Bemusements

Well, the Franmil Reyes trade is working out for us. To be sure, he is a bit streaky, and no one thinks he can play the field save for "occasionally," but he can hit, and with this offensively-challenged lineup, it is a godsend.  Logan Allen was NOT working out for us, and thus got sent down; to be sure, there is plenty of precedent for young lefties taking a while to figure it out, but it is a bit depressing, especially after how well he threw in the spring.  

Oliver Perez was also not working out (though he could have got some work today), per the Tribe, so he was DFAed, which is sort of sad, because I think he could still pitch, even on this club.  Funny; Tom Verducci wrote an article last week about how Jay Bruce had to retire because of the shift.... think he will crank one out about OP and the three-batter rule?  I think it is more pressing in his case, because... I don't know, this could be me, but hitters should be able to adjust to the ball, right?  Go the other way, decrease the launch angle...

https://www.politico.com/news/2021/04/28/supreme-court-snapchat-case-484925

I think we all know how I feel about this; it is good to see the conservative wing of the court, I think, casting aspersions of the claims of the school.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/ncaabk/lsu-women-s-basketball-coach-kim-mulkey-s-blockbuster-contract-23-6-million-over-eight-years/ar-BB1g9tKu?li=BB15ms5q

This is big in a lot of ways...is it me, or is there something we are not being told?  I mean, maybe she does want to go back to the alma mater, but... it does seem that some other undercurrent is there.

So, the speech...I liked it, sort of; I mean, if you're only going to give one a year... more seriously... one, how do they actually expect to pay for all of this?  Two, if the economy is set to boom, why do they need to all of these other things, when, if you think things are about to take off, the market should provide some sort of correction?  Three...unions may have built the middle class, but that was a long time ago; now, all they do is keep kids -- despite the science -- at home and not learning....

Thoughts

 You know, this could be me, but the Tribe could be solving their OF problem.  To be sure, I think we are all a little surprised by Luplow hitting righties; one, because historically, the track record is not good, and two, because the Tribe seldom lets OFs hit same-side pitching.  But, given the need to have 20 relievers, and the need to carry Jake Bauers on the roster for some reason...well, Luplow is hitting, and hitting with power, and this would be...good?  He is fine in RF and can handle CF if need be. Putting Luplow out there every day moves Naylor to 1B, which sucks for Bobby Bradley, but it does seem that they want to see if Naylor can hit, and I do as well... Chang will see less time, sadly, and Daniel Johnson gets hosed here as well, but they don't seem to want to play him, so....

https://www.currentaffairs.org/2021/04/why-cryptocurrency-is-a-giant-fraud

I don't know; I;ve always thought that the financial markets need some sort of Vegas or Amsterdam; you know, where people who want to get completely crazy can do so...but if they lose their shirts, they can't complain about it.  I guess we have that now, sort of; the GameStop scenario, for instance, is largely that.  There are penny stocks and shorting, and prolly a dozen other things I am omitting.  But most of these have the general concept of...legality?  I mean, penny stocks are regulated, as is shorting (someone has to cover the bet); I think I want a system with far fewer controls and inhibtions, but a full understanding that it is indeed the Wild West out there...

First World Problems

 So, operation new phone is off to a rollicking start.  First, I did buy the phone -- top of the mid-tier, 5G,, rah -- and I have it in my possession, fully charged.  But...one, while tjey insisted the old phone's details would transfer to the new one, that was not the case; while the pics are fine, I will need to (judiciously) recreate my contacts list.  Oi; there is Facebook, at least.  Still, there is time that could be better spent more...productively.  Two, I can't download anything...not sure why, but I am stuck on some automatic download that is NOT happening.  Again, this is hardly a crisis (there has been a lack of diversions in my life)  but it is annoying as I will have to go somewhere and have it remedied, one way or the other.

In other news, I had to drop off some of Mom's stuff to the West Side Catholic Center -- they take two boxes/bags a day, and we will have about five or six -- and once I was there, I decided to cross a place off my list and hit Larder.  It's not hard to find, but it is nestled in there (West 29th and Clinton) and of course the parking is a hot mess.  The place is sort of hard to find -- can't see it on the driveby -- but of course I had mapped it and found it anyways.  No tables; order and pick up in about 10 minutes.  And...it was good; I ordered a pastrami reuben, and it was delicious and hearty.  Apple and sweet potato salad (a bit dilly, but still decent) and their cheesecake (quite good; I only ate half); I also ordered a giant oatment cookie creme pie to round my bill to $25 (yes, it is a bit pricey).  Indeed, both desserts were quite decadent.  Would I return?  Yes.  Other places to try, of course...

http://aswathdamodaran.blogspot.com/2021/04/the-corporate-tax-burden-facts-and.html

Interesting and informative!

https://grubbstreet.blogspot.com/2017/07/mystara-redux.html

This is being published and released this year, and all I can say...I am so in.  As many of you know, I was/am a D&D afficianado; but the first world I really got into was Mystara -- I loved Minrothrad -- and I was crushed when they stopped putting out new content (not that we liked what was being put out).  To be sure, we carried on (shaping the world as we wanted!) but it wasn't quite the same and eventually we stopped... but this is still good stuff.

