Humor

It's Opening Day!  I've got a pile of books for commercials, a suitable snack for the first few innings, and a caffeinated beverage.  Life is good.

http://realestate.cleveland.com/realestate-news/2018/03/cleveland_churchs_attempt_to_s.html#incart_river_index

This story has always amused me; first, of course, the fact that the old pastor was allowed to let things...develop in such a manner, and also, of course, that the residents ever suspected that something was up.  Of course, that which is not sustainable is not sustained, and this little Mayberry was allowed to go away.  Now, people are pissed that this is being allowed to happen.  My own personal favorite is the CDC people saying that of course they can't buy the houses, but of course...someone else should operate them at a loss.  I realize the Church wouldn't do it, but they should of course off the properties at list price -- even at a loss -- and say "Here you go, show us how to do it." I mean, I realize most of what libtards do relies on Other Peoples' Money, but it would be nice to see them crash and burn on their own petard every once in a while.

Penultimate

We are on the cusp of baseball here, and guarded optimism reigns...ok, sort of.  I mean, the rotation is pretty solid; Josh Tomlin would be a #3 on many teams.  The infield is also quite good; again, if Alonso is the worst guy of the 4...  I view the hot bats at catcher as spring mirages, but they can field, which counts for something.  The OF is...well, ok enough, and the back end of the pen will be a garbage fire, but...that is the sort of thing you can fix.   More of less.

Watched "The Tall T" last night to get to 638 on the NFR.  I liked it, being a noir-ish western.  You know, it's funny... Randolph Scott -- the lead -- had pretty much the same career as John Wayne -- lots of Westerns, a smattering of other films, same masculine presence, very much the good guy, a man with a code... yet no one remembers him, while the Duke was, well, the Duke.  Both were Republicans; Scott also had the benefit of having served in the war, albeit World Ware One.  Scott was a little older, and he retired in 1960, while John Wayne made many more films after that...  I wonder; I suspect it might be because the Duke had iconic roles (as well as clunkers) while Scott had...well, more basic parts; no "The Searchers" from him (but no "Barbarian and the Geisha," either).  I've seen about a dozen Scott films (NFR list and others) and... I guess they are sort of interchangeable.  Still, it is a shame that Scott is gone from the memory, as he certainly was a star in his own right, and many of his later films -- such as "The Tall T" -- are quite solid.

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/26/us/politics/trump-judges-courts-administrative-state.html?emc=edit_th_180328&nl=todaysheadlines&nlid=310602670328

This could be me, but...a lot of GOPers and conservatives has been preaching this for a while (I am shocked that the NYT would be unaware) so... I am not sure that this is a thing; I mean, I think it is good, and overdue, but...

https://www.vox.com/2018/3/25/17159732/maureen-dowd-monica-lewinsky-metoo-barry-diller-interview-new-york-times

This could be me, but everyone on the left, it seemed, smeared Monica and Linda and everyone back then, so...1)Where was this 20 years ago and 2) It seems a little rich...

Devolutions...

Watched UCONN beat the living shit out of South Carolina tonight in the women's game; I have to admit, after last year, I figured that Geno would have the tomahawks out, and he did... I am not sure that anyone is really surprised, though.  I also watched "The Goonies" last nite -- up to 637 on the film list.  I liked it, but... yes, seeing it at 30-something is not the same as seeing it at 10.  Honestly, the fat kid was a little annoying, and I know this is a kids' movie, but the characters were a little flat.  At least I recognized Josh Brolin as the kid's big brother...

