7 gigs in 8 nights has come and gone, and there was much rejoicing for my bank account, especially after the check to the Treasury Department (aka, taxes) cleared. Which was good in that it essentially cleared dead money in that case. Less good in the amount of money, which was many dollars. Hopefully a full year’s worth of being able to expense my car in 2024 will make it so I don’t owe all the money for this year’s taxes. Anyway, let’s go to some highlights:

-Most of the weddings were pretty standard fare, except for the part where I didn’t get to eat due to various reasons, such as one being upstairs the entire time, or running from station to station, or just getting there late and having to set up.

-However, the dinners were nicer in that there are longer breaks. Though Saturday night there wasn’t really food for us. Sunday there was though, and I really should have taken one of the loaves of bread after the event ended. Just randomly roll up back at Senorita Weaselo’s with an entire loaf of challah bread. Because we get fed, but most of the time it’s not the entree, but the hall’s rendition of takeout Chinese food. Or takeout Middle Eastern food. Which, actually, the shawarma style chicken was pretty good, not gonna lie.

-Saturday? Wholesome dinner for medical emergencies fundraising. Sunday? Kid giving a speech and I was hoping he’d end it with “The Aristocrats!” (He did not.)

Onto random sports news:

-Yes, I am still sad John Sterling said “fuck it, I’m done.” I mean, happy for him and there’ll be a whole thing for him Saturday, but as he’d say, you can’t predict baseball.

–FIDE Candidates Tournament update! Winner takes on Ding Liren for the Classical chess world championship (non-Magnus Carlsen division) As of Wednesday morning, Gukesh D (who is 17) and Ian Nepomniatchi (who has won the last two Candidates Tournaments in 2021 and 2022, but lost to Magnus Carlsen and Ding Liren [who finished 2nd and only qualified for the championship once Carlsen abdicated]) are tied with 6 points after 10 games. (Each player will play 14 games, a double round-robin, once with each color.)
In the women’s division, Lei Tingjie (the 2022-23 Candidates winner) and Tan Zhongyi (former world champion in 2017, though that was a 64-player knockout tournament as the FIDE Women’s division did some weird stuff before going to the same Candidates Tournament format as the open division). The winner takes on Ju Wenjun, who won the championship from Tan and has retained the title since, including against Lei last year.

–Marble Survival 100 update! Teams have gotten through the first seven weeks, and therefore are through the halfway point. 18 teams remain (in alphabetical order): Bumblebees, Chocolatiers, Indigo Stars, Jungle Jumpers (I know!), Limers (I know!), Mellow Yellow, Minty Maniacs, Oceanics, O’rangers, Pinkies, Purple Rockets, Raspberry Racers, Savage Speeders, Snowballs, Team Galactic, Team Momo, Team Primary, and Thunderbolts

What about human sports on tonight?

Almost start caring about basketball!
Eastern Conference play-ins:
P8 Fuck Pat the Rat vs. P7 The Eternal Process (MIA vs. PHI, 7:00, ESPN—winner plays the Knicks)
The Dunk Contest revisited: P10 Wilkins vs. P9 Jordan (ATL vs. CHI, 9:30, ESPN—winner plays the loser of Game 1, loser is eliminated)

Almost playoff hockey! (But some of it now is ultimately meaningless)
Nice Goals vs. Syracuse (TOR vs. TBL, 7:00, TNT—Both teams/the Eastern Conference is locked up and all matchups are set. This is a national game to see if Matthews gets to 70.)
No Gloria vs. $Texas (STL vs. DAL, 9:30, TNT—Stars have clinched home ice throughout Western Conference playoffs.)
(Not a national game but relevant): Pump & Turbine vs. See You, Space Coyotes (EDM vs. ARI: The Coyotes’ last game at Mullett, 10:00)
All remaining relevant playoff games are tomorrow, which at this point are just ANA vs. VGK and CHI vs. LAK. Everything else seeing-wise has been determined.

Check your area for other sports and other regional events that we’ll be blabbing about here, probably.