Substack seems to be acting up and won’t load the comments. I had hoped to reply directly to a couple of you regarding the “peace deal.” If what we’re hearing is true, we blew a major opportunity and Trump will look like a fool. But I’d question how anyone can negotiate with Iran’s leaders given that they don’t fear violent death (I hope those virgins are lesbians), and are willing to starve and even slaughter their own people. I still see positives coming out of the war. We’ve seriously degraded their military and nuclear capabilities as well as their economy. If the rest of the ME has the sense to disengage and isolate Iran with more Abraham Accords, we could see significant benefits over the long-term even without a military victory. One can hope. Note that I’m really disgusted with those who rooted against us from within our own borders largely because Trump waged this war. It has shown me an ugly part of us.
Sadly, I agree with you. I think TDS is real. I didn't vote for him but I don't hate him. I thought the UFC fight last night was fine, since UFC largely paid for it.
I didn’t either but decided early in his second term that it doesn’t do any good to keep writing about how awful he is. Some people seem to have a quota. TDS is definitely real.
Per self driving and fancy tech vehicular stuff...I spent the day with one of my wife's grad students looking at cars. Dealerships are all grouped in these gigantic "sales" parks, so I toured about 8-9 dealers of the big name cars. Man oh man, are they nice. Mind blowing nice. Chinese cars can never be allowed into America. They're so much better at <1/2 the price, the American auto industry would evaporate.
OTOH, charging stations are everywhere here, with highway rest stops having banks of dozens of fast chargers....like 80% charge in 10 minutes. Charging stations are popping up in all the malls and commercial areas, with several general neighborhood chargers appearing overnight.
America has maybe 3 1/2 chargers that cost a billion dollars each, or something like that. There's no infrastructure for EV's in America. Why would anyone buy one?
How do they build 'em so cheap? Endless tech stack, supply chains operating on instantaneous order and delivery, and no humans; the plants are almost entirely robotic. Driving by these gigantic overwhelmingly huge factories and there's about 12 parking spaces for the couple of techs managing the robots.
Getting 80% charge in ten minutes would make an EV more palatable to me. Technically Eaton, OH has no EV chargers...yet. The truck stop north of town on I-70 has some, and Meijers in Richmond has several. But there's a gas station a 1/4 mile from my house. Until that changes (not moving the gas station but more chargers in town) it has less appeal for me.
I'd never buy one in America. There's no infrastructure support and given the economics, it's impossible to know if the company you're buying it from is even going to be around in 6 months.
Over here, I think you'd jump on it. They're fantastic cars with charging infrastructure in all the places you'd want it, i.e., expressways. What's really intriguing is the range of vehicles. I can get a little 4 seater urban errand runner for about $6k...air bags, AC, electric windows, leather upholster finished beautifully, 300km range, which is probably more like 200km, but it's just for running around town, and I'm serious...it's a very nice little car, perfect for urban driving. $15k gets you a very nice car, but not the fast charge, but still very nice, and I mean NICE for $15k. $22-25k gets you a fantastic car full of the latest tech, fast charge, cameras and sensors all around the car with a screen showing you where all other vehicles are around you in 3D, 3 lanes either side and 4-5 cars front and rear. It even shows the scooters weaving in and out of everything....750km range, meaning probably more like 500-600km, but that's pretty darn good. $30k gets you an awesome beautiful sporty car, and $50k gets you flat out luxury in every imaginable way. You can run up into $100k, but that's like Rolls Royce luxe.
They're so much nicer than any of the Western brands, all those Western brands are gonna die in China. If you're holding stock in American car companies, ditch it.
No one's talking about the recirculating and filtration plumbing, which is mostly/largely/completely original old galvanized iron, which is shot. They'll be digging it all up again in a few years.
There's plenty of pool guys that know exactly how to build, restore, renovate, clean, and maintain this pool. None of them were contacted, let alone chosen.
When I was a lifeguard we had a 60 year old filtration systems. They spent millions building a new pool, but didn't renovate the filtration system! Of course, the grift was a reason. The pool was supposed to be 50 meters long and 25 yards wide. That would allow Muncie to host large summer swim meets there.
But the pool also required an entrance ramp. So when you measure the pool width, it is 25 yards with the ramp, 23.5 yards the rest of the way! 🤦♂️ Someone screwed up on the design approvals!
I learned to backwash the filters, and once you have been trained, it isn't hard. My boss and I used duct tape to label the pipes: we used two colors: one for where the primary function was water coming in, the other for water going out.
For those of you who have never backwashed: you're cleaning debris from a filter by reversing the water flow. But rather than send the gunk into the pool, you divert it to the wastewater pipes. It takes 30-45 minutes to backwash.
I was supposed to be hired summer 5 to be the assistant manager, but a change in administrations, they hired some loyalist to do it. So the pool closed for a few days that summer the first time the new manager tried to backwash it by diverting the wastewater back into the pool! 🤢 They called the former manager and begged him to come in and fix it, he laughed and told them no. they didn't think to call me.
30 years later, I met a maintenance person there. The original duct tape is still up.
I'm just taking a guess, but my WAG is the reflecting pool renovation was a pile of crap. No planning by anyone that knew what they were doing. This stuff is so standard, it's practically codified, but of course if you're a dope that doesn't stay on top of the tech, you're going to waste money like is being done right now.
