Left Coast Sports Babe

SF Giants have been beyond abysmal this last week. But what’s going on with summer heat and NL West over last 10 games? With 6 losses in a row Giants 4-6. Dodgers have lost 2 in row so so 6-4 Dbacks 2-8 Padres 4-6

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Seven players now have been suspended indefinitely by the NFL this offseason for betting on games in 2022.

Now, the hypocrisy of how important gambling is to football aside, here’s the question I have… Just how STUPID do you have to be to place bets as an NFL player somewhere, and think you won’t get caught?

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Trivia for the night. I use the word, “lede” for “bury the lede” in a story.

And realized this week some people think it’s a mistake. Nope “The introduction to a news article is called the ‘lede’ and is usually in the first paragraph as in an essay. The ‘lede’ is a deliberate misspelling of ‘lead’ to prevent confusion in the days when printing was done with lead type.”

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Clickbait world doesn’t just mean political problems.

Lots of headlines on Amsterdam banning cruise ships. Yes, that’s the new PLAN. But while travelers may be getting riled up & travel agents are getting calls – the truth is “Despite Amsterdam’s Intentions to Curb Cruising, No Changes Right Now.”

(So yeah, probably next year…things could change, and yes, next year Americans will probably have to do an E-visa type thing for Europe. But we don’t have to freak out right NOW about either.)

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Again about the US Citizen caught at border with 18 pounds of cocaine in cheese:

For as much fearmongering as some media, especially right-wing media, does, anyone who’s seen pictures of migrants trying to cross knows they often just have clothes on their backs.

Serious smugglers need vehicles or suitcases.

And to drive or fly you need to be US citizen or at least legal visitor.

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Just heard that Ron DeSantis’s Presidential campaign is trying to get “leaner and meaner.” Uh, pretty hard to imagine how Ron could get meaner.

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Dear Mark Zuckerberg. Since most websites are already set up with a virtual button when you can share something to the little blue bird app, may I suggest using the now available little bird for Threads?

Sometimes during a baseball season I’ve taken trips for a week or so out of the country where it’s been almost impossible to keep up on what’s going on real-time with SF Giants . Sadly this last week was not one of them.

Buying Twitter and getting rid of the blue bird is like buying the NY Yankees and saying “Nah, I don’t like pinstripes.”

Most media, even non-sports media, covered USNWT’s 3-0 opening win in World Cup. Some sportwriters said team a bit sloppy. But on Fox News, headline ignores win but calls them “unpatriotic” – some women didn’t sing or put hands over heart during national anthem. (They all stood for the anthem.)

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Heard today that there’s a chance SF Giants might try to get Matt Duffy back and that makes me irrationally happy!!

Maybe if it happens SF Giants fans can chip in to buy Matt a kitten

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Las Vegas Aces are now 21-2 in WNBA season.

Of course the players deserve most of the credit. But how many NBA teams passed on Becky Hammon because they didn’t think she would be a good head coach?

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Wonder what Musk would do if after he changes this app’s logo to an X, Zuckerberg then changes Threads’ logo to a little blue bird.

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Story today about US Customs finding cheese wheels filled with cocaine at the border: Two important things: First, the word is SEIZED: U.S. Customs under President Biden did their job . Second, the buried lede: “The 22-year-old driver, a US citizen…”

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CNN “Recent poll found Americans think re-electing Biden would be more of “setback or disaster” than re-electing Trump” & one of their analysts has idea why? Uh… 1. The only poll that matters is voting total. 2. Because CNN would rather lead with ANYTHING but Biden’s successes?

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Biden has many prominent Democratic leaders on campaign advisory board glad to act as Joe’s surrogates with media. Maybe even appear on Fox News if asked. Senators include Cory Booker, Amy Klobuchar & Elizabeth Warren

But which “Democrat” was asked for Fox News “Sunday Morning Futures?” this week?

RFK Jr. Nuff said.

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So why aren’t MAGA Republicans enjoying outdoor weather when it’s over 100 degrees? Weather is only science and Trump, DeSantis, etc have told them to disregard science.

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Again, if you only watch Fox.

Here’s the headline. “Book a cruise recently? You could be forced to change vacation over ‘woke’ agenda”

Not exactly about “woke.” Amsterdam just moved to stop cruise ships from using downtown port because of crowds & day tourists overwhelming city.

Imagine if there were a port in Palm Beach near Mar-a-Lago

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While President Biden is taking aim at junk fees, here’s a couple travel agent examples from random weeknights in September in Las Vegas: Excalibur $53 a night. Resort fees $35 a night Rio Suites $20 a night. Resort fee $45 a night Hotel fees ARE out of control.

As World Cup gets started got to be tough for some haters. Favored USNWT team has 7 black women, 2 Mexican Americans and 3 gay women. As the LA Times says – “The team looks like the country it represents.”

Not just that Oakland A’s are historically bad after 100 games in MLB season at 27-73, but their run differential is -260. Yes, 2.6 runs, a game.

And to put this in perspective, the Washington Nationals (who beat the Giants tonight) and the Colorado Rockies are the worst teams in NL right now. Each of them wins about 4 of 10 games.

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If MLB owners approve the move and Nevada gets the A;s is there the sports equivalent of a lemon law?

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Yes, Texas Governor Greg Abbott’s actions against women and children at Rio Grande are horrific. But also doesn’t it seem with labor shortage in USA & potential immigrants willing to risk their lives to come here and work…that we should be able to figure something out on a bipartisan basis?

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So remind me what Special White House advisor position President Biden appointed his son Hunter to?

