Hooping It Up, Part II

I mentioned this on Facebook, but it bears repeating.  Most of the games in the women's tournament have been closer/more compelling than the games in the men's tournament.  This is probably good -- in theory, people will watch games if they are more interesting, though I suspect that without compelling people/players, viewership is down.  That said...they miss a lot of layups; I was watching Duke-South Carolina and it was mentioned that Duke was 7 of 20 on layups; aside from the fact that if they had converted half of them, they would have won, but... I do not think the failure rate in the men' game is that high, not even close.  I can see how some people would watch this and be like "ugh," and that's that.  Somewhat more entertaining was watching Dawn Staley and Kim Mulkey look very unhappy during most of their games.  But, . Tom Izzo, people seem to like/want to play for them.

More importantly, Duke won Saturday night -- Final Four, baby!  I was at that family party, so I missed the game, save for my phone, though this was probably good, being social, instead of sitting home and having conniption fits.  I dare say that the Duke D -- in every sense of the word, I am sure -- was impressive, as they kept the 'Bama offense off the scoreboard.  I think Proctor is incredibly underrated as a player in general; he can shoot the 3, he can run the offense, he is good on defense, and he has quick hands.  I realize there are other luminaries, but...credit where credit is due!

‘If We Don’t Get Our S--t Together, Then We Are Going to Be in a Permanent Minority’ - POLITICO
Long may this continue, especially as it appears that us GOPers cannot get our s--t together, at least in terms of messaging.  This does explain the GOP celerity on everything -- the majority is thin as it is, and as the incumbents lose seats in the midterms... which is why I thought the Stefanik move was odd in the first place.

The Great Demolition - by David Dagan - Persuasion

I think this is what most GOP voters wanted, and they are quite willing to have more.  Hell, many of us have always been highly skeptical of the New Deal and its accoutrements in the first place, so here we are... and if we have a chance to whack it around, why not?

Just Survive

Long day today -- lots of stuff went down at work, mostly resolved, but it was a bit more hectic than I would have wanted.  Monday it will be finished and I can return to catching up on some of the other projects I need to handle.  It was sort of funny, as a couple of my peers had similar situations, and we were discussing it once the balance had been restored to the force.  At least we were in it together.

I had a family fest this weekend and of course I was making my seven-layer jello.  I have six layers done -- will do 7 tomorrow -- and I am not sure why, but it was not quite right; not sure but it is just not setting, hence my desire to do the last layer tomorrow.  This is troubling, as I should be able to figure this out, but. .there is a disturbance in the force here.  (Funny; I don't even like the movies, and I have only seen the original three.)

At least one nice thing about this of course is that I can get through things -- OC stuff, budget stuff, articles and links, that sort of thing.  The fact that this stuff can be broken down into twenty-minute intervals (i.e., between jello layers) is a nice and convenient touch...

College basketball has changed. But Tom Izzo will keep doing it his way.
Cool story; I wonder how he does it.  I suspect there is money involved, of course, and I have noted -- several times -- that his players seem to love playing for him.  I know he is fiery but I can't think of someone who has spilled the tea about the being there.  At a time when many veteran coaches are out the door... he is sticking around, and succeeding.  Pretty cool.

What Does MAGA Have Against Europe? - WSJ
Dare I say that a large cadre of the GOP have always been skeptical of Europe, but they have been somewhat marginalized -- until now?  Now these people have full rein in the government, and they are putting it to use.  I think the article gets both sides right -- the European electorate wanted this system, and it is true that our spending has subsidized this generous welfare state.  Now times they are a changing, and we will see who responds and how.

Emboldened Trump Squeezes Traditional Media - WSJ
Ditto, many of the right have always had a disdain for the traditional media -- too close and entrenched to Dems and elites -- and now, boys, there is a new sheriff in town...and I think (along with many others in the GOP) that this wonderfully overdue...

Mattie survives

Well, that was quite the Duke game.  Thankfully they won, or it would have been less of a game.  More seriously... I thought they had it in the bag, but then Arizona -- and Caleb Love, gulp -- came storming back, and there we were, a real nail-biter.  But, thankfully, the Boys in the Brotherhood pulled through.  On a night when Alabama put up 113 -- and Coach Cal lost, how sad -- it was good to see Duke also hit the century mark, as they will need it Saturday.

I missed much of the key second half (sort of) because our food pantry ops manager called me to discuss things.  Some were important, some not, and...well, I think much of it could have been handled tomorrow, or at least not during the Duke game.  Alas.  I survived, Duke survived, and I am sure I need more heart palpitations like a hole in my head.