Well, Trump’s 80th birthday’s bash (literally) at the White House, was typical Trump: all bluster no real achievement, "circenses sine panem", all circus but no bread for the masses, with upsetting outcomes in the 2 main events for the 2 favorites of the organization (Trump being an investor in the company that owns UFC) for the main event, showing that no matter how much you want it, paper tigers are still made of paper.
"All hat, no cattle" should be the motto of the Trump administration.
And let’s not even start with the fake "deal" with Iran, not even bringing the status quo before the war, or even the JCPOA. Because they wanted any "deal" for Trump’s birthday.
And what about the green algae which is back in the newly "renovated" American Blue reflecting pool? Yet, he had a guy who had done his pool...
Are there any actual achievements for Trump to celebrate for his 80th birthday? It all looks like last year’s fake military parade.
I dunno, making it to 80 is more than most Americans do. Granted, if we shot fewer people that number might increase, but still.
Trump is gonna Trump, which means he'll do whatever. Since he is term limited, he'll do what he wants and let others clean up afterwards. I agree with Clay Travis, they should have shown the UFC for free. I've never watched UFC (other than some clips on X),, but the news sites seemed pleased with the fight. But IDK if it was any good or not.
do not despair, as shown in one of my answers to CynthiaW, Pétain turned 88 in 1944: you might still have 8 more years of "The Great Man" 😉
Regarding the main 2 events of the UFC fight, the upset was that the fighters which were poised by UFC to achieve "greatness", Pereira and Topuria, both lost, and in the case of Pereira, rather easily, despite all of the hype that he would become the GOAT.
The circus performance was "elevated" by the antics of Hokit before the fight, and Strickland (arrested in the Fan Zone of the Ellipse).
True - boxing is brutal and ugly. Except... Muhammad Ali - at times I think he was one of the most wondrous athlete ever. Such a big man that could still be as graceful as the figure skaters; as handsome as Brad Pitt; as charming and intelligent as any athlete could be. The most star struck I've been was seeing him in O'Hare airport many years ago, graciously signing autographs and sharing his big smile with any that approached.
I want to come up with some comparison to Hemingway's love of bullfighting, but I'm more brain dead than usual stuck in DFW with a five hour delay.
I have no problem with people beating each others under certain rules. Although I am uncomfortable with beating up somebody who fell on the ground.
What I find unbearable is the "show" around it, and the attitude of most fighters. The epitome being Conor McGregor, but so many are as obnoxious and disgusting as he is.
Remove the press conferences, the weigh-ins, any interviews, and leave only the fight: there are there some actual skills and merits.
But at least in MMA or Boxing, most of the fights are real, even if the choices of opponents is peculiar (in how many sports do you choose your opponents? )
What is worse than pornography is the enraged fakeness of WWE, which is obscene.
Not surprisingly Trump is also deeply involved with WWE, and Linda McMahon is responsible for the education of the youth in the USA.
Yes, but six of those years will be after he leaves office! I'll be clear, I wish he'd resign, sooner than later, but I don't want him to die, I don't wish that on anyone. I just want him to go away.
I agree. It would be nice if Donald Trump and a lot of other geezers, gerbils, nincompoops, and rotters would just go away. Like all of us, they'll die eventually, but that's a separate point.
you still believe that he will actually willingly leave office, without trying everything that he can, if his health allows it, to stay? 🤔
You will have the first test and taste of it in November this year, with all the forthcoming imaginary complaints about "rigged elections", which will give him a reason to "do something" about the next presidential election.
The only thing that will stop him to try, is if all the "reports" about the actual state of his physical and mental health are true. But there is so much "clickbait" around it that I personally do not believe anything, especially not the one where he supposedly filled his diaper, while pretending to look at a column.
I agree, I don't wish anyone to die. I wish that he would suffer...I don't care if it's physical, psychological, ego demolished, maybe just regular and often uncontrollably taking a dump in his pants.
Right. He doesn't even really bother me as he's being exactly what I expected. Those Senators, otoh, those a-holes that are supposedly our "check and balance" mechanism...septic tank scum. Absolute scum. It should've all been over 6 years ago.
I think it's anti-republican to celebrate a president's birthday in any official/public way. Of course, one's family and friends may send a card, text message, or tchotchke picked up at an estate sale.
I think it should be reserved for when presidents turn 100. Although, based on how Jimmy Carte looked at 100, it's probably his staff doing 100% of the work by then.
it was indeed no longer a Republic: the official name of France is "Rëpublique française", but under this "régime" (in the literal sense), the official name was "État français".
Not that "state" is a bad word (as would probably and wrongly argue our friend Jonah Goldberg, he who wrongly claims that in the USA there is no "state", but only a "government"), it is simply a "neutral" word, which does not make any assumption on the actual nature of the régime.
Good morning. 57 degrees here, with a high in the 70s. A front that passed through last evening with showers cooled things off a bit.
The mothership hasn’t dropped yet, but the FP is reporting on the “peace deal” (where have we hard that before?) n the Iran War. IN reality, this is memorandum of understanding — essentially, another cease-fire — but reopening the strait of Hormuz.
I see our distinguished author and college professor is absolutely incorrigible.
We had storms going thru all night long. Some nearby, w/ the lightning then thunder almost immediately following, then the time lapse would be longer, then close again, etc. I don't hear anything now but it says it's still raining.
