Still Independent

The end of a long weekend.  On the one hand, I didn't do enough of what I wanted to do, but on the other hand, I did a lot.  Cleaned out the laundry, did some cleaning, finished a book, went through a bunch of links and emails, finally caught up on J! episodes.  I mean, there is always more reading to do and movies to watch, and I need to start taking the time to do that.  Sigh.  Tomorrow is another day and all that jazz.  To be sure, with the concert and the Fourth... there was less time than expected.  Alas  

I wanted to do some culinary tourism but with the holiday I figured it would be problematic, so I instead went to the recipe list and made -- in honor of the day -- John Wayne's cowboy casserole.  It was quite good, but given the ingredients - buttermilk biscuits, cheese, sour cream -- let's just say that I have had some bathroom fireworks of my own.  I really do not eat such richer ingredients, and I can tell; rather looking forward to baked fish again in many ways.  And, I should get to some restaurants this month, especially if the weather is good and gas prices continue to slide down.

Inside Republicans’ Plan to Win the Midterms - NOTUS — News of the United States
Speaking of, I will believe it when I see it...

On the origin of continents - Works in Progress Magazine
Interesting.  Hard to believe it took so long to believe -- I mean, look at the map?  I did like how even after looking at the fossil record and such people still were skeptical.  I realize it is sort of a crazy idea -- continents are big and massive things -- but it's not like this is creation science (the real science of course!).

Tim Lincecum got his pitching start at Washington
Interesting; I forgot about him (sort of) and how good he was.  Was it overwork?  Delivery?  Just his time?  Trading for him was one of the best decisions I ever made in my fantasy baseball league, which seems so long ago....

Soaked

 So Thursday night I watched some TV and fell asleep on the floor.  Woke up at 3, which caused me to go back to bed, but I overslept my alarm (sleep schedule off) and it ruined my biorhythm feng shui; woke up a bit late and ended up doing some stuff in the AM, the getting up late bit caused me to drag.  Oi.  Anyways, a late start -- errands, groceries, etc. -- then home a bit (where I napped) and caught up on some J!.  Then it was off to Blossom; I had won free tix to the music festival (I was trying to get Strokes tix).  I hadn't planned on going...if you remember last year I went and it was fun but I was like meh.  And, of course, there was the weather.  But I thought there might be a chance -- "Spotty storms" -- and there I went.

Going there it was nice; a bit warm but once you are in the park there are those tree-lined roads and it was quite cool.  I have to admit, driving down I was like "if the storm hits and the branches come down, this will be a mess."  I snagged a paring spot on pavement (good) and hoofed (chair, backpack with drinks and insulin) to the lawn.  It was pretty full, but I found a spot in the back by a tree and parked.  The concert was fine, but... it got darker and then started to rain.  Hard.  I got fairly drenched, to put it mildly.  To be sure, it was warm, so it wasn't unpleasant, but after roasting in the heat, there was this.  OI.  The intermission was a little prolonged due to the rain, but then Act II started and it started to rain again.  Everyone assumed with the rain the fireworks were off, so we all started to hoof back....just when we were out of the amphitheater the fireworks started!  Oi.  I mean, it was fine, but it's not quite my type of music, you are far (yes, you don't need to see the orchestra), and if it rains...

The ride home was a bit perilous -- lots of people left early, so getting out was actually nonstop and fast.  But, the roads did have some debris -- branches and leaves -- and they blocked Steels Corners and diverted you to Riverview (water, I guess).  This was ok -- I know where THAT ends up -- but I was not displeased to finally get on Everett (also an adventure, with the hills, wind, rain, branches, etc.).  I got home, took off my wet clothes, had some dinner, and resolved not to do this again.   I still need to clean my house today, which I could have done last night (though I would not have).

Twilight of the boomer priests
Interesting, and I agree...I think we can say they were/are an artifact of their time, but...time have changed.  Thank God!

It Is Time To Revisit Kennedy v. Louisiana
This is exactly right, especially when we don't have that moron Anthony Kennedy around anymore...  hell, this is a Tenth Amendment violation if anything.

