Actually, with the weather improving, I should get out and take some walks.  I am not saying that 30 minutes of a stroll around the block is the same as 30 on the treadmill, but if I did it at least on the weekends...well, it wouldn't hurt.

I am reading Co. Aytch, the Civil War memories of Sam Watkins.  It is quite good -- it is his reminisces as a private two decades later, but quite interesting, at least describing the role of the private.  Been trying to read more of those books lately, which is not that hard, given the literacy of the armies and the fact that modern censorship of war (both WWs) was non-existent.

 I was sad to see the news about Gavin Floyd, but was not surprised.  I liked him with the Phillies; good curve, good fastball, decent control (not the best park for a curveballer) but it is a shame the injury bug has hit him.  Ditto for Walters; I mean, I am not sure where they will play him (being able to play everywhere is not the same as doing so) and the Ks trouble me, but he has some power.  In the meantime, he is on the shelf, which sucks, not that we would not be spared a steady diet of Mike Aviles.  Back to the rotation, I hope for good things, but I can easily see regression for Kluber/Carrasco/Bauer or, God forbid, all three.  The rest of the candidates...well, Salazar may get the nod because of the heat.  Tomlin would be next, given his stuff doesn't play well out of the 'pen.  I think McAllister has pitched himself to the pen/swingman given his fading tendencies.  I think Chen is, well, insurance, but we all know how Terry loves his veterans, so I can see him getting starts -- and not emergency ones -- in August.

I did get a kick out of the women's bracket yesterday; the world was aflutter with how Princeton -- undefeated -- got an 8 seed, which means they get to play a 1 if they survive.  I think I lean with the side of playing a tougher nonconference schedule (not that the Men's committee seems to think that); that said, 31-0 is 31-0, and you'd think that someone along the way could have put them somewhere more...favorable, especially since it seems that in the women's game...there is a greater level of talent disparity between the top teams and everyone else.

Excelsior, I hope

After my week of craptasticness, I decided not to blog...so here we are, a new week, and things have looked better.  For one thing...I got the new truck today.  It is quite big; so much so that I have to figure out how to get it in the garage (or, where to move all my crap in there).  But I do like it, even if I cannot see in front of me (it is high up) and I have barley cracked the speed limit.

One reason I am being cautious is because I was rear-ended last week (in Mom's car); I was not hurt, the other person was not hurt (but I was in Mom's car), and her car only had some minor bumper damage, but I was...concerned.  There has been a steady load of lawyer and chiropractor inquiries, which has not exactly improved my opinion of them...  But, overall, it was some additional stress.

I was able to get a sweet deal on the car loan (some savings) and more importantly, may be able to refinance the mortgage (I joined a credit union) which would tamp down the payment and this enhance my flexibility.  I was a little surprised by the speed of things, but my FICO is pretty high (higher than I thought) and well, they want the business.  It has been a bit dizzying, adding payments, re-financing, lowering them, etc.  I think I will be ok; the gym thing is a concern, but that will end...that said, for the next few months my social activities will be curtailed, but I do not think that that is a bad thing.  At the very least, I can hit the gym more.

I also started my housecleaning; I did the kitchen floor and the living room over the weekend, and moved on to my bedroom today.  I decided to box and attic some schlotzkies I've been putting up over the years, and consolidated stuff into one shelf.  The desk looks quite bare, though I prefer modernist or adult.  I have a small pile of papers to go through, and while I am not exactly de-cluttering, there are some things in the closet I want to get rid of, and in general...make things a bit less cluttery. 

Up

Good God, I didn't realize it has been five days since the last post, mainly because I have been watching college hoops.  I do rather like this time of year, even if -- as I say every year -- the conference tourneys really just exist to screw good mid-major teams.  Of course, all of these OTHER teams can benefit, so there isn't exactly an impetus to start an Ivy League-style change, though...well, I think you could.  I mean, I was watching Akron/KSU a few days, and they were talking about how THAT tourney protects the top seeds...I was like, well...do they need protection if they are the top seed?

