Progress

Another thrilling Tribe game; it would be hard to criticize Francona; House just lost it quickly.  Hopefully, this gets him sent down, where he can work on things in Cbus.  Webb pitched fairly well, which is nice, and Shaw had a nice outing...maybe he can get on track, not that I would be putting him in any close games for a long while.

I am doing some work on the Wainwright text; the font is six-point, or so, and interesting, between the camp notes and then the battle descriptions.  I did get a kick out of his efforts to find a suitable cook/servant for himself; I realize then as now, it was good to have someone around to do the useful and quotidian stuff, but...there was a war going on, for Christ's sake.

The film list progress was delayed by a broken disc, but the replacement arrived..."Dracula" and another horror flick on the list.  TCM is playing two more over the weekend -- "The Magnificent Ambersons" and "Ninotchka"-- and I may even cheat a bit by watching a short.  These would really put me closer to 300, a sort-of goal....I also note that most of the next ones I want to watch, an added benefit nowadays...

Firing Away

The Tribe finally won a game -- barely -- and there was much rejoicing.  Rah...in the meantime, Ryan Webb was called up so Terry can have another reliever...but he is not one of Terry's guys, so who knows how he will be used.  They went to McAllister tonite -- which surprised me, and then he pitched well, another surprise -- though maybe he is developing a knack for relieving.  Sands was DFAed; this is sort of bad...while yes, Sands is hot now and not later, and yes Swisher will be back soon -- and that will solve all of the problems -- but Sands was hitting, and he is a better OF than Raburn...but lacks his contract.  You would have thought they would have found a sprain in Shaw and sent him off for two weeks just to figure out what is next to manage.

A halfway through the Wainwright diary; he is fairly racist (by our standards; certainly NOT by those of the day) and it is a little jarring.  Also...he firmly believed that Meade was correct in not finishing off Lee on July 4 (post-Gettysburg) and seems to think that maybe they should have fought it out again before Lee re-crossed the Potomac.  I suspect the first thought stemmed from his having been in the thick of it for three days...which would dull the ardor for more.  The second...I sense he, like a lot of people, felt that an opportunity -- bloody as it could have been -- was lost to really hammer Lee, maybe even totally,

awake

Yet another thrilling Tribe game; I don't know, but maybe having all of those lefties in the lineup just isn't that smart, as you just dare a team to throw lefty starters after you.  And, let's not forget the defense that practically re-defines porosity.  It's fairly amazing, all things considered.

I am now reading Wainwright's Diary of Battle, that excellent memoir of the Civil War by the Union artillery officer.  It is good, very detailed, and he seemed to have an ear to HQ, as well to the command, if you get my drift.

Yesterday we drove out to Tiffin to see favorite niece's softball team win the conference, which was cool; and, in true NCAA style, they now have the home field for the four-game, double-elimination playoff.  It was cool and fun, even if the drive was a little long...to be sure, it is not that bad, but about half of it is literally God's country, with only a few farmhouses and such to break the monotony.  I sort of like that sort of thing, but I took Mom with me, and she most assuredly did not.

I noted today that I seem to be plateauing when it comes to the workouts; I've hit a certain point on the weight scale and no more...I mentioned it to the trainer, and he noted I may need more protein.  This could be; I've added some eggs to the diet, and some beans and cottage cheese and brown rice; but I suspect I will need something else to boost the level.  I also suspect my recent bouts of sleeplessness -- I've been lucky to get 6 hours a night -- play a role, as the body isn't exactly getting the full rest.  The 6:10 Tribe games should help...more if they continue to be punchless.

Dogging

http://www.msn.com/en-us/money/topstories/how-the-stock-market-destroyed-the-middle-class/ar-AAbCcnH

I do get a kick out of these articles, given that it was not so long ago high stock prices were seen as bad for the middle class and W's fault... now, of course, things are completely different.