Catastrophe

So, my mobile phone died last night; one minute it was working, the next, nothng could get it turned back on, even a call to technical support.  On the one hand it was sort of nice -- an interrupted evening -- but on the other, I have to schlep down to a store to get it handled.  As the thing is pretty old, I will probably just get a new one, which is fine, as I can prolly afford it, even if I don't want to...mty main concern is to whether or not they can transfer all my contacts and such from the corpse.  If not...it will be no fun for a few days as I try to figure out who was where and how I can find them.  Oi.

That Tribe game was impressive... I mean, the Yankees are hitting so poorly, so you put nine guys on via the walk?  Not to mention the shoddy defense, which I am now accustomed to...Paul Quantrill continues to get hit hard, which is a problem, as he was one of the main hauls from the Clevinger trade, and with him and Naylor not exciting shining...oi.

I gotta ask..if it was Lebronny at the other end of the chick with a knife, would Lebron have posted what he did? I think not.  I mean, to me, this is modern journalism at its finest...never mind the potential victims of the attack (certainly no word from them), but all in on the girl who was attacker.  Not saying it is Kitty Genovese all over again, but...   the other thing, of course, is that Lebron prolly will not face any....accountability... for his inflammatory tweet?  Not that he ever does, but... it's one thing to fawn over the guy for basketball, but his record on other things -- his love for rapist Kobe, for insance -- is a bit mixed, but seldom is he actually called to the carpet about it....again, modern journalism at its finest.

Recovery

 So... Monday I took a "mental health day." I still think the concept is ridiculous, but after a long weekend, and with all the hecticness of work and other things...well, I figured I needed it.  I guess it was good; I slept in, handled some correspondence and some banking, got my vaccine passport laminated (for free!), went home and took and nap...did some reading, too; finally finished the book on John Brown (revisionist history, especially as it was written in the 1930s).  All in all, it was good...while I didn;t get done all that I wanted to, most did happen, and I guess the rest was nice.'

Went through more of Mom's stuff today -- cleaned out the kitchen, pretty much.  This was a little rough for me, because...well, every Sunday I went there and we had brunch and chatted and whatnot, and therefore I handled a lot of the every time I was there... so a lot of it had memories, even if they were just the most quotidian -- dishes and containers for salad and leftovers, pots for stuff we made... and now, aside from a few pieces I saved, are going off to charity.  Mind you, I don't need a lot of this stuff, or a lot more of it, and these items can do well for someone else.  But every day, a little more of Mom is...gone, and it is no fun.

https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/columnists/trump-didnt-form-a-populist-coalition-he-was-the-result-of-one

Interesting. Largely true, I think; I have posted many a time about how the GOP (at its top) completely missed what its electorate wanted in 2016 (and before, obviously), with the result that the one guy who had a handle on this -- imperfect and flawed as he was -- won the nomination, and in the end it wasn't close. And, let's face it, just as a few more votes in a few more states would have cost him in 2016....it did so in 2020 as well; no COVID, I think, he wins. The question now, is, can the GOP find a candidate who can run the table with his voters while also getting back the ones lost in 2020.  I think yes...but 2024, and even 2022, is a long way away...

One thing about the Chauvin trial I am not sure about -- yes, I think he was guilty, and yes, I think he deserves the book thrown at him --was the decision for him not to testify.  I realize that he would have to be cross-examined and under that barrage the defense would probably had collapsed, but to tell the jury his side of the story...I think that was his only chance of an acquittal, even a partial one... unless he was setting up for an appeal on the cause of incompetent counsel...which would be ingenious.

Returning

 After a long and busy weekend...here we are.  Food pantry duty yesterday...it was fine; slow as usual, though the crowd was slightly larger, which I guess is good.  Got rid of most of the produce, which worked well enough, and did some cleaning -- our new floor buffer arrived later that day, otherwise we would have put it to work. The place does run itself, which is good... I was joking about retiring (ok, not really) and they were getting nervous. Alas.

I was sort of looking forward to the Battle of Ohio, to see if good pitching beats good hitting...well, it does, unless of course they can't catch the ball. The Tribe announcers made a point today they are 3rd in HRs...but 12th in runs scored (in the AL) because, well, that is the only way they score -- much like today. While it is not necessarily a problem now...one day the HRs may stop, and you can't win with zero.  Luplow hitting another HR against a righty, might just solve that OF crisis. Now, I don't know if that will continue either, but...one would hope. In the meantime, Ben Gamel is down and the Tribe has a nine-man bullpen, which seems excessive, given they have a long man already (Quantrill) and three starters who can, at least, go 7IP if needed with some regularity...

