Heat

 I had to cut the grass today, and it was...quite hot.  It was fine when I was cruising on the mower, but after, when I went to remove the sky-high dandelions from the pachysandra... well, that was a less than inspired choice.  As with most things, I should never let them get that way in the first place, and while I put an impressive pile of bio-debris in the compost pile, I could have done without. Indeed, I had planned to go do the weed-whacking, but I was rather spent, so... no.  

I watched "Glen or Glenda" today; it was playing at 3AM on TCM a few days ago, so I recorded it and had to watch.  I have seen it before (maybe twice), but this time... well, for all of the talk of the movie being so bad it is good, it's really just bad.  And, for all my notions of going off and watching all of the truly awful movies out there, sitting through an hour-plus of this clunker shows us what a poor idea that is.  At least I was able to get the OC budget out in all its glory.  We have not spent that much on food due to grants, which is good, as we have put out a LOT on roof replacement projects.  We benefit from those, and Downtown cannot raise polite objections to us having too much cash on hand (which I agree with, but as much of the Board does not...), but, of course, there is the issue that we really have but one more emergency to handle.

Tim Walz defends Minnesota pardon of sex offender deported to Laos | Fox News
Now, Democrats thought this person was qualified to be Vice President.  I realize they are Democrats, and that is a low bar to begin with, but...

Thrills and chills

Day two of homeward bound continued and it was...fine?  We are a little busy at work, so I just put some extra time in.  I will definitely cut the grass tomorrow, and hopefully there will be some Behemoth news.  Rah.  I went through a pile of the paperwork, and went through some SVDP stuff, always a good thing.  I also treated myself to watching "In Which We Serve," the Noel Coward film from the 40s about the Royal Navy, or, as I say, "Mrs. Miniver On a Boat."  There is something about it I find cheery, even if it is quite the period piece, if you get my drift.  It is also the straightest role he ever played, but, a war was going on, and he even soldiered on, if you get my drift.

Explained: Argentina’s anti-England chants and why players sing about the Falklands War - The Athletic

This is the stuff about soccer that makes it watchable, for God's sake!  Fan-trolling is where it is, and if you think about it, this is just as good as "Two World Wars and One World Cup."  I realize of course I think differently about things compared to most people, but if I was in charge of FIFA, I would encourage this.  

Speaking of soccer, I am still reading all the articles about how we don't have the youth soccer programs other countries do.  I don't think that is it... I think we just have so many other sports kids play.  Football is king, hoops and baseball, and then soccer?  Hell, LAX is hugely popular now, too, and I suspect a lot of kids who could play soccer play LAX, if you get my drift.  Soccer is also not football -- no cheerleaders, if you will -- so soccer has to compete with everyone else.  This is not a bad thing, but for all of the hand-wringing, I think it is just economics and choice.

‘This Was a Black Eye’: Progressives Face Reckoning Over Graham Platner - NOTUS — News of the United States
If this is what they consider a reckoning, I wish I would have similar such reckonings!  To be sure, they are Democrats, so it's not like they have any morals about this (or anything), so...

Homeward Bound

 So, I called the mechanic about the truck, and they cannot take it until Thursday, so I will be car-less til then.  Alas.  I mean, it's not the worst; save for fruit, I have plenty of food, plenty of things to do, etc.  I just hope the thing can be fixed and at moderate cost.  There is some work to do and SVDP stuff... of course, it is the whole forced thing that is the issue.  But I will survive.  Hell, the grass needs to be cut, so that is on the agenda for tomorrow night...  in the meantime, my jury-rigged fridge -- I refresh the freezer bags every night -- continues on.  I realize there are worse fates to befall me, but...

In the meantime, Lindsay Graham passed away. I was fascinated by the scurrilous rumors about the guy; I suspect THAT is why they released the audio from the 911 calls.  That said, he will be missed.  Not only for being the one to say he could murder Ted Cruz and be found innocent 99-0, but... he was a deal maker, a solid conservative, and a funny guy.  We rarely hit the trifecta in life.  The choice of his sister seems odd, unless we didn't want to put the thumb on the scale for the successor...

Ditching the Seventeenth - by Glenn Harlan Reynolds
Dare I say I rather agree?  I realize it will probably never happen, but... well, I think the corruption would be the same, but local, and it is easier to get rid of state reps than 200 lobbyists in DC.  

Things Fall Apart

 Last nite was the class reunion.  As with most things in my life, I didn't want to go, but went and had a good tine.  Attendance was a bit sparse -- I figured more would have attended -- but the ones who were there were nice and friendly, and it was good to see the ones who were there.  It was at the Wild Eagle -- nice place, should go there more -- and it was close to home.  Rah.  Earlier in the day I went to a silent movie at the Cleveland Public Library; they were doing the Lillian Gish 1926 "The Scarlet Letter." Charming film; I had not read the book since high school, so I forgot some of the plot twists, but other than that... fine.  They had a nice reception after -- live music (like the silents of the day) and while I am not quite the aesthete, I liked it.  The Library is quite nice; I should hang out there more often.  Lots of cheery spaces, reading areas, etc.  If you can find cheap street parking... 

