Author Archive

Not that jazzed

June 19, 2021

A Twitter pal said – “John Stockton’s stupidity has jinxed the Jazz.” Hey, as good an explanation as any how a #1 seed with a 22 point lead against the Kawhi-less Clippers could not only blow a lead but lose by twelve.

(For those who missed it, Stockton appeared in an anti-vaccine video…)

If as an SF Giants fan you didn’t already love LaMonte Wade Jr, he just threw Bryce Harper out tonight at second with a ball hit off the left field wall.

This would be a great weekend for the Arizona Diamondbacks to break their now 24 game losing streak.

#BeatLA

I know baseball’s fan base skews older. But is it really best way to appeal to younger audience by making SF Giants Phillies series ONLY televised on Peacock? Managed to figure it out but am “relatively’ young luddite. Wonder how many parents are calling kids tonight? “HELP!!”

Okay, not a huge eater, but picked up a package of precooked pulled chicken in BBQ sauce, 16 ounces total. Glanced at the Nutrition Facts while it was warming up. 90 calories a serving. EIGHT servings in the package. That’s two ounces of meat and sauce combined. Enough to make a McDonald’s hamburger look hefty.

If you’re making the fake claim that Juneteenth isn’t “American,” then assume you’ve also been protesting Columbus Day? Since Christopher actually landed in the Dominican Republic.

I guess the U.S. Catholic bishops never worried about denying communion to Velveeta Voldemort. He’d have probably asked for Diet Coke instead of wine to wash down the wafers. And complained the bread was better at Mar-A-Lago.

Can’t imagine what today’s U.S. Catholic Bishops would have done with JFK.

I’m not a conspiracy theorist. But considering how many GOP members of Congress still genuflect before Velveeta Voldemort despite his losing election & then TWO Georgia Senate seats, makes more sense that they’re complicit than that they still haven’t figured out he’s a loser.

Seriously, are the latest wild GOP accusations being about the FBI being behind January 6 a clue that the FBI is about to implicate GOP members of Congress?

Open question to anyone thinking cruises shouldn’t be able to require vaccines for cruisers: Have you already forgotten Grand Princess? Stuck at sea for days + 2 week quarantine for passengers. “I don’t need to have numbers double because of one ship that wasn’t our fault.”

Georgia is mailing notifications of 102,000 voter registration cancellations. Voters have 40 days to respond. Uh, MAIL? Still have two Christmas packages missing in mail & who knows how many cards got there? Also check lost this month. DeJoy’s destruction has not been undone.

Velveeta Voldemort’s former doctor Ronny Jackson wants Biden to take a cognitive test I’d love to see Joe come out some day and simply say “Person, woman, man, camera, TV.” Mic drop.

The fact that no members of Congress died on January 6 at the US Capitol doesn’t mean the intent of the insurrectionists wasn’t to kill them. The fact that Democrats may save voting rights doesn’t mean the intent of many in GOP isn’t to kill democracy.

Throwing away their shot?

June 18, 2021

For the 2021 season, unvaccinated NFL players will not be allowed on team charters for away games.

Great, just what the rest of us need, the thought of flying on commercial planes with unvaccinated people who are also plenty big enough to encroach on our physical space.

Do SF Giants put weekly comments from ESPN on clubhouse wall

. “Giants need to be active in acquiring veterans at trade deadline… already blown 14 saves this season- need to do better if they hope to stay relevant in NL West.”

Yes, it’s a tough division – but “hope to stay relevant?”

Meanwhile SF Giants scored 3 runs in four games in DC last week. This week they scored no less than five runs in any game against the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Baseball is a funny game. And the Dbacks are really bad.

Happy 79th Birthday Paul McCartney. Sir Paul is now 15 years older than “when I’m 64.”

Sandra Garza, life-partner of late Capitol Police officer Brian Sicknick, tells Anderson Cooper she’s been harassed & falsely accused of being paid by Trump supporters. But “no one is going to intimidate me or shut me up.” If Garza ever wants to run for office-I’m in on her side.

Reading Chasten Buttigieg’s “I Have Something To Tell You” memoir. Favorite story so far; Pete had painted kitchen in South Bend home awful shade of yellow & Chasten finally while he was campaigning secretly hired someone to paint it white. When Pete got home.- he didn’t notice.

(Chasten said he eventually told him and Pete responded “Oh, that is nice. Yeah. Well done.”)

There was a small earthquake in Indiana. Out of habit did Mike Pence praise Velveeta Voldemort for making the earth move?

Texas AG Ken Paxton is unhappy with a conservative Supreme Court upholding ACA. “ObamaCare was sold on a lie to the American people.” All you need to know about today’s GOP is that they consider lifesaving healthcare a lie & debunked election fraud malarkey the truth.

Listening today to Roy Blunt talking about his bipartisan bill to expand community mental health services. I suppose it would be wrong to say some Americans who clearly are in need of those services are some of his GOP colleagues in Congress.

“We’re Democratic party, we’re not a lockstep rubberstamp, who’d want to belong to a party like that? You can cross the aisle & do that…but at end of day we’ll have unity to promote wellbeing of American working families.” Sometimes I just love Madam Speaker. @SpeakerPelosi

If one person, especially a pretty young woman, is killed by an undocumented immigrant, GOP wants to build walls & tighten all immigration/asylum rules.

Meanwhile five people died & 140 police officers injured by a mob of Trump supporters on Jan 6. GOP shrugs – “just tourists”

Okay, Friday, June 18th will actually be the first Juneteenth Federal Holiday. Why do I have a feeling some tone deaf store or chain will come up with a last minute “White Sale?”

If any Republicans who work in the Federal Government object to the Juneteenth holiday they should certainly feel free to go into work on a volunteer basis.

And the hits just keep on coming.

June 17, 2021

After the top of the first inning tonight against Arizona Diamondbacks, SF Giants were down 2 to 0. Apparently someone found where the team left their bats in Texas. . Final score, SF 13, AZ – 7

Remember that Madison Bumgarner seven-inning no-hitter in Phoenix on April 25.that MLB refused to certify as a no-hitter? Arizona Diamondbacks haven’t won a game away from home since. The baseball gods may not be amused.

Jacob deGrom left his start today with right shoulder soreness after pitching three perfect innings. While I’m not a Mets fan for the sake of baseball hope all those Koufax comparisons don’t become too accurate.

