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Pretty great, mostly because travelling with my daughter is awesome. But beyond that, Western Ireland is really great - full of really interesting vignettes that are surprising and beautiful in their own ways. There are windblown valleys that are nearly as dramatic as Iceland, ridiculously green grass valleys that belie what is possible on the color spectrum, a stone bridges over a creek wreathed in impossibly purple flower, Irish pubs that are so on-the-nose Irish that you'd think they were fake, and a people who are welcoming and warm. (19/19 WB)
It’s time once again for Oski Disciple’s question of the day.
Many characters in films, TV and books have said the following: “I’m afraid I’ll have to insist.” But have you ever heard someone say it in ‘real life’?
In real life, I've heard "I insist" or "I must insist". I think it's possible I've heard "I'm afraid that I'll have to insist", but I can't recall a specific instance.
"I'm afraid" seems to most often be used in conjunction with "that's not possible" in my experience.
I saw earlier today that the Cook Political Report says that Harris has made up lots of ground with Trump in *South Carolina*, which is a big surprise because Republicans have dominated politics in the Palmetto State for decades now.
Why the change? The Cook Political Report is that Democrats are coming home to Harris and no longer feel the state is a lost cause. Democrats, Blacks, and women are the demographics that have seen increased enthusiasm for the Democratic nominee. The Southeast corner of the continental US has 71 electoral votes (if I've counted correctly) that were mostly going to the GOP. If they ran Democratic this year, the Electoral College vote might not be as close as many think it will be.
The Oakland Athletics faced off against the National League Central’s Cincinnati Reds this afternoon at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati. Interestingly enough, this was the first A’s trip to Cincy since 2016.
Mitch Spence got the start for the A’s today. He went up against 31-year-old righty Jacob Junis for the Reds. Jacob Wilson returned to the lineup today after a stint on the Injured List (IL) with a strained left hamstring. He made the first put-out of the game for the A’s on a routine ground ball by Jonathan India.
The Milwaukee Brewers did all the little things Tuesday night. They played incredible outfield defense, stole bases, threw strikes, and even went first-to-third on an infield groundout. But the San Francisco Giants did slightly more of the big things, riding three home runs to a 5-4 win.
The Dodgers opened up a highly anticipated three game series against the Baltimore Orioles on Tuesday, where Baltimore fended off the Dodgers to win 3-2.
Jack Flaherty, who spent the second half of the 2023 season with Baltimore, made his first start since leaving in free agency last offseason. Cole Irvin was tasked with facing a right-handed heavy Dodger lineup, where the southpaw held an opponent’s OPS of .914 against right handed hitters entering Tuesday.
Catcher Danny Jansen was behind the plate to catch pitches against the pinch hitter who was subbed in after Jansen was traded to the other team mid-game, inheriting Jansen's 0-1 count.
Civil War (airplane 9/19 WNB). It's a roadtrip story of war correspondents in a hypothetical second American Civil War. The story avoids drawing direct parallels to the obvious polarization in today's American political world. Except for a show-stealing scene with Jesse Plemons, the theme is addressed obliquely and weakly. It seemed like a really shitty version of The Last of Us.
Cobra Kai (Netflix, 17/19 WB). Working my way through the first half of the new season. I think they're releasing it in two different halves. I just watched episode either 3 or 4. So far it's good. New old nemesis and a Mr Miyagi storyline.
Dream Scenario (airplane, 15/19 WB). It is a high concept film that asks the question "what if a normal person suddenly started appearing in a large percentage of people's dreams?" Normally high-concept films quickly run out of steam after quickly answering the question, but the script allows Cage to explore the idea along a spectrum - from darkly funny, to promising, to tantalizing, to sinister, to sad. It's a commentary on fame, cancel culture, and the light exceptionalism that most people have. It's a bit surreal, but it's pretty interesting albeit uncomfortable watch.
Napolean (airplane, 10/19 WNB). Beautifully shot. Wonderful costumes. Amazing sets and was swept away into the period. However, it is a terrible screenplay. I'm not sure if Ridley Scott edited this down, but the story arcs lacked clear conflict - so there was a lack of suspense or satisfying resolution to the story. It just felt like you were along for the ride and weren't really invested in characters. I think Ridley Scott may be in the bubble that George Lucas reached where nobody can give him advice and his movies now suffer as a consequence.
you gave it a 10/19? This movie was a crime against humanity. I saw the film and posted a lengthy diatribe on Facebook about its historic shitasticness (happy to post if people care, was pretty proud of it haha). I struggle with films based on history that I am very familiar with so I wasn't expecting much but lordy, Napoleon sucked beyond belief
I gather that you know something about the author and are offering a cryptic explanation. Again, how is a reader supposed to know what the author intended except for his/her own words?
And the spread in the Cal-UC Davis game is at best (worst?), Cal by 20 points. Arkansas is 48.5 point favorites vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff.
Ireland travels ... are you back @SGBear? how was it?