And the mothership dropped, reporting on, not Iran, but on a crisis in Bolivia, which says something about out how the mothership views that “peace deal”.
Resolution of Iran’s nuclear program is pushed out to longer term negotiations, while there will be joint Iran-Oman management of the straits. Accounts differ as to whether tolls will be charged. But it seems Trump made concessions he should not have made to get this “deal”.
And it is also supposed to cover the conflict in Lebanon, but I didn’t read that Israel was a part of this deal or plans to withdraw its forces from there. So this “deal” could easily fall apart.
If what we’re hearing is true, we blew a major opportunity and Trump will look like a fool. But I’d question how anyone can negotiate with Iran’s leaders given that they don’t fear violent death (I hope those virgins are lesbians), and are willing to starve and even slaughter their own people. I still see positives coming out of the war. We’ve seriously degraded their military and nuclear capabilities as well as their economy. If the rest of the ME has the sense to disengage and isolate Iran with more Abraham Accords, we could see significant benefits over the long-term even without a military victory. One can hope. Note that I’m really disgusted with those who rooted against us from within our own borders largely because Trump waged this war. It has shown me an ugly part of us.
The one thing Trump kept repeating is that he was stopping Iran’s nuclear program. But he didn’t do that. They didn’t agree to that, and it seems clear they won’t give it up unless forced to by more than airstrikes.
And the Straits of Hormuz are no longer unconditionally open to international traffic, but are subject to “service fees” as though Iran were a robber baron along the Rhine.
What a strange world it is, where an 8th Century theocracy with a collapsed economy can nonetheless hold hostage the rest of the world and the global economy.
Seriously, though, imagine that the civilized world all agreed, "We're going to do without the Strait of Hormuz, permanently. Come on, guys, get at it!" How long would it take for alternative arrangements be made to transport everything that really matters, which does not include Iran's oil, because THE CIVILIZED WORLD HAS PLENTY OF ITS OWN OIL AND GAS, pardon my shouting.
regarding the steering wheels, etc. --- people driving past such a truck w/ that would be like people driving past a wreck, rubbernecking & causing problems. "Oh, gosh, look at that!! No one is behind that wheel!!"
but, from the link you provided, thank you very much: "future generations of driverless trucks won’t technically require a steering wheel or even the cab." That can save costs for steering wheels AND the entire CAB! Wow - that's a big cost, I think. No wheels under the bus, er, cab... and all that jazz.
Great photos as always. On the NBA finals: I saw quite a few video clips showing Knicks fans assaulting Spurs fans and trashing everything in sight, including a school bus. I’m sure it’s not representative of NYers but man it doesn’t reflect well on the city at all.
Speaking of Brazil, I saw this headline yesterday, “Woman, 21, Plummets 131 Feet to Her Death After Bungee Jump Staff Allegedly Forgot to Attach Safety Cord.” Safety cord is code for bungee cord. Unbelievable. Girl, don’t trust them, double check yourself!
woman rescued from mud pit - only her mouth & cheeks were showing, not even her ears. The guys who found her credit God for sending them down that narrow road.
I saw that on X; they didn't show her fall; a group of guys lifted her up and carried her to the edge, then tossed her over.
What a tragedy. I wonder if she knew they didn't attach the safety cord before she left? If not, there's a chance that she only had less than a second of terror before she knew. And at 131', there's a good chance the landing killed her pretty instantly. At least that's my hope.
When there were riots in Chapel Hill (broken store fronts, etc.) there was much discussion about how Ohio State handled championships better. (Cops with nightsticks on every corner).
I was at UK when we won a basketball championship. They had riot police out everywhere.
I am proud to say I defeated temptation! I was at the library that night, working on data collection for my dissertation. they had CDs of data (and back then those CDs cost $5k). The entire staff was huddled around a little TV watching the game; no one was looking at the rest of the library, not even the guards.
I realized I could walk out with the data I needed, and no one could stop me. But I realized that would be wrong, I so I turned in the disc before I left. But I was tempted!
The game ended as I was walking back to my office and there was a large crowd behind me, so I quickly got into the building (I had a key) before they arrived.
Thousands of people hollering, out on the streets. No real destruction, but many beer bottles littered the street.
I taught an evening class the next night (7pm), and for some reason everyone was subdued.
Yes. Philadelphia, Denver, Kansas City, Atlanta. Places where violence and property destruction are common will have violence and property destruction correlated with sportball.
as I said to Rev Julia, ugh. I don't attend sports events. I will go to Denver, Kansas City, Atlanta, Philadelphia for other reasons. I have no desire to go to NYC for any reason. That's sad, for me, 'cause I was there w/ a friend around '75, went walking by myself one time, she gave me a map, telling me the blocks that were safe & pointed out certain blocks to avoid, & assured me all would be fine. It was. Then went again in the late 1970's & had a wonderful time, felt safe. Altho, it was interesting at that time, no one on the streets walking made eye-contact.
"Some New York City revelers became violent, clashing with police and smashing windshields. One teenager was shot, four people were slashed or stabbed, and 15 people were arrested."
I, personally, often shoot, stab, slash, and smash when I'm reveling.
I would like to go visit Beau in New York. It's just hard to get time off my real life. I want to visit El in Oregon, too.
