The Calm Before the Storm

It was a long week, and this weekend...well, we will see.  I decided to stop working at 6 -- I can catch up on the weekend, without interruption, which is sort of nice -- and hit the stores for some shopping; hard to believe I was down to one apple and no peanut butter.  An Acme and an Aldi run later, and that has been remedied, for better or worse.  Then a long workout -- I got there after 7, and it was not so crowded.  Interesting to go at off hours; I always expect to see people like me who have no life, but... there is a good mix of people.  Then home...catching up on some email and some reading now, rah.

Interesting news from the Greater Cleveland Food Bank; for all of November, all food product ordering is free.  On the one hand, this is good; if they think demand will be through the roof, we will need the grub.  On the other hand...one, if it is free now, why have been charging us so much before.  Two, what will they actually have?  If everyone is ordering everything under the sun...mind you, the ordering sheet was a little bare before.  Yes, this is because of the food cuts, but I agreed with them -- and still do -- as we shouldn't have been spending the money in the first place, and we are $38T in the hole as it is.  More seriously -- noting the list of food pantries published on cleveland.com -- I think this is a bit...irresponsible of them.  I mean, even with free food, there is not a limitless supply.   So if all of these people (most of whom will be Hope and Changers, ahem) rush out and empty the food pantries now, they will have to deal with shortages later.  Now, if the shutdown is resolved by then, so be it, but if not...  Anyways, I still expect a zoo tomorrow...

The Growing Divide in the Rainbow Coalition - WSJ
Unintentionally, this is one of the funniest things I have read; we all should have such levity in our lives...

https://phys.org/news/2025-10-dna-napoleon-army-pathogens-responsible.html

Interesting!

200 Years Ago, the Erie Canal Opened and America Was Never the Same – PJ Media
Quite true!  Even after the railroads came along, canals still played a role, even if it was...reduced. We don't really think about it now, but...

Mattie Treats Himself

Another hiatus.  Not good.  But...work has been a busy time, I crashed early a couple of nights -- Monday  I felt a cold coming on, so Tuesday it was off to bed early, and I felt much better -- and of course there are meetings.  Yesterday I had one to discuss what to do in case of sudden surges in food pantry demand, and today was our quarterly district presidents' board meeting -- which went surprisingly quickly, despite all the stuff we had to discuss.

Anyways, I am co-managing the OC in November, and I broached the subject -- we might have an increase in clients.  I mentioned we might hit 200 every week, which would be... well, quite a challenge.  We would have to order more -- at least of canned goods -- and while we can go at this pace for a while...well, not for a long time.  Mind you, I support the GOP in this shutdown -- the Dems started this and they deserve to pay through the nose -- but they could probably have kept SNAP benefits flowing.  ACA premiums...well, it is time someone paid their fair share.  And, of course, everyone will be asking for turkeys, which we will NOT have.  I have to admit, given that it costs about 3-4 times to get a turkey than the canned goods we distribute, we should just hand out turkeys and close up shop until March.

Yesterday I decided to treat myself -- long couple of weeks -- and dined at La Ville Lumiere... on Clifton in the Edgewater neighborhood (I left my MAGA hat at home).  Heard good things about it, so I ordered a bowl of French onion soup and their chicken dish.  The portions were huge; the soup was ok but the chicken was quite good.  Mind you, it was a half chicken, a generous heaping of mashed potatoes, and a slightly spicy sauce.  Very good; the only drawback was the potatoes were beneath the chicken and the gravy, and once again we had a delicious yet erudite hot mess.  Service was quite attentive as well.  I think I would go back, albeit not right away...

The Brian Kelly firing amuses the hell out of me.  First of all, he is... well, not exactly liked.  Second, it seems to be in vogue, firing coaches who are successful but not successful enough, and then paying them a ton of money to go away.  Third, now the governor is saying the AD -- whose job it is to handle these things -- will NOT be involved in the process, which is sort of like not having brakes on the car, or something.  One of my coworkers went to UF, and I suggested Kelly would be ideal for the job there, as he could put kids on scissors lifts in high winds all the time.  Yes, I am a horrible person, but we knew that...

A day of zoo

Last night and crashed -- and hard; I fell asleep on the floor with the lights on (I paid the electric bill today, and I thought of this the whole time).  It was a long week, and my big night out -- not that I expected one -- was to take a nice bath, do some reading, and eventually nod off, and that didn't quite happen.