Pretty great, mostly because travelling with my daughter is awesome. But beyond that, Western Ireland is really great - full of really interesting vignettes that are surprising and beautiful in their own ways. There are windblown valleys that are nearly as dramatic as Iceland, ridiculously green grass valleys that belie what is possible on the color spectrum, a stone bridges over a creek wreathed in impossibly purple flower, Irish pubs that are so on-the-nose Irish that you'd think they were fake, and a people who are welcoming and warm. (19/19 WB)
++ to all, especially the "idiculously green grass valleys that belie what is possible on the color spectrum"
who knew green could come in so many shades??!!
It’s time once again for Oski Disciple’s question of the day.
Many characters in films, TV and books have said the following: “I’m afraid I’ll have to insist.” But have you ever heard someone say it in ‘real life’?
In real life, I've heard "I insist" or "I must insist". I think it's possible I've heard "I'm afraid that I'll have to insist", but I can't recall a specific instance.
"I'm afraid" seems to most often be used in conjunction with "that's not possible" in my experience.
I'm picturing bosses around the world replace this with, "because I said so"
STATUE
of Liberty play, Boise State vs Oklahoma
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9O34BnFu8Kk
Great game!!
of Liberty NY
I went to the Statue of Liberty a long time ago. Looking up from the bottom is one thing, but the view from the top kinda sucks.
been living here for 24+ yrs now. been to Ellis Is once. never to the Statue
OUR CRUMBLING DEMOCRACY
fun graphic about NC vs Georgia from Nate Silver from this article
Could Kamala Harris really win North Carolina — and lose Georgia?
The tale of the tape.
https://www.natesilver.net/p/could-kamala-harris-really-win-north
https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ff0b1b6b1-43ea-466d-9c34-4e77685fcce4_1004x768.png?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email
I saw earlier today that the Cook Political Report says that Harris has made up lots of ground with Trump in *South Carolina*, which is a big surprise because Republicans have dominated politics in the Palmetto State for decades now.
Why the change? The Cook Political Report is that Democrats are coming home to Harris and no longer feel the state is a lost cause. Democrats, Blacks, and women are the demographics that have seen increased enthusiasm for the Democratic nominee. The Southeast corner of the continental US has 71 electoral votes (if I've counted correctly) that were mostly going to the GOP. If they ran Democratic this year, the Electoral College vote might not be as close as many think it will be.
CAL
Go Bears!!!
Depth chart is out:
https://calbears.com/documents/2024/8/27/24FB-Cal-GameNotes_UC_Davis.pdf
Some things that I note:
Vatikani is injured, so presumably Swinney gets the start
Some political "or" nomination for Chandler Rogers and Victor Stoffell in case Mendoza and Morrow stumble
Aaron Hampton earns 2nd string ILB as a walk-on true freshman after his great fall camp
The Jet gets 2nd string "or" with Calloway
Nyziah Hunter as 2nd string Z and possible starter as a RS-Fr
Brady is an X despite being only 5'10" 180 and Trond is a slot despite being 6'4" 205
Episode 3 of Golden Era: Inside Fall Camp
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3XsHFzRQ6cs
PRO
Chicago Bears cut Jake Curhan
Athletics take game one from the Reds, 5-4
https://www.athleticsnation.com/2024/8/27/24230203/athletics-reds-spence-junis
The Oakland Athletics faced off against the National League Central’s Cincinnati Reds this afternoon at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati. Interestingly enough, this was the first A’s trip to Cincy since 2016.
Mitch Spence got the start for the A’s today. He went up against 31-year-old righty Jacob Junis for the Reds. Jacob Wilson returned to the lineup today after a stint on the Injured List (IL) with a strained left hamstring. He made the first put-out of the game for the A’s on a routine ground ball by Jonathan India.
Giants outslug Brew Crew in 5-4 win
https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/2024/8/27/24230176/giants-outslug-brew-crew-in-5-4-win-logan-webb-matt-chapman
The Milwaukee Brewers did all the little things Tuesday night. They played incredible outfield defense, stole bases, threw strikes, and even went first-to-third on an infield groundout. But the San Francisco Giants did slightly more of the big things, riding three home runs to a 5-4 win.
Jack Flaherty suffers his first Dodgers loss as Orioles take the series opener
https://www.truebluela.com/2024/8/27/24230129/dodgers-orioles-game-recap
The Dodgers opened up a highly anticipated three game series against the Baltimore Orioles on Tuesday, where Baltimore fended off the Dodgers to win 3-2.
Jack Flaherty, who spent the second half of the 2023 season with Baltimore, made his first start since leaving in free agency last offseason. Cole Irvin was tasked with facing a right-handed heavy Dodger lineup, where the southpaw held an opponent’s OPS of .914 against right handed hitters entering Tuesday.