I don't have the link anymore, unless I want to dig it up from my trash, & I don't wanna do that - someone from somewhere other than the US had Ranch dressing & said she thought it was as good as crack & didn't think she could stop once she left the US --- then I didn't follow the link, but perhaps she was gonna smuggle some??? Cool Ranch, huh?
Good morning, everyone! Our vacation was very nice, but I also like where I live. Near a Walmart!
Two days of Getting Stuff Done, and then Teengirl leaves for Philmont, and I will go to Camp Grimes for a few days to be an adult female with a pulse. The troop went up yesterday, and I'm getting requests to bring forgotten items on Wednesday.
Today is our 21st and last day in Europe -- we fly home from the Paris airport tomorrow. Speaking of weight loss (not from dehydrating in the desert!), I'll be interested to see what the scales say when we get home. What with not eating between meals and getting lots of exercise walking here and there, I typically drop 5-10 pounds on trips like this.
The French have been friendly and patient with us. The food has been mostly outstanding, as expected. We've seen a lot of great art at the various Paris museums (including the Matisse exhibition at the Grand Palais) and at the Conde Museum at the chateau in Chantilly. Heard a superb recital by piano duetists (Gershwin and Ravel) at Saint-Chapelle last evening -- and what a stunning chapel that is! Went shoulder-to-shoulder with other tourists in Giverny and at Mont St Michel.
We've gotten really smug about our facility in navigating the Paris subways and the regional trains.
That's a long vacation, & reading further the ending will be a long haul. Hope you'll arrive safely & be able to rest up fully! And you'll be happy w/ whatever the scales say.
Yes -- Sigrid and I agreed this morning that it might have been TOO long, that we'd had enough of our tiny hotel room and even tinier bathroom, and that we were ready to get home.
Thank you! We'll fly directly to Toronto, pick up our car where we left it at the airport, and drive 2 1/2 hours back home to Rochester. It will be a day that never seems to end. Our plane leave the de Gaulle airport at 12:40 p.m. and after an 8-hour flight it will be only 2:50 p.m. in Toronto.
Substack seems to be acting up and won’t load the comments. I had hoped to reply directly to a couple of you regarding the “peace deal.” If what we’re hearing is true, we blew a major opportunity and Trump will look like a fool. But I’d question how anyone can negotiate with Iran’s leaders given that they don’t fear violent death (I hope those virgins are lesbians), and are willing to starve and even slaughter their own people. I still see positives coming out of the war. We’ve seriously degraded their military and nuclear capabilities as well as their economy. If the rest of the ME has the sense to disengage and isolate Iran with more Abraham Accords, we could see significant benefits over the long-term even without a military victory. One can hope. Note that I’m really disgusted with those who rooted against us from within our own borders largely because Trump waged this war. It has shown me an ugly part of us.
Sadly, I agree with you. I think TDS is real. I didn't vote for him but I don't hate him. I thought the UFC fight last night was fine, since UFC largely paid for it.
I didn’t either but decided early in his second term that it doesn’t do any good to keep writing about how awful he is. Some people seem to have a quota. TDS is definitely real.
My daughter and I are off to the beach today so she can get some swimming in before leaving for Ireland on Friday.
I hope it's a great day!
Per self driving and fancy tech vehicular stuff...I spent the day with one of my wife's grad students looking at cars. Dealerships are all grouped in these gigantic "sales" parks, so I toured about 8-9 dealers of the big name cars. Man oh man, are they nice. Mind blowing nice. Chinese cars can never be allowed into America. They're so much better at <1/2 the price, the American auto industry would evaporate.
OTOH, charging stations are everywhere here, with highway rest stops having banks of dozens of fast chargers....like 80% charge in 10 minutes. Charging stations are popping up in all the malls and commercial areas, with several general neighborhood chargers appearing overnight.
America has maybe 3 1/2 chargers that cost a billion dollars each, or something like that. There's no infrastructure for EV's in America. Why would anyone buy one?
How do they build 'em so cheap? Endless tech stack, supply chains operating on instantaneous order and delivery, and no humans; the plants are almost entirely robotic. Driving by these gigantic overwhelmingly huge factories and there's about 12 parking spaces for the couple of techs managing the robots.
Getting 80% charge in ten minutes would make an EV more palatable to me. Technically Eaton, OH has no EV chargers...yet. The truck stop north of town on I-70 has some, and Meijers in Richmond has several. But there's a gas station a 1/4 mile from my house. Until that changes (not moving the gas station but more chargers in town) it has less appeal for me.
I'd never buy one in America. There's no infrastructure support and given the economics, it's impossible to know if the company you're buying it from is even going to be around in 6 months.
Over here, I think you'd jump on it. They're fantastic cars with charging infrastructure in all the places you'd want it, i.e., expressways. What's really intriguing is the range of vehicles. I can get a little 4 seater urban errand runner for about $6k...air bags, AC, electric windows, leather upholster finished beautifully, 300km range, which is probably more like 200km, but it's just for running around town, and I'm serious...it's a very nice little car, perfect for urban driving. $15k gets you a very nice car, but not the fast charge, but still very nice, and I mean NICE for $15k. $22-25k gets you a fantastic car full of the latest tech, fast charge, cameras and sensors all around the car with a screen showing you where all other vehicles are around you in 3D, 3 lanes either side and 4-5 cars front and rear. It even shows the scooters weaving in and out of everything....750km range, meaning probably more like 500-600km, but that's pretty darn good. $30k gets you an awesome beautiful sporty car, and $50k gets you flat out luxury in every imaginable way. You can run up into $100k, but that's like Rolls Royce luxe.