The decade when Duke basketball became a fearsome (and hated) machine - The Athletic
This is a bit hard to believe, sort of.  I mean, I realize people are gonna hate, but... in the meantime, I didn't realize Coach K was so involved in setting up the funding mechanism for success.  Hard to believe it now, with NIL and all, but...

The pickup games that made ‘Blue Chips’ the most authentic basketball movie ever - The Athletic
Great article.  I have to admit, I loved the movie -- not quite Hoosiers, but close -- and I think (even now), it holds up.  Hell, with NIL, it is still there, just in the open...  I forgot that they used actual college players and coaches in the game, and it is hilarious that people remember guys from the movie and not their college careers...

Survive and Advance

That World Cup game was...something?  I mean, I am glad we won, but...two goals taken off the board for offsides?  A Team USA player getting a red card for at best a very  modest contact foul?  Good Lord.  There are plenty of reasons for people to hate this stupid sport, but this seems to be even more than usual.  I realize my comparison to the J! TOC is apt -- survive and advance -- but still, you want the teams to play in a game NOT decided by the refs.

My aunt was in town for a couple of days -- staying with my sister -- so I went over there to visit and to do some research for my family history "project."  This is on my Mom's side, but I would like to know more about them as well.  I didn't realize I knew more about grandma's side of the family than grandpa's, and much of the evening was spent discussing that.  There are a lot more relatives on that side of the family -- my grandfather had many siblings -- and I guess there are plenty of distant cousins I could look up.  I still have some older relatives to ask, and that will be on the calendar for the weekend.  In theory; I would like to do some things, and I have piles of stuff to go through...

Inside the Egg Price-Fixing Scandal That Spiked American Grocery Bills - WSJ
Is it me, or is this not enough of a punishment?  Given all the talk about antitrust, affordability, etc., there should have been stronger actions; indeed, they should be breaking these companies up.  As I so often say now, one of the advantages of the death penalty is that you only have to do it once (in theory) before people get the message.  I know the Trump Administration is a bit more business-friendly than others, but...

InfantryDort on X: ""The century of progressivism did not go well. The European system that Wilson and the progressives scolded Americans for not adopting—which he called nearly perfect—led to the governments that caused the most awful century that the world has ever seen. Stalin, Hitler, Mussolini https://t.co/EqBQJUkI3t" / X
This is awesome!

Supremes

Hard to believe it is July already; summer (and life) is flying by.  Also, it was really hot today; the AC ran all day (I loathe to consider the electric bill) and there was a sense of heaviness to the air.  Heck, it is heavy now.  I took a stroll about 9 PM and it was....dense but comfortable.  I have been on a kick to keep the windows open but not today.

The Quiet Unraveling of America’s Food Safety Net - POLITICO
Is it me or is this article somewhat misleading?  I mean, for one, they don't mention that the current approach is also unsustainable -- look at our debt levels, for one.  And two, there is of course fraud and waste -- all these states have error rates that are incredibly high -- and no one is going around lookingn at that.  I am not saying we should go Nick Shirley here, but...

Is it me, or did the Donald win at the Court today, even if he didn't?  I mean, transgender bans are ok, and as I think the Court got the citizenship correct... Trump can continue to campaign a bit about it,  and maybe someone will figure out a way to actually do it legally...  I would get rid of pardons first, but photo ID while voting is something you can also run on.  And it sure beats the truth.

Awake and Alive

My plan to go to bed early foiled by the low blood sugar alarm, here we are.  Busy weekend -- busier than I thought it would be.  At least my jello came out perfectly; every layer set just so, even, no bleed between levels...yes, it took more time, but it was worth it, not only to me but the family as well.  Rah.

Saturday I woke up bright and early for OC duty.  The crowd was a bit low (113) but that was good, as we had but 9 volunteers (four fewer than the minimum), so we had to hustle.  I was all over -- up front, packing bags, moving boxes of canned goods off the pallets, etc.  I wish the parishes with too few volunteers had let us know.  In the meantime, our count is going to be a bit low for the month (in the post-COVID era).  I of course attribute this to GOP prosperity, which our left-leaning staff found to be...insufficient.  Oddly, our hot meal counts are low, too.  I did note that historically, our counts were always lower in the summer, so maybe we are going back to the old normal?

