Family Ties

Down goes Miami!  Dare I say that was...fast?  I mean, I think they should still be in, but...they were up by ten in that game, UMass isn't very good, and to lose to a low seed... well, they are back on the bubble.  Mind you, I don't think they should be -- they should be in -- but the committee looks for ways to screw teams.   Funny, because I was talking to some people that I thought a lot of #1 seeds were knocked out of the tourney this year, and then I read this:

College basketball No. 1 seeds keep losing in conference tournaments

I should say it would be a full NIT, but if teams drop out...well, it just might be, not in the way they wanted.  Then this broke:

College Basketball Invitational won't be held in 2026
I mean, I guess I see it, but I would think playing more, trying to win a trophy, etc., would mean more than shopping in the portal.  Of course, I am a relict dinosaur, so...  at least Duke, for now, avoided the L, but it was a close-run thing...

Sources: Tennessee Tech finalizing deal to hire Tobin Anderson as coach - ESPN
Interesting; I thought Iona fired him too quickly, and I think it is good he is back; hard to believe a guy who won as he did gets kicked to the curb so quickly...

My Aunt from Columbus came up to stay with my sister, so I went out tonight to meet them all at Parma Tavern.  It was fun -- haven't seen her in a while -- and good to catch up.  I have not been out in a while -- I need to do a restaurant visit -- and it was nice.  My sister and brother-in-law are regulars there, which I found amusing, as my sister is retired and is on a fixed income, but their weekly night out -- it moves around -- is important, and I get that.  Once I get the house fixed a bit more, I think I will be a little more liberal with the purse strings...heck, hearing the furnace come on... well, it is March, and in my mind still winter, but...

Milestone

Twenty-two hundred posts.  Wow.  I guess it is a milestone, and I could/should have reached it sooner.  But, here we are.  I guess I celebrated by getting my second and last iron infusion treatment today.  Truth be told, it has not been that bad; I had a nearly painless pinch, I nodded off during the drip, and got some reading done while I was getting some saline.  I did not operate heavy machinery after, and this time -- so far -- the rumbletummy I had after was much less.  I have to schedule a follow-up with the hematologist to see how well it took (it had better) and what is next.  Rah. 

This could be me, but shouldn't our war plans included a convoy system?  I realize I am a WWII guy, but..it seemed to work then and I bet it would work even better now, given our military is probably better than that of Iran and can handle multiple threats.  At the very least, shooting down drones and keeping the sea lanes clear would keep oil prices down and further knock out their military assets.  Indeed, announcing you are going to do it -- and doing it -- would be a badass move.  I agree with the consensus -- this can go on a bit longer, but not much more -- but it not seem (so far) that the Iranians are on board with this, and that too is a problem.  I like the idea of using the Kurds against them, but it seems we might not want to do that.  Again, someone's plan should have included this.

Exclusive | McDonald’s Preps New Discounts to Feed Budget-Minded Diners for $3 or Less - WSJ
Um, good?  I mean, I think most would agree that fast-food prices are too high, and if this is one way to get them down (a bit), so be it.  People should not be eating that much fast food anyway, and I have been doing my part by not hitting the new Broadview Heights Chick-Fil-A, in the same plaza as our First Watch which I have also not visited.  Between fish fry season -- have to support our parishes -- and my HELOC balance -- I am economizing somewhat.  I note that it is Cleveland Restaurant Week and my plan to hit one is in....danger.

Is it me or have a lot of top mid-major seeds not won their tourneys, and, in many cases, did not even win their semifinal and quarterfinal games.  SFA lost in the Southland (to the #2) and in the Big Sky we have the everyday 4-7 matchup.  If there was only some tool or device we could use to track this...

‘You’re Accumulating Opposition and Enemies’ - POLITICO
Interesting; I like the guy, and in Ohio he would a solid career path, but in TX, pissing off Ted Cruz and being to the left of the President is a poor combo.  Wonder what is next for him, if anything...

Hoop Dreams

Interesting day of hoops action, starting with Pitt probably putting Stanford to the NIT, then to the conference finals.  In the Horizon UDM literally urinated away the game against Wright State.  Siena in the MAAC almost did that, and Gonzaga -- in its last year in the WCC -- pulled one out against an insurgent Santa Clara.  People are saying that the WCC could get three bids this year, which is about as odd as Gonzaga out of the WCC, but the collapse of the Pac-12 (and its rebirth) has opened things up. 

Quite warm today -- I made sure I got outside a couple of times -- and I was definitely enjoying it while it lasted, as tomorrow it will be cooler and Thursday it will be... more of a temperature one is used to in March.  One does love the warmth, even though I expect 40.  Hell, I expect more snow!

