I am still shaken over a couple of things about the indictment against Trump for keeping, stealing, and hiding intelligence documents on U.S. nukes and other countries’ military capabilities. Although “hiding” might be giving too much credit to Trump. Those confidential papers were kept in open boxes stacked around a bathroom, or sharing stage space with cover bands doing soundchecks. None of that bothers me; that carelessness, plus lying to government officials who obviously knew 45 had the records, is classic Trump.
What shook me is the open and calm discussion about an accused going through Presidential elections. The thinking goes: if Trump becomes a felon, and wins, he can just pardon himself. Easy peasy! You know what? [snickers] That scenario would be a sign of [heh] a healthy democrac—
But seriously, this is the stuff of banana / Weimar republics. The narrative goes: oppressor jails opposition leaders—BUT, when crackdowns start to wear on influential folks, elections are called. In the Trump context it’s different, because elections occur at a constitutionally set date. But the effect is the same. Electing someone accused, or jailed, is democracy at its fullest. Not democracy at its best, but revealing the brute force of electioneering and propaganda. This is the XXIth Century: Influencers > Poli Sci majors.
NFL NEWS
-The investment arm of the 49ers bought the just relegated Leeds United fútbol club of Englen. The Niners had a stake in the club since 2018 but just became full owners after buying out bla bla bla. Leeds, of course, rose to the EPL under—
coach Marcelo Bielsa. Then Leeds fired Bielsa, so both Leeds and Yorks can get bent. In the meantime, I will remain in the delirious stupor over Bielsa being the new manager of the Uruguay national team. Last year, Pep Guardiola deemed Bielsa the best fútbol manager. What an endorsement—especially when Bielsa’s most famous nickname is El Loco.
–Calvin Johnson attended Detroit Lions team activities last week, which is slightly more surprising than Abe Lincoln showing up to RNC headquarters. Megatron said he was helping 2nd year Lions WR Jameson Williams, who missed 11 games in his rookie year for an ACL injury suffered in the college final.
-Turning to hardcore NFL news, I saw Tom Brady at today’s French Open final, rubbing elbows with Djokovic’s camp. Vibe:
-Noted NFL commentator Ted Kaczynski, aka The Unabomber, died yesterday at 81. Kaczynski was a mathematics PhD and the 1996 Hermit of the Year (source: Better Shacks & Hovels). Kaczynski notoriously picked the Broncos to win Owl L against the Carolina Panthers:
At every single level “socialization” is the conforming of thought and action to a set of rules that are presented as having a shared purpose. A fallacy lies at its heart: these are not common values, but discrete edicts set about by a few powerful, enforced by most, and geared to extinguish our natural abilities and ends. Von Miller and Aqib Talib do not abide by such artificial constraints, and Wade Phillips ensures that the former will continue to ignore them, while guiding Talib to overcome his occasional f*ckheadedness. Ironically, NFL “Playoff Rules” also nourish the Broncos’ secondary natural instincts, as those DBs get handsier than a pat down after rec time.
Kaczynski was infamous for sending letter bombs that killed three and wounded dozens.
In his post-terrorist career, at the Colorado Supermax, Kaczynski set aside anti-technology agitprop and became an accomplished bridge player–also teaching the game to Timothy McVeigh. A bond between both developed, despite the abysmal difference in children killed by each. Kaczynski cited the day of McVeigh’s execution as the second saddest day of his imprisonment. (The first being when the Tampa Bay Bucs fired Jon Gruden as head coach.) Ted Kaczynski is survived by his glee over Covid-19, his distaste for the 17-game NFL season, and a bunch of other recordings or writings yet to be published on account of topicality.
SPROTS TOMITE
All times Central
Grandes Ligas
As always, slur free.
Medias Rojas (Bello) @ Y*nk*s (Schmidt) – 6:00
TOP FLIGHT FUTBOL
Bolivia
Oriente Petrolero hosts Libertad Gran Mamoré – 6:30
Per Wiki P, Libertad Gran Mamoré is on its first season in the top of the Bolivian fútbol pyramid. Which is good! But was founded by brothers who wanted to own a Christian fútbol club.
Colombia
Boyacá Chicó hosts Millonarios – 6:30
Ecuador
Orense hosts Independiente del Valle – 6:00
Estados Unidos
Portland Timbers hosts FC Dallas – 9:00
Perú
Sport Huancayo hosts Universitario – 6:00
FINALLY,
I cannot see the U.S. giving Trump much electoral capital after Trump gave the intelligence community the finger, bigly, again. This time AS A CIVILIAN, a point the not-insane partisans will eventually consider. Yeah, I think that can happen. Failing that, money prevails, and Trump has already shafted plenty of business associates. Remember that when hope fades, because it even got Dan Snyder kicked out off Roger Goodells’s NFL.