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-Have to give Ron DeSantis a small bit of credit here: For all his cruel stunts, Ron’s rewriting Florida textbooks to appeal to the worst in the Republican party gave Democrats and Vice President Harris a chance to speak out on a subject the media will actually cover.

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Senator Amy Klobuchar posted a story today about Johnson & Johnson being the latest pharmaceutical company suing to try and stop Medicare’s drug price negotiations. 

Now, not everyone may be aware, but Johnson and Johnson gross profit for the twelve months ending March 31, 2023 was $64.377B.

Yes, $64.377 BILLION.

Who says there’s no bipartisan agreement in Washington DC? Think Democrats, Republicans and Independents are all thrilled that the owner of the Washington Commanders is no longer Dan Snyder!

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SF Giants lineup lately can have up to 4 rookies at a time. Means youthful exuberance & at times youthful stupidity. But assuming Gabe Kapler didn’t have to point out story of Mariners OF Jarred Kelenic, 24 – having his best year before he kicked water cooler & broke his foot.

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Even though some of Ivanka, Donald Jr & Eric’s business deals were controversial, Democrats didn’t spend time on nonstop investigations when Speaker Pelosi had the gavel.

Why? Because Democrats were actually focused on GOVERNING & getting stuff done for the American people.

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A tornado destroyed a Pfizer plant in North Carolina – which will reportedly lead to long term shortages of medicines, including anesthesia and other sterile injectables for U.S. hospitals. Waiting to see how GOP and some media make this Biden’s fault.

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Yes, the House hearing with RFK Jr Thursday morning was a circus. But the Senate Judiciary Committee at the same time was talking about and voting to advance legislation that would require the U.S. Supreme Court to adopt a binding code of ethics.

Guess which one cable news was seriously covering?

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Understand that expanding the Supreme Court is a controversial issue. But how can ANYONE with a straight face be against a Supreme Court code of ethics, for judges regardless of politicial orientation? And yet this is the GOP position now.

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Marjorie Three Names said pictures of Hunter Biden having sex, when he admits to having being an addict, are “evidence the American people deserve to see.”

Imagine if Greene’s ex, who filed for divorce, amid rumors of her having affairs, leaked sex pictures of her because he decided Americans deserved to see them?

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On top of the insanity in Marjorie Three Names’ behavior on House floor Wed., she ranted about how Hunter Biden, who has never held office, has paid prostitutes. While she’s backing GOP candidate for President who lied about having his lawyer pay off one of his prostitutes,

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When cable news gives RFK Jr more attention than Joe Biden And when cable news gives Joe Manchin more attention than any other Senator… We, and democracy, have a problem.

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I realize people can register for whatever party they choose. But wish we could stop referring to RFK Jr as a “Democratic Presidential Candidate?” He might have a “D” by his name but he’s no more a Democrat than say, Tulsi Gabbard, who finally admitted it.

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Who says there’s no bipartisan agreement in Washington DC? Think Democrats, Republicans and Independents are all thrilled that the owner of the Washington Commanders is no longer Dan Snyder!

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In Texas, anti-choice “expert witness” testified in FAVOR of forcing women to carry nonviable pregnancies to term & said holding dead infant could “improve the grief” process for parents & even young children. So drag queens will traumatize kids but not seeing dead baby sibling?

Baseball is great for those of us who believe in small mercies and finding the good in every day.

Like today, when the SF Giants had their seven game win streak broken in a 3-2 game they should have won.

But the other orange and black team, the Baltimore Orioles moved into first place in the AL East by beating LA Dodgers.

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Weird stat in the Giants Reds game.

The Reds won 3-2. They only batted in eight innings since they had the lead. But in SEVEN of the eight innings, they were retired in order. Yep, seven of eight perfect innings. But in that one other inning, four hits including a three run home run.

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Northwestern, once a perennial Big Ten doormat, has become recently known as a bright light among universities for combining academics with top athletic programs.

Not sure what’s more horrific, the stories coming out now about hazing? Or wondering now at how many other top athletic schools the hazing might be as bad or worse.

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Many Republican actions make sense IF you realize GOP plan in 2024 is not to win a majority of votes but to keep people who disagree with them from voting.

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Has a single GOP member of Congress condemned Marjorie Three Names’ showing Hunter Biden’s private nude pictures today?

I’ll wait.

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And uh, C-Span is available through many cable TV packages and streaming and on phones.

After Marjorie Three Names’ stunt with Hunter Biden nude pictures today, shouldn’t GOP demand her future appearances be blocked from schools, libraries etc?

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In-N-Out Burger forbidding workers in 5 Western states from wearing COVID masks unless they have doctor’s letter. GOP claims to care about religious freedom. What if worker quotes Bible “Blessed are those who have regard for the weak” & says they’re protecting elderly & at-risk?

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Am reminded today of that great courtroom scene from Miracle on 34th Street, when the judge finally rules that yes you can say- “Mr. Kringle IS Santa Claus.” As today a real judge rules that yes, you can say Donald Trump IS a rapist.

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Donald Trump is reportedly furious that Sarah Huckabee Sanders won’t endorse him “Nobody has done more for her than I have.” What a whiny little child he is. Does Donald think he’s running for President or homecoming king?

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ND Governor Doug Burgum is giving out $20 gift cards for new donors who give $1. (He’s trying to get enough donors to make Presidential debate stage.) Don’t claim to be an expert on campaign finance law but can you imagine if a DEMOCRAT tried something like this?

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Stanford’s President resigned today, over concerns about his research. One thing the national news isn’t highlighting.