Went to Happy Dog last nite...sampled the cuisine, listened to DJ Kiska, got called a hipster...it was ok.  The beers are a little pricey but they do have a wide selection.  The food was decent; I had a hot dog and tater tots, rah...the coatings/toppings/sauces were good; I would not say great.  It is in Detroit Shoreway, so there was no place to park, but they do have CCW nowadays...  I guess I would go back, but not exactly run there.

Finished up the next installment of the Powell series....I am getting to the point were I can guess which character from the past will pop up again in the novels.  I am not sure if this is a good thing or not.

All Grown Up

Watching the snow come down this AM, all I could think was...Behold the settled science of global warming!  Well, not really.  On the science part, that is.

Watched two films over the past two days -- yesterday was "Boyz in the Hood" and today was "The Buffalo Creek Flood:  An Act of Man."  I liked the first -- it had everyone in it, I noted -- and the second was also...well, it was a documentary about a flood that killed 100 or so people...so while it was not enjoyable, it was...interesting.  Given it was made in the early 1970s, it was sort of groundbreaking, as well.

I was discussing with a friend the fact that Gilmour hired a female fundraiser as their new president..I  was of course full of snark that a Catholic school would be so...commercial; my friend told he didn't know Gilmour was Catholic, given its...well, swank facilities.  I got a kick out of this; while not all Catholic schools are as swank as Gilmour...most of them are certainly pretty nice (especially the constant poverty plead to by the Mother Church).  I couldn't hep but think my friend -- who calls me Carson -- was like that himself.  Catholicism in this country isn't what it was in the 1960s, a working class religion concentrated in the urban centers trying to find a better life for its members.  The Church -- like many of its people -- has made it, and is now a middle-class religion, especially in its locations (the suburbs), its facilities (swank schools), and quest for more money to keep goals one and two alive....   Not that I blame them, of course, but it does seem to go...off-message, if you will.

Rest

So, after last nite's thrilling Tribe game, I went to bed, woke up to use the bathroom, and then woke up at 3 with low blood sugar...and woke up before my alarm.  Ugh.  Went to the gym today, and I could tell that my body was just not responding as well as it could have.  I wonder if I should start eating protein bars/eating something else to try and boost muscle growth, fitness, etc...  to be sure, I should have done this a decade ago, but...

I finished up the magazine pile and decided to conquer the next installment of the Powell series; it is only 200 pages or so, and as I do not find the books especially troublesome, I figured it would be a good change of pace.

Next on the film list -- thanx to the wonders of Netflix -- is "Boyz in the Hood."  I missed it the first time around, and had I not wanted to see how Carrasco looked -- pretty good -- I would have checked it out...  I am not that surprised Carlos had the short leash tonite, but given his pitch economy and last night's adventure...I would have thought they would have tried to stretch him out for one more...

Oi

Good God; seven hits in a row?  Good God, Francona is an idiot; I can't imagine how Boston won anything with him.  Jesus Fucking Christ.  The funny thing is, it was a completely winnable game; Bauer looked solid again, the Tribe sort of hit the lefty, Hagadone was decent enough...and then you leave Aviles out in CF for the 9th (Bourn can play center, right?  At least better than Aviles?) and then, let's not forget this...YOU LET CODY ALLEN GIVE UP SEVEN STRAIGHT FUCKING HITS IN THE NINTH.

Oi.  In the meantime, I had a good workout today, in that my legs felt as if they were going to fall off.  I also watched "Kiss Me Deadly" on TCM -- on the NFL -- and while I liked it, I think I would have preferred a film about a box of drugs, rather than nuclear fuel.  Alas.  I was also able to finish up Fragile by Design, which took some work...the ending was a little soft, but considering that the first twelve chapters were loaded with facts and cogent analysis.  I have some magazines to catch up on before I can move on to the next book in the pile...one thing about the film list is that it takes up time I could spend reading...

Books

http://www.forbes.com/sites/federicoguerrini/2015/04/17/open-government-and-financial-transparency-ohio-wants-to-lead-the-way/2/

Interesting....I do wonder if it will take; I mean, plenty of people on the left and the right don't want their spending to be made public.