Eventually, but still!
Watching “Creed III” and I’m at the part where his daughter is in trouble for punching a bully who grabbed her drawing and ripped it in her face. Once again, the Hollywood Industries representation of bullying in schools is disturbingly accurate.
This is how my conversation would’ve went:
Teacher: “Mr. -shirt, unfortunately, we’ll need to suspend your daughter for one day for fighting.”
Me: “I understand and I’m terribly sorry. Naturally, I’ll discuss this with her tomorrow.”
(the next day)
Me: “You ready for Daddy Daughter Day at Kings Island?!”
Daughter: “Yeah!”
Creed III is good, though it raises a bunch of headscratchers that keep popping up. But I like the fact that everyone panicked to a cut to a cheek when at the end of Creed-Balboa I, Rocky looks like his face was falling off his skull and even Apollo’s face kinda looked like he was having an allergic reaction to shellfish.
Uruguay beat Italy to win the maiden Under-20 World Cup title. They should make that trophy out of Iron, so they can call it the Iron Maiden
Or make it into the shape of a portait bust so they can say “And Uruguay has taken the Maiden head!”
Reading a George Kennan biography. Man, you can see how his Cold War-inception analysis rhymes with modern-day Russia.
COME AWN BAHSTAHN!
Might be the worst approach to situational hitting I’ve ever seen.
Is Aaron Boone still managing? I thought he got fired.
Also the Tony Award are on tonight, and DFO-fave Lea Michele will be presenting.
https://twitter.com/Eva_Palmer/status/1668056654699540481
If the writers’ strike continues long enough, maybe we’ll get a reality show about Trump in federal prison
“No one does solitary like I do. I’m the bes—”
/cell door slams shut
Even the cockroaches are impressed. Which are a very respectful and misunderstood race, despite what my biggest campaign donors said.
In the games description above you said Estados Unidos and when I first started my Portuguese lessons I was pronouncing it Estados Unidosh which is somewhat prevalent in the country.
Then I found out the real pronunciation is Estad Unich.
Which took some getting used to.
Like eunich?
You-neech.
I’m assuming you will be previewing the Portugal Women’s World Cup team?
Why not?
I’m assigning it to you. Check slack
Sometimes you feel like a nut? Sometimes you don’t.
As a person who is in the NISP*
The shit that Orange faced dick stain did is treason and deserves a good neck stretch.
Piece of fucking filth.
*National Industrial Security Program.
I take this shit EXTREMELY seriously.
There really is absolutely zero defense for it. And the idea that this is somehow a “political” prosecution is similarly absurd. Anyone who committed these kinds of crimes should – and *would* – be prosecuted for it.
The Feds bent over backwards to **NOT** make this a legal dispute. But somebody fucked around and found out.
Reading about the way they said to Nauta’s lawyer, “listen, you *really* want to cooperate with us here” and he told them to pound sand, and then the next day he received a target letter was kind of awesome.
Inexcusable by law, a boon to all foreign enemies. The lack of a consensus Fry Trump is difficult to grasp
Cult leaders can do no wrong.
If they were to fry him, he would solve the energy problems for a few years, however they wouldn’t meet any of the pollution quotas for a decade or more
Also, do we NOT have a law that says convicted felons are not eligible for public office???
No, and it’s a damn good thing we don’t. It’s bad enough that felons can’t vote in most states.
Bielsa is awesome and Uruguay is lucky to have him. They’ll be a force in 2026.
So long as Bitey McGee ain’t playing, I will root for ’em. LOVE that touchline madman.
And crowned Sub20 champion today, 1-0 against Italia! Plus Qatar was FIFA pulling all of its weight against URU.
Bielsa is a stickler for fair play,* so La Celeste may be ready to shed the black hat.
* as long as it does not involve Belichick style videotapin’
I saw that game! Uruguay is going to be VERY good in 2026!
Jebús te oiga
Is there a South American Euros coming up soon-ish?
Next year. The aligned the Copa América to the European Euro years.
BTW, the ’24 South American Euros will be in the US and CONCACAF is invited. Out of office email suggestion:
Next summer right here!
https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/copa-america-2024-to-be-hosted-in-usa