Today was OC duty and it was quite busy... 178.  About 20-25 of these people (at least) were from another church in the area, which didn't get their delivery, and as such had no food.  So they sent everyone our way.  On the one hand, I sort of get it, on the other... well, the problem is that we can only sort barely cover all of our people, and so sending us 25 more...well, we were not exactly happy about this.  We did get rid of all of our produce -- which was what was wanted -- but nearly all of our meat.  Oi.  It does boost our count, but... we could have done without.  

Scientists prepare for the next Carrington Event | Popular Science
I have read a couple of books about this -- men at the telegraph saw them literally catch on fire -- and while it is cool and interesting, everything I have read about this indicates that such as event would be a disaster for society in many ways -- communications, radar, etc.  In some ways you cannot even plan for it, though of course you have to.  Resilience is key, but... nothing can prepare is for it save for experience, which is something you do not want.

Why the Waywardness of Academic Geography Matters — The James G. Martin Center for Academic Renewal
As a student of history -- especially of the guns and war school -- I completely agree!

Mattie Catches Up

Hard to believe it has been a couple of days since I posted, but I guess I did -- work has been busy, trying to keep caught up with things -- I have sent out a raft of food pantry and SVDP emails and related such things over the past two days.  I also watched -- it was due back at the library today -- "Dirty Dancing."  Yes, I had not seen it, and as a recent addition to the National Film Registry... it was ok?  Seemed a bit anachronistic, honestly.  I mean, it was fine and entertaining, and maybe I had to be there back in the 80s, but...anyways, up to 849.  Rah.  I should probably get back to it -- we can get stuff from Interlibrary Loan, again, and that is a good source of them, and we are probably two months away from the release date of the next batch, most of which I will not have watched.  Sigh.

The Rigged Poker Games That Used NBA Stars and James Bond Tech to Steal Millions - WSJ
Gambling in the NBA?  I am shocked, shocked, I tell you, by this.  (The irony of that quote!)  More seriously, should we be surprised?  Hell, the leagues have embraced gambling, so what makes us think the staff will avoid the practice?  In some ways, baseball -- and the Black Sox scandal -- got it right, but we have retreated from it ever since...  I suspect we will have a lot more of these things going forward, like it or not...

How Russell Vought Became Trump’s Shadow President — ProPublica
Interesting profile.  I do not think that POTUS has these powers -- and I think the Court should rule as such -- but the man has a point: we need to cut spending and personnel, and sooner is better.  Say what you want about Trump, his four years in the wilderness were put to good use.

The Unspoken Trial of the Orphaning of Our Priests - Crisis Magazine
Can this be true?  One hopes not but suspects it is so...  I guess I should be sympathetic to the position of the Bishops -- we can't let pedophiles run around our parishes -- but the flip side is that good priests are now being treated completely differently, and that is not right.  And we have too few of them as it is (yes, this is my fault too, but...)!

w34353.pdf
Interesting read, and I think there is quite a bit of truth here...

Running Around

Today was a day when I reflected that yes, this is why our health care system is screwed up.  First, I had an appointment at the Ahuja men's center to see an urologist.  Now, I don't need one, but ever since I turned 45 they -- the UH team, my MD, etc. -- has been on me to see an array of specialists for my health.  The endocrinologist I can see; maybe the podiatrist.  The rest... not really.  Like today.  Mind you, I saw the MD and four different people -- the lady who checks you in, the one who walks you to the MD's office, the nurse who pre-interviews you, and the lady who schedules your appointment.  I think one person, or at most two, could handle this.  The MD visit was fine -- I realize as a diabetic there are issues to consider but I think I am handling them -- and then it was home to track down prescriptions (we are changing an insulin routine) so we need new prescriptions, a signoff from the pharmacist, and of course, a pre-authorization from the MD.  Mind you, he already authorized it... I really don't see why that process is a thing, as I have yet to see any reason for it, either in terms of cost or health.  Oi.

‘Roots are so deep’: The GOP is straining to get past its Obamacare morass - POLITICO
Mind you, this is another reason why our health care is so expensive; we basically rob Peter to pay Paul, and in the words of George Bernard Shaw, the system that robs Peter to pay Paul will always have the support of Paul.  To be sure, we should have gotten rid of it when we had the chance, but thanx to people like John McCain and Rob Portman....oi again.

