The Rays tie it up at one after the Dodgers' bullpen game strategy fizzles. That, the Cubs, skepticism, empathy, and a couple of jackass billionaire families playing to form.
The lead in made me think of “slaps roof” meme, glad to see you tied it all together at the end.
For readers today that don’t subscribe, he does stuff like this all the time. It’s almost like he knows what he’s doing. The coffee’s hot, why not drop a few bucks on the counter and enjoy it everyday.
James Randi had a big impact on me as a thinker. I discovered him when I saw a copy of his book Flim Flam at a local library, and it sure seemed intriguing. I think it's no coincidence that around the time I was reading that book, I was also discovering Bill James, another guy who was skeptical about things and took the time to do some research and do something about it.
Finally broke down and paid for the subscription. Should have done it earlier.
I'm not nearly as sanguine about the national television ratings. I hesitate to opine on the causation direction arrow, but the increase in importance of the single market to drive revenue has happened at the same time that teams are becoming increasingly reliant on off-field revenue, like commercial development around the park, as well as the decrease in support to the minor leagues. I doubt that is purely a coincidence.
You just can't behave like a Sackler and expect Karma not to notice. At least that's what I keep saying to myself. Here in central Vermont, like other places I imagine, opioid addiction is an ignored pandemic showing no signs of abatement.
Funny how society is terrified of this virus to the point of restricting basic freedoms---yet does nothing to *one family* whose pharmaceutical company has peddled death and destruction on equal scale.
I admit I didn't know who James Randi was until yesterday, a fault of mine. A friend of mine told me he died. I looked him up and realized my loss. I am a Christian, however, I appreciate critical thinkers. James Randi was a brilliant man and the world was better for having had him it. Thank you for the beautiful write-up about what he meant to you, Craig.
Baseball seems insignificant next to that. As a Rays fan, yes, I was happy with last night's outcome. Seeing Brandon Lowe break out of his wicked slump: yes! Am I the only one who sings "Mr. Wendal" when Wendle comes to the plate? As for the Dodgers, Dustin May may have been flat, but his hair was anything but. I was mesmerized by his Merida from Brave locks. I just want to know what he uses in that hair.
I want Manfred livid. I wish it was the Marlins vs. the Rays in the World Series so the TV ratings would be 0.00001. I'm the 0.00001 watching.
"Discovered" Tom Lehrer on the old Dr. Demento Show on radio back in the 70s. (Yeah, I'm MUCH older than you, Craig.) The Element Song was a goody. Loved that it appeared, however briefly, on Breaking Bad back in the day. My favorite, though, was always The Masochism Tango, which is probably a great song to describe much of what's happened in 2020. Thanks for the Lehrer bit. Always great to see that kind of stuff here. Oh, and baseball too. Yuh!
I wonder how DeBlasio would be able to stop Cohen from buying the Mets anyway. The guy can't get subscribe to a newsletter without getting approval from Cuomo.
Counterpoint to the ratings talk: I haven't watched a single game, not out of lack of interest, but because I (like millions of others) have decided it's not worth paying $75 a month for basic cable just so I can watch a few sporting events. I do subscribe to mlb.tv, but due to MLB's asinine blackout restrictions that punishes the very local fan bases that you discussed in the newsletter, I can't watch playoff baseball on my own couch. So instead, I listen to the Dodgers AM 570 radio calls with a smile on my face. (Yeah, I know it's on network TV, but I live too far out in the boonies to get the signal.)
I'm hoping that if the ratings keep tanking, maybe the networks or MLB will figure out a way to make the games more accessible. Not showing them on MLB's own streaming platform is inexcusable.
I wish the Ricketts cared about the Cubs as much as they pretended to before the World Series win. Now they only care about buying more property in Wrigleyville and supporting politicians that give them the ability to make more money. The problem is that they know there are people like me who can't quit the Cubs no matter how awful the ownership group is. If I had a shred of self respect I would stop cheering for that laundry.
The Amazing Randi sounds, well, amazing. I have never heard of him but as someone who is a follower of Christ AND whose worldview was strongly influenced by Vonnegut, I wish I had heard of him before now.
No single American family (not even the Tangerines) cause me the same level of rage as the Sacklers do. They should lose all their money (diverted to expand treatment programs) and face criminal charges. As someone with chronic pain, I can empathize with those who started with Oxy and ended up dead. They took advantage of some of the most vulnerable people-because I am here to tell you that chronic pain is a hell that I can’t explain except to say that the desire for relief is so strong I have taken myself OFF pain pills and would rather scream from the pain instead and I have a doctor who very closely monitors me and I am enrolled in a pain management program. I don’t say this about many people but I look forward to that family facing God’s judgment someday.
Given the date, it's worth mentioning that the Sacklers and Perdue were desperate to make a deal with this administration rather than take the chance that there would be a new one in January. And this administration was desperate to make a deal before 11/3 so it could...whatever, try to sell the rubes on the idea that it cares about them, I guess? A match made in heaven.
On the game: even I could tell that Dustin May had nothing. It was fun watching Snell.
James Randi was one of the greatest people this world has ever known. Excellent tribute and personal story about his impact, Craig.
