Catching up

You know, I need to get back on the film list...watching the Vietnam series and "House of Cards," I think, has sort of put it on the back burner, not that I am put off by that, because that's good TV too.  But it would be good to hit 600 by the end of the year...and honestly, I think I can.  The main thing is that I've watched most of the shorts and stuff, so it is mainly full-length films, which of course take more time...

Tribe game last nite (thanx, Andy!); it was fun, especially since they won big, and while I am not sure it was wise to use ALL of the best relievers in a 10-1 game, I guess it was good to let them fly one more time, in a game situation with moderate stress, if that.  The Brantley move is interesting, but honestly...now is NOT the time to see if a guy healthy, but this could be me. 

https://www.washingtonian.com/2017/09/27/how-breitbart-inflates-its-own-influence-and-why-reporters-fall-for-it/

This could be me, but if reporters aren't smart enough to figure this out (I know, I know), well...you would think someone else would either suggest this, or people would go and start reading other journalists.

https://www.bloomberg.com/view/articles/2017-09-27/one-nation-of-idiots-and-evil-people

I love the line in the beginning in the story, of course.  More seriously...well, I think the answer is the reverse; people of one tribe tolerate those of the other, but at the end of the day, they want to have an intelligent conversation with like-minded people, and then you are going to go where there are more of them.  I don't necessarily think this is a bad thing -- there are only so many fools you can tolerate at the end of the day -- but it also doesn't lend itself to a solution.

Amusements

Watching the Tribe, as that decision to have Tomlin as the 4th starter looks even smarter.  We also got treated to yet another Bryan Shaw implosion, which is always fun.  Actually, it reminded me of this:

https://theathletic.com/87755/2017/08/24/the-pariah-of-cleveland-bryan-shaw-says-cleveland-fans-hate-me-but-why-is-he-so-polarizing/

I think, in all balance, that Shaw is an above-average reliever, and we will miss him next year when he goes on to greener pastures; he's durable, he has good stuff, and he is quite effective.  But...go to the end of the post and look at the leverage index.  He is  a different pitcher in high-leverage situations (like the one we just had) and not for the better -- not even close.  I mean, look at the ERA; whoa.  The HR rates, too... I mean, I think this is what drives fans wild -- he does tend to get hit hard in these situations -- and the fact that Francona sends him out there religiously is a concern.  I realize now, of course, who cares, and you have to rest Miller, but the above data indicates that Shaw should be used...less.

https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2017/9/25/16345416/roy-moore-alabama-primary

Well, he won by 12 tonight, so...  I actually think some of this is a bit much; I mean, this is Alabama we are talking about, and I'd like to think if there was one place a Ten Commandments guy could win, it is there.  Also, Strange was linked -- fairly or not -- to Bentley and his regime (say what you want about Roy, he isn't tarred with adultery) and that couldn't help.  And, the same stuff that propelled Trump to victory -- us vs. them -- worked there, too.  Can the Dems win the general...possible, but I think not; like it or not, the GOP would rather the seat be red than not, and Moore, like Trump, I think, is getting new voters, and that will keep things...as they should be.  :)

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/23/technology/silicon-valley-men-backlash-gender-scandals.html

I get a kick out of this; you'd think someone would put together such a company, just not talk about its origins, if you will, and start kicking ass and taking market share and such... I mean, if I could code, and had any sense, there I would be...

Double event

Well, bloggers, I am still alive...had a wedding yesterday, my friends Mike and Maggie...and I was feeling it a little today, took a brief nap... rah. It was fun, I must admit, even if every muscle in my leg hurt...leg day being today, of course, has nothing to do with it.

I found the latest Tribe news -- Clevinger to the pen, and either Tomlin or Salazar to the fourth starter role -- to be yet another example of the Tribe brass kidding themselves.  In addition to the minor matter of the fact that Clevinger has outpitched both of them, there is the fact that...well, Clevinger does have first inning wildness issues, so throwing him out there in a potentially close game and seeing him not throw strikes...  yeah, other than that, I don't see a problem.

I think the idea that Obamacare repeal is dead for this year is solid...I also think that, unless people really want to be primaried, it will be back next year.  I think the argument that some other Republican or RINO is responsible only goes so far, and not very.. I don't think this is a bad thing, either, as not being able to deliver on the #1 campaign promise necessarily entails some scalps.

Last Man Standing

Light blogging...work, trying to catch up on sleep (still have a cold), and, finally, the PBS series on the Vietnam War...which is fairly engrossing.  To say nothing of informative.

https://theathletic.com/103941/2017/09/18/meisels-mailbox-the-indians-playoff-roster-attendance-figures-and-your-favorite-piece-of-baseball-memorabilia/

I think this is sort of true, save for the fact that I think the Tribe will carry twelve pitchers, not 11.  This will actually make that last pitcher to not make it decision that much harder -- one non-performer gets the call -- but we all know how Francona loves his relievers.  The lack of viable OF options, I think, will further boost this decision; if no one can play there, you might as well have a pitcher.  Oi.  In the meantime, one of my coworkers suggested the Tribe was playing Kipnis in CF so that he injures himself again and thus cannot be on the roster.  This, in all honesty, was far more devious than even I could think of.

https://www.philadelinquency.com/2017/09/13/appears-leader-phillys-democrats-total-twatwaffle/

I sort of like this; I think we should call more Dems twatwaffles at every opportunity...