Republicans Say the NRSC Isn’t Taking the Midterms Seriously - NOTUS — News of the United States
This is a real problem, as the GOP is going to have (I suspect) a tough time, and we really need someone --anyone!! --to be the adult and select the right candidates and ensure we are funding them.  It might work out, but... this does not bode well.

Dems aren’t sure whether to actually spend big to flip Texas - POLITICO
Fortunately, there is this.  I guess I would rather them spend the money in TX, as if Cornyn pulls it out (see above point, ahem) I think he wins, and then the Dems will be wasting money down there.  But one never knows what moves the average GOP primary voter...

The American Revolution, as seen from across the Atlantic – Behind The Black – Robert Zimmerman
It has been a while since I read this, and I would normally pop it open, but as I have so many other books in the queue, so...this will have to wait.  Hell, I am still 100 pages from the end of my current read, and I have been trying to cram pages into this 500-page missive, to try and move things along...

Mattie Catches Up

Can't go too long without posting, so....here we are on Tuesday morning.  Yesterday I went out with the catering team from church -- not exactly a fan of the Tremont scene, but it was good to get out and see everyone.  One, they are a good crew, and two, I needed to get out of the house and have a little bit of social fun.  Didn't get home til 11, as my sister had some leftovers for me, so I picked those up (lasagna soup, pretty good) and chatted about things.  Rah.  Another busy week, but (like last weekend) I see a clear weekend.

Speaking of clear, it is time for spring cleaning -- which I intend to do a bit between the mid-major championships.  Last night I opened my windows in my bedroom before I went to bed.  It has been a few years since I did that!  It was glorious!  I am a fresh air guy, and I think it will help with the dusting to get more fresh air running through the house.  A couple of wet rags to pick up dust, vacuuming...well, it will look a bit better.

Vivek Ramaswamy's Deep Pockets Overshadow Democrat’s Fundraising in Ohio’s Governor Race - NOTUS — News of the United States

I think this is exactly correct, and in a blue year, all the money in the world won't help.  I think he wins, but all of the resources could be elsewhere, and that is a concern.

The hypocrisy of the West’s weepers for the Islamic Republic - spiked
Exactly correct, and no one from our side ever calls them out for it.  Indeed, the Iranians are even worse, given their fondness for rape, abuse of women, etc.  At some point we have to take the war to the enemy, and this means the press as well.

Furman -- a six seed in the SoCon -- won their tourney -- and much as I love to see the "FU" signs....well, this is sort of what March is about.  I feel for Belmont; they left the OVC for the MVC, and then -- as a one seed -- lose by 25 in their quarterfinal to a nine seed.  There was some talk of them getting a bid -- far under the radar with all of the chatter about Miami of Ohio -- but sadly I think that is for next year.

Redemption

The rematch of Duke-UNC was this evening, and it did not disappoint (ok, Tar Heel fans were, but...).  It was impressive, I have to admit; they came out hot, UNC kept it close as it neared the half, and then the Blue Devils pulled away.  After the UM game, it was as complete a game as any, and without a key big man... well, it was refreshing to see.  The ACC tournament is next week, and while it is largely superfluous...

I made Mom's chili today, mostly.  I used the venison my friend gave me -- it was a 3-pound frozen block, and getting it in the pan and browning it was something of a logistical challenge.  It is a little different than regular ground meat -- a bit less grease, and it is a different flavor and texture.  Also, my Mom used two pounds of meat in hers (and I have made it myself), so at times I thought I had created a meat slurry.  That said, it is pretty good -- just a tad different.  I have a couple of days of meals, and if I want to freeze some -- like turkey soup -- I can.  It isn't that much work, just the browning and letting it cook on the stove.  Exciting.

Other than that, they day was ok; I went to get my taxes done but it appears I don't have -- either not sent or recycled -- some stuff from my J! fund money, so I will print that out and run it back to the accountants.  At least I got some reading done while waiting, and, well, I should have made sure I had everything.  That and some catching up on work -- a bit more tomorrow and I should be good.  Not very exciting, but...while the weather was good, it was also rainy, and there were some interesting college games on, as well.  Such is he way the cookie crumbles sometimes.

Is it me or was this week the nadir of the Trump second term?  Unpleasant jobs report, soaring gas prices, the prospect of a long war... rather unlike the first term.  I still believe in "getting it out of the way" and there is plenty of time to turn things around, but one should like to see some progress to the goal...

Transitions

I have to admit, I was a little surprised Kristi Noem got fired.  I mean, to be fired for ethical or moral violations in this administration -- that takes work!  On the other hand, she has been a distraction, and I do not think you can say she has shown tactical acumen in her approach.  Also, I think Mullin is fine, but I would have thought he would be better in the Senate.  He is entertaining and a sharp cookie.  My former boss pointed out that no county in Oklahoma is blue, so not only is his seat safe, but... methinks I should move.