For anyone who hasn’t watched “An Honest Liar”, I highly recommend.
Yeah but if Uncle Billy had been furloughed George Bailey would never have learned to appreciate that removable finial knob...
The lead in made me think of “slaps roof” meme, glad to see you tied it all together at the end.
For readers today that don’t subscribe, he does stuff like this all the time. It’s almost like he knows what he’s doing. The coffee’s hot, why not drop a few bucks on the counter and enjoy it everyday.
James Randi had a big impact on me as a thinker. I discovered him when I saw a copy of his book Flim Flam at a local library, and it sure seemed intriguing. I think it's no coincidence that around the time I was reading that book, I was also discovering Bill James, another guy who was skeptical about things and took the time to do some research and do something about it.
Finally broke down and paid for the subscription. Should have done it earlier.
I'm not nearly as sanguine about the national television ratings. I hesitate to opine on the causation direction arrow, but the increase in importance of the single market to drive revenue has happened at the same time that teams are becoming increasingly reliant on off-field revenue, like commercial development around the park, as well as the decrease in support to the minor leagues. I doubt that is purely a coincidence.
You just can't behave like a Sackler and expect Karma not to notice. At least that's what I keep saying to myself. Here in central Vermont, like other places I imagine, opioid addiction is an ignored pandemic showing no signs of abatement.
Funny how society is terrified of this virus to the point of restricting basic freedoms---yet does nothing to *one family* whose pharmaceutical company has peddled death and destruction on equal scale.
I admit I didn't know who James Randi was until yesterday, a fault of mine. A friend of mine told me he died. I looked him up and realized my loss. I am a Christian, however, I appreciate critical thinkers. James Randi was a brilliant man and the world was better for having had him it. Thank you for the beautiful write-up about what he meant to you, Craig.
Baseball seems insignificant next to that. As a Rays fan, yes, I was happy with last night's outcome. Seeing Brandon Lowe break out of his wicked slump: yes! Am I the only one who sings "Mr. Wendal" when Wendle comes to the plate? As for the Dodgers, Dustin May may have been flat, but his hair was anything but. I was mesmerized by his Merida from Brave locks. I just want to know what he uses in that hair.
I want Manfred livid. I wish it was the Marlins vs. the Rays in the World Series so the TV ratings would be 0.00001. I'm the 0.00001 watching.
Find someone who loves you as much as a billionaire loves a dictator.
Fucking Rickett’s.
"Discovered" Tom Lehrer on the old Dr. Demento Show on radio back in the 70s. (Yeah, I'm MUCH older than you, Craig.) The Element Song was a goody. Loved that it appeared, however briefly, on Breaking Bad back in the day. My favorite, though, was always The Masochism Tango, which is probably a great song to describe much of what's happened in 2020. Thanks for the Lehrer bit. Always great to see that kind of stuff here. Oh, and baseball too. Yuh!
I wonder how DeBlasio would be able to stop Cohen from buying the Mets anyway. The guy can't get subscribe to a newsletter without getting approval from Cuomo.
Counterpoint to the ratings talk: I haven't watched a single game, not out of lack of interest, but because I (like millions of others) have decided it's not worth paying $75 a month for basic cable just so I can watch a few sporting events. I do subscribe to mlb.tv, but due to MLB's asinine blackout restrictions that punishes the very local fan bases that you discussed in the newsletter, I can't watch playoff baseball on my own couch. So instead, I listen to the Dodgers AM 570 radio calls with a smile on my face. (Yeah, I know it's on network TV, but I live too far out in the boonies to get the signal.)
I'm hoping that if the ratings keep tanking, maybe the networks or MLB will figure out a way to make the games more accessible. Not showing them on MLB's own streaming platform is inexcusable.
I wish the Ricketts cared about the Cubs as much as they pretended to before the World Series win. Now they only care about buying more property in Wrigleyville and supporting politicians that give them the ability to make more money. The problem is that they know there are people like me who can't quit the Cubs no matter how awful the ownership group is. If I had a shred of self respect I would stop cheering for that laundry.
The Amazing Randi sounds, well, amazing. I have never heard of him but as someone who is a follower of Christ AND whose worldview was strongly influenced by Vonnegut, I wish I had heard of him before now.
No single American family (not even the Tangerines) cause me the same level of rage as the Sacklers do. They should lose all their money (diverted to expand treatment programs) and face criminal charges. As someone with chronic pain, I can empathize with those who started with Oxy and ended up dead. They took advantage of some of the most vulnerable people-because I am here to tell you that chronic pain is a hell that I can’t explain except to say that the desire for relief is so strong I have taken myself OFF pain pills and would rather scream from the pain instead and I have a doctor who very closely monitors me and I am enrolled in a pain management program. I don’t say this about many people but I look forward to that family facing God’s judgment someday.
Because they sure as hell didn’t suffer here.
Given the date, it's worth mentioning that the Sacklers and Perdue were desperate to make a deal with this administration rather than take the chance that there would be a new one in January. And this administration was desperate to make a deal before 11/3 so it could...whatever, try to sell the rubes on the idea that it cares about them, I guess? A match made in heaven.
On the game: even I could tell that Dustin May had nothing. It was fun watching Snell.