“The university launched its inquiry in December after a campus newspaper, the Stanford Daily, reported that there were concerns” about his published research. The reporter was a freshman!

Local journalism, including student journalism, matters!

Camilo Doval after his second save for SF Giants in six hours today, “I just leave it up to God.”

Watching the end of game one, suspended after hours of rain last night which ended up 4-2 Giants and then the bizarre game two, delayed by rain tonight which ended up 11-10, SF Giants over Cincinnati Reds, thinking if God was watching those baseball games She/He has a twisted sense of humor.

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The Yankees, still a few games above .500 are 1-4 since the All-Star break and the NY media is ready to turn the page on their season. For all those who imagine Shohei Ohtani in pinstripes The man seems to have fun playing baseball, WHY would he put himself in line for that?

(especially when other teams will match the half a billion plus reasons.)

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Mitch McConnell today talked about “radical climate ideas” and about Democrats being “oblivious to the real world.” Uh, has Mitch turned on the news, including the Weather Channel, lately?

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Chuck Grassley rambling on Senate Floor against Biden’s nominee for Deputy VA Secretary – says he gets “a lot information from whistleblowers. He has done same to accuse Hunter & Joe Biden. Are whistleblowers Grassley’s version of “big strong men with tears in their eyes?”

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So how do most of these Republican candidates for President expect us to think they can stand up to “all enemies foreign and domestic” when they can’t even stand up to a 77 year old loser with multiple criminal indictments?

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Trump World in 2023 – President Biden is a incompetent doddering old man who can barely tie his shoes. President Biden is personally directing and overseeing a vast conspiracy reaching into every level of Government to take down Donald Trump. Make it make sense.

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I don’t forget who Chris Christie is. And I remember that bridge shutdown – . Won’t ever vote for him. Doesn’t mean I don’t enjoy listening to Christie some days now on occasion. Sometimes when your opponents are pushing each other into holes, you just smile and stand back and watch.

Has there been an MLB season with TWO teams under a .300 winning percentage? Oakland As and Kansas City Royals are both well on their way…

On pace each to win fewer than 50 of 162 games.

Once again, turn on the television and Senators making headlines are the extremists. Those holding things up or the No Labels guy.

Not saying their names. What does the media have against good politicians actually doing their jobs???? (Yeah, I know, competence isn’t clickbait.)

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Tommy Tuberville presumably spent the weekend and Monday with the Senate off at fundraisers or relaxing after another week of holding the US military hostage. Amy Klobuchar was in Minneapolis with Veterans Affairs Secretary Denis McDonough talking about the bipartisan but Democrat-led PACT Act, passed last year finally to expand health benefits for vets..

See the difference?

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And yes, US Senate not in session Monday. And summer break goes from July 31 to Sept 7. Now some Senators are working. But with GOP Senators pulling dangerous stunts of blocking nominees and requiring slow confirmation process, why not cancel days (& nights) off and make them come vote?

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Still blows my mind that same GOP who accuse President Biden of trying to overreach his power with executive orders etc, have no problem supporting a man who has indicated past and future desires to be a dictator king.

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Should we start calling him Ron Disappointis?

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Think you’re safe as GOP only is going after trans people? Rachel Maddow tonight – TN, KY, AR, GA & MS (total of 19 GOP states) Attorney Generals want rights to get private medical records re potential out-of-state abortions? If you’re not terrified you’re not paying attention

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Does anyone think red states that are going after medical records for trans people and women seeking abortions will stop there? What’s next? Seeking private information on contraception, on fertility treatments (IVF is considered abortion by some)… on what books you buy?

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Since out-of-wedlock sex is frowned upon (mostly) in the Bible, imagine if a religious woman AG demanded access to private medical records for men traveling to obtain or mail ordering Viagra.

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From my very funny friend Neil Berliner. “Call a Republican politician today and tell him/her to not use air conditioning today, because Global Warming is just liberal propaganda.”

Meanwhile, if you’ve ever thought you had a bad day at work and your coworkers didn’t care…

This grounds crew member was eaten by the tarp 😭😅 pic.twitter.com/G0m80IQHO2

— SF Giants on NBCS (@NBCSGiants) July 18, 2023

At Wimbledon, today it’s called the “Gentlemen’s Final.”” Djokovic is an incredible talent. Not exactly a gentleman.

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And just saying. “Even if we don’t want to (have the vaccine), we all have to do it and so do I. It is the best solution to end the virus and live a normal life as soon as possible.” Carlos Alcarez, then 18, in April 2021.

Yeah, it’s been a rough year for the NY Mets. But SF Giants fans would like to thank them for tonight’s walk off win against the LA Dodgers.

From my funny friend Marc Ragovin. “I’m not saying the NY Mets are longshots to make the playoffs, but MLB just renamed them the “Doug Burgums.””

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As SF Giants fan, would love to see Shohei Ohtani in Orange & Black at Oracle Park. And understand big price would have to be paid, especially if he’s traded. But if SF trades star prospects better be sure they can sign him. Remember Zack Wheeler for 2 months of Carlos Beltran?

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As Ron DeathSantis’s Presidential campaign falters…will residents of the state someday realize he hurt so many people and destroyed Florida’s public education system, healthcare, tourism industry etc, for nothing?

Jason Aldean, who was singing on stage when during Las Vegas concert massacre in 2017 – 60 dead, over 400 injured, now has a song “Try That In A Small Town.”

Lyrics are about how he and his friends will shoot you if you try to take their guns.