I am fully vaccinated, but honestly, it doesn't feel any different now than before...still wearing a wask, stll trying to be distant...thinking about taking a restaurant vacation this week, just to try and get something off the list...

Changes

 So....a friend of mine is having a colonoscopy tomorrow, and is prepping today...so I asked him to give me updates on how his personal Dunkirk was going.  When he finally looked up the reference (ok, I told him), he was...less than amused. But, now, I have this urge to re-watch "Dunkirk" and "The Darkest Hour" again...quite stirring films, in their own way.

And...well, that Tribe game was embarrassing...at least no one will be talking about Zach Plesac and his (what we hope) bad day at the office...one of my coworkers texted me and asked if I thought this would cause the Tribe to make changes.  I laughed... but more seriously, what changes would you make?  Ok, Bauers get the DFA.  Fine.  Do you call up Bradley?  I would but I also note that most of the projections have him as...well, a bit better than Bauers.  That would be fine, but it's not a huge change (much as we hope otherwise).  Naylor... I don't think he handle the OF (and again, with K rates so high, you can get away with much less out there), but the Tribe seems to want to play him.  He could play 1B...but then who gets the call? I think Daniel Johnson would be fine, but he doesn't have the pop to play in a corner (neither does Naylor, of course)...he could hit, though.  Cutting Gamel would be ok; again, I don't think Rosario to CF is a done deal (so far so good) so having Johnson up wouldsolve that there, in some ways...but Rosario isn't here to sit.  He is going to play, and there is probably some value in Johnson/Mercado/Zimmer getting regular action somewhere.

https://www.tabletmag.com/sections/news/articles/the-disintegration-of-the-aclu-james-kirchick

I think this is completely correct, and....sad,  I mean, one never likes them, but I respected them when they were undaunted free speech warriors.

https://www.wsj.com/articles/republicans-unveil-policies-to-match-working-class-party-claim-11618237594?mod=hp_featst_pos4

I mentioned this in my last post, and lo and behold, we deliver!  I don't know if all of these ideas are good, or will stick, but the fact of the matter is that the GOP is changing -- dare I say evolving -- and the party is trying to respond; indeed, one could say  that after 2016 it was the top of the party that was the last to the party.  Like or not, an argument can be made that the votes are there, ready to be picked, and policies like these might just help turn Trump voters into...Republican voters.  To me this is quite an exciting time; these things happen so rarely, and here we are, in the middle of one...

Musings

 Long and busy weekend -- fam stuff, helped a friend move, trying to catch up on work, and  Monday was more of the same. I did hit the gym twice Monday, which was nice, and watched Triston McKenzie make his case for being the closer of the future... :) Ok, maybe not -- he is young, there is time for him to figure it out --but the velo drops and the short outings have to be a concern, rebuilding or not. Today, of course, it is the pitching duel, and a good one...more games like this, and baseball is worth watching.  Bieber has been impressive, quite...in some ways, you have to win this game; he's the ace, it is a divisional rival, etc... 

In other news, I am glad baseball has decided to move the ASG and not fix the issues with bad umpiring, umpires who do not know the rules, and replays gone horribly wrong.

https://www.theinsight.org/p/pandemic-as-metaphor

This was interesting; not sure I agree with all of it, but I don't mind that, in all actuality...better to be challenged than bored, as I say.

I got a bag of cookie dough crunch Hershey kisses a couple of days ago, and I love the things...I pop them like candy, as often as my blood sugar allows.  One thing I was ruminating on, though...the wrapping is aluminum foil, and I bet 99.9% of all people just throw it away, even though it is recyclable, difficult as it may be.  But it's a pretty small part of the cost, I would say.  Just funny, because, for most of history, aluminum was rare -- hard to get out of bauxite, hard to process -- and thus more valuable than gold...  The top of the Washington Monument is solid aluminum, a gift from France,and it was, in its day, a technological marvel... and now it would be regarded as a chintzy joke.

https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/why-the-republican-party-isnt-rebranding-after-2020/

To me, #3 is as important as any other, and if you think that the party is rebranding and changing-- and I think the point can be made -- it might be better to see how the party is changing and then adjust the messaging.  I don't necessarily think that all of these people will stay if Trump leaves, but some of them will, and they will change the party more than any autopsy would...