Phillies fans are famous for booing Santa Claus

Even Santa Claus would have booed the Philadelphia 76ers in the 4th quarter today against the Hawks.

MSNBC, how about a new rule – anyone who prioritized book sales over trying to save democracy (and lives) doesn’t get an interview on your network? #JohnBolton

Just my opinion, but to my mind the best reporters are like the best baseball umpires. They don’t make the story all about them.

Things I would rather do than watch an interview with Velveeta Voldemort:

Have a root canal.

Listen to a concert of nails on a chalk board.

Watch the Dodgers win a game. For starters. (I am aware some of my friends may disagree on the last one.)

Why do we just think of antitrust & competition issues affecting high-tech? Airfares are high from SFO to Dulles. But remember Independence Air? For just one example. Lasted less than 2 yrs w/ cheap fares. United matched fares at loss leader prices, put them out of business, then raised fares again

-Fox News headline “Garry Kasparov told “Fox & Friends Pres. Biden meeting w/ Vladimir Putin in Geneva implies United States “giving credibility to a brutal dictator.” Gosh, I missed that headline when Velveeta Voldemort met w/ Vlad in Helsinki AND invited him to White House.

If the media treated Putin-Biden summit any more like a prize fight they’d have to put it on pay-per-view.

New GOP logo…..? (Google Get Smart kids, if you don’t recognize this.)

Image

Head start

June 16, 2021

SF Giants just made it hard for anyone to turn off one of their games in 2021 ever again.

(And no, I didn’t turn it off. But I won’t lie and say I was hopeful. Down 7-0 early, Giants won 9-8 with a grand slam by Mike Yazstremski)

But you thin you had a bad day at work. SF Giants reliever Zach Littell faced six batters to start the game vs Diamondbacks. He got zero out and four scored.

It’s only mid-June but right now SF Giants manager Gabe Kapler has to be the favorite for NL manager of the years.

Interesting in “chicks dig the long ball” era late 1990s how MLB, fans & players alike knew that folks were juicing. League was “move along, nothing to see here.” Now pitching is dominant – & MLB suddenly wants in- game tests and suspensions…. I’m sure it’s just coincidence.

From Marc Ragovin “I watched the excerpts of NBC reporter’s interview with Putin. I give Vlad credit. He answered all the tough geopolitical questions cogently, directly, thoroughly. But boy did he hem and haw when asked whether he’s ever used Spider Tack.”

So much absurdity, so little time… Mark Meadows tried to convince DOJ Italians used satellites to manipulate voting equipment in Presidential election. If you had to think of country doing high-tech election tampering by satellite, pretty sure Italy wouldn’t be top of the list.

Actually Mark Meadow’s Italian satellite election lie brings to mind very un-PC old joke..

Heaven: police are British. Cooks are French. Run by Swiss. Engineers are German. Lovers are Italian

Hell: Police are German. Cooks are British. Run by French. Lovers are Swiss. Engineers are Italian.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday signed a bill requiring public schools in his state to set aside at least one minute of silence for children to meditate or pray. Can they pray that Florida in 2022 can get rid of Ron De Santis?

As Ron DeSantis signs the law requiring a minute or two for prayer in all public schools, will that include prayers for the now over 37,000 Floridians who DeSantis ADMITS have died of COVID?

Facebook wanted to buy “Another Brick in the Wall Part 2 for Instagram ad. Pink Floyd co-founder Roger Waters “F*ck you, no f*cking way.. .this is insidious movement of them to take over absolutely everything.” Guess Amy Klobuchar has another supporter of her antitrust bill.

21 Republicans vote no on bill awarding Congressional Gold Medal to Capitol and DC Metro Police for saving lives and democracy on January 6, guess it’s pretty clear – Blue lives matter ONLY when black or brown protestors are involved.

Marjorie Taylor Greene says she objected to calling January 6 an insurrection. I object to calling Marjorie Taylor Greene a member of Congress.

The Giants score a run, the Giants score a run.

June 15, 2021

Five in fact. After scoring ONE run in regulation in three games against Washington Nationals, the SF Giants scored five against the Arizona Diamonbacks Monday night. Baseball is a funny game.

MLB expected to announce any pitchers caught w/ foreign substance will be suspended for 10 days w/ pay. So about same as minimum trip to IL. Not that any pitchers who know what Spider Tack can do for ball movement would risk missing a start or two for a paid vacation….

Just thinking, MLB is discussing a pitch clock to speed up games. Can the US Senate start discussing something to speed up votes?

Tuned into Late Show with Stephen Colbert and CBS commercial for Evening News “Biden. Putin. Face to Face..”. So this is like the NBA Finals for democracy vs totalitarianism? #ratings

GOP in Ohio trying to make it so physicians, hospitals and health insurance companies could refuse to provide or pay for a medical service if it violates their moral beliefs.

Okay, who is going to be the first physician to refuse to prescribe Viagra for any unmarried man?

Alabama, Arkansas, Missouri, Nevada, Texas, Utah and Wyoming have seen their COVID infection rates rise in last two weeks. They are all lower than the 43% US fully vaccinated average. I’m SURE it’s just a coincidence.

NN Chyron “Israel’s Netanyahu ousted from office but vows to return.” Is he planning to send tourists to “The Knesset?”

Great quote from Batman – The Dark Knight “You either die a hero, or you live long enough to see yourself become the villain.” Eric Clapton is 76 years old.

Your reminder, despite at least four mass shootings this past weekend, today’s GOP thinks voting is more dangerous than guns.

Unfriendly skies: FAA notes “nearly three-fourths of unruly behavior” reports were of passengers who refused to wear masks on flights.” I am shocked, shocked.

Fox News Headline “Biden breaks with political norms, slams Trump and Republicans on foreign soil.”

“Breaks with political norms.” Wow, that’s almost as good as Kayleigh McEnany’s “I never lied to you.”

So how long until Marjorie Taylor Greene denies apologizing for comparing COVID-19 rules to the holocaust?

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell says that it’s “highly unlikely” he would allow Biden to fill a Supreme Court vacancy in 2024 if he’s majority leader — or even 2023.

Uh, does anyone think Mitch wouldn’t try to stop Biden filling a SCOTUS vacancy if one happened tomorrow?

Outta there.