Jasmine Crockett Is Tacky and Classless, and I Encourage This | National Review
Mostly good?  I mean, it's not like the press will ever call her out on this, so... until I see Jake Tapper giving her this treatment, other than that, call me underwhelmed.

How California’s excesses inspired the ‘abundance’ craze - POLITICO
Similarly, I will believe it when I see it.  To be sure, we should be calling them out on this at every opportunity, noting that when they are in charge of anything, they fuck it up...

DOGE’s next target: NPR and PBS - POLITICO
I have to admit, I got a kick out of the hearing snippets -- calling out the head of NPR about books she never read or tweets never sent is fine, but at the end of the day, there is no reason why these people should be getting any money, and the sooner the axe comes out...

Hooping It Up

You know, for all of the talk about the lack of mid-majors at the NCAA Tournament -- I am sure it is completely incidental, I assure you -- they are in spades at the NIT.  And you know what?  That tournament is better for it.  I have been watching those games, and they have been closer/more compelling than the Tourney, the mid-majors are winning, and honestly, the environment is better.  The houses are packed, the crowds are into it, and they have the drama and totality of winning and losing.  You could see the kids from KSU as their season ticked away, and the joy of the Ramblers as they were moving on.  I realize they won't change the tourney, but there is something to be said for the NIT now.

I also watched CSU lose in the CBI, which was not played in a packed house, or at a good time.  Much like KSU, CSU hung around for a while, but talent, size, and 3-point shooting told their tale, and the jig was up.  Still cool for them to be there.  Joe Lunardi was the color commentator for the game, and he made some interesting -- and good -- comments about the NCAA Tournament, namely that by loading up the brackets with teams from three conferences, it is less of a national tournament (though the Big Ten and ACC are certainly national in scope now!).  I realize no one was watching, so it was ok, but it was a good point.

‘Own it, fire Waltz, move on’: White House allies fume as group chat scandal grows - POLITICO
This story is hilarious, and more to the point, someone should go; I think Waltz was spilling the beans to the press (why else have an Atlantic journalist on group chat?) and that is reason enough, to me.

Unlikely Activist Scott Presler’s Campaign to Make JD Vance President in 2028 - WSJ
This is hilarious, and as far as I am concerned...long may this continue.  I rather like our new and diverse GOP, thank you very much, and I cannot wait for us to start lecturing the Dems about how they are a bunch of whiny and intolerant scolds.

Plugging Away

Long day -- lots of meetings, lots of work -- and while it was productive, I am feeling somewhat drained.  Tired, not sleeping well, stomach sort of rumbly; I should be in bed but of course I am not tired.  Alas.  Tomorrow is another day, of course, and not that the day was bad, but I would prefer a little bit more...balance.

I was thinking today about the new bathroom. which, well, is not so new.  But... it is pretty nice, and I was thinking of the time I have saved from not running downstairs to shower and use the bathroom.  Even if it five minutes a day, over the course of a month...well, it's also the principle; I can use ALL of my house. Now I just need to pay this thing off and get to work on the next one.  I would make jokes about my frugality, but I am sure a bunch of you do not think of them as jokes, if you get my drift.  I was telling a friend I am overdue for a restaurant adventure, but as I am dining at parish fish fries...I think I can wait.

Tesla Terror Is the New-Old Democrat Strategy
I don't know; one, I think a stretch of nice, CCW-toting Tesla owners would be the best defense, but, the article is correct -- the Dems really do have a long history of this, and we should be calling them out about it a lot more often.  Hell, a chyron of Dems in white robes and pointed hats assaulting Tesla dealerships would be quite funny...

The Death of the Nation, and How to Prevent It › American Greatness
I guess I am of two schools of this.  On the one hand, the public school system is the best way to educate kids; on the other, as I so often say, they have really made a bollocks out of it, and the fact that people are pulling out their kids to home-school them or send them to private schools...well, that is on them.  So I am not going to yell and scream at people who do this, and, on the contrary, the public schools need to up their game.  Of course, admitting they were wrong would be the first step...

Survive and Advance

The scrappy boys from the Brotherhood pulled it off again, beating Baylor and moving to the Sweet 16.  I guess my early panic was a little overwrought; as I often say, most NCAA games have a lower seed hanging around for a while, but talent -- and its accumulation -- piles up, and they pull away, and that it what happened today.  I didn't realize Duke had such a size advantage over Baylor, and I think it showed on the defensive side.  I am aware of the discrepancy in FTs, but I think it was (mostly) Baylor being unable to handle the Duke height, and physicality (and the fouls that go with it) was the only way to try and offset that.  In other news...we had a real buzzer-beater today; not that many in this tournament, it seems, which is what people like to see (and remember).