They're so much nicer than any of the Western brands, all those Western brands are gonna die in China. If you're holding stock in American car companies, ditch it.
Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool Restoration — Trust for the National Mall https://share.google/HT20zZuOguAOe3AoY
That was in 2012: apparently, no "pool guy" in the USA knows how to build, restore, renovate, clean or maintain this pool.
Time for "Infrastructure Week" for the Builder in Chief? 🫡
No one's talking about the recirculating and filtration plumbing, which is mostly/largely/completely original old galvanized iron, which is shot. They'll be digging it all up again in a few years.
There's plenty of pool guys that know exactly how to build, restore, renovate, clean, and maintain this pool. None of them were contacted, let alone chosen.
When I was a lifeguard we had a 60 year old filtration systems. They spent millions building a new pool, but didn't renovate the filtration system! Of course, the grift was a reason. The pool was supposed to be 50 meters long and 25 yards wide. That would allow Muncie to host large summer swim meets there.
But the pool also required an entrance ramp. So when you measure the pool width, it is 25 yards with the ramp, 23.5 yards the rest of the way! 🤦♂️ Someone screwed up on the design approvals!
I learned to backwash the filters, and once you have been trained, it isn't hard. My boss and I used duct tape to label the pipes: we used two colors: one for where the primary function was water coming in, the other for water going out.
For those of you who have never backwashed: you're cleaning debris from a filter by reversing the water flow. But rather than send the gunk into the pool, you divert it to the wastewater pipes. It takes 30-45 minutes to backwash.
I was supposed to be hired summer 5 to be the assistant manager, but a change in administrations, they hired some loyalist to do it. So the pool closed for a few days that summer the first time the new manager tried to backwash it by diverting the wastewater back into the pool! 🤢 They called the former manager and begged him to come in and fix it, he laughed and told them no. they didn't think to call me.
30 years later, I met a maintenance person there. The original duct tape is still up.
I'm just taking a guess, but my WAG is the reflecting pool renovation was a pile of crap. No planning by anyone that knew what they were doing. This stuff is so standard, it's practically codified, but of course if you're a dope that doesn't stay on top of the tech, you're going to waste money like is being done right now.
Dear Jay Janney,
Well, Trump’s 80th birthday’s bash (literally) at the White House, was typical Trump: all bluster no real achievement, "circenses sine panem", all circus but no bread for the masses, with upsetting outcomes in the 2 main events for the 2 favorites of the organization (Trump being an investor in the company that owns UFC) for the main event, showing that no matter how much you want it, paper tigers are still made of paper.
"All hat, no cattle" should be the motto of the Trump administration.
And let’s not even start with the fake "deal" with Iran, not even bringing the status quo before the war, or even the JCPOA. Because they wanted any "deal" for Trump’s birthday.
And what about the green algae which is back in the newly "renovated" American Blue reflecting pool? Yet, he had a guy who had done his pool...
Are there any actual achievements for Trump to celebrate for his 80th birthday? It all looks like last year’s fake military parade.
I dunno, making it to 80 is more than most Americans do. Granted, if we shot fewer people that number might increase, but still.
Trump is gonna Trump, which means he'll do whatever. Since he is term limited, he'll do what he wants and let others clean up afterwards. I agree with Clay Travis, they should have shown the UFC for free. I've never watched UFC (other than some clips on X),, but the news sites seemed pleased with the fight. But IDK if it was any good or not.
Dear Jay Janney,
do not despair, as shown in one of my answers to CynthiaW, Pétain turned 88 in 1944: you might still have 8 more years of "The Great Man" 😉
Regarding the main 2 events of the UFC fight, the upset was that the fighters which were poised by UFC to achieve "greatness", Pereira and Topuria, both lost, and in the case of Pereira, rather easily, despite all of the hype that he would become the GOAT.
The circus performance was "elevated" by the antics of Hokit before the fight, and Strickland (arrested in the Fan Zone of the Ellipse).
PS: I have become an instant expert in MMA. 😏
Sounds like it was boring.
Dear CynthiaW,
it is MMA... what do you expect. 😊
People fighting one another is not my favorite spectacle. Horse shows are interesting. Figure skating. Canoe races.
True - boxing is brutal and ugly. Except... Muhammad Ali - at times I think he was one of the most wondrous athlete ever. Such a big man that could still be as graceful as the figure skaters; as handsome as Brad Pitt; as charming and intelligent as any athlete could be. The most star struck I've been was seeing him in O'Hare airport many years ago, graciously signing autographs and sharing his big smile with any that approached.
I want to come up with some comparison to Hemingway's love of bullfighting, but I'm more brain dead than usual stuck in DFW with a five hour delay.
Dear CynthiaW,
I have no problem with people beating each others under certain rules. Although I am uncomfortable with beating up somebody who fell on the ground.
What I find unbearable is the "show" around it, and the attitude of most fighters. The epitome being Conor McGregor, but so many are as obnoxious and disgusting as he is.
Remove the press conferences, the weigh-ins, any interviews, and leave only the fight: there are there some actual skills and merits.
But at least in MMA or Boxing, most of the fights are real, even if the choices of opponents is peculiar (in how many sports do you choose your opponents? )
What is worse than pornography is the enraged fakeness of WWE, which is obscene.