Of all the people spouting crazy gun nonsense, Aldean and Steve Scalise are two that I just really don’t get. Both of them came close to dying because people who shouldn’t have had guns had guns.-

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Something which isn’t spoken about enough. Carrying a nonviable pregnancy to term is not only emotionally devastating, it also at the least delays a woman who wants a child from getting pregnant again. And could cause complications that make a future pregnancy impossible.

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As GOP right-wing inserts banning abortion access into the Defense bill, why don’t they go further to reduce number of unwanted pregnancies (and thus potential abortions by demanding that men in military not be covered for Viagra?

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Would never vote for Chris Christie for President. But the former NJ Governor is clearly out of firetrucks to give. He’s being honest. And he is having fun.

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Going to keep saying this. Even many Republicans know Tommy Tuberville’s stunt in holding up military confirmations is not just stupid but also dangerous. So why can’t Senate Majority Leader, Mitch McConnell, who is 81 years old, rein him in? Is Mitch too old to do HIS job?

Per ESPN – SF Giants at the All-Star Break – Record: 49-41-| Projected final record: 87-75 Playoff odds: 62% As an SF Giants fan, hope this newfound ESPN respect isn’t the kiss of death.

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2023 Oakland A’s are working on a legendary season. Unfortunately that season was that of the 1962 Mets.

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Since clearly sports success was considered by Alabama voters to be a top qualification for the U.S. Senate, maybe it’s time for Charles Barkley to run next…

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Charles Barkley again speaks in support of LGBTQ+ community, adds support for Bud Light: ‘If you’re gay, bless you. If you’re transgender, bless you.’

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NY Times headline – “Pence Raises Just $1.2 Million, Aides Say, in Worrying Sign for 2024 Bid.”

Pence may not even make the GOP debate stage. But In all seriousness, does ANYONE want Mike Pence to be President? Except Mother?

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Lauren Boebert ranting during defense bill negotiation, that she “doesn’t send her boys to school to be sexualized….” Uh, Lauren Boebert’s 17 year-old son got his 15 year-old girlfriend pregnant and is now a father. Seems like he had no problem being “sexualized.” Sex-ed OTOH?

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Meanwhile today read GOP attack on Lindsey Graham. For what? Just because Graham said “I’ve known Joe Biden for 25 yrs, I like him, respect him, disagree w/ him more times than not, but if asked ‘Is Biden type of guy who would take $5 million bribe? Based on my experience, my answer is no.”

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As GOP right-wing inserts banning abortion access into the Defense bill, why don’t they go further to reduce number of unwanted pregnancies (and thus potential abortions by demanding that men in military not be covered for Viagra?

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Trump didn’t create homophobes, xenophobes, racists, misogynists and other bigots. He just empowered them.

Especially this Friday. Because those three magical words after the All-Star break “Baseball is back.”

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Got to admit, if someone asked about what university might fire their football coach over hazing allegations and their baseball coach over bullying allegations in the same week, Northwestern was not the first school that would have come to mind.

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The Athletic reports James Harden is “determined” to have a trade work out so he can be with the Clippers for the 2023-2024 season.

Guess Harden wants to add another to the long list of teams he hasn’t won a championship with?.

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Internal DeSantis campaign memo blames sagging poll numbers on “corporate media” attacks. Uh, Ron basically refuses to talk to media. And among Florida GOP who know him best, he’s trailing badly to Trump. The man responsible for his poll numbers is the man in the mirror.

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House just voted party-line 221 – 213 to overturn DOD policy guaranteeing abortion access to service members regardless of where they’re stationed. And GOP has audacity to complain of military recruitment problems. Why would ANYONE take job where you gave up control of your body?

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For all the fear-mongering about immigrants recently, attempted border crossings are DOWN. At their lowest since February 2021.

Another reason GOP is attacking the LGTBQ community. They need Americans to be scared. Where monsters don’t exist, they’ll create the fiction of monsters.

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CNN has story of Allegient flight that hit turbulence resulting in multiple injuries. Have to wonder, is all this anti-vax, anti-max, anti-reading etc stuff making people stupid? Simple tip. Flight attendants tell you keep your seat belt on when seated. Keep it on when seated!

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Great news in that FDA just approved “Opill,” to be the 1st over-the-counter birth control pill available in United States. Opill should be available early in Jan-Feb 2024. Wonder how long (and with what trumped up reason) it will take GOP in some states to try to ban it?

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Actual headline from San Jose Mercury News. “Consumers see relief as inflation drops.”

Shocking, not because it’s good news. And indicates Bidenomics is working.

But sadly these days it’s shocking to see media actually headlining GOOD news.

We need our local newspapers.

After months of deliberation Cooper Davis bill passed Senate Judiciary Committee today, w/ bipartisan support, but with some no votes, which could doom it in Senate. (The bill would require social media companies and other service providers to take a more proactive role in working with federal agencies to fight the sale and distribution of drugs on their platforms..)

Is the bill perfect, probably not? But Amy Klobuchar sums it up correctly; Big Tech includes the biggest, most powerful companies in the world. They have money, and & lobbyists… so they find support, from Senators on both sides of the aisle, to scuttle ANY bill they don’t love.

Kevin McCarthy briefly attended Women’s Congressional Softball Game. My non-better angels would have loved to see a foul accidentally hit him in the balls.

But after this year seems pretty clear he doesn’t have any.

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In 2024, the Houston Astros and Colorado Rockies will play in Mexico City on April 27-28.

Since Houston is basically at sea-level, guessing this will be a serious Colorado home field advantage.