Sort of funny this morning; I got to Mass and immediately my low blood sugar alarm went off.  Sigh.  I thought I had done the AM insulin and breakfast correctly, but obviously not.  So I had to snack up in the bathroom (can't really eat before the Eucharist) and I got through Mass... also, my stomach was rumbly, and I was worried about a return bathroom visit.  Oi.  My stomach has been slightly off most of the day, though I attributed that to the Duke game and the large number of fruits and veggies I had today -- I am back on the weight loss kick (183 at the gym) and I doubled down...and will be doing so for a few days.  I realize, of course, that a few days will not exactly do the trick...

They Were Raised to Serve America. MAGA Sees Them as Its Enemies. - POLITICO
Dare I say that this article doesn't really get to the point until late, and even then they sort of miss it?  Namely... one, the old ethos is gone, and -- especially in the new, working-class GOP -- this noblesse oblige sense of entitlement and government service is... well, those days are over, or at least in remission.  Two... they are exactly correct - this generation had a lot of errors and mistakes, a lot to answer for, and.... well, they haven't really done anything there, have they?  No apologies, no sense of remorse, no plans to fix what they broke... so why on earth do we need to listen to them now?

A ‘Jeopardy!’ Win 24 Years in the Making - The Ringer
Awesome story -- I watched the episode, and while I do not root for contestants, I was certainly glad to see that he won; it is literally a lifetime of trying to get on the show, and then he did it...  Also, I need to get into the LearnedLeague.  Of course, I need an invite, and I am not exactly to beg for it...nor am I as smart as I used to be.  But it would be fun to try...

Chillness

You know, I think either I have another cold, it went away, or something.  I mean, with all of the nites of watching basketball, I have not been getting as much sleep as I should, and then today I had food pantry duty.  Normally the weather gets better as the day goes on but today... it got colder, rainier, and then snowier.  I got a chill and it has not really gone away... anyways, the count was 118.  It was a bit nippy this morning, and only had about 15 people after the snow stopped.  Alas.  But other than that, it was good -- even the people who were usually pains in the rear were less so, the clothing room storage space was emptied, and we gave away enough produce, I hope, so the ops manager doesn't complain too much.

Anyways, after the OC, it was off to the gym, the grocery store (pop on sale at GE and I have a gift card), and then home, where I caught up on some work (I want to get a project in, as I have three to do) and watching some hoops.  St. John's losing was not good for the brackets, and it was sad to see Gonzaga lose.  On the other hand...BYU won, cool.  Of course, tomorrow is the game, and I will be of course glued to the TV in the afternoon.

The Meager Agenda of Abundance Liberals | Washington Monthly
This was interesting.  On the other hand, it is their fault why we don't have much of what we need -- housing, energy independence, the removal of government impediments, etc., so... I am not exactly sorry for them.

‘The Oracle,’ 'the Ice Maiden' and the New Discipline of Trump's White House - POLITICO
Interesting read.  To be sure, a lot of this is the fact that for much of the past four years, we had a President who wasn't doing anything, and now we have a guy who is...well, all there.  It does seem though the Administration -- POTUS, the Cabinet, the people that count -- are moving fast and together, and it has made all the difference.

The Battle for the Bros | The New Yorker
I would say that the left cannot win men back, because the women and the liberals who make up their coalition don't want them to?  There is a gender gap, and I think -- rather than push back on the notion that men need to be fixed -- we are just doing our own thing, and in this case, leaving the women behind.  And good riddance!

Scott Bessent | All-In in DC! - All-In with Chamath, Jason, Sacks & Friedberg | Podcast on Spotify
Dare I say that every time I listen to the guy, I come away more impressed? I was never a Yellen fan -- no matter her career -- but this guy has it, and I am damn glad that he has his hand on the purse, in so far as there is one!

Climbing the Mount

 Long day -- but good -- as you can tell from the lateness of my post.  Full day of work, then off to Holy Name for dinner and then Stations, which were interesting.  We used the one on the sheet, which is somewhat modern and... not as august and reverent as the old-school ones we usually use.  I think we all know how I feel about going old-school, of course!  One thing I noted while actually looking at the Stations was on the Fifth Station -- Simon of Cyrene carries the cross -- was that the figure of Simon has his back turned to us.  I was struck by the symbolism of this -- it is faceless and thus could be anybody, which I think is the point.

Duke won, and gloriously so.  I wouldn't say that I was worried, but of course I was concerned -- never what will happen with a 16 seed, will Cooper Flagg, will he be hurt -- and I guess I can say that I was pleased that my fears did not come to pass.  They played well, Cooper didn't get hurt, and in the end it was a big win.  I went to my friend Andy's March Madness party -- a good time as always, plenty of snax and good chatter (even if the other guests are not fans of the Brotherhood).  I was surprised to see the Flames to go down hard and early, but Oregon really shot the lights out, and in some ways you cannot combat that.  Alas.