Not surprisingly Trump is also deeply involved with WWE, and Linda McMahon is responsible for the education of the youth in the USA.
Yes, but six of those years will be after he leaves office! I'll be clear, I wish he'd resign, sooner than later, but I don't want him to die, I don't wish that on anyone. I just want him to go away.
I agree. It would be nice if Donald Trump and a lot of other geezers, gerbils, nincompoops, and rotters would just go away. Like all of us, they'll die eventually, but that's a separate point.
Dear Jay Janney,
you still believe that he will actually willingly leave office, without trying everything that he can, if his health allows it, to stay? 🤔
You will have the first test and taste of it in November this year, with all the forthcoming imaginary complaints about "rigged elections", which will give him a reason to "do something" about the next presidential election.
The only thing that will stop him to try, is if all the "reports" about the actual state of his physical and mental health are true. But there is so much "clickbait" around it that I personally do not believe anything, especially not the one where he supposedly filled his diaper, while pretending to look at a column.
I agree, I don't wish anyone to die. I wish that he would suffer...I don't care if it's physical, psychological, ego demolished, maybe just regular and often uncontrollably taking a dump in his pants.
Dear Kurt,
we answered in parallel, but still, we went to the same scatological "news"... was it fake? I really do not know. 😏
I guess I missed the "news". My wish was independent of any news, although I hope it's true.
The best gift he could give to America would be his resignation.
It's also the best gift he could give himself.
Right. He doesn't even really bother me as he's being exactly what I expected. Those Senators, otoh, those a-holes that are supposedly our "check and balance" mechanism...septic tank scum. Absolute scum. It should've all been over 6 years ago.
I think it's anti-republican to celebrate a president's birthday in any official/public way. Of course, one's family and friends may send a card, text message, or tchotchke picked up at an estate sale.
I think it should be reserved for when presidents turn 100. Although, based on how Jimmy Carte looked at 100, it's probably his staff doing 100% of the work by then.
If a person turning 100 is an ex-president, it's okay for his friends to throw him a bash.
Oh, I meant while they are still in office.
No more geezers!
Dear CynthiaW,
the celebration of the 88th anniversary of the Maréchal Pétain in April 1944.
https://www.ina.fr/ina-eclaire-actu/video/afe86002667/anniversaire-du-marechal-petain-a-vichy-exposition-a-tours
Totally anti-republican!
Dear CynthiaW,
it was indeed no longer a Republic: the official name of France is "Rëpublique française", but under this "régime" (in the literal sense), the official name was "État français".
Not that "state" is a bad word (as would probably and wrongly argue our friend Jonah Goldberg, he who wrongly claims that in the USA there is no "state", but only a "government"), it is simply a "neutral" word, which does not make any assumption on the actual nature of the régime.
Lower demand for lawyers. Win-win!
Good morning. 57 degrees here, with a high in the 70s. A front that passed through last evening with showers cooled things off a bit.
The mothership hasn’t dropped yet, but the FP is reporting on the “peace deal” (where have we hard that before?) n the Iran War. IN reality, this is memorandum of understanding — essentially, another cease-fire — but reopening the strait of Hormuz.
I see our distinguished author and college professor is absolutely incorrigible.
I only disagree with the "absolutely" qualifier. I'd say "mostly".
I laughed at your last sentence
We had storms going thru all night long. Some nearby, w/ the lightning then thunder almost immediately following, then the time lapse would be longer, then close again, etc. I don't hear anything now but it says it's still raining.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FTSqjUZJm7k&t=5s
And the mothership dropped, reporting on, not Iran, but on a crisis in Bolivia, which says something about out how the mothership views that “peace deal”.
My opinion on the "peace deal" is unprintable.
And widely shared.
Resolution of Iran’s nuclear program is pushed out to longer term negotiations, while there will be joint Iran-Oman management of the straits. Accounts differ as to whether tolls will be charged. But it seems Trump made concessions he should not have made to get this “deal”.
And it is also supposed to cover the conflict in Lebanon, but I didn’t read that Israel was a part of this deal or plans to withdraw its forces from there. So this “deal” could easily fall apart.
If what we’re hearing is true, we blew a major opportunity and Trump will look like a fool. But I’d question how anyone can negotiate with Iran’s leaders given that they don’t fear violent death (I hope those virgins are lesbians), and are willing to starve and even slaughter their own people. I still see positives coming out of the war. We’ve seriously degraded their military and nuclear capabilities as well as their economy. If the rest of the ME has the sense to disengage and isolate Iran with more Abraham Accords, we could see significant benefits over the long-term even without a military victory. One can hope. Note that I’m really disgusted with those who rooted against us from within our own borders largely because Trump waged this war. It has shown me an ugly part of us.
'So this “deal” could easily fall apart.'
Good.
Pretty well guaranteed.
The one thing Trump kept repeating is that he was stopping Iran’s nuclear program. But he didn’t do that. They didn’t agree to that, and it seems clear they won’t give it up unless forced to by more than airstrikes.
And the Straits of Hormuz are no longer unconditionally open to international traffic, but are subject to “service fees” as though Iran were a robber baron along the Rhine.
What a strange world it is, where an 8th Century theocracy with a collapsed economy can nonetheless hold hostage the rest of the world and the global economy.