June 13, 2021

NBA MVP Nikola Jokic ejected from tonight’s elimination game for Nuggets vs Suns after he was assessed a Flagrant Foul 2 for taking a frustrated swing at Phoenix’s Cameron Payne. Now, I know the rules. But anyone think they’d have ejected Lebron James if he did the same thing?

Pre-covid memory: I had flights booked to DC to see Wizards-Thunder game with a friend on March 14, 2020. Reason I picked that game -wanted to see Chris Paul play in person. Well, at least I get to see a lot of Paul on TV this NBA postseason.

37 playoff points at 36 years old. Age is just a number #ChrisPaul

Three runs in in four games in DC. So who on SFGiants staff gets the job of stopping by Dallas on the way home to San Francisco and figuring where at the Rangers’ ballpark the team left their bats?

As MLB finalizes its memo on rule pitchers using foreign substances, reminded of Gaylord Perry when he was asked if he ever used a foreign substance on a baseball. “Nah, Vaseline is manufactured right here in the United States.”

Mike Pompeo said today on Fox News that Trump just needed four more years to get tough on Russia. Four more years? Amazed he didn’t say “two more weeks,” you know, like Donald’s much-anticipated beautiful healthcare plan?

Florida’s State Board of Education voted to ban the teaching of Critical Race Theory in state schools. How long until they ban the teaching of science and evolution?

Wonder what the Venn diagram would be showing the overlap with unruly passengers on planes and anti-maskers?

One victim in Austin mass shooting has died.

Now Texas has one of highest state percentage rates of gun owners in US.

So if good guys with a gun will save us, why does Texas have so many mass shootings?

Asking for a country that is tired.

Three days of a summit and the President of the United States hasn’t insulted any G-7 members yet. Remember what that used to be like?

Lara Trump:”people that live at southern border-.guess they better arm up, get guns, be ready-maybe they’re going to have to start taking matters into their own hands.” So women & children seeking asylum are dangerous & should be shot, while Jan 6 insurrectionists were tourists?

Journalist who broke tarmac meeting story between Bill Clinton & Loretta Lynch in 2016 apparently committed suicide. Conservative media & Twitter trolls instantly treating death as suspicious. They really think Dems not only that evil but would wait 5 years to get revenge for a story?

As Indian variant of Covid-19 is now up to about 10% of US cases, reminder that the Former Guy even now could save lives by doing a PSA for all his cult members to get vaccinated.

So the media apparently is complaining that not being able to cover Biden’s tea with the Queen is a “breach of precedent.” What next? Will Joe have to hire someone to insult the press full-time so they don’t complain about losing that precedent too?

In USA in last year, over 500,000 COVID deaths, over 20,000 deaths from gun violence and 24,000 more Americans dead by suicide with a gun. And GOP trying to convince us imaginary voter fraud is the real danger.

Kayleigh McEnany claims now she never told a single lie as Press Secretary. W ell, actually, technically she has a point. Was there a statement Kayleigh ever made that contained a single lie as opposed to multiple lies.

Val Demings is moderate & former Orlando chief of police. Marco Rubio already trying to tag her w/ the S word. “But she certainly has voted for socialist things.” Voted for socialist things? Like social security?

Yeah, nobody in Florida supports that… #Sarcasm

As Marco Rubio begins his campaign to call Val Demings a “socialist,” let’s be honest – whoever the GOP runs against Joe Manchin in Virginia in 2024 will call MANCHIN a socialist.

Headline: “New book suggests Birx wanted Trump to lose presidential election.” So if Donald hadn’t lost would Dr. Birx have clutched her scarf?

Finally, Happy Birthday to Velveeta Voldemort. Next year maybe he’ll be wishing for a cake with a file in it.

Losing your shot.

June 12, 2021

MLB says 22 teams now at vaccination threshold, but no team of the remaining eight is close to that 85% threshold.

Can MLB put in a rule if your team isn’t at the threshold and an outbreak stemming from one of yourplayers causes a game with a vaccinated team not to be played, instead of postponing you just forfeit?

Yeah, Mets’ Jacob DeGrom might be the best pitcher in baseball. But he only has one shutout. But Giants pitcher Anthony Descalfani has two. #SFGiants

SPN’s Scott Van Pelt just (grudgingly) referred to SF Giants as “the best team in the National League. ” And as of June 11, they are.

Anthony Rizzo is a cancer survivor who was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma in 2008.. Now he says he wants more data before he gets the COVID vaccine. Wonder if Rizzo was treated for his cancer with leeches?

Jill and Joe Biden love their kids and grandchildren. But unlike Velveeta Voldemort they didn’t bring any of them to crash the party and meet Queen Elizabeth II. It’s so nice having a President.

I’m noticing something in common with all these world leaders at Joe Biden’s first G-7 meeting in Cornwall – SMILES!

Putin today praised Velveeta Voldemort as “extraordinary, talented and colorful.” Same phrasing could have been used by Geppetto about Pinocchio

Ron Johnson on Fox News, “He’s weak, and don’t ask me to get inside the mind of a liberal, progressive socialist, Marxist like President Biden.” “a liberal, progressive, socialist, Marxist?” Ron Johnson clearly has not spent even 5 minutes with rose Twitter.

Let me be very clear, while I admire him, not that I ever thought Merrick Garland should be deified, either as potential SCOTUS judge or current AG. But the man has been in office three months. Could we all maybe be just a little patient in reserving judgment?

It’s the DOJ today, but how long until we find out what Former Guy had the FBI do? And what suggestions were made to local police departments? You cannot convince me there weren’t Trump supporting police trying to start race riots because they felt riots would benefit his re-election.

Living the ratings dream?

June 11, 2021

Early days yet, but wouldn’t a Utah-Phoenix Western Conference final be exactly what ABC-ESPN dreamed up with this shortened ratings driven season? #Sarcasm.

Meanwhile, speaking of ratings, how about the Tampa Bay Rays and SF Giants having the best records in baseball.

Nixon resigned over coverup of break-in at DNC headquarters. Not quid-pro-quo w/ foreign leaders, not using DOJ to subpoena records of members of Congress. Not stuff we probably haven’t even found out yet. Nixon already seeming like a naughty schoolboy by comparison to Trump.

I understand that airlines are delaying returning alcohol sales on board because of bad passenger behavior. Uh, is it just possible some passengers are behaving badly because they are increasingly tense on board and can’t drink?