You know, I started putting away the winter blankets and things today; some will get a final washing for the "year" and the rest into storage.  It has been a long time....global warming and all, I suppose.

I am almost done with Fragile by Design.  Quite good; they go on at length about the US and the Canadian banking systems, and one thing they seemed to note was the blithe disregard for standards and sound banking that has generally pervaded US banking throughout...well, the entire nation's history.  Much as you eventually run out of other people's money, disregard enough of the rules, and the shit hits the fan.  Equally unsurprising is the fact that all of the "solutions" to the problem -- such as Dodd-Frank -- don't solve anything; say what you want about Rand Paul and the audit the Fed campaign, it would actually do more -- in the airing of the dirty laundry -- than much of what was previously suggested.

alert

Today was quite the day at work, and it will be for a few more days; I have to admit, it was sort of liberating to see the trainer and be put through the thumbscrews.

http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2015/04/john-kasich-is-the-gop-only-hope-for-president-116855.html?ml=po#.VTBbGSHBzGd

Interesting...I mean, I think this is largely correct, and Kasich is smart enough to get down while the first potshots get sent off, but I do wonder if the GOP primary electorate will look past the moderate record to vote for him; you get someone like Scott Walker, or even Jeb, and they have some real, conservative achievements; Kasich's have been more moderate...and the moderates have not fared well lately.

I figure I will watch a short tonite, just to go through the list; there was a J! question about the 2014 entrants, and I of course knew them all, even if I haven't seen them yet...but I thought it was quite cool.

Unexpected

Well, the Tribe is shuffling away; calling up a C, DFAing Marcum, and signing pitchers who were once...useful...and are now available.  It is impressive...I really don't have problems with this, given that the pitchers are free (someone else is picking up the contracts) and...well, we might need them, given the shortage of pitching depth in the organization.  In the meantime, another lefty is the opponent...one would think the front office would notice this.

Went to the dentist today to have a filling re-filled; it really didn't hurt at all, and my mouth eventually went back to normal.  I have to admit, I had some trepidation about going, but it was fairly...dramaless.  Not saying I want to run back, of course...but I guess I could do with an annual checkup.

Well...that was unpleasant.  Carrasco...yet another injury, which will send all sort of waves through the organization...such as we need a real starter (but let us hope this is not major!), and there will be another round of bullpen machinations.  In the meantime, we can see Zach McAllister in the role in which he is most suited...

Flicks

Sort of been on a film kick lately...I've watched:

"Back to the Future."  It was ok; I mean, I thought it was cute and funny, but not that cute and funny, and for all of the people who told me this was the greatest film ever...oi.

"The Blood of Jesus:"  A 1941 film...entirely African-American.  The plot was nothing special, but I did like its historical sense, and it was unique in how it displayed life at the time for African-Americans.

"The Blue Bird:"  1918.  Silent...portrayed as a family film; sort of preachy; basically, kids go on trip to find ideal bluebird, learn to discover their own inner beauty.  The special effects were pretty cool.  I also note the films of the time had a huge interest in dream sequences; interesting...

"Pillow Talk:"  It was on AMC last nite; I actually liked it.  Not hilariously funny, but dry and understated in the Matt sense.

Tonite was "Baby Face" starring Barbara Stanwyck as a girl who literally sleeps her way to the top.  You could tell the ending was grafted on to meet the early Hayes Code types...very frank in its view of s-e-x, which was not unknown for a film of that time.  John Wayne is in it with a bit part, which was an added kick.

Rah...up to 278; still think I can make 300 by the birthday.  I've been trying to read Fragile by Design, which is interesting, but it is not exactly something you can just pop off...despite my best efforts.

I am glad that the Tribe had an off day...I am amused by the hem-hawing on the radio about Marcum; on the one hand, a guy coming off 18 months of rehab is nothing to phone home about, but on the other...well, considering the last two guys in the rotation, I can see how he may have decided that this team was one where he could stick around...