Seriously, though, imagine that the civilized world all agreed, "We're going to do without the Strait of Hormuz, permanently. Come on, guys, get at it!" How long would it take for alternative arrangements be made to transport everything that really matters, which does not include Iran's oil, because THE CIVILIZED WORLD HAS PLENTY OF ITS OWN OIL AND GAS, pardon my shouting.
Dear Phil H,
It is very "clear": no "tolls" just a "service charge". 😏
The Mafia never extorted, they just charged “protection money”.
Dear Phil H.
"It's a nice strait you have there, it would be a shame if something happened to it"
regarding the steering wheels, etc. --- people driving past such a truck w/ that would be like people driving past a wreck, rubbernecking & causing problems. "Oh, gosh, look at that!! No one is behind that wheel!!"
but, from the link you provided, thank you very much: "future generations of driverless trucks won’t technically require a steering wheel or even the cab." That can save costs for steering wheels AND the entire CAB! Wow - that's a big cost, I think. No wheels under the bus, er, cab... and all that jazz.
THOUSAND WORDS: Basilica, Brazil, rasslin’ and more highlight our photos of the week:
https://www.theatlantic.com/photography/2026/06/photos-of-the-week-basilica-blessing-tree-tunnel-parrot-prediction/687524/?gift=GJ8BttuoXrtu1ZXQn6tAiZt0il1HJ-vqDIgJYWCpFEc&utm_source=copy-link&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=share Traditional Flag Day in D.C.: https://apnews.com/photo-gallery/trump-birthday-ufc-octagon-white-house-lawn-6e4b0ad3db6e8ccde792d9e6ddf21450
Great photos as always. On the NBA finals: I saw quite a few video clips showing Knicks fans assaulting Spurs fans and trashing everything in sight, including a school bus. I’m sure it’s not representative of NYers but man it doesn’t reflect well on the city at all.
Speaking of Brazil, I saw this headline yesterday, “Woman, 21, Plummets 131 Feet to Her Death After Bungee Jump Staff Allegedly Forgot to Attach Safety Cord.” Safety cord is code for bungee cord. Unbelievable. Girl, don’t trust them, double check yourself!
woman rescued from mud pit - only her mouth & cheeks were showing, not even her ears. The guys who found her credit God for sending them down that narrow road.
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jun/14/minnesota-woman-mud-pit-rescued?utm_source=join1440&utm_medium=email&utm_placement=newsletter&user_id=66c4c0955d78644b3aabe4bf
Eek.
I saw that on X; they didn't show her fall; a group of guys lifted her up and carried her to the edge, then tossed her over.
What a tragedy. I wonder if she knew they didn't attach the safety cord before she left? If not, there's a chance that she only had less than a second of terror before she knew. And at 131', there's a good chance the landing killed her pretty instantly. At least that's my hope.
"Museums by candlelight" in Malta sounds both fantastic and a horrible fire hazard.
LED candles have replaced real ones in lots of places (including our church, which I think is wrong). I would be suprised if those were real.
We went with battery operated candles 20 years ago. It loses some of the appeal, if I am honest.
I think real fire is particularly important for children and young people growing up in a world where everything is supposed to be "safe".
Looking more closely at the picture, the uniformity of the light does seem artificial.
I didn't think of that. My church has real candles.
Everything in church should be real.
thanks!
that first about NY winning should be deleted after the riots & awfulness broke out. Just say'n
The owl carrying food to young & the macaw were good, as was the hornbeam-tree tunnel
I don’t see our owlets anymore, but I sure heard them last night screeching for food.
Ours are quiet, but we had rain last night.
I haven't heard our owls recently. I don't know if its my schedule or the heat.
Thanks, Wilhelm.
You're most welcome, John.
how about this for photo competitions? The winner of the world's worst photographer 😊 & 127, 642 people competed!!
https://www.euronews.com/culture/2026/06/09/icelandair-has-found-the-worlds-worst-photographer-and-is-paying-her-50000?ck_subscriber_id=2496808141&utm_source=convertkit&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Skip-gen%20travel%20helps%20grandparents%20bond%20with%20grandkids%20-%2022149012
like Jay, how many of you say "anyways" w/ the 's' vs "anyway" w/out an 's'?
It might make me head toward(s) a dictionary.
I like that our editor gave that a pass, much like gaydar. 😆
The editor wants to preserve the unique voice of the author while standardizing the unique punctuation.
Coming back from vacation, she might have let it go because of all the other edits to be made!
Anyway.
Anyway, I was just curious.
When I'm setting up Jay's articles, I sometimes observe turns of phrase which seem to be regionalisms.
the 's' on anyway is often, not always, related to age. The younger the person, the more likely they are to add the 's'
and talk about riots, & damage, & me no wanna go to NY city!!
https://www.cnn.com/2026/06/13/us/new-york-knicks-game-5-crowds-hnk?utm_source=join1440&utm_medium=email&utm_placement=newsletter&user_id=66c4c0955d78644b3aabe4bf
I wonder if NYC will request federal disaster relief?
Only NYC would celebrate a sports championship with riots.
They went to a fight and a basketball game broke out.
there were no riots in San Antonio when the Spurs lost.
what would they have done if they had lost?
same thing. They idolize a young Marlon Brando who, when asked what was he rebelling against, responded " whaddya got"?