Study sheds light on generational divide among US priests
Interesting.  Two things... first, the older generation is the one who presided over the sex abuse scandals, moral relativism, and the general abandonment of the pews, so... why the hell should we trust them with anything?  I would make my usual comment about hosing out the video booths at those places but those guys would enjoy it too much.  Second, if we have more priests who are actually Catholic and actually practice -- and preach -- the Faith... how is this bad?

Finally finished the current read, Okrent's (didn't he give the name to sabermetrics?) The Guarded Gate, which discusses the rise and fall of anti-immigration sentiment/eugenics in the US.  Interesting though I would have liked to have learned more about the fall; in his telling, it just...fell off due to WWII, links to Nazism, etc., which is... well, I suspect there was a bit more to it than that.

Mattie arrives

Sort of a long day today; I hit the gym, did some errands, and then it was home for some work.  Ok, a  full day of work, but I got a lot of stuff done.  It was a beautiful day, and I was pleased that I was able to get up and take a long walk after lunch -- perfect temperature, lots of fun, not much wind.  Heck, tonight is lovely -- quite comfortable.  Yesterday was pretty good, too -- I went to a friend's house for a little soiree, met some interesting people, etc.  Good to get out and enjoy life for a while.  I had planned to do some restaurant tourism this weekend and while I do not think it will happen, I will do my best to do it next weekend.

Fiscal hawks wince at looming Obamacare subsidies price tag

Multiple Failures of Obamacare are the Unspoken Skunk for Dems in the Shutdown Showdown
Both are these are real issues.  Both of these are things that the GOP said would happen -- and they did. And, of course, let us not forget that we were assailed as being racists and wanting to see people die.  Neither of which are true... the question is that GOP should be doing something about this, and isn't.  Government shutdown or not, someone should be holding hearings.  Someone should be calling them out for it.  Hell, for all of the talk of bringing in Joe Biden to see if he is competent...why not bring in Obama -- or some of his cronies -- and bring them to task for that.

Four GOP ideas for an Obamacare subsidies compromise - POLITICO
I realize they won't, but if they had any brains, the GOP would go around and figure out a way to repeal this and have a real healthcare bill. I don't think we could do a worse job, and we could certainly figure out a way to spend less.  I realize this is hard work, so the GOP -- especially a Trump one -- would do it, but if they did...

Did JD Vance Just Set the Ultimate ‘No Kings’ PR Trap for the Dems? – PJ Media
Maybe he did?  I mean, the issue is -- as it always is -- that the Dems and the media will allow them to wiggle (or walk through) out of it.  Yes, the Dems are in the wrong here, but it's not like their protectors will let them suffer for it...

The Breaking Point

 It has been a long week; lots of stuff to do at work (still more to come), not sleeping well, blood sugar all over the place, and I have to play games with the health insurance people with the insulin prescriptions, which is always a joy -- there is just no good way to coordinate between the MD, the drug store, and the insurance people.  Oi, as I like to say.  I do see ways out, of course, but it will take time and work.  Sigh.  I am sort of looking forward to the weekend -- sleep a bit more, do some needed house cleaning, catch up on the paperwork, etc.  Also need to do an Aldi run, if only to stock up on apples.  It is the season -- not that I do not eat a lot no matter the season -- and I should take advantage.

CSU, Ideastream leaders address switch from student-run WCSB to JazzNEO | Sound of Ideas
I listened to this yesterday -- the whole contretemps amuses me, as it seems that CSU wants to rival the Browns as the worst-run organization in town.  After listening to it, I was like "I would have respected the CSU President more if she had simply said she was taking the money and running, and you would have done the same."  Then I read this:

Cleveland State gives up WCSB radio station to Ideastream for free. Why? - cleveland.com
What?  They didn't get anything?  OK, not having to pay for the place is a gain in negative revenues, if you will, but... man, who the hell negotiated that deal?  They might be worse than the Browns!

I am going to have to break down and put the furnace on tonight as there are frost warnings and even if the risk is low... we don't want to be caught with busted pipes.  On the one hand it is fine but I still sense some loss of man-cred here... alas.  Of course, I was talking to a friend before and he was fixing his own water heater, so... it's not like I had any man-cred to begin with.