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For those going through baseball withdrawal today, there was the annual Congressional Women’s softball game played in Washington DC with women members of Congress against the DC press.

The press won 15-9, and that was after a comeback as Congressional women were down 12-0.

Not sure her politics but maybe someon should recruit former Stanford star Jessica Mendova to run for office? #RInger

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All this effort by GOP and media expended on Biden’s age.

Meanwhile, Mitch McConnell, GOP Senate leader is older than Joe. Personally I think at Biden’s next inaugural he should have octogenerians Mick Jagger, Steve Miller, Paul McCartney and the Who play….

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Give Tommy Tuberville credit. He’s giving Ted Cruz competition on a bipartisan basis for most loathed Senator.

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Louisiana Sen. John Kennedy whining today on Senate floor about issues getting new police chief in New Orleans & how that may affect safety. Fair enough, police leadership matters. But why isn’t he using time & effort to stop his fellow Senator’s blocking new MILITARY leadership.

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Disney board just extended CEO Bob Iger’s contract by two years. Meanwhile in recent polling Florida REPUBLICANS prefer Trump by a wide margin over Governor DeSantis. Don’t mess with the Mouse.

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DeSantis says he won’t run for vice president next year: “I’m not a No. 2 guy.” Uh, some of us might beg to differ.

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Per CNN “A high-profile Russian general in command of forces in occupied southern Ukraine said he was dismissed from his post after accusing defense ministry of betraying Russian soldiers by not providing sufficient support.” How long until we hear he’s fallen out of a window?

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For all the GOP talk about preventing abortions a simple way to do it might be vasectomies for all boys at puberty. Reversible upon proof of marriage.

MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred “My single biggest disappointment is because of the kind of political process in Oakland, we didn’t find a solution to keep the A’s in Oakland.” Wow, with that kind of duplicity, have to wonder, is Manfred planning to run for office as a Republican?

(Not an A’s fan. At all. But Oakland’s John Fisher is one of the worst owners in pro sports. Which is saying something.)

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After NL barely hung on to win their first All-Star game in over a decade, SF Giants fans could have told you. NL should have saved Camilo Doval for the 9th.

But Doval gets the win. So karma is well pleased.

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“Georgia football coach Kirby Smart says he hasn’t yet solved speeding issue that’s plagued his team – 11 moving violations AT LEAST – since a player and staffer died in a January 15 racing related crash.

But Smart says he “constantly looking & searching” for ways to address it.

Uh, two people are already dead in 2023. May I suggest “take away players’ car keys?

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Doesn’t really surprise me that the GOP has become increasingly partisan against the Democratic party. But it’s still surprising and more than a little sad to see how much today’s GOP has turned against democracy, in the US and around the world.

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Jon Tester is a good Senator. But Jon is not a far-left Democrat & doesn’t agree with Biden 100%. Tester is also is the ONLY Democrat who holds statewide office in Montana.

If you don’t know how important that is look in Alabama where moderate Doug Jones lost to Tommy Tuberville.

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And not getting much coverage but Dianne Feinstein is walking around on Senate floor these days & while she looks frail, looks much better than she did than in May DiFi KNOWS if she resigns Democrats lose Judiciary majority & ability to confirm Biden’s judges.

At this point she’s a hero. Period.

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Watching the train wreck that is Senator Tommy Tuberville should make us realize just how much of a bullet this country dodged by Georgia not electing Herschel Walker.

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Tommy Tuberville actually played football for Southern Arkansas in the 1970s. A charitable explanation for his behavior these days might be too many concussions?

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Have no idea if Musk arch-rival Mark Zuckerberg’s Threads will finally be the competitor that takes down Twitter. But Threads wouldn’t have existed if Elon hadn’t himself tried to destroy Twitter. Karma’s a b*tch.

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Today’s GOP: Boycotting Bud Light after one ad featured a trans woman is somehow patriotic. But Mike Lindell’s “My Pillow” company goes broke because his wild election conspiracy theories caused MANY retailers to drop his product & it’s “cancel culture.”

Make it make sense.

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So in the same week we’re hearing a GOP school superintendent say the Tulsa Race massacre wasn’t about race, and a GOP senator saying white nationalists aren’t racist. Are they that stupid? Or do they think voters are?

Another reason ESPN and Fox should not spend so much time broadcasting Yankees, Red Sox, Mets, Dodgers on a national basis Many of us outside the Baltimore were really just seeing Orioles catcher Adley Rutschman for the first time tonight in the Home Run Derby.

And guessing we won’t see Rutschman again much until the playoffs. Even then if the Orioles get in the big market teams will get prime time.

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When only eight senators vote against confirming Xochtil Torres Small to be Deputy Secretary of Agriculture – after the Senate Agriculture committee endorsed her unanimously, it’s pretty clear that their only reason for voting “No” was that Joe Biden nominated her.

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So it’s now headline news that President Biden sometimes has a temper in private? Shocking. This is normally only news when it’s a woman politician.

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Meanwhile, Ron DeSantis says “Media doesn’t want me to be the nominee.” What a whiny little b*tch.

So Mitch McConnell, leader of the supposedly pro-military GOP, cannot even reign in his rogue rookie Senator from Alabama over Tuberville’s dangerous stunt in blocking military appointments. Maybe Mitch, 81, is the leader whose age we should be worried about.

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It’s not just that Alabama could have kept the great Doug Jones as Senator. It’s that even those who wanted a extreme right-wing Republican could have had Jeff Sessions instead of the dangerous & incompetent fool Tommy Tuberville

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So who’d have expected Turkey would drop their opposition to Sweden being in NATO before Tommy Tuberville would drop his stunt of opposing all military promotions.