Up to 578 on the NFR with the viewing of "Sons of the Desert" yesterday.  Laurel and Hardy film -- men lie to their wives to attend fraternal convention and the various antics from the lies.  It wasn't hilarously funny (now) but it was fairly humorous, and I certainly liked it and would recommend it.  I think I can hit 600, but with House of Cards, Morse, and now the PBS series...well, I need to buckle down...

21!

Twenty-one.  It's pretty flipping impressive, all I can say.  Much as I may not like some of what Francona does...

http://www.cleveland.com/tribe/index.ssf/2017/09/cleveland_indians_will_test_ja_1.html

I don't want to piss on the parade, but they are kidding themselves if this is a serious solution.  I mean, for one, Kipnis isn't hitting, and it's not like last year when they are trying to get Santana and his bat in there.  Another, of course, is that a banged-up 2B is the last person you want tooling around the OF.  I mean, I know in a Tomlin start it is ok, as the balls will be over his head as they clear the fence, but...  I am not sure there is any good solution here, but I would think a policy of not trying the bad ones should be in order.

https://www.bloomberg.com/view/articles/2017-09-11/feinstein-s-anti-catholic-questions-are-an-outrage

This could be me, but they are Democrats, and we wouldn't expect them to have any religious beliefs, do you?  No...but until more people call them on it, it is likely to be moot.

http://www.nationalgeographic.com/magazine/2017/09/holland-agriculture-sustainable-farming/

This is actually pretty cool...I would think this should something that could be tried, actually....

back

Nice long and ridiculous break on the blogging here...  sort of have a cold, so trying to get rest, went to two PQs this week (no wins in either, grr)...and the Tribe is surging.  One thing we mentioned at work is that they are playing well without Kipnis...would they go a postseason without him?  Probably not, but he has not been that good when he has been here; honestly, I think they are a better team now with Yandy/Giovanny at 3B and Ramirez at the 2B.  To say nothing of Gonzalez, who has also done a good job as the utility guy...

https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2017/9/7/16267324/bannon-bishops-daca-60-minutes

Got a kick out of this one; I don't think he is completely wrong, either...I mean, many Catholics have stopped attending Mass, for a bunch of reasons, and one can say that those who do are a bit to the right of the Bishops...so this does bring more people to the pews and shifts the "voice of the faithful" more to what the hierarchy wants...  I mean, the Church -- fifty years ago -- would have NEVER allied with Protestants on anything school-related, but once they saw where the money was...well, there you go.

https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2017/9/8/16263710/fox-news-presidential-vote-study

I've always felt the notion of "conservatives are evil, liberals are stupid" and such is what drives this; I mean, people can pick and choose their moral narratives, but, for a certain segment of the population, dumb is dumb...  and you vote accordingly.

I have two thoughts on the debt ceiling deal...one, it is not that much of a thing, and two, if this keeps up...the GOP might decide that impeachment is on the table...with Pence you know what you are getting...  that would be an interesting thing, the GOP impeaching their own President...would the Dems go along....

Rest is upon us

A long weekend is upon us, or at least me, and, well, I can't be happier... for one thing, I can use some sleep.  Wednesday I joined Team XI at the River Dog for Pub Quiz -- we won, it was fun -- but it was a late night, and Thursday I watched OSU far longer than I should have...  on the one hand, you have to be concerned; on the other, well, I'd like to think that yes, a team with some talent and fired up could, for a while, give a superior team a scare, but in the end, will fall short.  More importantly, the Tribe won today (the magic number is 23) in spite of, well, what some would call the usual relief pitching by the top half of the bullpen...  in the meantime, I thought the callup of Mejia to be curious; I told my coworkers I didn't think he will do anything but swing the bat...  I mean, he might get a start after the number is zero, but...  Plutko and Morimando are to be used in mop-up duty, Crockett about the same...Allen could get some time, with the OF situation what it is, though Chisehall and Almonte are back, FWIW.

https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/trump-is-a-19th-century-president-facing-21st-century-problems/amp/

Sort of true; I think many GOPers would prefer a more limited Presidency, in every sense of the word.  Not sure it is practical nowadays, but, of course, it would be...simply by delegating more to the states and letting chips fall where they may.  I think the devolution of power would piss off some on the right, of course, as blue states did what they did, but it would also allow red states to do the same...let's not forget that.

I sort of like the Leake trade for the Mariners; they get a decent pitcher -- albeit pricey -- who can succeed in their park, and the Cardinals dump salary...  as for the other trade...well, considering the Tribe's success against him of late, I can't help but think this isn't the worst location for him to end up in...