Mattie Returns

As always, a delay in posting... last night I just tired and crappy, and about 10:30 I just said... time for bed.  Set the clock for 7, and went to bed.  I think I slept long -- only woke up at 5 and but briefly -- and while I am not exactly feeling better, I didn't feel worse.  Indeed, I think if I could do it a couple of more times...

Big news of the week, of course, is the peace deal (of a sort).  Bigly win for Trump in that the hostages were released.  Will there be peace?  Maybe.  I for one doubt it, given that these are the Palestinians, and cannot be trusted as far as they can be thrown.  I suspect the Arab partners in the region will have to give them a nudge.  Quite frankly, there is something to be said for letting the Palestinians not make peace, and then blowing them into oblivion (which would be too cool, even for Donald Trump).  

Second biggest news of the week:  JD Vance's tweet response to Elizabeth Warren (aka Pocahontas).  I almost peed my pants over that one, and on Columbus Day...priceless.  The man (or his social media team) is good.

Fun stuff at the food pantry... we have bought a new fridge and a new freezer.  Have to pay to get stuff off the roof so it can be replaced (we are not paying for that).  Have a repair/replacement option on one of our commercial freezers, and then a handyman is interested in getting our door frame to the old clothing room fixed.  Lots of bills at once!  On the other hand, as I often say... we are sort of like a business (albeit one that doesn't make any money) and thus we need to have a capital improvements plan, such as buying and replacing older stuff, fixing things.  We really don't -- I have a line item in the budget -- and this is fine, until stuff breaks.  The Board will probably approve it, Downtown will kvetch in a minor way, but... it will be ok.  

I have to admit, the Browns move deal surprised me... but maybe both sides agreed to settle it to settle it -- the Browns can move, they help pay to tear down the stadium, and we get valuable lakefront property, which the city will probably shit up, being Democrats and all.

'The devil is in the details' - The Catholic debate over conversion therapy
Interesting read.  I really don't think it works, but... there are some religious and First Amendment issues here, and given that the current composition of SCOTUS is very friendly to those arguments...

Catching Up

Four days between posts...fraid so.  Busy with work and life Thursday and Friday, and yesterday I slept in a bit, gym, errands, chores, and work.  I decided to treat myself last night and -- to celebrate Medina Restaurant Week -- I went 111 Bistro.  Not on the square; off 18 but down by the Thirsty Cowboy.  It was pretty good; gravy was a bit salty and I think it would have worked better with the rosemary polenta separate from the pork shank, but...overall it was nice and good to get out of the house.  Not sure it was worth $60 with tax and tip, but...what is nowadays?

Today was beautiful at church (I missed Mass last week due to the Festival, sigh); sun coming in through the windows, just warm enough we don't need the heat, decent sermon and music...the way things ought to be, in the words of a famous American.

Someone gave me a couple of red cabbages and for a few days I was like what am I going to do with these?  Then I realized I could make a German-style red cabbage slaw.  I made one with one cabbage Thursday or so and I am making #2 now... the first one I put a bit more sugar in it than I should have so this one will be... tarter.  I mean, it is a recipe, but I can follow it as I want, I guess, and there is no accounting for taste, or at least my taste.

Another funny thing; I was engaged in a spot house cleaning a few days ago and moved all the stuff off the kitchen table to give it a good clean... well, the stuff has not found its way back.  The table looks cleaner, but the pile just migrated -- and I need to handle it, and soon.  Adulting is hard, but...

Democrats scramble to blunt Trump’s midterms crime offensive - POLITICO
I don't know; Democrats have always been soft on crime, so...  this is hardly man bites dog?  People like to be safe and it is NOT the GOPers who are running around giving soft sentences to criminals.  Of course, in the red areas, people have arms, and use them, and that has a certain effect on the criminal population...

WhyIsTheYieldCurveSteepening_081925.pdf
This was sobering and depressing all at once; eventually, all of that debt and interest will come back to hit us, and sadly, not even my party wants to handle it.  Oi.

With Fundraisers Being Canceled, Virginia AG Candidate Jay Jones Enters Total Crisis Mode
Between this and the debate -- which I watched, and was impressed by the performance of Winsome Sears -- I think the state could be in play for the GOP.  At the least, every Democrat no matter where needs to be tied to this as much as possible.  Or, we should, but we won't....