Craptastic

 So, yesterday was -- from start to finish -- completely craptastic. In pretty much every way...work, Prince Philip passing, gym (no cardio due to low blood sugar), dinner (Panera doesn't have clam chowder this season; not that the alternatives weren't fine, but...), hell, even helping a friend with a personal issue was...well, a bit involved after a thrilling day.  At least the Tribe had a good day, though against the Tigers, everyone should...

https://www.foxnews.com/politics/ted-cruz-mocks-john-boehners-drunken-bloviated-scorn

This is pretty funny, actually....

https://victorygirlsblog.com/asa-hutchinson-gets-the-tucker-carlson-treatment/

I don't often watch Tucker, but when I do...it's priceless.  Funny thing is, I am not unsympathetic to Hutchinson's claims, but...then Tucker of course destorys him on the science, the medical grounds, the counter-libertarian argument... it's priceless. Check out what he does to Noem, too...

https://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2021/04/06/a_senate_majority_if_you_can_keep_it_145531.html

This is exactly right, I think...personally, I think Ron Johnson has a tough row to hoe, so a new candidate -- Priebus, Walker, for instance -- just might work here. Life would be easier for the GOP with the House and the Senate, and while there are a lot of things you cannot control here, getting rid of the chaff and making sure you are running as many solid candidates as possible... well, that's not that hard.

Calmness

 I finally got around to watching "Knives Out" yesterday; it was quite good -- loved the ensemble cast, wildly entertaining ploy, slightly over the top Daniel Craig...I mean, I figured I would...but it was still an enjoyable watch.  I then tried to hit the sack at 11, which was followed by an episode of sleeplessness and an attack of low blood sugar....oi.

Good to see that Jose Ramirez is the linchpin of our offense..of course, if you can't hit Jacob Junis, you have real problems, but that is me...

One thing I was ruminating about last night was how that while on the one hand I have more debt than ever....the other, it's all either on a no-interest credit card (for several more months) or my new HELOC, which has a fairly low interest rate.  (There is also the mortgage, but that is fixed, if you will.) I mean, I guess I paid off my student loans, and now, when I am making decent money and the interest being low...I do have a plan to pay stuff off, it's already in play, and I could be more penurious (fewer restaurant visits, less food at home) to add a few more shekels on the repayment plan... on the other hand, I am, for me, not as concerned as I usually am, and already have a list of the next stuff to fix once the first project is erased. This is, for me...well, the equivalent of drunken Democrat sailor spending, and we all know what I think of that.

Back Home

 So, I decided to join the family in Michigan for Easter... favorite niece is up there, she wanted us to be all together (especially now), and well, what the hell, why not?  So, after 8:30 Mass -- which was quite full; I took Communion to a record number of people -- I hopped in the car and drove there.  Three hours, mainly highway, but about an hour to Jackson, where she lives, which was more rural... and we hung out, exchanged baskets, ate, and made fun of each other. Also watched the women's championship game, which was...surprisingly competitive?  It is hard to beat a eam three times in a year...  then Monday I woke up and visited the college roomie and his family, including a godson, which was nice... 

Lots of Family Dollars out there, up in rural Michigan. I can see the arguments for how they chase out small businesses and all, but on the other hand, I didn't exactly see any evidence of there being thriving businesses that disappeared... I also stopped at the Country Corral truck stop in Delta, Ohio...one to pull a Woody Hayes and not buy gas in Michigan, and also because they are famed for their chicken fingers.  And they were good...'

I admit I am amused by the prospect of a giant, conservative boycott of...well, anything and everything.  I  for one don;t think it will work, but it would be pretty cool if we were able to pull it off...  for one, we are the party of business, and two, we never have the discipline... of course, they might be serious this time, which would be good...

Changes

 I meant to post yesterday, but I was 1) cooking kielbasa and 2) crashed and fell asleep on the hallway floor.  Yes, I need to sleep more.  Anyways, I had to cook my own kielbasa this year (this is the new reality) and while smoked is just heat and serve...fresh, of course, I had to boil and then grill. Fortunately, I had Mom's recipe and instructions, and it came out...ok? Good? I got from R&K, and they do a good job. I also picked up a loaf of paska bread there -- it was just ok.  I forgot -- Mom always planned weeks in advance -- to get some from a real bakery, sooo.. I will survive.  Next year I need to adult and get it in time.

Thursday night I was asked to help out at the Holy Thursday service...it had been 15 years or so since I did it, and while I didn't want to...well as it turned out, the foot washing component of it was canceled, so basically I got to wear a cassock and surplice, and then carry the monstrance for Fr. Joe on our truncated procession around the church.  Took much shorter this year, they said.  One thing I did NOT realize is that they break down the altar -- cloths, candleabra, etc.  While it didn't take long, I don't think I ever 1) saw the altar like this (at least I paid attention this time) and 2) realized how intricate it was, taking it apart and putting everything away...now, of course, today, when my basket was blessed, I noticed it was back in its proper place...

https://nymag.com/intelligencer/article/fanne-fox-wilbur-mills-washington-hubris.html
Always loved this story, not sure why....

https://freebeacon.com/columns/the-working-class-gop-a-muddled-concept/

Interesting...not sure where this will all take us, but I like the change...