I do get a kick out of vox, so...
https://www.vox.com/world/2018/3/26/17144166/jordan-peterson-12-rules-for-life

This could be me, but one thing I think is happening is that white men -- deplorable or not -- are continually told that diversity is a good thing, and that it is good for them, and... well, it's not, at least in the economic sense that matters.  Seeing their jobs disappear, other people getting ahead, etc...  well, it naturally creates some... discomfort.  Now, I've yet to see any politico give a Bartlett-style speech where they explain that yes, white men have disproportionately benefited since day one, and that has to change... but more to the point, if anyone explained how women and minorities getting ahead (or, more accurately, equal) without just asserting its truth... it might help.

https://www.vox.com/the-big-idea/2018/3/21/17147398/rural-cities-gun-laws-control-culture-war-nra-second-amendment-parkland-shootings
Oh, I don't know; we used to have this, but now, of course, iiberals and Democrats have diverged; I always use the example of Ohio's own Vern Riffe, who knew his coalition relied on the people of, say, Appalachia and the PSRCH; Dems had to toe the line on the economics, but on social issues, you were on your own, so to speak, to win your district.  Nowadays, of course (and this is true on both sides), we just can't have that.

Roster Moves

Well, I was sort of depressed by the Duke loss, but not exactly surprised; I mean, I think Kansas was better, and, well, when Grayson missed that shot...well, you just knew.  Alas; I mean, they certainly had the talent, but sometimes it doesn't work out.

https://www.si.com/college-basketball/2018/03/25/florida-state-coach-leonard-hamilton-post-game-interview

I think Hamilton is a pretty solid coach (or I did until the not-fouling thing), so that surprised me, as did...well, the above.  I don't know; I mean, sticking the microphone in the face of a coach who just lost the last game of the season... you're not going to get Terry Bennett every time, and honestly, I am surprised you get so much class...  anyways, while I am certainly sympathetic to the coach here... this did seem a little...well, much. 

https://theathletic.com/285693/2018/03/25/yandy-diaz-is-trying-to-take-flight-for-indians/

This could be me, but...I would do very little with the swing; oppo-field power is still sort of rare, for one.  Two, I rather think -- in this era of rising K-rates --  that the approach of contact and doubles is pretty useful.  And, he's still young, in terms of baseball experience...

In other news, Brantley opens the season on the DL.  I am not surprised, and while everyone hopes it is just shaking off rust and getting into playing shape... I doubt it.  Naquin gets an opportunity to play which is good, though I suspect Rajai will get more ABs, even though Naquin represents the future.  Merritt's injury seems awfully convenient, if you get my drift.  Belisle and Torres...I am not sure either one deserved the win, and it would have been nice for Torres to stay, as I suspect that in a month Belisle will be...ineffective. 

Links

More thrilling basketball tonight, at least on one side of the bracket...  In other, Rajai! made the Tribe's roster, which is probably ok, but if he makes 50 starts, something has gone awry.  Urshela had a very convenient injury, and the back end of the bullpen is what we would charitably call "flux."  Alas.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/ncaabk/defiant-and-wounded-rick-pitino-insists-he-did-nothing-wrong-and-wants-back-in/ar-BBKwH2T?li=BBnba9I

Hmm... first, I was a little surprised Padgett got fired at Louisville.  I mean, if you want to clean house, I get it, but I am not quite sure anyone else could have done a better job here in the...well, unique circumstances.  Next... Pitino got $1.5 million from a shoe company?  Good Lord, that is a scandal in and of itself.  As for the other stuff... I don't quite believe that he is innocent, though you certainly make a case that he was...well, in the dark.  Again, I don't buy it, but...

https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2018/04/the-last-temptation/554066/

This could be me, but... I think one issue he misses here is that it was the left that broke down much of civil society, and has not suffered one iota of retribution or punishment for it, so... why wouldn't conservatives decide to do the same?

https://www.vox.com/2018/3/15/17124620/green-book-black-americans-travel-segregation
Interesting...sadly so.  I wouldn't mind getting my hands on one and seeing if any of these places are still around and if they know of their history...

http://www.cleveland.com/datacentral/index.ssf/2018/03/cuyahoga_county_no_3_nationall.html

I am shocked, shocked that people do not want to live among Hope and Changers...

https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2018/03/21/bill-clinton-donald-trump-lowry-217695

I make this point at work from time to time... I mean, the same stuff the Donald pulls is the same that Clinton did, except now, of course, it is horrible and wrong, but before, it was dragging a hundred through the trailer park and seeing what you can find...