Tailwinds

Is it me, or is Donald Trump's play for the Nobel Peace Prize...alive and kicking?  To be sure, this is Hamas, and I would not trust them for anything, but if his peace plan does hold (again, a huge if)...well, it would be something.  I mean, he has solved a bunch of other mini-fires, but this would be a big deal.  Carter won one for getting Israel and Egypt to make peace (with a pile of money)...but Trump has handled this fairly well?  Threats and force, but letting our partners in the Arab World push them into a deal... at least the man did something for his Nobel Prize, unlike certain other Presidents...

Guess Who Just Admitted That Obamacare’s A Money Pit – PJ Media
Speaking of failed and broken promises... more seriously, what someone should do is file suit against them -- all -- and claim that this was a conspiracy to defraud Americans with traditional insurance plans.  Maybe I am watching too much Law and Order, but...if they all knew about it, and did it anyways, that is fraud, and as such these people persecution and prosecution, to say nothing of restitution.  I think most lawyers would look for easier money (my respect for lawyers goes only so far) but if one did...well, I would be impressed.

Jay Jones texting scandal breathes new life into GOP push in Virginia - POLITICO
I don't know; I don't think that VA is winnable for the GOP -- it is a bluish state -- but on the other hand, this is the gift that keeps on giving.  I mean, really, who in their right mind would want to kill someone else's kids?  Well, Democrats do, given their support for infanticide.  (A minor quibble.)  Really, this is the sort of thing that every GOPer should be asking of every Democrat (and their helpers).  Preferably with cameras running, of course?  I read an article that said that Dems are hanging up when asked this question... that should also be on air. I think at the end of the day people don't care (if they are Dems) but one should avoid an opportunity to shit on someone else's porch.

Mattie is bemused

I am better -- bit tired still, bit fatigued, but not fully having my dupa kicked.  Phew.  I hope tomorrow does the trick, though I suspect not.  Honestly, today was... dark and dreary?  Rainy?  I mean, we needed the rain, do not get me wrong, but it was sort of jarring to see.  After such a nice weekend (not that I saw much of it), it seemed...meh.  At least I was productive -- work, did some house cleaning, filled out some paperwork, rah.  I would not say that I am an overachiever, but... these little things are important to me (God, I sound like my parents).  I should have done some SVDP or food pantry business, but... tomorrow is another day.

Can the USCCB move from accidents to great ideas?
Dare I say that not honoring politicians might be the way around the problem?  As everyone points out, neither party reflects Catholic teachings very well, and any politician who does will probably not have a long career.  On the other hand, there are plenty of Catholics out there who have very little experience to politics, and I suspect we could fill the awards season out by honoring them?

Trading away Joe Flacco?  Boy, the Browns are giving up on the season early.  Well, earlier than usual.  I guess he is 40, and obviously not the long-term answer, so... you go to QB#2?  Gabriel didn't exactly shit the bed in London, which, for this team, is all you need (that and not jerking off on two dozen women, or other shenanigans).

I get a kick out of all of the GOPers calling the Dems opposed to the ICE raids and use of the National Guard neo-Confederates.  I realize that I am one of the 3% of people who get the joke, but comparing JB Pritzer to Orval Faubus and George Wallace is funny as hell, and I can only imagine some GOP operative putting together some awesome commercials splicing the two.  Mind you, they won't, but...

Recovery

Funny; last nite/this morning I woke up twice with charley horses -- the second one was above the left knee, and those are a zillion times worse than those in the lower leg -- you can walk those off, sort of.  The upper ones...well, you just endure, walk, get some water, etc.  That said...while I am beat to hell, I am far less beat than last year -- I was out for 3 or 4 days.  Today I was sore and tired, and a little bit of a mental fog (no gym), but I managed to sit in on a work meeting, read some intelligent stuff, etc.  I had a nice lunch at Panera with my sister -- continuing the tradition I had with Mom of eating healthy and giving her a Festival update -- and even did some paperwork.  Rah.