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Rachel Maddow on Turkey dropping opposition to Sweden joining NATO. “Turkey has relented and agreed, which is a huge win for President Biden and the Biden administration.” Why is the phrase “huge win for Biden” so hard for most in the media to say?

Tennessee is breaching patient confidentiality to obtain private record for transgender medical patients. Wonder what would happen if some woman against out-of-wedlock sex went after medical records for men who sought ED drugs or vasectomies.

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I LIKE Adam Schiff.

He’s my 1st primary choice.

But over $8 million raised for CA Senate campaign?! Folks, a Democrat will replace Feinstein in CA. Despite some conservative rural pockets, Caliifornia is BLUE at a state level.

People like Jon Tester, Sherrod Brown & Jacky Rosen need help. Don’t forget $$ to purple states. And local races. Hoping Schiff and others will do joint fundraising.

Somewhere Rick Reuschel and Kirk Reuter are smiling:

If Big Daddy and Woody had pitch clocks guessing they might have had complete game or two under 90 minutes.

Per SF Chronicle “Logan Webb’s complete game masterpiece was season-low 1 hr, 56 minutes, SF Giants’ shortest game in over 13 years. “

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Kudos to Gabe Kapler. Analytics probably said to pull Logan Webb after eight innings in a 1-0 game when SF Giants have an All-Star closer. But clearly Kapler’s eyes or heart, or both, told him to leave Webb in.

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Dave Flemming on Saturday talking about Flores’s lack of speed as runner at second base.

“Hit one over the wall and let Wilmer trot home.”

Austin Slater hits one over the wall and lets Wilmer trot home

Flemming, “I didn’t know all I had to do was ask.” Sometimes I love baseball. And good announcing. #SFGiants

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Congrats to Detroit Tigers for “combined no hitter” Saturday against Toronto Blue Jays. Bit of trivia, while “combined no hitter” seems like regrettable modern invention, 1st was June 23, 1917. Babe Ruth ejected for arguing with ump after 1st batter & Ernie Shore retired next 27!

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As a Spurs fan, delighted to see that Gregg Popovich, 74 will be around for the next five years. Maybe when Pop finally retires Mick Jagger, who will turn 80 in a few weeks, can play at his farewell concert. Age is just a number. #GoSpursGo

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We’ll know Threads is a serious threat to Twitter when you can gift an article from a newspaper with a paywall, and Threads is an option.

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As Rudy Giuliani now finally faces disbarment it’s worth remembering, on September 10, 2001, he was a VERY unpopular lame-duck mayor. The months after September 11 were his finest. But we’re now seeing why New Yorkers considered him a dumpster fire. And of course #ETTD

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NY Times reported that when President Biden got on Air Force One to fly to the United Kingdom Sunday that Joe was not wearing socks.

And yes, like most other people I read that Sunday morning and thought it was someone with a NY Times parody account.

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It’s “Breaking News” if Pres. Biden stumbles over a word.

Although as someone who stuttered as a child, Joe has done this for decades.

But crickets when Trump, 77, says in speech “I will also order our government to deny entry to all communists & markers (sic)” Markers? Like a sharpie?

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Meanwhile, Fox News big headline “Century-old shop closes as city struggles to attract tourists & workers. It’s about Goorin Bros. haberdashery. The truth? They have large store in San Francisco which is staying open but Goorin Bros is closing a small branch. Lies & fear are Fox brand.

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More from Fox –

Sounds like a sad story about a fight that turned deadly with a gun involved. But this Fox News headline “American teenager killed on Puerto Rico beach while on vacation.”

Uh, Puerto Rico IS part of America. But the racism and xenophobia is the point.

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Hunter Biden conceived a daughter during a brief encounter in his drug-addicted days that he now says he doesn’t remember.

Yes, child is innocent of circumstances of her birth.

But same GOP who attack Hunter & Joe now over the child, are now gleefully cutting other innocent kids from their benefits.

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Jack Smith’s investigation seems to be yielding serious results. And don’t wanna hear a word about it costing $9 million. As even Fox News reported Ken Starr spent $12.5 million on perjury & obstruction probe of Bill Clinton’s consensual sexual relationship with Monica Lewinsky.

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New Florida law pushed by Ron Deathsantis as part of his Presidential campaign criminalizes transgender people using restrooms that align with their gender. So Monroe Lace, Miss San Francisco, if she ever went to Florida would have to use the men’s room.. Cruelty is the point.

Carlos Rodon left the SF Giants for the Yankees probably in part because the Giants never gave him much offensive support.

Then as a Yankee he gets injured and just made his first start today – July 7.

And he pitches well, but NY loses 3-0.

(SF Giants lost too today, but at least they scored TWO runs.)

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New San Antonio Spur Victor Wembanyama was great defensively but had a rough offensive night in his first NBA Summer League game. Okay, how many casual fans ever watched or even paid attention to a Summer League game before?

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3-2 pitch by SF Giants Taylor Rogers in strike zone called ball w/ 2 two outs. Next Rockies batter hits 3-run home run. But if batter put 3-2 pitch in play & umpire mistakenly called him safe, would have been overturned on review. Balls & strikes ought to at LEAST be reviewable.

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President Biden delivers speeches on good news, and no

Princess Cruises Ruby Princess, scheduled to leave Thursday for Alaska from San Francisco, is still at the pier being repaired after, per Princess the ship made “unexpected contact” in a crash while docking at Pier 27 on Thursday morning. Uh, is there ever “expected contact?”