The Bidens want back in
I sort of want this to happen, mainly because 1) it will only help the GOP and 2) I think the Bidens are disconnected from reality, and getting booed out of the hustings might just be the thing to bring them back to reality, in so far as a drooling senile moron and his cadre of enablers can be brought to clarity.

Why Many Americans Are On Board With Federal Worker Firings - WSJ
Umm...yes.  I mean, I think there are plenty of people who have dealt with lazy/unhelpful workers, and they never seem to get fired/disciplined forever, and at the end of the day, people have had enough.  I do not blame them...

VCU Head Coach Ryan Odom Nearing Deal for Virginia Men's Basketball Job
Dare I say that I think the saga of Ryan Odom is why players have the case for an NIL-style settlement?  What, he has three/four jobs in six years, each time getting a big raise and a fat contract?  I mean, God bless him -- it is the American way -- but the players who have created and enabled this success get nothing but a new coach (which may not benefit them)?  It stinks to high heaven, and while I am still unsettled by the new landscape, the old one was... rather one-sided.

Hoop Dreams

 Lots of hoops action today, and I was able to watch -- somewhat -- most of it.  To be sure, there was work, J! on Youtube, some food pantry paperwork, and some forensic accounting (we might be being overcharged on some things, which is... something to resolve).  But the games...well, not many upsets.  The ACC had a bad day; no shame in losing to Creighton -- the Big East is as good as anyone -- but McNeese State?  Coach K will not be happy, especially as the SEC had but one loss.  Yes, they were mainly the favorites (Drake was a trendy upset pick), but... you are what you are.  Let us hope the ACC roars back tomorrow, if you get my drift.  Big 10 had a good day, which is a good thing.  While I do not share the UM hate that many of readers do, I will not lose sleep if they are upset.

I got a kick out of the McNeese-Clemson game; the announcers were discussing how Will Wade is linked to the NC State job, and I guess he told them that he was talking to a lot of people, and he was honest with his players, and they were honest too -- who they were talking to in the portal and such.  On the one hand this is jarring... on the other hand, it is completely fair; if coaches can run around and switch jobs (and make more money) all the time, why shouldn't players?  I mean, for some of these guys, it will be the only way they can monetize their college careers, so... why not?

Trump defends his education overhaul with a shield of GOP governors — and kids - POLITICO
Dare I say this is a good thing?  I mean, the GOP has campaigned for this, all of the various factions of the party want this gone, and I would think there has to be some way to get this into a budget matter -- and thus off the 60-vote threshold.  I get the concerns, but the fact of the matter is that the people who have caused the great collapse of our educational system -- low test scores, lost years, behavior problems, truancy -- have yet to answer for it, or propose solutions, so... off with their heads.

Good For The Soul

Good day today, mostly; productive at work, got stuff done, handled projects, was assigned new ones. tried to solve some minor tech issues.  Rah.  Emailed out some SVDP stuff, rescheduled some meetings and such -- March Madness is on -- and even went through (tonight) the pile of links and bookmarked articles.

Perhaps more importantly, I went to the Diocesan night of Confession.  I had some books at the Royalton library -- I finished book ten today, and I am using Say's Law to boost literacy, I hope, despite the March Madness -- so I decided to go to St. Albert's.  It has an odd layout, you know?  It's cruciform, sort of, but the altar is on the short sides, and it seems like they decided to put the parking lot in first and then the church.  Anyways, it was a long wait -- 90 minutes.  On the one hand, this is good, though I couldn't help but think that the place is full of perverts and moral degenerates that they need so many people with such lengthy Confessions.  I mean, this isn't the PSRCH, but then again, they wouldn't go at all, would they?  That said, father gave me a good Confession -- thoughtful, perceptive.  I think I prefer the old school approach when you feel like shit, but there is something to be said for this approach.  Probably why the line was out the door!

The Fed is not cutting rates.  I am not surprised, of course. I can see, sort of, why they did not, but on the other hand, I think the high rates are causing more trouble than they are worth -- the housing market is constrained, people do not want to invest in home improvements, high credit card rates are draining money from people who can't afford it.  I would think the economy could more than use a 50 bps cut over the next few months.  It would also help the POTUS-Powell relationship; there was an article in the WSJ how basically the WH thinks that the Fed got the inflation surge entirely wrong -- nor have they apologized or walked it back -- and thus everything else is poisoned by it.  I think it is exactly right, and while the Fed might not want to eat a shit sandwich, they might just have to.