The Sopranos ran for six years. Velveeta Voldemort’s administration lasted four years. To be fair, Tony was a much more competent mob boss.

Boris Johnson on Joe Biden “A breath of fresh air.” Understatement of the year.

Caitlyn Jenner refuses to say Donald Trump lost the election. “I’m not going to get into that.”

Anyone who can’t answer the question – “who won the 2020 Presidential election? should have their televised interview terminated immediately. Period.

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine speaking against state GOP anti-vax bill. “Before modern medicine, diseases such as mumps, polio, whooping cough were common & caused great, great suffering & death to thousands of people every single year.” How long until GOP tries to censure Dewine?

Biden opened his vaccine remarks at G-7 in Cornwall – “I want to express condolences on behalf of Jill & I, to her majesty Queen Elizabeth II & entire royal family & people of United Kingdom. Today would’ve been Prince Philip’s 100th birthday.” It’s so NICE having a President.

June 10, 2021

Persistence!

Lefty pitcher Sam Long, 25, who pitched four plus inning on one hit for SF Giants today, has been released before and in 2018 started taking some EMT classes. Announcers commented on his calm on the mound. Depending on those classes, thinking Long saw and thought about things a little more stressful than giving up some runs in a baseball game.

Well this could make for fun conversations in the huddle: As Panthers QB Sam Darnold says he’s still “evaluating” whether to get a COVID vaccine or not, reminder that Carolina’s star RB Christian McCaffrey was an Academic All-America at Stanford.

NFL’s Montez Sweat is still vaccine adverse, with the Washington football team player saying he “won’t treat Covid until he actually gets Covid.”. Can only imagine what his thoughts are on say, birth control.

Compared to Charles, Anne and Andrew, I know comparatively little about Prince Edward, 57, Queen Elizabeth’s youngest son. But I think I like him. In an interview touching on many issues including his parents, Harry and Meghan, etc “That’s families for you.”

Interviewed on Senate report on January 6, Amy Klobuchar talked about “the haunting words of one of the officers who said “Does anyone have a plan?'” Sadly, the one who DID have a plan was the Former Guy.

Why is anyone shocked that Louie Gohmert wonders if Forest Service or the Bureau of Land Management can alter the orbit of the moon or the Earth? Gohmert’s cult leader thought you could alter the path of a hurricane with a Sharpie.

If Governors of Florida & Texas really want to make a point in their battle with cruise lines over vaccine requirements why don’t both of them go on a one week cruise vaccation with some of their unvaccinated constituents.

Know almost nothing about Mark Greenblatt, the Inspector General of Department of the Interior, who just said DC police didn’t clear Lafayette Park for a photo op. I do know he was confirmed in 2019 after being nominated for the position by Donald Trump.

How fantastic for our whole country would it be if in 2022 we not only could get rid of Florida’s Ron DeSantis and Marco Rubio, but also that we could replace them BOTH with women – Nikki Fried and Val Demings?

Must be very confusing for those who only watch Fox News: Network has been telling viewers COVID-19 is largely harmless and vaccines aren’t necessary…. but they should be outraged because the virus allegedly came from a lab in China.

Tucker Carlson claiming Americans should apply for asylum in El Salvador, it’s safer than Baltimore and Chicago. Waiting for Carlson to do a show on location in San Salvador to prove his point.

So how long does it take for the magnetization to kick in with the vaccines? Now feeling disappointed that I went to Hawaii for a few days last month and didn’t attract any coins or buried treasure on the beach.

Rachel Maddow points out scandal of Rob Porter resigning after accusations of domestic abuse by ex-wives would’ve been massive story in any other administration… Had almost forgotten it. TFG’s White House was like perfume testing for scandals..after a while they blur.

Long gone.

June 9, 2021

Cubs rookie Patrick Wisdom has 8 home runs in his first 40 ABs. It’s a heck of a story. But as an SF Giants fan, it’s a lot more fun when he’s hitting them against the San Diego Padres.

AVirginia gym teacher was suspended for refusing to allow transgender girls to compete because he claimed it went against his Christianity. Now judge ordered guy reinstated.

So if “Christianity” matters so much to this teacher, will he demand virginity pledges from all student-athletes?

So apparently it was either an earthquake or a sonic boom that got #SanDiego trending Tuesday night. I can’t be the only one who was relieved it wasn’t a mass shooting.

CNN chyron- “Senate Jan 6. report reveal new details on security failures, omit Trump’s role.” Uh, Senate committees were for WHAT happened & future Capitol security- not WHY it happened or who incited it.

That’s why Amy Klobuchar keeps saying we still need a bipartisan committee. Do better CNN!

Uh, travel agents have a “duty to warn” customers about any negative information we have. And Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines caved to Ron DeSantis about requiring vaccines for sailings from Florida. So now we tell everyone “so it MIGHT be a 7 day cruise or you might get stuck on board indefinitely?”

Still wrapping my head around some COVIDiots who don’t want to be guinea pigs with a vaccine, but they’re perfectly willing to be guinea pigs to go on a cruise ship without being vaccinated. Hope they’re negotiating open-ended vacation time.

So how long until Florida Governor Ron DeSantis continues his campaign for individual freedoms by saying he’ll eliminate seat belt and DUI laws?

As Democrats figure how to go forward for voting rights without Senator from West Virginia, your reminder if we had won more Senate seats in 2020, or held onto Bill Nelson and Claire McCaskill’s seats in 2018, we wouldn’t need him or Sinema. Litmus tests belong in labs.

Stormy Daniels has indicated she would “would love nothing more” than to cooperate with NY Grand Jury investigating the Former Guy. So sounds like it will be a lot more satisfying for Stormy to do to him what Donald did to her.

Same GOP that had 10 investigations over more than two years into a fatal attack on American diplomatic facilities in Benghazi, Libya, thinks we should just move on from a fatal attack on our own US Capitol six months ago

Let’s be honest. If Democrats hadn’t won those two seats in Georgia, Mitch McConnell & Senate Republicans now saying “move along nothing to see here,” about January 6, would have committees focused nonstop on Hunter Biden’s laptop.

For want of a shot:

June 7, 2021

Golfer Jon Rahm, ranked #1 or 2 in the world, had to withdraw from Memorial Tournament with 6-shot lead after positive COVID-19 test. He was asymptomatic at the time.