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Passengers remain on board with a full slate of activities. They have to decide by Sunday morning if they want to get off for a full refund or sail for a week with only two ports. Some of those interviewed on board seemed reasonably happy though. Considering how much of the US has been 90-100 degrees, they’re getting the best weather of their summer.

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Will be interesting to see if Muskrat finally decides to stop destroying Twitter, not because he cares about any of us longtime users, but because Elon can’t bear the thought of Mark Zuckerberg winning?

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USA Today “Presidential candidate Marianne Williamson runs to disrupt ‘status quo'” More accurate headline – Marianne Willamson runs to get attention.

WTF Yahoo News?

Headline “Embattled Yankees pitcher suspended for the season.

Uh, NY Yankees Jimmy Cordero wasn’t known to be “embattled” – he was having good year. And no details have been released. But he was suspended 76 games for a violation of MLB’s domestic violence policy. Doesn’t exactly sound worthy of sympathy.

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Ohtani, Trout, Judge..Kershaw

Plus Thairo Estrada, Merrill Kelly, Shane McClanahan, etc,

At this point thinking the IL All-Stars could beat the AL and NL All-Stars.

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United Airlines customer service airport line at SFO was at least 100 people long today. But tell me again how apps and technology mean travelers don’t need human help.

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Hate ageism. But if you needed any more proof that age is relative and varies greatly from person to person. Joe Biden at 80 is doing a great job and is more than capable of being President for another term. Andrea Mitchell at 76 should have retired a few years back.

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Open note to skeptics, MAGA and otherwise: If you don’t believe in vaccines, fine, don’t go to a doctor when you get sick.

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Pretty darn sure that most of these right-wing nut bars (technical term) in Wisconsin GOP have THEIR kids vaccinated against meningitis, etc. They don’t want to risk their children’s lives for politics. But they have no problem risking the lives of their voters’ children.

So last year it was all about making Americans afraid and angry about caravans and immigrants. Now it’s about making Americans afraid and angry about LGTBQ people. What’s next? Fear has become the GOP brand.

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So while Texas is sweltering through a hot summer that has at times already turned deadly, Ted Cruz is picking a fight with….Barbie? Today’s GOP, focusing on what really matters to average Americans.

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James Comey helped hand Donald Trump the Presidency, which handed SCOTUS an illegitimate majority. And now Republicans in Congress are going after… the FBI? GOP is as ungrateful as their cult leader.

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To get White House tour, or for that matter House or Senate galleries pass, you generally need assistance from a member of Congress. And you HAVE to leave your phone outside. So if cocaine was found in the cell-phone cubbies, seems like about 50-50 it was left by a GOP guest.

Remember when GOP and conservative pundits lost their collective minds over protesters near SCOTUS homes? Now Velveeta Voldemort posts what purports to be President Obama’s address, a January 6 defendant is arrested nearby with guns AFTER making threats…. and crickets.

Can someone in the SF Giants clubhouse turn all the calendars back to June?

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Again, one great thing about baseball is that there is usually SOMETHING to cheer about every day. Today, okay, the best thing for SF Giants fans to cheer about was a three run ninth inning for Pittsburgh Pirates to come from behind to beat LA Dodgers.

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Joey Chestnut won the July 4 -Nathan’s Hot Dog eating contest, again, this time after a rain delay

Clearly I’m missing something, but how does a hot dog eating contest need to have a rain delay?

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Actual NY Times headline: “Republicans Are Divided on Impeaching Biden as Panel Begins New Inquiry.” More accurate headline would have been: “Republicans, fearing they can’t defeat President Biden in 2024, trying to find some excuse to impeach him.”

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Politico has an article today as to why Democrats should primary President Biden. Saying it would be good for him and good for the party. More like it would be good for the media, who finds competence and a lack of controversy boring.

And curiously enough, writer has odd line including possible senators he thinks should primary Biden- “Even Beto O’Rourke or Amy Klobuchar or Cory Booker or Chris Murphy or Elizabeth Warren would suffice.” Those 4 Senators are the 4 Senators on Biden’s campaign advisory board!

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So if it’s about religious objections, doesn’t that also mean that say, a Jewish business can refuse to do any design for a Jew marrying a Catholic? For starters.

Seeing media stories today about suburban women who claim to be former Democrats now supporting Ron Deathsantis because he reopened schools.

Wonder why reporters aren’t interviewing women who were former Repubicans who now support Biden because he is protecting their rights?

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One of the worst things about ABC awful Twitter post normalizing Moms for Liberty. – ABC’s parent company is… Disney! If anyone ought to know about the dangers of anti-LQBTQ, anti-education wannabe authoritarians…

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In the midst of all the insanity, and nonstop delayed flights, Had two travel agency clients travel from the West Coast to New York last week who returned July 3, and both of their flights were on time!

This shouldn’t be news… but lately it is. If you’re flying right now, pack patience.

I know SF Giants have won a lot of bullpen games, but I like the concept about as well as I like the DH.

Especially when it means taking a pitcher (Ross Stripling) out who seemed for the first time in 2023 completely in control and had only thrown 24 pitches in 2 innings.

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Trying to imagine with analytics and pitch counts if now SF Giants manager Gabe Kapler had tried to take Madison Bumgarner in his prime out of a game…

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Yes they’re grown men being paid handsomely to play a game. But SF Giants finished Sunday Night ESPN game late night in New York, and had to fly home for a game Monday night..