Hot Linx

All sorts of interesting things in the news... I am fascinated by the NCAA Tournament.  Like everyone else, I am curious as to the selection of UNC to the bracket.  There are legitimate questions as to their inclusion -- tough schedule but a lack of wins -- and to me the largest question, that the AD of UNC was the chair of the Committee... I realize that the chance of a conflict of interest is highly unlikely, but at the end of the day, even the appearance of a corrupt bargain is highly problematic, and if no one in the NCAA realizes this... I guess one way around this is to put someone not involved in athletics in charge of the committee.  I mean, someone like de Grasse Tyson or Condi Rice -- I realize we really don't have a large number public intellectuals anymore -- would be ideal.  Hell, Tom Hanks would be perfect; I have no doubt that all of the metrics are complex, but not that complex.  I see the governor of WV is threatening legal action, and while it is sour grapes...the last thing the NCAA needs is someone AG or other lawyer poking around.

Ohio State Buckeyes Decline Invitation To Postseason Tournament
Interesting?  I mean, I figured they would want to go to thew College Basketball Crown -- the field looks rather underwhelming, if you ask me -- but they are not.  Odd.  Maybe not?  I mean, if you want to go and evaluate talent and look around the transfer portal, now is a good time, because...

Did the Ohio State basketball program make a mistake hiring Jake Diebler?
I don't know?  I mean, at the time -- Holtmann had worn out his welcome, Diebler turned the team around, had the big win against Purdue, and got them in the NIT when it was a dumpster fire -- well, that is not something we should discount right away.  But, I think next year he has to get in the tournament.  I used to think that a coach should get 4-5 years, but with NIL, that might not be a thing anymore.  Hell, Iona fired Tobin Anderson (of FDU fame) after two years, which seems... soon.

Masters in Business Podcast - Apple Podcasts
I listened to this this weekend, and I was a little surprised... usually I like his shows, and this one... she really didn't explain how if her theory is so successful... it flamed out miserably for the time when it was tried -- highly indirectly but all the same -- during the Biden era.  Nor did the host push her on this.  I mean, I realize the combination of trade war and uncertainly is a bad mix, but in 2021... well, my point is that MMT was tried and didn't really work, and she just avoided anything about it.  Odd.

Trump Declares Biden's Last-Minute Pardons 'Void' over Autopen Signature | National Review
Dare I say he is right?  Or, more seriously, do the Dems want to have this debate, that Joe Biden may or may not have been in command of his full mental faculties?  Quite frankly this is exactly the thing the GOP should be pushing at any and every opportunity...

Cynical Publius on X: "The most brilliant part of the Tren de Aragua deportation flight is that it forced Democrats to defend and uphold literal narco-terrorists who have murdered Americans and destroyed the neighborhoods of working class voters. I am 100% sure that the Trump team did a careful" / X
Exactly correct, and I cannot wait for the GOP to start running ads on this.

Scott Jennings Exposes Dems’ Filibuster Hypocrisy, BREAKS CNN Panel
Snicker, snicker.  His troll game is strong, the White House's is strong, and I only hope we have more of this and less of other things going forward...

Scrappiness!

Don't judge me, but I fell asleep on the floor last night, and woke up -- laptop and light on -- at 5 AM.  Oi.  I planned to get up at 7, and instead woke up at 8:15.  I guess this was good -- I need the rest -- and then I went and did my taxes.  This was good -- the carnage was much less than expected and there will be cash available for other necessary things, like adding to my savings and paying down the HELOC.  Dare I say that I have followed the advice of my accountant, set things up like they said, and I think it was the reason why things were ok.  About the only thing I disagreed with them was the mortgage -- I want to pay it off as soon as I can, but they suggested I keep it, given the low rate and the mortgage deduction (which I can still claim).  I guess I get their point, but I think they got mine -- I just do not like debt.

Then it was gym, drug store, and home to catch up on some work and watch some college basketball.  The MEAC final was impressive -- reminded me of the MAC Championship last year -- and the MAC Championship was absolutely nuts.  Miami had doubled them up in the first half and led for about 80% of the game, and... Akron came back.  Impressively, with an even crazier ending than the MEAC.  And, of course, those scrappy, injury-ridden underdogs -- the Duke Blue Devils -- after trying to throw the game away against UNC (my team beats their rivals three times in one season!), are the ACC champs.  Now, I think we all want Flagg back, and ideally they will need him but minimally in the first game, or two, to ensure that he is healthy.... but I think we all know that is the most optimal scenario.

