Pensees

Mattie is a bit sleepy.  I stayed up to watch Duke-Cal, and while on the one hand I didn't necessarily need to -- I figured they would win -- such is fandom, right?  As usual, Duke started slow, but had a lead at the half and pulled away; I think the talent level was the difference, despite the raucous crowd and the fact that boys had to fly halfway across the country.  As I so often say, the idea of a West Coast trip in ACC basketball..,well, it is a bit much.

College Basketball’s Silence Is Almost As Damning As the Crimes
So is this.  I mean, what is anyone supposed to say?  That they support it?  Of course not.  I would like to think even a crappy coach wants to win, and many of them have complained about the transfer portal (while not mentioning their own career carousels).  But, everyone else seems to like it; the "student-athletes" who can leave for greener pastures and make some cash while doing so (like said coaches); the NCAA, as it allows for that wonderful nebulous concept of "choice," and even the coaches -- they can get rid of problem players or people who don't "fit" (and bring in new ones) with ease.  That's the system, it takes money, and some of that is going to come from betting and gambling.  No one is saying to take down the Fanduel commercials, are they?

Another reason I am tired is that I didn't sleep well last night; tossed and turned, couldn't sleep, and woke up often.  Oi.  I am tempted to call it early today, as I have a busy weekend planned (we know what that means) and I should save a little rest. 

Finished book 4 yesterday, Rob Harvilla's 60 Songs that Explain the 90s, which I thought would be pretty cool, and sort of was (who doesn't love a jaunt down memory lane), it was a also more than a bit disjointed.  I realize the book was based on a podcast and maybe it would be more entertaining that way, but... it does get me to 4 for the month, but they were shorter volumes and I have some thicker tomes awaiting my attention.  And, my intention is to surpass 50 this year, so... get to literary work. and soon.

The Crack-Up of Trump’s Base Is Greatly Exaggerated - The Atlantic
Does this surprise anyone?  OK, maybe the average Atlantic reader, but if they are reading the Atlantic, they have...other issues.  :)  More seriously, I am sure this was true of Biden, W, Obama, most Presidents; he is your guy, and as such, you give him a hell of a lot more slack than the other guy, and that is human nature,  Never mind of course that most of us know that inflation was much worse under Biden and the border was...undefended.  And, a lot of people do note that free trade didn't exactly work out, either, and in consequence Plan B should be given such time to let it work, or at least be tried.