He’d been tested daily after close contact with someone with the virus, and while the tour doesn’t release information directly on who has been vaccinated anyone vaccinated isn’t subject to testing after close contact.

CONCACAF Nations League final between United States & Mexico was marred Sunday by unruly fan behavior that included objects thrown on the field. Where did fans think they were, at an NBA playoff game?

Sign of returning to normalcy – Sunday night baseball Yankees -Red Sox.

On Saturday ,SF Giants scored two runs in an inning against the Chicago Cubs on four singles. A reminder of what baseball used to be before launch angles.

Don’t think local & state elections matter? Keith Ellison, Minnesota AG who oversaw case against Derek Chauvin, won by 4 points in 2018 His GOP opponent, Doug Wardlow, will run again in 2022. What Doug’s been doing since his loss -being attorney for Mike Lindell & My Pillow.

Media: Joe Manchin thinks he’s King of the Senate. Also Media: We’re gonna give Joe Manchin more attention than anyone in the Senate.

All jokes aside, I don’t care about the Former Guy’s pants. I do care that the media really needs to put on their big boy (and big girl) pants and start figuring out how to cover a boring but competent President instead of a carnival barker.

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration report noted there were 6,052 deaths from Americans not wearing seat belts being ejected from cars in 2020 -20% increase from 2019, despite COVID. Wonder how many of them started ignoring science last year by not wearing masks?

So anyone got a list of how many mass killings were committed with Swiss Army Knives?

Delta flight attendant & passengers tackled a man who tried to storm the cockpit and were able to zip tie his wrists. Zip ties? Were there GOP tourists on board?

Bribes and misdemeanors.

June 5, 2021

Some baseball teams may start giving away free tickets to fans who get a covid vaccine at the stadium.

Now, the state of Arizona, 33rd in the US with about 36% of adults vaccinated, could use all the help they could get. But the way the Diamondbacks are playing, (20-39, 17 games out of 1st) perhaps they could try telling fans, if you DON’T get vaccinated, you are required to stay for the entire game?

20 MLB teams have reached 85% vaccination rate for players & other on-field personnel, 2 more have had shots & are 2 weeks away. Would the 8 other teams like to tell us who they are? (Because not being vaxxed might affect stadium staff, also prefer not to root for idiots..)

Has Adam Silver figured out how to have a second round play-in game to keep Lebron James in the NBA postseason a little longer?

Federal Judge Roger Benitez, just ruled against California assault rifle ban. “Like Swiss Army knife, the popular AR-15 rifle is a perfect combination of home defense weapon & homeland defense equipment. Perfect for home & battle. I couldn’t write satire that absurd.

Wrap your heads around this one: Today’s GOP is now more interested in a hearing to investigate Dr. Fauci than the fatal insurrection on January 6.

Great that Fox News & folks like Josh Hawley finally think Trump should have resigned over not promoting mask wearing during the the pandemic.

Oh wait, no, they want resignation of Dr. Fauci!? And Fauci, unlike the Former Guy, changed his stance based on changing evidence.

So Mike Pence just says he “doesn’t see eye to eye with his former boss over January 6. Anyone thought of putting a microphone in front of Karen Pence and ask what SHE thinks about Donald almost having her, her husband and their daughter killed to stay in power?

Wolf Blitzer asks Preet Bharara if Trump should be sweating: Preet points out he’s escaped before But… “I think this is a different kind of thing. It’s not a political investigation, it’s a standard financial organization criminal investigation…” They got Capone on taxes.

GOP still genuflecting before the crazy Former Guy is as if the little boy shouted that the Emperor had no clothes and the people responded by throwing the kid in jail.

For all those who expect Americans to know what’s best for them on vaccines without guidance (and maybe bribes) from our leaders: Just was waiting at a railway crossing for a train to pass and noticed the big sign “DO NOT STOP ON TRACKS.”

Anyone know what President Biden is up to this weekend? Me neither. Nice, isn’t it?

Lake(rs) run dry?

June 4, 2021

Well, for the next six weeks of the playoffs we don’t have Lebron James to kick around anymore.

Jae Crowder puts Suns up 16 over Lakers with less than 2 minutes to go and TNT announcer says “And that may seal it for Phoenix.” What was his first clue?

Say what you want about horse racing. But by banning Bob Baffert from Churchill Downs for two years, the sports has shown more cojones in punishing its biggest stars who break rules than other sports – compared to for example NFL with Belichick, Brady & the Patriots…

Regular nonpolitical sports rant: 1. Replay matters to get the call right. 2. If you can’t see enough to change a call in 60 seconds or less, the call is right enough.

ESPN now considers #SFGiants the fifth best team in MLB. And the third best team in the NL West. Well, both COULD be true.

Don Lemon reports Mike Pence today saying about Donald Trump – “I don’t know if we’ll ever see eye to eye on January 6.” So this is like Macduff saying he doesn’t know if he’d ever see eye to eye with Macbeth?

I’m not sure what Rachel Maddow would do now for her show in 2021 if we had a single day without a domestic threat against our democracy. But it would be nice to find out.


Mike Pence says of January 6 that “one tragic day” should not be used to discredit Americans who voted for his former boss. Well, and why should April 15, one “tragic night”, be used to discredit what was an otherwise fine acting career for John Wilkes Booth?

All these employers claiming they can’t hire anyone. At same time some law firms are desperate enough to sign onto increasingly frivolous lawsuits by folks like Mike Lindell & some cult members by red state Republicans. So maybe what we need is job retraining for lawyers?

Lots of carrots to encourage vaccines, but a friend suggests a good stick – if someone chooses not to get vaccine then insurance should not have to pick up the cost of treatment when they get COVID (unless they have a VALID medical reason not to get the shot.)

One man has served in public health for over 50 years, advised every President since Reagan & received Presidential Medal of Freedom from George W. Bush for work on AIDS. Other man told us COVID was harmless & wanted us to drink bleach. Guess who GOP & FOX are now supporting?

Apparently Donald Trump now said in a statement – “China should pay ten trillion Dollars to America, and the world, for the death and destruction they have caused.”Wait, this is same guy who said “99% of cases are totally harmless.”This is SO confusing.