In other news, I think I have largely recovered from yesterday's procedure... a bit of rumbletummy (as reported), and I was sort of cold, but tomorrow that should not be an option, given the weather.  I was able to hit the gym today and do legs, just to be safe, not that I expect to re-open the vein in which I was stuck. Hell, they will probably use the same one next week...  I do not really think this will work, or at least have much of an effect on my life, but...we will give it a try.

Funny; on the one hand, no OC duty, so there is free time, but Matt being Matt, I have a full weekend planned, and of course there is Duke-UNC and the start of Championship Week.  I've also decided that I miss my mom's chili, and that I will make it tomorrow, so I will buy the stuff today (now) or tomorrow.  Mattie being Mattie, I will change the recipe, as I was gifted some venison from a hunter friend (we have been getting it at the food pantry, though not everyone wants it), and rather than buy ground meat... well, it will be a slightly gamier and healthier version this weekend.  Mom would be slightly appalled by this change, but the combo of that, my frugality, and my love of going off-script a bit....well, I think we should not be surprised by this...

Infusing

Hard to believe Championship Week is nearly upon us; many of the mid-majors are in tournament play now, with the Vikings bowing out (on the men's side) and surviving an OT scare (for the women).  The OVC is at the same time as Duke-UNC, which is... unpleasant, as I rather like the drama of win or go home.  But it does not exactly meet the pageantry of the Duke-UNC game!

Had an iron infusion today; after the delays for insurance and all, the treatment to get a handle on this anemia was here.  And it was...fine?  I arrived, got a blood pressure reading, and stuck with an IV needle.  An iron formula was administered, I had to wait 30 minutes to make sure I didn't have any ill effects, and then home.  None of the side effects I warned about came to pass, but I do not exactly feel any better, either.  (Not that I expected to.)  I think I have one next week, at which time we will see how I feel.  I have to admit...for all of the health problems I have, this is the one I was least worried about, but once this whole thing is done...we will talk to the medical team about that.

The SOTU moment that Republicans hope saves the midterms - POLITICO
'These people are crazy' is the campaign Democrats should fear
Will this work?  I don't know; I mean, it is a good punch, but the Dems have plenty that they can run on, as well.  In some ways, the current approach to Iran is a reason why...yes, prices for gas and such are up now, but if you do it now -- in and out -- the price effects should mitigate over time.  Yes, border security is important, but so is the economy, and if it doesn't take....

Hooping It Up

The TX Senate primary is headed to a runoff, and there is no good that will come from that.  This could be me, but if Cornyn is the strongest candidate (and I think Paxton has some, um, issues), this should be a no-brainer, especially if this is a blue year and the Dems seem to think they have a chance (and Talarico is leading in their primary).  I can see why some GOPers might not like Cornyn, but he is hardly a lefty, and all of the time and resources spent on his campaign could be used elsewhere... I know we are the GOP and thus smarter, but there are times...

Beware of Libertarians Who Claim To Be Republicans
This is in a related vein, but this is also completely correct, and it also explains why we have the issues we have today...

Went through some links and emails today, but here and at work, and I feel slightly better about things, of course.  I am quite tired -- another sleepless evening -- so tonight I am soon off to bed, for better or worse.  Things are piling up, and I have to admit I am looking forward to the weekend, if only so I can sleep in a bit and catch up on some things (aside from Duke-UNC).  Getting my picture window installed properly would help, as the living room would not look like a disaster area, but I do not see that happening soon.  Oi.

Miami of Ohio is 30-0 -- another close win -- and I do find the whole debate about their NCAA Tournament chances to be fascinating.  I get the whole Strength of Schedule issue, but if no power conference wants to schedule them, it seems unfair to punish them for that.  If only there was some group that regulated college sports and had the power to make rules about this sort of thing...  I would also note that while it isn't that no one wants to see 12 SEC teams in the tourney, people also like seeing Cinderellas, underdogs, and upsets, and putting Miami in the NCAA Championship -- conference championship or not -- would, I think, be better for the game than keeping them out.

I would also like to note that Akron and Kent State have had incredibly good seasons, but they are completely subsumed by Miami.  I think most people would have expected them to make noise in the MAC Tournament, but they will have to go through the Redhawks to do so.  Then, there is CSU, which had a play-in to get into the Horizon League, where they will face the top seed...I realize they have a new coach and thus there is rebuilding, but... after the successes of the past few years, this is...rough.

A war foretold: how the CIA and MI6 got hold of Putin’s Ukraine plans and why nobody believed them | Ukraine | The Guardian
Fascinating read!