Jordan Kunaszyk put on Viking IR, but remains on team
Jackson Sirmon cut from the NY Jets
Patrick McMorris makes Miami's 53-man squad
Jake Tonges makes the 49ers 53-man squad
Bailey Zapped
https://www.nfl.com/news/patriots-releasing-qb-bailey-zappe-after-two-seasons
Minneapolis enters the Upside-down World
https://x.com/Twins/status/1828245147202490819
The Al Davis effect lives
https://alldlls.com/why-jerry-jones-will-remain-dallas-cowboys-gm/
Yup. Even if Jones were to bring in an outsider to be GM, he'd consciously or unconsciously sabotage said GM.
We can count on the Cowboys being good enough to make the playoffs and that's it while Jones owns the team.
What could possibly go wrong?
https://www.morningbrew.com/daily/stories/2024/08/27/nfl-to-welcome-private-equity-ownership
Catcher Danny Jansen was behind the plate to catch pitches against the pinch hitter who was subbed in after Jansen was traded to the other team mid-game, inheriting Jansen's 0-1 count.
https://www.am800cklw.com/news/jays-beat-red-sox-4-1-and-jansen-shows-up-on-both-sides-of-box-score-an-mlb-first.html
How do you top your world pole vault record set at the Olympics? Break it again.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/olympics/2024/08/25/mondo-duplantis-breaks-pole-vault-world-record/74945455007/
Apparently, they like NASCAR in the south
https://www.motorsport.com/nascar-cup/news/nascar-set-to-announce-cup-race-in-mexico-city-for-2025/10648104/
DBD AV CLUB
Civil War (airplane 9/19 WNB). It's a roadtrip story of war correspondents in a hypothetical second American Civil War. The story avoids drawing direct parallels to the obvious polarization in today's American political world. Except for a show-stealing scene with Jesse Plemons, the theme is addressed obliquely and weakly. It seemed like a really shitty version of The Last of Us.
Cobra Kai (Netflix, 17/19 WB). Working my way through the first half of the new season. I think they're releasing it in two different halves. I just watched episode either 3 or 4. So far it's good. New old nemesis and a Mr Miyagi storyline.
Only Murders in the Building is back and I'm there for it.
I just downloaded the first episode and will watch it later today.
Dream Scenario (airplane, 15/19 WB). It is a high concept film that asks the question "what if a normal person suddenly started appearing in a large percentage of people's dreams?" Normally high-concept films quickly run out of steam after quickly answering the question, but the script allows Cage to explore the idea along a spectrum - from darkly funny, to promising, to tantalizing, to sinister, to sad. It's a commentary on fame, cancel culture, and the light exceptionalism that most people have. It's a bit surreal, but it's pretty interesting albeit uncomfortable watch.
Napolean (airplane, 10/19 WNB). Beautifully shot. Wonderful costumes. Amazing sets and was swept away into the period. However, it is a terrible screenplay. I'm not sure if Ridley Scott edited this down, but the story arcs lacked clear conflict - so there was a lack of suspense or satisfying resolution to the story. It just felt like you were along for the ride and weren't really invested in characters. I think Ridley Scott may be in the bubble that George Lucas reached where nobody can give him advice and his movies now suffer as a consequence.
you gave it a 10/19? This movie was a crime against humanity. I saw the film and posted a lengthy diatribe on Facebook about its historic shitasticness (happy to post if people care, was pretty proud of it haha). I struggle with films based on history that I am very familiar with so I wasn't expecting much but lordy, Napoleon sucked beyond belief
ELSEWHERE IN COLLEGE
WTF?
https://x.com/thedigitaldam/status/1828182426839130262
WTF, indeed. Altho if the last line comes true there will be many angry people 'round these parts on Saturday.
Against the spread. They are not predicting Cal Davis to beat Cal, just that the Bears will not cover the enormous spread.
And how do you know that? Asking for a person with sight, reading comprehension, and a working brain.
You are forgetting the one who wrote that ridiculous post may not actually possess sight, (reasonable) reading comprehension, and a working brain.
I gather that you know something about the author and are offering a cryptic explanation. Again, how is a reader supposed to know what the author intended except for his/her own words?
And the spread in the Cal-UC Davis game is at best (worst?), Cal by 20 points. Arkansas is 48.5 point favorites vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff.
https://sportsdata.usatoday.com/football/ncaaf/odds
That's an enormous spread. 20 points isn't that.
UC Davis is a top 20 program at their level. We should cover that but I get why people think we wont.
Good riddance McKade Mettauer
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/ZaaPlbiRFZc
Lol, what a douche knuckle. Buh bye!
Seems like he would have been a great teammate.
Congrats Oregon, Washington, USC, and UCLA - you've played yourself
https://www.oregonlive.com/ducks/2024/08/comcastxfinity-reportedly-blacking-out-big-ten-network-for-oregon-washington-usc-ucla-games.html?
There is always a danger of that whenever and wherever Comcast is even tangentially involved.
what is the scheme for watching Cal game vs Davis this weekend? on some ACC stream?
surprisingly it seems that it is on ACC/ESPN thru my regular YouTubeTV subscription. lets hope it works.
That's my expectation as well.