“Privilege of serving alongside Trump, it’s greatest honor of my life.” Mike Pence, 6/2/2021 – at a New Hamphire GOP dinner. “

I pray God save the king…for a gentler nor more merciful prince was there never: to me he was ever a good, gentle & sovereign lord.” Anne Boleyn, 5/19/1536 – on the scaffold.

Flamed out?

June 3, 2021

Apparently in the last few weeks, while the Tokyo Olympics now are supposed to start in less than three weeks, 10,000 volunteers in Japan have quit, and the country is still going through some of the worst times with COVID.

And here we thought China and Russia would stage the most controversial Olympic games of our lifetime.

Kentucky Derby winner’s Medina Spirit failed drug test has been confirmed. Will the colt blame it on a tainted supplement from a stablemate?

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NY Knicks are out, LA Lakers and Clippers each one game from elimination. ABC and ESPN now beginning to feel like FOX feels when the Dodgers, Cubs, Yankees and/or Red Sox aren’t in the World Series?

While I realize there are far more important things to worry about, with all MLB’s efforts to make games more exciting, perhaps they should consider a mercy rule. Top of the second in Los Angeles. Cardinals 1. Dodgers 11. Not a typo.

(The Dodgers held on, 14-3.)

Blacksburg police say incoming Virginia Tech freshman LB Isi Etute has been arrested & charged with 2nd-degree murder. Depending on the case outcome, we’ll know how good a recruit Etute is based on if any SEC school offers him a second chance.

Was at a store today and overhead two women discussing being there – one said “I never went out during COVID.” Now, I’m thrilled to be vaccinated and happy to be going out more again…. But, especially with all the unvaccinated folks still out there – “during COVID” isn’t over.

Guessing when most Americans are asked to name Senators outside their home states a whole lot of them would name the most controversial instead of the most effective.

As a Stanford grad happy to see my alma mater figured out caving to Federalist society was a stupid idea. But putting even a temporary hold on a law student’s diploma over satire might be the most embarrassing moment Stanford has had since anything involving Josh Hawley.

Today’s difference between parties: Democrats are trying to show Americans our policies are better & are looking ahead to 2022 elections. Republicans have given up on convincing Americans about any policies & are still trying to figure out a way to steal the 2020 election

Anheuser-Busch says they’ll buy all adults a beer, seltzer (or nonalcoholic beverage) if USA meets Biden’s goal of 70% of adults w/ 1 dose of vaccine by July 4. If looking out for friends & family’s health wasn’t good enough reason, free booze could do it. God bless America.

Fox News trying to bash our President with this headline: “Biden might buy you a beer if you get the shot.” Uh, are they sure this might not be the headline that finally convinces some of their viewers Joe might be ok?

Okay, I’ve had this little blog I’ve kept up for over 15 years. Though w/ Twitter now as an alternative I probably get more readers on social media each day. But at least I can say I now get more visitors than the Former President of United States.

Not so soft landing?

June 2, 2021

Mike Yastremski sprained thumb crashing into the wall tonight for SF Giants. Maybe just maybe bricks in stadiums should be padded as high as people can jump?

Braves OF Marcell Ozuna was already on IL when arrested. He was released from jail yesterday on $20k bail & faces charges of aggravated assault by strangulation & battery against his wife. Thinking if this were NFL & he were healthy, Ozuna would be playing this weekend.

As New Orleans Saints fan, I understand concept of not getting over a loss. But in NFC championship in 2019, there was bipartisan agreement Saints got cheated. And even so, unlike Former Guy supporters after 2020 election, we fans didn’t try to storm the Super Bowl.

The Denver Nuggets won in double OT over the Portland Trail Blazers so maybe many will forget the details of tonight’s game. But in future trivia games there’s going to be at least one answer involving an amazing 3-point shooting night that doesn’t involve a member of the Warriors. #DamianLillard

As many Americans headed back to work after Memorial Day weekend, isn’t it nice to know we have a President who also is going back to work?

N.Y. gov candidate Andrew Giuliani refuses to wear mask indoors while campaigning despite being unvaccinated

I miss the days when “dying to own the libs” was rhetorical.

Pretty sure that if last weekend if I or almost anyone I know publicly said of the military coup in Myanmar “It should happen here,” we’d have already had a knock on our door from the FBI.

Amy Klobuchar has decided she likes Anderson Cooper’s new term for the Former Guy – “The Man from Mar-A-Lago.” “Man” might be a bit of a stretch but I like it. And I must admit it’s more professional than my preferred Velveeta Voldemort.

It was November 10, when the Washington Post quoted an unnamed senior White House office about Trump “What is the downside for humoring him for this little bit of time? No one seriously thinks the results will change. It’s not like he’s plotting how to prevent Joe Biden from taking power on Jan. 20.”

That aged well.

CNN headline “America’s worker shortage is real and getting worse” -US Chamber CEO Have to wonder during pandemic how many low-paid workers realized costs of work, commute, clothes, food, dependent care, were more than they were making. Child & elder care ARE infrastructure.-

Despite majority in state legislature & all major statewide offices, Calif. Democrats lost some close House races in 2020. Trying to imagine if CA legislature thus decided to limit votes in rural areas & give state officials power to overturn elections. GOP heads would explode.

Fanning the flames.

June 1, 2021

True sports fans have to give Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau credit tonight. He loves the NHL Montreal Canadiens. And was unabashedly rooting for them against Maple Leafs – a hard luck/cursed team for over 50 years that happens to be from the most populous province in Canada.

Even Cubs fans are feeling sorry for the Toronto Maple Leafs.

(Leafs haven’t won since 1967. Haven’t won a playoff series since 2004.)

I think optimistic SF Giants fans had the team at .500 on Memorial Day. But in first place in the best division in baseball?

And early days, but Mike Tauchman’s catch of Albert Pujols’ near home run on Friday night, might turn out to be this season’s Brian Johnson moment for the SF Giants against the LA Dodgers. (Google it, youngsters.)

Baseball

A fan was arrested tonight in Boston for throwing a water bottle at Kyrie Irving after the Nets beat the Celtics. While I can’t blame everything on the Former Guy, I do blame him for encouraging everyone to embrace their inner a**hole.

This may be an unpopular option, but for all those who want to abolish the shift in baseball, I’m thinking, uh, average MLB salary is over $4 million. For that you can learn to hit to the opposite field. Maybe learn to bunt even.