Chapel Hill would like a word
did you follow the link? Chapel Hill has noth'n in competition w/ NYC
Everything is relative
Chapel Hill only 1 school bus to set on fire 😉
Chapel Hill? That sedate college town?
OK, Columbus had some “excitement” the last time the Buckeyes won the national title but nothing like NYC.
When there were riots in Chapel Hill (broken store fronts, etc.) there was much discussion about how Ohio State handled championships better. (Cops with nightsticks on every corner).
ugh - I missed that.
Lots of other cities do the same.
Lots? In the US? Maybe define 'lots'? And the same? Burning school buses? Jumping on moving vehicles? Destroying police cars? Because of sports?
I was at UK when we won a basketball championship. They had riot police out everywhere.
I am proud to say I defeated temptation! I was at the library that night, working on data collection for my dissertation. they had CDs of data (and back then those CDs cost $5k). The entire staff was huddled around a little TV watching the game; no one was looking at the rest of the library, not even the guards.
I realized I could walk out with the data I needed, and no one could stop me. But I realized that would be wrong, I so I turned in the disc before I left. But I was tempted!
The game ended as I was walking back to my office and there was a large crowd behind me, so I quickly got into the building (I had a key) before they arrived.
Thousands of people hollering, out on the streets. No real destruction, but many beer bottles littered the street.
I taught an evening class the next night (7pm), and for some reason everyone was subdued.
Yes. Philadelphia, Denver, Kansas City, Atlanta. Places where violence and property destruction are common will have violence and property destruction correlated with sportball.
as I said to Rev Julia, ugh. I don't attend sports events. I will go to Denver, Kansas City, Atlanta, Philadelphia for other reasons. I have no desire to go to NYC for any reason. That's sad, for me, 'cause I was there w/ a friend around '75, went walking by myself one time, she gave me a map, telling me the blocks that were safe & pointed out certain blocks to avoid, & assured me all would be fine. It was. Then went again in the late 1970's & had a wonderful time, felt safe. Altho, it was interesting at that time, no one on the streets walking made eye-contact.
I have to admire The Dispatch's cool tone here:
"Some New York City revelers became violent, clashing with police and smashing windshields. One teenager was shot, four people were slashed or stabbed, and 15 people were arrested."
I, personally, often shoot, stab, slash, and smash when I'm reveling.
I would like to go visit Beau in New York. It's just hard to get time off my real life. I want to visit El in Oregon, too.
I don't have the link anymore, unless I want to dig it up from my trash, & I don't wanna do that - someone from somewhere other than the US had Ranch dressing & said she thought it was as good as crack & didn't think she could stop once she left the US --- then I didn't follow the link, but perhaps she was gonna smuggle some??? Cool Ranch, huh?
Good morning, everyone! Our vacation was very nice, but I also like where I live. Near a Walmart!
Two days of Getting Stuff Done, and then Teengirl leaves for Philmont, and I will go to Camp Grimes for a few days to be an adult female with a pulse. The troop went up yesterday, and I'm getting requests to bring forgotten items on Wednesday.
hope your mountain driving didn't bring you back to mountains of laundry
Very glad your vacation was very nice. Enjoy Walmart.
Teengirl will be busy, too.
We did laundry at the rental house.
I like that word "We" 😉
Beau did a load for himself and Emily, and my son-in-law ran a load or two.
good learners
Glad you had a nice time.
Today is our 21st and last day in Europe -- we fly home from the Paris airport tomorrow. Speaking of weight loss (not from dehydrating in the desert!), I'll be interested to see what the scales say when we get home. What with not eating between meals and getting lots of exercise walking here and there, I typically drop 5-10 pounds on trips like this.
Safe travels home. That’s a long time away.
Dear Paul Britton,
Hope you had an overall enjoyable experience.
Speaking of potential weight loss: add not having free soda refills, and bread with no added sugar and additives.
The French have been friendly and patient with us. The food has been mostly outstanding, as expected. We've seen a lot of great art at the various Paris museums (including the Matisse exhibition at the Grand Palais) and at the Conde Museum at the chateau in Chantilly. Heard a superb recital by piano duetists (Gershwin and Ravel) at Saint-Chapelle last evening -- and what a stunning chapel that is! Went shoulder-to-shoulder with other tourists in Giverny and at Mont St Michel.
We've gotten really smug about our facility in navigating the Paris subways and the regional trains.
It's been great, thanks!
And yes, the bread has been great (and healthy).
That's a long vacation, & reading further the ending will be a long haul. Hope you'll arrive safely & be able to rest up fully! And you'll be happy w/ whatever the scales say.
Yes -- Sigrid and I agreed this morning that it might have been TOO long, that we'd had enough of our tiny hotel room and even tinier bathroom, and that we were ready to get home.
I'm always ready to come from study abroad after the 3rd week. I enjoy it, but yeah, I'm ready to come home.
vacation = always looking forward to it & always looking forward to getting home
kind-of the same as getting sick, you feel so good when you get over it 😆
I hope your return trip is free of complications.
Thank you! We'll fly directly to Toronto, pick up our car where we left it at the airport, and drive 2 1/2 hours back home to Rochester. It will be a day that never seems to end. Our plane leave the de Gaulle airport at 12:40 p.m. and after an 8-hour flight it will be only 2:50 p.m. in Toronto.
And it's going to be a long day anyway because of the time of year.