I also caught up on the entire week of J! episodes I had saved and watched tonight's live.  Yes, that is 3 hours of J!  I need to get back into the hobby of live-watching every night but life intervenes.  Anyways, I felt sort of smarter, but I am but 11 of 21 on FJ! this year.  Not good enough, especially when I am averaging about 41.5 correct a night (only twice have I been below 40, phew).  My mind is good at some things, but others... some of it is me -- I don't watch much TV or pop culture (my fault), and some is... the mind doesn't work as fast.  Oi,

Donald Trump Is Making a Mistake That Blew Up in Thomas Jefferson’s Face - POLITICO
I do love this story -- I should read up more about Burr and his life, even though he burned his notes and diaries.  He is certainly, at the very least, an anti-hero, though I also think he was...well, in it for himself.  On the other hand, as the author notes, Jefferson did himself no favors by meddling -- and neither does Trump, though one can argue his transparency (such as by doing it on Twitter) is less of a concern -- the man is not exactly subtle.

Mattie survives

So, I was on blog hiatus this weekend, as this was St. Stan's Polish Festival weekend... and there I was, as always, in the kitchen at the pierogi and potato pancake fryer.  And...it was a good and busy Festival.  Friday was a bit slow -- sort of a return to historical norms -- but Saturday and Sunday were very busy.  Not zoo busy, but steady for several hours.  I think we made some dough for the parish and the roof.  Beats the hell out of me, as always.. of course, I am up now.  To be sure, tonight, I went out for a bit with the younger sous chefs, came home, snarfed a bit of fruit and veggies (the food is a bit heavy, and not quite what I normally eat), took a nice bath, then started catching up on stuff.  Exciting.  And here we are...off tomorrow, and I can use a bit of a rest.  But...it is good to be back in the kitchen with a good crew, getting stuff out, and the people seemed to like it.  Phew!

In other news, I got to church a bit early to light a candle, and on the way in...I found a slightly beat up $50 bill on the sidewalk.  I guess I could have kept it, but... I turned it in to the collection plate.  This could be me, but... how do you lose a $50?  I am cheap, as we know, but... odd.

A small think tank's crusade against Obamacare is making some Republicans nervous - POLITICO

The Obamacare subsidy fight is already splitting congressional Republicans - POLITICO

As I so often say...one, people should be asking the Dems 1) Why they didn't make a program they could pay for and 2)  Where is the help for the people who took it in the pooper when the bill was passed...  I have the admit, the GOP has put itself in a box... let them expire and they lose Congress, but if not...well, how can you call yourself a Republican?  On the other hand, the Dems have pissed off the GOP by shutting down the government, in which case... will the GOP go through on its claim to really punish them?  I have my doubts, but if they do... so much the better.

Catching Up

Hard to believe it is October already; the weather is wonderful -- took a walk at lunch today -- and summer has just flown by.  So did today, sort of; work and then off to church to help prep for the Festival - cutting kielbasa and cleaning up.  Hard to believe I was there for four hours, but I was.  The crew was discussing that unless you work back there, you really don't know how much work it is, and how much work is needed beforehand to get everything done.  Funny, I missed the St. John Cantius festival (Saturday, had I remembered it would have been a tight fit) and theirs is one day with a limited menu.  Less work but you make less...whereas we use this to pay the heat bill and other things, and -- this year -- fundraising for the roof (hmmm).  Huge difference, and one has to spend money to make money.

Russell Vought Moves Quickly in Government Shutdown - WSJ
You know, I agree with this -- Dems don't have to have a shutdown, and certainly don't have to have it now, and they -- and their states and constituents -- should pay, and pay hard.  Hell, as I so often say, I have yet to see any of the savings from Obamacare (not that I expected to) but I was promised them... justice delayed is justice denied, as they say.  So let the pain and suffering come, and come hard.  As a side benefit, any reduction in government spending is hardly a bad thing...

Pope Leo speaks up on Dick Durbin’s behalf amid abortion rift - Live Updates - POLITICO
I was under the impression that the Pope -- especially the new one -- should be Catholic, and lo and behold... to be sure, the man is correct, we need to look at this through the entire prism, but at the end of the day, abortion is... sort of the third rail for the Catholic Church.  It is good to see that some bishops are taking a stand here.

I need to make room in my fridge for brownies, and I may need to make room in my freezer in case there are piles of leftovers.  I hope there are not for many reasons (just enough, if you will) but I am not sure where I will be putting everything should it happen.  I always joke about needing to buy a big old freezer -- as a bachelor it seems superfluous -- but there are times when I can see the utility.