EPA launches attack on ‘holy grail’ of climate science — and dozens of enviro rules - POLITICO
I get a kick out of articles like this; I mean, yes, I feel badly for those involved, but we are $36 trillion in the hole, and taxes alone cannot get us out of it.  I am sure the states can pick up the slack, should they wanted to, and there is an argument that the feds should never have been involved in the first place.  I was listening to one of my economics podcasts, and they point out that the economy should be able to absorb one million (or so) fired federal workers.  Of course, I think that is the rub; a certain segment of the economy thinks these people are not-so-hardworking, if you get my drift, and I can why; I can't imagine how the administrator of the drag show in Ecuador funding gets a real job...

Eclipse

I should be in bed, but considering the wonder of the solar eclipse a while back... I figured I would stay up a bit and see the lunar one.  I went out about 30 minutes ago, and there was a slight bump on the moon.  I am not going to sit up all night, of course, but once I post, I will go outside and take a few pics.

Remember how I called the ACC Tournament a trap game?  Well, seeing Cooper Flagg get carried off the court...well, let us just say that I am immensely relieved that it is NOT broken, and there is absolutely no reason for him to do anything but sit around with an elevated foot.  I will certainly be willing to help tote him around in a sedan chair to get him healthy...I realize you want to win the tournament, but right now.  Anyways, it was a big win for the Brotherhood, coming from behind with two men down and going 0-13 on their first 3s, which made me wonder why they kept shooting them...

My sister and I re-started our tradition of monthly dinners tonight.  It was my turn tonight, and to celebrate Cleveland Restaurant Week I selected Rood in Lakewood -- been a while since I had been there so I figured it was ok.  We both liked it -- she noted that there were enough "real food" items for her but also food I like.  It was good -- bit spicy -- and while it was a bit pricey, it was sort of worth it.  I should go more, but after my second trip to Lakewood this week...the parking is pretty craptastic.  I know I am a child of the suburbs, but...

Why DOGE is and will remain popular, even if its cuts are small
110% correct, and exactly the reason why these cuts MUST continue.  Hell, Chuck Schumer even folded on the CR, which should help with many things, economic confidence and the markets at least, until, of course, the President tweets or something.  It does show a commitment to cutting costs, and while real reform -- Social Security and Medicare -- will elude us, I will take a few tactical wins.  For now.

Republicans have hated universities for years. Anti-war protests gave them a reason to punish them. - POLITICO
This could be me, but if you know the GOP is coming for you...why make it easy for them?  Cudgeling them to death via the budget is as good a way as any, and I say, when Bill Clinton said that good politics are good policy.... no one complained about it then.

Up Late

I should be in bed, but there is a conference final on (Big Sky), so here we are...I guess technically I am making sure my blood sugar is in good shape, so that works.  More seriously... I was fascinated by the halftime talk.  UNC beat ND and they are maybe off the bubble; tOSU lost to Iowa in the Big Ten Tournament, and they are off the bubble for sure.  This could be me, but if you have to think about it, you should be off the bubble, and...well, as I say so often say, doubt not the ability of the Selection Committee to overlook a mid-major who just might be as deserving.  I realize it is part of the game, but no one likes it, save for the TV guys.

Last night I went to Mahall's to see Hello Goodbye/Boys Night Out/Armor For Sleep... I dare say it is not good when you see bands on the 20th anniversary tours, as it means you are quickly swirling down the drain of senescence.  Alas.  Anyways, it was fun, and I even bumped into one of my best friends there -- Nick from TFG, who texted me from the venue.  Some surprises are good!  Anyways, they played a long set, which was fine, and while I had a long walk back to the truck, I got out in record time, so there was that.  Phew.  I guess I am a bit tired, and will be moreso tomorrow...  

Finished book 9 today -- the Drellich book about the Astros scandal, which was very focused on the front office and the statheads.  It was interesting, though, honestly, I care much less about it now than, say, five years ago, if you get my drift.  The knowledge of this subject that I once had has largely evaporated, and you can tell.  Alas.  I would like to think with all the hoops this weekend there will be some time for reading, and I need it.

I was talking with another friend last night, and I pointed out that Trump 2.0 -- with tariffs and trade wars -- is a lot less fun than the first term.  Maybe it was newer, and more unexpected, but now...dealing with everything, this is real work.  I wish we put that on the back burner for now and concentrate on the border and cutting government (and kudos to Mike Johnson for putting Chuck Shumer in a bind), and switch to Pocohontas jokes... the Rosie O'Donnell comment was pretty funny, and we need more of that!

Hoop Thoughts

I watched the SoCon Final, and it was incredibly entertaining.  I would not exactly say that it was good basketball -- too many dumb TOs, and it seemed like people were trying not to win the game as much as possible -- but there were plenty of runs, momentum changes, crazy moments, and in short everything one should like about college basketball.  This, followed by a couple of crazy moments in the HL semifinal...well, there you go.  I mean, everyone is playing for just one more game...  in the meantime, the Vikings look completely flummoxed by YSU, which does not exactly bode well for them.  Odd that the TV people wouldn't put the #1 seed in the late game on national TV.  