Starting in 1952, this state voted Republican in Presidential elections, except for LBJ in 1964, EVERY year until 1992. The state is California. Don’t tell me we can’t turn Florida or Texas blue in 2022.

Kyrsten Sinema still hasn’t said why she missed the January 6 Commission vote. Respectfully saying, Senator Sinema, doesn’t matter if you’re Democrat or Republican, a perceived cover-up of something is almost always worse than the actual reason.

To quote the late great Ralph Barbieri, more than one thing can be equally true.

  1. Kamala Harris’s memorial day weekend tweet wasn’t her best.

2. This doesn’t excuse GOP from hypocrisy on steroids over even more tone-deaf actions and yes, tweets on Memorial Days past. (Anyone remember Ivanka’s champagne popsicle tweet?)

The same Republicans now trying to wrap themselves in the flag on Memorial Day weekend have also shown they now have no problem with a Confederate flag on January 6 in the US Capitol.

Just thinking that all of Joe Biden’s weekends at home in Wilmington, Delaware probably have cost U.S. Taxpayers less than one of the Former Guy’s golf weekends.

Does anyone think if GOP retook Senate and he needed to pass legislation that Mitch McConnell would have a minute’s hesitation in abolishing the filibuster?

The Former Guy’s pardon absolved Flynn of “any and all possible offenses” arising from Mueller’s investigation. So does that mean trying to incite a coup in 2021 isn’t covered?

Thought I had pretty good education on racial injustice in past century – knew about Birmingham Church bombing, Emmett Till, Rosa Parks, Freedom Summer, George Wallace standing at U of Alabama door… Honestly don’t remember ever hearing until recently about Tulsa Race Massacre.

-‘

GOP Senator Shelley Moore Capito, 67, says elder care is not infrastructure. So I presume her House and Senate pensions will cover any elder case she might need in future, or her children are planning to take care of her if need be? Many average Americans aren’t so lucky.

So apparently many Republicans don’t know who Lee Harvey Oswald was, and political pranksters got some of them on Memorial Day including Matt Gaetz, to RT pictures of Oswald as a private in the Marines.

Given racial politics of today’s GOP I’m actually surprised someone didn’t try to get RTs for a uniformed picture of 1945-48 Army veteran James Earl Ray. (Yes, he served a few years but was discharged.)

Saturday night’s not alright for fighting

May 30, 2021

Atlanta Braves star outfielder Marcell Ozuna was arrested on Saturday in Fulton County, Georgia, on domestic battery and aggravated assault charges for allegedly choking his wife.

While expectations are the Braves may cut ties with Ozuna, the outfielder had been recently placed on IL with broken fingers on his hand and was expected to miss about six weeks. Which is about how long he’d be suspended if he were in the NFL.

One more thought about Friday night’s game – who’d have imagined a month ago a Giants Dodgers’ May 2021 classic would come down to Albert Pujols being robbed by Mike Tauchman?

As much fun as this Giants-Dodgers rivalry is, if the Padres don’t cool off it’s all going to be about who gets home field advantage for the wild card. Just saying.

RIP Gavin MacLeod, aka Captain Stubing. Must admit I loved “The Love Boat.” Except for when I got into the travel industry and clients expected cruise ship cabins to look like they did on TV.

ESPN headline – “MLB reaches 2 million total runs when Minnesota Twins’ Josh Donaldson crosses plate.” So were 1 million of them at Coors Field?

As teams start being eliminated in round one of the NBA playoffs, wonder how many sports fans can name the NBA teams who started in the playoffs?

As a moderate liberal even though Krysten Sinema ran as a centrist in a purple state, I can accept her being to the right of me on issues. But theatrical flourishes & refusing to explain an absence for a big vote -like on the January 6 commission – isn’t helping anyone’s cause, including her own.

Yeah, I know it’s almost certainly illegal, but would be really fun if Schumer & Senate Democrats snuck into town for a day during the Memorial Day recess, invoked cloture & passed a bunch of stuff by voice vote.

Why we can’t have nice things. Or even mediocre wine: American joining Southwest in not resuming alcohol sales on board after incidents of violence against flight attendants, often over masks. Of course if Trump had criticized them, we would have had incidents over seat belts.

Since some COVIDiots now using “we don’t want to be guinea pigs” excuse to avoid mandatory vaccinations for work etc, presume they just want to stay untreated at home if they get bad case of COVID. Since all treatments are year old or less any patient IS essentially a guinea pig.

Republicans trying to make it possible in some states for elected officials to overturn election results: Just imagine, for example, if Democrats had convinced Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf to try to overturn 2016 Presidential election results?

President Biden: “I call again on Congress to pass For the People Act & John Lewis Voting Rights Act. I call on all Americans, of every party & persuasion, to stand up for democracy, protect right to vote & integrity of our elections.” Reminder on Memorial Day weekend what they died for.

The Giants win a game! The Giants win a game.

May 29, 2021

Okay, the 2021 SF Giants have won a LOT of games.

But Friday night was their first against the LA Dodgers.

Any long term #SFGiants fan remember 1993? When Colorado Rockies lost all 13 games to Atlanta Braves – ONE win would have put SF into at least a one-game playoff for the postseason. Whatever happens this season, at least 2021 Giants vs Dodgers are not the 1993 Rockies vs Braves.

Mike Krukow and Duane Kuiper – discussing Dodgers’ Gavin Lux new “yoga pants” uniform look…Which is a good description of them fitting very tightly. S

So how long until we see someone slide into a base and come up with split pants?

-The NY Post posted pictures of Bill and Hillary Clinton at a “posh’ NYC restaurant dining with friends.

Hillary’s response ‘Get vaccinated, then you can enjoy a glass of wine with friends.”

Enough of a burn to mull that wine.

After a passenger assaulted a flight attendant, Southwest Airlines decided NOT to resume alcohol service in June. I’d say “Wanna get away,” but at least Southwest did ban her from flying with them, permanently.

In St. Petersburg, Florida, a concert promoter is offering tickets for $18 if you’re vaccinated.

$1,000 if you aren’t.

Sometimes I love the free market!

If Lisa Murkowski became an independent, the biggest fallout for her could be losing committee assignments. On the other hand, if McConnell removed her from committees, she’d be that much more receptive to offers to become a conservative Democrat…. And Mitch knows that. Hmm.