Why We Fight

Following up on my theory of blogging more, so here I am...  finished watching the "Why We Fight" series over the weekend.  I liked it; that said, the Russia and China series were...well, a whitewash, to put it mildly (and, yes, they had to be, but still) and the last one -- about the US... was good, but nowadays, I think everyone would be all over Capra for what we now would say is a selective accounting of our history.  But you know what? There was a war going on, and, as they say, it was a big one.  And one we had to win. 

It's funny; I watched half "Triumph of the Will" last night; the film that supposed caused Capra to bump up his A game during "Why We Fight." I don't know... I mean, it's very...quiet; all sorts of camera shots and all; I think most US audiences would be bored.  It is well-shot, I will give Leni that (and yes, there is some presentism here, me liking a film that is basically Springtime for Hitler).  But it is a little boring; I mean, all of the speeches they have are snippets of "Hitler, what a guy" and "Germany, we got hosed in the peace talks" and maybe it was true, but... I am not seeing it.  On the other hand, I can see how it impressed filmmakers, because it is well done, filmcraft-wise.

https://www.vox.com/2018/3/16/17119366/teacher-health-insurance-cost-rising-data

Thus amuses the fuck out of me, because, well, one, my healthcare costs rose, and two... well, they (their union and them) voted for the man who caused this, so.... suck it up, buttercup.

Back to Leni, I don't buy for a minute that she didn't know exactly what was going on with the Hitler regime; I can see, somehow, that, yes, the full barbarity was beyond the scope of her (or anyone's) imagination, but I suspect that she, like a lot of people, simply regarded this as just one of those things...

Back in Blog

Yes, yes, I prolly should blog more... last nite, of course, I was watching The Upset, like everyone else, and...Friday was an interesting day.  As always, I was invited to my friend's March Madness fest, and I went to work, of course, shit hit the fan, of a not-that-big deal, enough so I arrived slightly late.  Then, after hours of food and fest, it was off to Stations, where we were priestless, so I went and got the books (the good ones) and carried the cross while someone else read them...  then I was named to the ad hoc committee on locking up the church. Rah, then off to Mom's to bake brownies for the parish fest today...that took a bit, and then I stuck around to watch history.  Home and off to bed...  this morning was food pantry duty; not that bad, smallish crowd (Mass filled the parking lot) and not much to report.  Cleaned, moved stock...it was sort of nice, actually.

https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2018/03/clinton/555563/

Everyone loves a train wreck, so, carry on, Hillary!

https://www.bloomberg.com/view/articles/2018-03-14/california-affordable-housing-is-no-mystery-just-build-more
I of course agree; I noted Matthew Desmond was in town, promoting his voucher plan, which isn;t a bad one, but... you still need places for people to live, whether or not they have a voucher.  I often tool around, say, Slavic Village and note that there are a lot of places where you have decrepit commercial buildings and you could easily put up apartments there... not saying it would be ideal, but a 30 or 40 unit complex... well, there are enough agencies around that could work and make it happen.

In other news, Duke made the Sweet Sixteen, and convincingly so, so...I fear the future.  :)

I joked that I could soon be working at the White House, given the churn, if you will... and I am beginning to believe that it is true...

Hiatus

Yeah, I should probably update the blog more.  On the other hand...March Madness, some health things, and the general busy nature of my life... but we are here now.  Rah.  Watched "Sherlock, Jr." tonight -- pretty funny, actually (Buster Keaton silent) and the camera tricks were impressive, given the era.

I am beginning to think the Selection Committee has created a near-impossible standard for mid-major teams to get in.  Not saying they ALL need to get in, but you look at teams like MTSU...and, well, I think saying that they played enough games against Power Conference teams, but didn't win them... given that every one of these games will be a road game... I think that is bull (the quadrants don't help, either). I mean...USC was a bad miss as well; and, let's face it, they're right, no one wants to see the 7th-best team in power conferences play, either.  Ok, that's not quite true, but...I think we all get the drift.  To me... the fact that the system is biased against mid-majors would imply that the Committee (at least) should be a mitigating factor to minimize that, and I am not sure they are doing that.