Finished reading Guelzo's Gettysburg:  The Last Invasion.  I liked it, of course...two points stood out.  First, he really made it...well, suspenseful; I mean, we all know what happened, but he told the story of the battle as a story.  Second, he delved much into the political leanings of the various Union generals, assigning those rivalries between officers and each other and officers and the War Department to differences in party.  I was aware of them, of course, but I had not really thought of things in that way...which made it interesting.

Randoms

You know, I hate to admit it, but a year without Downton seems...well, one of these days, I am going to have a problem coping.

This could be the last cold snap of the year...of course, I will believe it when I see it, or feel it, as the case may be, but...

I am not sure how and why, but the latest Powell book seems to be going quite quickly; I am almost 2/3 of the way through it, and I think it is mainly because I like seeing the characters come in and out of their lives...he does it in an artful way, I must admit.

Spring Training is upon us -- games, already! -- and it hardly seems it.  Like the weather, I have guarded optimism about the Tribe; the Tigers are a little weaker but the White Sox and Royals are stronger, and I do not see the Tribe and their additions really making that big of a splash.  Alas, alack.

One thing I've noticed while going through the NFR list is how many of them involve making plays or making movies; I mean, I understand the concept of writing what you know, but...on the other hand, there is a lot of drama inherent in production; getting the show done, the actors and actresses not killing each other, will people watch...and the fact that everyone in Hollywood is on the same page, at least...I can see how someone would find it easier to put together a good film just by combining them...I would argue that, among feature films, there are more films about movies and theater than there are war stories...which says a lot.

Prolonging

So, it is Tuesday night, I had a killer workout, am tired, have not slept well lately...and here I am, broadcasting my thoughts to anyone who cares.  Rah.

OC Stats:  346 visits (I assume this is weather-related), totaling 143 seniors, 502 adults and 307 kids.  Rah.  I have not been there, with the car and all, so I have nothing else to report...but it is sort of nice, actually.  I should find a replacement, even if, despite the many Hope and Changers floating around the parish, no one wants to do their Fair Share.

Finished off The Improvised War in Nevins' Civil War series and moved on to the next installment of the Powell series, Casanova's Chinese Restaurant.  I would not say I like the books, but I don't mind reading them, and I do want to see how it turns out...also to cross another one off that list.  All of this filmography is prolly cutting into things, not that this is any surprise.  Like so many other things in life, I have twelve moderately important things in the air, making minimal progress on all, but truly important shit is handled...well, not well at all.  Alas.  It is a family trait, though I think I am better at handling ALL of the balls in the air than my relations, mainly because they are nice people, and I am he who sees the half-empty cup all the time.

My Mom was bitching about the commercials the Diocese is running advertising the Confession push; I think this is the first year for TV ads.  I don't know; I rather like them; I mean, people don't go enough (like myself), and while it is in the bulletin, if people aren't going to Mass in the first place...  I will admit I find it therapeutic to go, if only to realize that I am something of a shit.

Equality

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/title-ix-was-great-for-female-athletes-and-terrible-for-female-coaches/2012/07/26/gJQAAFK1BX_story.html

I read this a few days ago...on foxsports; basically, the above link makes the points I would have made, but I think it leaves out one minor point...one reason why men didn't take coaching jobs at the beginning was because they didn't pay enough to support a family...whereas, I think, many of the women who were coaching (at first) didn't have families...if you get my drift...and thus could afford to live on one salary.  Once salaries -- thanx to Title IX -- were raised, men could support their families on the salaries, and thus applied for the jobs.  To be sure...it is sort of unfair, but...the laws of economics are funny that way.  I suspect some of it is old-boy things, but I also wonder how much of this is fear of lawsuits over discrimination due to gender/sexual practice; you can always fire a white guy carte blanche, but anyone else...

I crossed two more flicks off the list; one was the "The Music Man," which was a musical and a highly maudlin one.  The other was "The Last Picture Show," which is also on the AFI Top 100 list.  The movie had a lot of stars...but honestly, I thought it was just ok.  It was...just another story, I guess.