The Seattle Mariners, their Monday night opponent were able to fly into San Francisco late Sunday afternoon.

Meanwhile the Mets have Monday off. No, baseball has no East Coast bias.

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Well, at least the SF Giants, with about half the payroll, have as many All-Star players this year as the NY Mets

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And baseball is a great sport for those who can savor small victories. Yes, the SF Giants lost two of three to the lowly NY Mets. OTOH, the LA Dodgers just lost to the lowlier KC Royals.

Leaving aside the conspiracy theories and hate that Moms of Liberty spouts, trying to imagine media reaction if a bunch of lesbian moms or moms of color started a political organization to influence what their children were taught…

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Anyone see that Nikki Haley called for “consensus on the fact that we should have contraception —that contraception should be available”?

Personally I can’t stand Haley but that statement actually makes sense. How long until she has to backtrack it in today’s GOP?

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Let’s be clear: Not just couple who “requested” gay marriage may have been fake. Designer who filed lawsuit had never CREATED wedding website before. Does this mean someone who’s always wanted to be wedding singer can sue if they might have to turn down couples “living in sin?”

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Dear Elon. Have you considered officially buying the Republican party?

Sincerely, Americans who wish you’d wreck something else

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If you think you have a tough job, imagine trying to sell Twitter advertising while explaining that yes, the boss is trying to limit how much most users can see posts, including ads, on the platform.

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If Twitter’s crash this weekend left you frustrated and looking for local news…. then please call your members of Congress and tell them to pass the Journalism Competition and Preservation Act. Local news has and will be, if it survives, one of the last defenders of democracy.

SF Giants announcers point out this is the NY Mets 13th blown lead loss… in June. Yeah, Mets fans, it is that bad. Sorry. But not tonight.

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As an SF Giants fan really miss Buster Posey. But Patrick Bailey is making it hurt a little less.

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Getting really tired of getting up in the morning and discovering the calendar has been turned backwards.

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Dark Brandon calling out “stunning hypocrisy” from some GOP members of Congress who are against student debt relief while they themselves took personal advantage of PPP loans during Covid. “I’m not going to stop fighting.”

But Americans need to help Joe fight, by voting. #VoteBlue

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GOP doesn’t want to give up tax cuts for millionaires & billionaires But they want to take school lunches from kids. GOP doesn’t want to give back money forgiven on their own PPP loans. But they want to get rid of student debt relief. See a pattern?

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Per AAA- A gallon of gas costs $1.30 less than a year ago. The second biggest one year drop in three decades. 1. Thank you Dark Brandon

2. Why isn’t media covering this more?

#DoBetterMedia

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So if your religion teaches “love one another” then thinking you’re pretty justified in refusing to serve groups like “Moms of Liberty” and also now most GOP politicians.

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Wait, Moscow Mitch McConnell is complaining about Democrats’ “distorted and outsided view of executive power?” Man who singlehandedly stole two SCOTUS seats says what?

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Fox News is referring to President Biden’s student debt forgiveness program that SCOTUS struck down today as a “student loan handout scheme.” Funny, they don’t mention PPP loan forgiveness, especially for members of Congress, as a “rich people handout scheme.”

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Designer hadn’t even started creating wedding websites but sued because she felt she wouldn’t have her rights protected. So now travel advisors could sue if we claim we thought of creating honeymoon agency but felt we wouldn’t be able to turn down couples who’d been divorced?

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Imagine if one-third of this Supreme Court were appointed by Hillary Clinton.

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NFL suspends several players from six games through the entire 2023 season over betting. They say it’s about the integrity of the game. No argument. But Jaguars LT Cam Robinson was suspended four games by league for PEDs. Four games. So integrity is just a bit relative.

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3rd time this spring-summer as travel agent I found hotels either sky high in a city or sold out and/or nonrefundable rates. Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, LA (Inglewood) Common denominator. Taylor Swift concerts. Forget football & baseball teams. Swift on her own is economic stimulus.

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Chris Christie may do to Ron DeSantis in the 2024 campaign what Elizabeth Warren did to Michael Bloomberg on that debate stage. And I am here for it.

No, I’m not voting for Christie. Ever. But he’s on the right side in this case. DeSantis should be nowhere near the White House.

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Claire McCaskill “We’ve never had a Supreme Court who seems so focused on taking things away.” Nailed it. (*Unless you’re a rich white man.)

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Wait until all these racist white people cheering today’s SCOTUS decision discover many of their kids are going to be kept out of their preferred colleges by Asian-Americans.

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If race really WERE a big advantage in getting into elite colleges then those rich parents who hired a counselor to pretend their kids were athletes would have probably paid someone to pretend their kids had Black heritage.

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Scot Peterson is a coward who did nothing while children were slaughtered at their high school in Parkland, Florida. But he was found not guilty on all counts. “Siri, what is white male privilege?”

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So if an armed school resource officer doesn’t do a darn thing to save lives, would someone like Ted Cruz or Ron DeSantis like to explain how he thinks arming teachers is going to help? I’ll wait.

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As Scot Peterson’s lawyer talks about his client, what he’s “endured”, how it’s been “four years of heartache and misery, no one should have to go through that…” You know some other heartache and misery,no one should have to go through.. ? Burying a murdered child

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Dishonest & despicable. Big tech lobbied to get Amy Klobuchar & John Kennedy’s bipartisan Journalism & Competition Act killed in Senate in Dec 22. CCIA calling a similar California of bill a “Link Tax.”

ICYMI – CCIA funded by Big Tech companies -Amazon, Apple, Facebook & Google.

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