Today I watched "Inception," the Nolan film from 2010 that is on the NFR.  I don't know, didn't really like it.  I mean, the action scenes were awesome, and the cast was first-rate, but the plot... I guess I am not the sci-fi type.  Oh well.  Bit long, too.  860, though.

Samuel Alito, a MAGA-Friendly Justice With a New Conservative Legal Vision - WSJ
It is more than fair to say that he has amply filled the mantle of Justice Thomas!

Last Skyway drive-in restaurant closes after 74 years in Fairlawn - cleveland.com
What???  I mean, I didn't go as often as I should have -- need to get to Fairlawn more, I guess -- but when I did, I always stopped.  Was just as good as Swenson's... alas.  I guess things happen, and people have a right to retire, but one hates to see these things come to an end.

In less happy news, the Behemoth is making loud noises, so I will have to call the mechanic and see when they can take it (hopefully soon).  As my father would have said, it sounds expensive, and of course, the timing is not quite the best.  To say nothing of the fact that this could be a big one, or the big one.  Ugh.  But we will figure it out,

In other news, I bought a fridge Saturday.  I went to Home Appliance in Brunswick (my sister recommended it) and while they didn't have one in stock, they can have one next week, and it was about what I figured I would pay.  I am a little short of fruit, but other than that... I think I can survive for a few days.  I am sure I will be pleased to do my part to stimulate the economy...

Mattie is alive

Long break, not that I was trying; Monday and Tuesday I crashed.  Wednesday I joined Team XI at PQ (we came in third, sigh) and then when I wanted to post, I couldn't log in.  And last night I was out -- haircut, dinner at Our Lady of Mount Carmel, and then a friend was/is in town, so I met him Downtown (he was staying at the Hyatt).  I thought about posting, but... discretion won out.

I have decided I need a new fridge and will be buying one tomorrow.  (Need to take some measurements.)  Mine is old -- a decade -- and not only was it making odd noises, but the fridge part is not very cold.  This is an issue, as I have insulin in there (I have some freezer bags in it for support).  It is pretty sparse in there now -- just pop, potatoes, and some apples.  Alas.  I hope it can be delivered sooner rather than later, but we will see.  I have been paying down the HELOC, and while I wanted to fund some home improvements...well, this is one as well.  And, one needs a fridge.  In the meantime, I am trying to do as much of the catching up as I can as stuff.  Oi!

Exclusive: Phil Mickelson’s Long History of Misconduct
Interesting...  Phil, we hardly knew ye?  And, once we did...

The Platner rape story: all in the timing - The New Neo
But this guy says "Hold my beer!"  I will remind you all that I called this -- sexual assault allegations, or at least worse -- even if I didn't exactly have hard evidence.  Now, for a while I thought he would not withdraw from the race, though he has agreed to do so (for now).  Quite frankly, every GOPer should be making ads with this guy -- and his endorsees/enablers -- front and center, followed by going around and asking Democrats what, if anything, were they thinking.  Now, as they are Democrats, they have plenty little with which to think, but...

Democrats have abandoned Graham Platner - POLITICO
One of my former coworkers -- an admitted and avowed Socialist -- told me that he didn't Platner to withdraw from the race.  I told him that I agreed, and I do not think he picked up my tone...

 Don’t Lock Young Americans Into Social Security | RealClearPolitics
This is an excellent idea, so of course it will never work.

Let’s admit it: The United States is never going to win a men’s World Cup - The Athletic
Monday I watched this game at a soccer party.  Quite dour, especially as it became obvious that we were not going to win.  I don't know... this could be me, and I do not watch much soccer, but it seems like we do soccer the same way everyone else does.  (Boringly.)  Hell, our best players go over to Europe.  Now, if we are not as good as the Europeans are, and we intend to do soccer in the same way that they do, we really won't ever win, will we?  I would think trying to win in our way would be best.  I wonder what a combo of aggressive soccer -- using our size and strength -- AND long-distance shots would work.  Or, considering how often we crammed everyone in front of the box and then we miffed anyway, I wonder if getting out a bit and kicking it in from afar (like our penalty kick goal) might help; we'd have to practice it, of course, and we would have to spread the field, but I think it could be tried.

U.S. soccer’s ‘pay-to-play’ problem: The lightning-rod issue explained in a World Cup context - The Athletic

Isn't this true for all our sports?  It is just that we compete with everyone else in soccer, and come out on the short side...

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...