Neither Elon Musk Nor Anybody Else Will Ever Colonize Mars | Defector
Interesting take.  I don't know; I largely agree, but of course our nation -- and humanity -- did not get anywhere by sitting on their asses and being complacent.  Of course, it's not like we have the money to spend on this stuff.

I went through some paperwork at the half of the first game, and I realized that I have more to do -- I mean, stuff to look through, handle, emails to reply to -- and I was like why I am doing this in the middle of March Madness?  Then, of course, I was like "well, we are adults, and not everyone gives a shit about the economically unsustainable activity of undereducated idiots trying to put a ball of wind in a netted basket."  I would not exactly say that I felt better, but I think I understood myself.

My blood sugar has been low all evening, which is not good, as my insistence on healthy snacks means it is a steady diet of granola bars and canned cranberries.  Mind you, I like them both, but I can see why some people keep a stash of ice cream floating around, even though I do not, given my constant and losing battle against fatassery.

Is it me, or was the firing of Kevin Keatts a little...premature?  Yes, missing the ACC Tournament in a down year is not good, but making the Final Four last year...I guess my question would be who do they think is out there who would be better?

Lazy Sunday of a Sort...

No blogging during the weekend...tsktsk.  Friday night I went to bed fairly early -- by 11 -- and got a full evening of sleep, which was heavenly.  Last night IU realized that it was Daylight Savings Time and I hit the hay before posting to try and get 7 hours of sleep.  Tonight...well, I should be in bed, but am not tired, for reasons.  Alas.

Honestly, I didn't do that much this weekend -- mainly catching up on work, which is important, as it is mostly caught up.  The trip to Vegas was a wonderful opportunity, but in terms of schedule, it was a bit inopportune.  Alas.  I should be able to get ahead/finish this week, which is... just in time.  Rah.

It is Lent, and that means Friday Stations of the Cross...despite the fact that there were but 6 people at it Friday, it was... quite nice.  I do hope there are a few more next time -- I realize Lent was late this year and it seemed people forgot about it, but.  Anyways, we used the traditional books, and I think they do add something to Stations; old school prayers, properly reverent, that sort of thing.  I realize this will surprise absolutely no one that I prefer the old school approach.

I couldn't help but notice that it was bright and sunny this morning, and of course the reason why is that -- yet again -- Duke beat UNC (in the DeanDome).  Yes, my teams beats their rivals, Buckeye fans, ahem, and it was glorious.  To be sure, there were a number of instances where I thought it was a lost cause, but... more seriously, is it me, or is Cooper Flagg...well, for all the talk of him being POTY, which I get... there were the TO issues in the losses, and then Saturday... getting those fouls and being potentially unavailable.... that is on him, and yes he is but 18, but... it needs to be part of the conversation.  In the meantime, Duke is playing well, or well enough, but to me the whole ACC tournament is a trap game...

Hiatus

So last night I just crashed and went to bed about 10:30.  Between this cold, the late night Tuesday, the early day Wednesday (6:45 Mass for Ash Wednesday, as we are not Hope and Changers), and the effects of the fast (ditto)...well, I just didn't feel.  I had an apple before I went to bed -- something of a mortal sin -- as my blood sugar was borderline.  As it was, I woke up at 4 with low blood sugar, alas, so... I got a good deal of sleep, maybe not enough, but 7.5 hours is heavenly.  I wouldn't say I am better but I feel...well, less crappy.

One casualty of this malady is that I did not go to the CSU game tonight; HL quarterfinal and last home game of the year.  I mean, I could have, but I decided valor was the name of the game so I stayed in.  It was a good game, but there is something to be said for staying in, resting, not getting cold, etc.  I will be heading out tomorrow -- First Friday of Lent! -- so even more the reason.

There are only two parishes in the Diocese that have fish fries on Ash Wednesday (which I sort of get, for many reasons) and last night I switched it up a bit and went to St. Ambrose in Brunswick for theirs.  Sort of a zoo (obviously) and I narrowly avoided several vehicular catastrophes in the parking lot (I parked far, but not far enough).  It was good -- better than Holy Family -- and for $17.50 (including drinks and dessert), I think it was borderline worth it in this day and age.  It IS for the Church, as I used to tell Mom (and we all know what she thought of that).  More seriously... a parish should consider starting one on Ash Wednesday; I know it is hard to get volunteers mid-week, but there are opportunities...