Then it was off to the bank (another HELOC payment, gotta start thinking about the next project), the gym, and a couple of errands.  Then home for a brief moment to shit/shower/shave, as we had a family fest and I had to get my aunt and then off for poker and fun.  I was ahead $6 for the night (not counting gas and jello expenses), leading to jokes about my hitting the night deposit on the way home.  I need to buy stamps (food pantry stuff), so I will just offset that.  

Today was the usual -- Mass, gym, Communion to my friend in West Park -- and then home, where I caught up on some work, handled paperwork, and made a brief appearance at a friend's soiree.  It is a perfect night -- just cool enough to be comfortable, a bit of a breeze -- and tomorrow it will be gone for the swelter pit.  Hard to believe June is almost gone!

NRCC Battleground Memo
This will surprise absolutely none of you, but I will believe it when I see it!

Setting Not Settling

Late night for me -- I made a jello for a family fest, and we all know how I am about every layer setting and being just right.  That means every layer has to set, and that takes time.  More time than I thought, as I did much but not all of what I wanted to do while making it.  Unfortunate, because I wanted to clear out more emails, links, etc.; at least I got the dishes done, some OC paperwork handled, and a corner of the table has been cleared off.  I even filled the paper box for the recycle bin, which took some work.  I am a bit tired, but will be more tired tomorrow...but the jello looked good (letting it set now), and that is what matters.

Experts Warn Mamdani’s High-Stakes Vote Could Trigger a NYC Housing Crisis
Another thing that can happen is that apartment owners will sell their units into co-ops -- people who buy -- and force the tenants on the street.  I wonder what would happen then... not good, I am sure, but markets find a way of working, no matter who is in charge...

The Mars Delusion

This was a fascinating read.  I guess I would say that while it is unlikely that we settle Mars, it isn't as if we shouldn't try.  I mean, there are other scientific discoveries we could make, and even if we only make it to the Moon, we are better off.  Hell, if we put ALL of the Democrats there (whether it was habitable or not), think of how much better Earth would be!  :)

Catching Up

Three days and no posting...tsk tsk.  Monday I just crashed and Tuesday my sister and I had dinner.  As part of Cleveland Burger Week, I found a place -- Jojo Carlone's in Berea -- that had a marsala burger, which seemed interesting to me...and we met.  It was good -- burger a bit greasy, and the marsala was a little understated (I would think that red meat is less absorptive) but it was fine.  We caught up on stuff, yay!  And, yesterday I went to bed early as I had some fasting lab work to do and of course I wanted it done first thing this AM, so... 

Now I am awake, as I stayed up to watch the US World Cup match -- superfluous as it was -- and of course I fell asleep.  Missed the equalizer but did not miss the loser... alas.  I guess it was good in that no one got hurt, yellow and red cards, etc.  I guess it is cool that we advance -- I will never not root against Team USA -- but when this ends...I will be relieved.  This game is incredibly boring...

Long week so far, and a busy weekend already.  Summer is really flying by -- June is almost done!  I am behind on my reading, but have caught up with the paperwork.  Dare I say I am already looking forward to next weekend; with the off days and such, I might be able to rest and catch up on things.  Not bloody likely, of course...

Funny, one of my friends -- he and his family went to Gettysburg last weekend, and being the buff that I am we chatted about it.  I joked about Dan Sickles, but if you think about it, he is one in a long series of American antiheroes; I would put Aaron Burr as among the first, but Sickles is up there.  Certainly, Dan had an interesting tale, but I don't think he won the battle.  If anything, he certainly shit the bed, but (like John Reynolds getting killed before he could answer for disobeying orders) losing a leg and being able to tell your story to sympathetic Democrats (no matter the time, they are always up to no good) is a good way to evade criticism.