A Last, Long, Cold Breath...

Finally got ALL my picks in --Both Tourneys, both NIT, and even that ridiculous College Basketball Crown...my friend group is a little obsessive about this, as am I, I guess, but it is that time of year.  Dare I say the Duke matchup - assuming they beat Siena -- has all the trappings of a trap game?  I mean, I think they have more than enough talent to beat either tOSU or TCU (insert Little Sisters of the Poor joke), but I have dread about the whole thing (as I so often do).  

It was interesting; yesterday it was so nice, and today...well, you could see and feel it get progressively worse (everything progressively is worse, to be sure); the wind picked up, the warmth ebbed, and about 6PM the snow came.  Not a lot, of course, and you could see the wind snapping it around, but it was still a reminder that it is not quite spring...  I can't wait for all of the people who usually talk about global warming to bring up this winter.

Trump Just Pardoned Ticketmaster When No One Was Looking
Quite right, though one wonders if the Dems would have agreed with the same thing... one rather thinks so.

Summon your Notre Dame hate for the schools turning down the NIT
This is also exactly correct.  To be sure, a team without a coach I can see, but they have assistants, of course.  And, if a team is that beat up, fine, I sort of see it, though again, the loss of a player or two... I guess the sad part is that we all that all involved -- coaches, players, etc., -- are already shopping the portal, and instead of trying to have a nice season, enjoying a chance to have a chance to play again...well, now it is off to the mercenary season, and I guess yet again I am the relict who prefers the old system.

Court records reveal Cleveland police’s lax traffic enforcement
This could be me, but while the lack of police is a concern, isn't the issue that they cannot go after the people who are causing these issues.  Eventually someone is going to get killed and the blood should be on the hands of the people who are handcuffing our cops.  Of course, they won't see it that way....

‘War on Poverty’ Has Trapped Poor Americans
Now, now, the point of this was not necessarily to help people; it was to create a legion of people who will always vote for Democrats, no matter what, and in this case it has succeeded beyond the board...

March Madness

Yesterday was a glorious day in a lot of ways -- got the taxes done, and I am getting a larger refund than expected, mostly due to President Awesome, which I will take -- save some, pay down the HELOC, maybe some more on the mortgage, and a couple of restaurant visits if and when it arrives.  Rah.  A spot of productive work (catching up on stuff), some house cleaning (not enough, still doing some tonight), and some hoops watching.  Crazy endings -- the MAC, the WAC -- and I was sad to note that the WAC is going away.  Yes, conferences come and go, but the WAC has been around a while (the Pac-12 says hold my beer) and it is still sort of sad (I sound like the relict I am now!)...  today it continued with the Ivy;  my sister called it the retread game, as former Blue Devil TJ Power and former IA coach Fran McCafferty beat Yale.  But it was...well, quite the game.

And now Brackets!  Duke and UCONN are the #1s overall (I watched both shows), and I think it is fair to say Duke has a tough draw, and with their health issues.  I mean, they have the talent to win it all, but...I suspect it will be a close run thing.  Did Miami get screwed?  A bit.  On the one hand, the play-in game is an insult, but they didn't play anyone (though they tried), and a loss to UMass in the MAC tourney didn't help.  tOSU was an 8 seed (potentially playing Duke), which implies they are ~30, and thus... less of a bubble team than anyone thought?  Maybe that Purdue win and a decent run in the Big Ten tourney helped?

For Trump to Win the War on Fraud, States Must Be Held Accountable | National Review
110% correct, but try getting it through Congress on a good day.  No one, of course, want to pull their pig from the trough.  I think this is what the average GOP voter hates about their party; for all the talk of doing GOP things, like cutting spending or getting rid of federal programs, we never do... even DOGE was sort of a mushup, and we need these sorts of reforms.  Oi.

Trump as Alexander the Great: A Theory That Explains Iran (And Everything Else) - NOTUS — News of the United States
Maybe, but I suspect not.  Hell, does anyone think Trump reads Hegel?  

Bathroom is done, rah.  I didn't get through the backlog of J! episodes -- at least not fully -- but tomorrow is another day.  I am averaging over 41 since the JIT, which is not too bad, albeit not all that good...

Fatigue Duty

So, my plan to start spring cleaning tonight has been delayed.  It has been a long week, I am tired, and I instead have been going through emails and links and watching first the MAC Semifinals (UA-KSU was quite good, especially when KSU came back) and now Duke.  I am feeling something of a second wind coming on, so I am tempted to do sone bathroom cleaning or something else -- more now, less later.  I am looking forward to opening the windows, as I could not have done so today.  It was windy all day, and much of the evening.  I will wake up and see what the carnage was in the yard (if any, and hopefully not to the house).

I was worried about power here, but I should have been worried elsewhere.  Due to work being busy, I didn't leave until 5, and thus altered plans to hit Holy Name.  A power line was down at Jones and Harvard, so... no fish fry.  Dinner was a bag of Doritos and an apple stolen from the OC, and then it was off to Stations (at least we had power at the Shrine).  I guess this is not bad -- losing weight is good -- but I was looking forward to dining out of the House.  Tomorrow, in theory, is another day.  Indeed, it is Pi Day, so I should probably buy one.  I do have a busy AM, so... I can slot in a grocery trip before.  Rah.  I want to do it all early, as there are a number of mid-major finals tomorrow, and there is something to be said -- as I so often say -- about the finality of the one-bid league.

 House Republicans’ meager majority faces big problems ahead of the midterms - POLITICO
Yes, this is a problem... the war in Iran, oil prices, food prices, etc., is not helping.  One hopes POTUS is correct that this will be sooner rather than later, but...I am not seeing that yet.

Newsom railed against Medicaid work requirements — until he didn't - POLITICO
This could be me, but shouldn't Republicans calling him out on this?  I don't think there is anyone who doesn't think of himself as a say and do anything type, but it does not absolve us of the responsibility of challenging him about this...

Live Nation reaches settlement with DOJ in antitrust fight - POLITICO
This could be me, but this is not nearly enough; there needs to be a breakup and a force majeure situation to break up the empire.  Yes it would be hard, but if the government cannot break up a monopoly...

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...