Dems’ DOGE problem may be bigger than they thought - POLITICO
This and the decline in mortgage rates... well, the GOP needs to be talking about this more -- I think a lot of people would understand (if not like) that for many years we have spent too much for too long.  You can Uber-drive at night all you want, but at the end of the day, when spending is the problem, you have to cut it, like it or not.

SOTU!

SOTU baby!  Dare I say it was...long?  I mean, as President of the 40-minute Mass society I am of course going to say that, but...I have a cold!  Early Mass tomorrow!  It was a long day!  More seriously, the speech was... good?  It does seem that the President has a good time at these things -- making fun of Elizabeth Warren, the Kennedy reference, the "How's that work out line," all of them were hilarious, and you could see the Dems really didn't know how to react.  Back to the speech... mainly the usual hits?  Immigration, economic platitudes, a defense of DOGE (shouldn't we mention the fall in 10-year Treasuries, and thus mortgage rates)... Al Green getting kicked out was a bit much; you would think the GOP would figure out a way to cut some load of funds from his district, just to ensure decorum in the future.  I should be watching the Dem response, but I have a blog to post, and then to bed. 

Funny; I had an MD appointment today, and he said I sounded like I had bronchitis (which I do not think I do), so I had a very thorough exam, followed by a discussion of the fact that on the one hand, I am of the age (and with the diabetes) I should be seeing a specialist, but on the other hand, I am fairly healthy, all things considered, so... I mean, I guess I should see them now to make sure everything is ok, but... one must do one's part to keep health care costs down.  One downside was the visit was longer, so I just went to the local bakery for my paczki, instead of a Polish one for an actual one.  Alas.

Is Domino’s pizza inflation-proof? - The Hustle
Interesting; I mean, I don't really eat/order that much pizza, so I was not aware of the price stability here, but...

Republican governors tried to slash state budgets. They have advice for Elon Musk. - POLITICO
Quite right?  I mean, if you are deleting items from your lists everyday and such, you sound foolish, whereas if you can provide -- as they have done at times -- lists of wasteful spending and the savings to the taxpayers...well, that is something that better withstands attack.

Trump’s Barrage of Executive Orders Overwhelms Opponents - WSJ
This could be me, but no one in his first term ever took high school government?  Not knowing what the Supreme Court does is...highly odd.  I will admit that this second time around, it is really...good.  I guess this is the price of experience.

My Afternoon With the 'Normal Gay Guys' Who Voted for Trump | GQ
I was not exactly sure what to think of this, but it was funny as hell, at the very least.

Mattie Catches Up

I figured I should actually post something, even though I am now suffering from a cold.  I suspect I caught it in Vegas, though the lack of sleep and Saturday's wedding (quite fun, but long) might have something to do with it.  I may try to get to bed early tonight, though sleep and hitting the hay are two different things.  I just nodded off on the floor and then went to bed.  I did not watch the archive of J! episodes, though I might hit a couple tonight.  I had planned to watch ALL of the stuff saved on Tivo, and now... oi.  Adulting is hard.  At least I got some work done tonight (skipping the gym with the cold seemed wise) and then it was time to send out some SVDP stuff (doing my other job, though I seem to have so many).  

Interesting moves from the Administration -- 25% tariffs on stuff from Canada and Mexico and a pause in aid to Ukraine.  I do not either of these moves are wise, and I suspect that a number of GOPers feel the same way, but are afraid of orange retribution, so... I am a little surprised by the tariffs -- Mexico sent over a bunch of drug dealers, and I suspect Canada could offer a similar package/tribute.  Unless, of course, there is another 11th-hour reprieve.  The aid pause may lead to an accelerated peace, but at poor terms...  I am sure we will hear about it tomorrow, and receive many, many tweets, but...

Powerful teachers union head faces reelection test amid contentious mayoral primary - POLITICO
I made a comment on FB about this -- hard to believe that union workers are only in it for themselves -- but then, of course, we have here in OH all of these people who are complaining about the giant mass of cash being sent to private schools via vouchers.  I do not doubt that this can be an unwise policy, but considering the alternative -- trusting your kids to those people -- I think it is something to consider.  Nor does our hometown paper, or any media group, mention this, or that the teachers' unions have been responsible for the educational and skills catastrophe since COVID...in other words, they need a kneecapping, or something similar.

Gene Hackman’s Coach Dale and the enduring appeal of ‘Hoosiers’ – Terry Pluto - cleveland.com
It is no secret that "Hoosiers" is one of my favorite movies, ever, and the news that Gene Hackman passed away...well, I have always loved the scene when Dale gets "accidentally" kicked out of the game; the look on his face -- and Shooter's -- is clearly one of those "I know that you know that I know" moments, and it comes off so wonderfully.  Of course, seeing a 30-point Duke win puts you in a hoops-watching mood...