Amusements

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2015/04/10/how-brunch-became-the-most-delicious-and-divisive-meal-in-america/?tid=pm_business_pop_b

I thought that one of the reasons would have been the general secularization of the US, but the article seems to imply that that is not quite the cause...which sort of surprised me.  Of course, maybe people just like to sleep in...some people just don't like structure on a day of rest.  For myself, I've never really cared either way...

http://www.cleveland.com/tribe/index.ssf/2015/04/cleveland_indians_manager_terr_16.html#incart_m-rpt-1

Um...yeah.  I mean, really; why wouldn't you go to the third lefty in the game?  Good Lord.  I mean, yes, it may not be as exciting as a real no-no, but a no-hitter is a no-hitter.

Especially because it really doesn't look like you'll need Cody Allen today.  I am not surprised...for all the talk of McAllister's improved velocity, there wasn't any talk of any improved movement or development of secondary pitches, which is something of an issue.  The Tigers are a good fastball-hitting team, and two miles on the heater doesn't mean that much if it is still straight.  Compounding the issue was, of course, Francona sending him out again to get hit hard again; you had to expect Castellanos or someone slugging one; it was the third time around for batting against the guy, and we all know what happens...after a few years, you just have to say...well, you're not a starter.  Alas.

Caught up

That Duke game...well, they played like that most of their games, but man, that was close.  I kept telling myself not to be the Duke fan everyone hates -- bemoaning that they are not up 33 -- but I do sink into tendencies.  I suspect next year will be a little rough for them, so we should enjoy it now.  The women's game was not crap, but it wasn't particularly...exciting.  I would posit it was preordained.

I don't know, this could be me, but if Francona keeps stacking lefties up there (especially not-so-good ones like Bourn) this could be a long season.  I know it is game one, Keuchel isn't an awful pitcher, and yes, lineup construction isn't particularly important in the long run, but...you are surrendering a platoon advantage there, and there is a statistically significant drop in BAs...

The March OC stats:  438 visits totaling 186 seniors, 644 adults, and 441 kids.  I expect this month to be busy, and I have a first quarter financial report to get out, which should be...interesting.

I've slowed down on the film front; with books and hoops and the third season of "Sons of Anarchy," this is to be expected.  I do have some lined up on Netflix, and with the library and my own efforts...I think we will be ok.

Anticipation

The year of crap continues; I took a bite of girl scout cookie and something popped out of one of my teeth (in the back of the mouth).  It does not hurt, thank God, but it does feel odd, as if something should be there, and I will now have to go to a dentist and get it replaced...hopefully, with as little pain and expense as possible.  Ugh.

I do like Easter; not ruined by commercialism, the weather is ok, bunnies are fun, lots of grub.... not sure exactly why, but I think I prefer it to Xmas, mainly because of its immediacy and its sense of the future (in every sense of the word).

Done some reading lately...finished the next book in the Nevins series, caught up on a magazine, and started the next one.  Considering my Gramm-Rudman budget I've put myself on, this is probably a wise choice...

Repose

Your correspondent is a very sleepy boy; the lack of it has explained my non-writing...work has been busy, family affairs have pressed me, a third-place PQ finish...all is alas...

We did have a family night at the casino Monday; my sister had free buffet dinners for us, and we went.  It was good; I would not say great, and I do not think I would pay full price for it, but it was decent, and there was certainly no lack of dishes to be sampled.  I then went to a bar and had a hard cider and watched the UCONN/UD game while they gambled...rah.

I was amused by Geno Auriemma's comments about men's hoops.  I don't think he is wrong; there is a lack of something in the men's game, to be sure, but...I am not sure he is the guy to make the point.  Women's hoops is also fairly unwatchable, and quite honestly, watching UCONN win every game by 89 points or so...well, that is not very entertaining, either.

I think the Iran deal is good, but...does anyone (aside from the President, of course) really believe that they will keep to it?  I mean, I realize they might, but I suspect -- fairly, in all honesty -- that sooner rather than later things will fall apart, and, of course, the press will say nothing about it.