I liked Cole Hamels' comments about the six-man; now, I think it is dumb, too, but I can easily see people 50 years ago bitching about the five-man, also, and it's not going away (until we go to six).  In the meantime, the Twins picking up Lance Lynn...not a bad sign, and I think they are going to be much more formidable than most Tribe fans realize (or will admit too).

https://features.propublica.org/driven-into-debt/chicago-ticket-debt-bankruptcy/
One feels badly, but these people are Hope and Changers here, so if they vote for their oppressors...well, oh well...

Thrills

Thrilling Duke UNC game last nite; as is often the case, I thought they were done, but... they pulled it out.  Rah.  Jay Bilas made a good point during the broadcast; namely, you had to stop considering how teams play (especially power conference teams on the bubble), because technically, they are gaining by getting the potential to beat up another, better team and add to the case...whereas a mid-major has no such recourse.  Ok, lots of people say it (and don't do it) but the way Bilas presented it -- from a slightly different perspective -- seemed to me to be most apt.

In the meantime, as we go through one of my most favorite times of year, I am up to 633 on the film list, the most recent viewing being Friday night's "Shock Corridor."  Interesting film, not quite my cup of tea, and maybe the plot was a little off, but I did like it, always a nice thing.  I do have a few more coming from the library, so despite college basketball, I expect great progress (of a sort) here.  I also note it has been a while since I've read a fiction book from the list  so I should probably get on that.

Linx

Two surprises:  One, Hope Hicks resigned; I mean, you'd think telling white lies for the President would be an asset... two, the fact that at noon we had one inch of snow -- at most -- and now we have snowmageddon... much like the generation that invented eating Tide Pods is now running gun policy, these people are now setting up debates about climate change.

https://pjmedia.com/trending/time-go-ask-local-progressive-bakery-bake-nra/

This is actually funny as hell, and I'd like to think more conservatives would do it; I mean, I am not planning on this anytime soon, but... I am sure there are a dozen bakeries in the PSRCH who would gladly do it..

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/trump-has-long-vowed-to-slash-government-now-the-knives-are-finally-coming-out/ar-BBJB9t8?li=BBnbcA1

This also amuses me; I mean, God forbid a man run on and then actually do a campaign promise...  Mind you, the fact that people think there is a need for less government...well, I can see how the WaPo would be concerned, but as I like to say...no one is stopping Buffet, Soros, or the average PSRCHer (for that matter) from subsidizing any government program.

https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2018/02/25/trump-reelection-2020-approval-ratings-217037

I will believe it when I see it, but I am not opposed...

https://www.bloomberg.com/view/articles/2018-02-27/the-decline-of-life-insurance-is-a-mystery
I am not sure it is that much of a mystery; people who have a lot can afford it and want to leave more; those who can't afford don't buy it because they are worried with living... I mean, let's face it; you win when you lose and lose when you win, and people who lose as it is every day...

https://theathletic.com/257396/2018/03/01/taylor-lets-root-for-a-tim-lincecum-comeback-but-be-prepared-to-realize-he-may-have-nothing-left/

Do I think this is accurate?  More or less; I can see him being a moderately effective back-end guy; 3 or 4 years of Scott Atchison or something, which would be disappointing for Lincecum, but...better than real life.  Do I hope it isn't true?  You betcha...

https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2018/2/26/17053126/monica-lewinsky-me-too-vanity-fair

I read this and immediately thought...Gee, the people who sold her out -- really and truly -- at every opportunity were...women.  Let's just say that I am going to allow to be just a little skeptical of every MeToo-er, not because I want to, but after Duke LAX, UVA, and, of course, their own perfidy... you need to.