So let’s see… now that Senate Republicans have destroyed the chance for a bipartisan January 6 commission, how long will it take before GOP starts screaming bloody murder about what will now be a Democratric-led commission in the House?

So when will Republicans officially change their slogan to “We can’t-handle the truth.”

Fox News about Jan 6: “Mob briefly stopped certification process in Congress as lawmakers had to evacuate the chambers & take cover.” “Briefly stopped?” Uh, I stayed up to watch Klobuchar & Blunt & Pence certify results. They finished close to 4am. Maybe Fox forgot?

Reason for optimism: Senate Rules & Homeland Security Committees working on a joint report on Jan 6- due out in about 2 weeks… wonder if they may work longer. It’s Klobuchar & Peters as chairs, then Blunt & Portman as ranking members. And Blunt & Portman are retiring….

Also on a brighter note, did GOP forget that as with Benghazi, the House IS capable of having their own commissions? Pretty d*mn sure Nancy Pelosi hasn’t forgotten.

If GOP really thought there was a single Antifa supporter partly responsible for the five deaths and over 100 police injuries on January 6, a bipartisan commission would have passed unanimously.

Wee hours

May 28, 2021

 

Oklahoma and Nebraska are upset because their college football rivalry, “on the 50th anniversary of the Game of the Century”, will kick off at 11 a.m local time on September 18 on Fox.

Meanwhile, Stanford’s first game, FS1’s opener on Sept 4, will kick off – at AT&T Stadium in Dallas, also at 11 a.m.

9 a.m. Pacific Time.

It’s TV’s world, we just live in it.

76ers indefinitely banned fan from Wells Fargo Center who dumped popcorn on Russell Westbrook. Knicks indefinitely banned fan from MSG who spit on Trae Young. Why stop there? What’s with this “indefinitely?” And shouldn’t NBA ban them from ALL games?

My son’s little league coach was a good and patient man., he’d have benched the whole infield for this.

As the GOP obsession with masks continues who’s gonna be the first to say seat belts are an attack on our freedoms?

Nice: not to wake up every morning in 2021 and think “Now WTF did he tweet?” Not so nice: To wake up every morning in 2021 and think “Did we have another mass shooting?

LA Times headline “Tragedy in San Jose.” Uh, a tragedy involves a hero with a fatal flaw. Nothing heroic about another angry man with a gun, and a Congress that refuses to take action to reduce these mass shootings.

“They’re afraid of Donald Trump.” Senator Dick Durbin, summing up the GOP Senate in one sentence.

Marco Rubio talking about one of his amendments, acknowledging it won’t pass, but “I still want to take this opportunity to talk about this and have a vote on it.” UH, WHERE WERE YOU SENATOR RUBIO WHEN MCCONNELL WOULDN’T HAVE VOTES ON ANYTHING?

Many like to talk about intent of the Founding Fathers:

Amy Klobuchar on with Chris Hayes tonight before Jan 6 commission vote: “Our job isn’t just about winning. Our job is about getting things done for people and getting things done for our country.”

I think Amy nailed it.

Average Americans still can’t get onto the grounds of the Capitol. Heck, even local Washington D.C. florists can’t deliver flowers to a member of Congress. (Seriously.) But GOP wants to pretend nothing happened January 6?

I don’t care what BS reasons GOP Senators gave in early hours of May 28 to delay bipartisan Science & Technology bill. The ONLY reason they were still talking was to delay vote on the January 6 commission bill.

So at 3am Senate decided to take six hours off for naps? Then GOP delaying tactics for the January 6 commission start again at 9a..

Can we all remind anyone we know with a Republican Senator we are paying them big bucks for this BS?

Late night reminder: If Democrats had managed to save Senate seats for Mary Landrieu (LA) & Claire McCaskill (MO) not only would we not be fretting as much about Sinema and Manchin, but we wouldn’t have John Kennedy and Josh Hawley.

As a travel agent I know flights are exceptionally full for this Memorial Day weekend. Is it wrong to hope that Ron Johnson has caused some of his GOP Senator colleagues not only to miss tonight’s flight but to be unable to find a flight home tomorrow?

Too high a cost.

May 26, 2021

Apparently Panda Pablo Sandoval is still being booed in Boston after the Red Sox let him go midway through a 5-year $95 million contract. Uh, shouldn’t they be booing the guy who gave him the contract?

Former SF Giants Randy Winn just talked about “going through your mental rolodex” on a pitcher. Great image. Google it, children.

Baseball

Former MLB pitcher and veteran pitching coach Mickey Callaway was suspended by MLB through end of 2022 season & fired by Angels over sexual misconduct allegations by 5 women in the media industry over 5 years.

Callaway can be rehired after 2022. Since he’s a white guy, assume the question will be not “is he rehabilitated,” but “can he help us win?”

Adam Vinatieri, 48, has announced he is retiring from the Senate. So soon? Looking at Biden winning the Presidency, Brady winning the Super Bowl and Mickelson winning the PGA, have to figure Vinatieri might be a favorite for 2021 NFL scoring title.

Republicans taking a fair amount of heat and looking suspicious for opposing the January 6 commission. So what part of the truth can’t they handle?

I understand Majority Leader Schumer has his reasons for things: But Kristen Gillibrand and Joni Ernst and Chuck Grassley and 64(!) co-sponsors on the Military Sexual Assault bill? C’mon Chuck, bring the damn bill to the floor.

Have no idea how long this NY Grand Jury is going to take to do its work. But expect panicked media handwringing starting in about a week.

Biden has doubled to $1 billion FEMA fund that helps communities prepare for natural disasters. While wildfires do affect California, guessing most of this money will go to red states with tornados & hurricanes. Think GOP and conservative media will give Joe any credit at all?

And now sadly to the mass shooting du jour.

As at least eight people are victims of today’s mass shooting, your reminder that Texas wants to make it even easier to carry a gun than to vote.

Saying “the shooter is no longer a threat,” is not exactly comforting to the families of at least eight people. #SanJose

Fox News headline: “San Jose shooting leaves 8 dead, deceased suspect identified.” So yeah, that’s how I knew the “deceased suspect” was a white guy.

But seriously, white (alleged) mass shooter in San Jose, many of the eight victims were brown and/or foreign born.” For some reason reason conservative media like Fox News, who always make sure to put “immigrant” in their headlines when a shooter isn’t US born, are barely mentioning that.