OH MY GOD PIERS SHUT UP

We colonists gave up baseball several years ago; now you're trying to sell us on cricket? No. Just say no. That's a FAIL, Piers.

Piers Morgan
Verified account
@piersmorgan
More Piers Morgan Retweeted Sky Sports Cricket
OMG!!! You’ll never see a better catch than that - in cricket or baseball. Take a bow @benstokes38 👏👏👏👏

     Sky Sports Cricket
     Verified account
     @SkyCricket
     "One of the greatest catches of all time" 😲

     Sensational take by Ben Stokes in the deep as the ball appears destined for the boundary

     Watch England v South Africa live on Sky Sports Cricket World Cup (404) or follow it here: 
      http://skysports.tv/duCSHs 

Virginia Shooting Massacre: 12 Dead

Double U Lose to We The North

A long-time friend is a flight attendant for Spirit Airways. A few days ago we had this text message exchange:

My unwinding time

     Boy. That's unwinding for ME and I don't even live there!

     HAHAHAHAHA! But wait...Is that WATER, Miss Susan? Water is for BATHING! You need to put a little "spirit" in that water!😂

It's Gin and tonic
   
     🤣

“Last Night I Didn’t Get to Sleep at All...

“...all, all-a-all. The sleeping pill I took was just a waste of time...” 

All true too McCoo! First time temazepam didn’t work. Every other time I have no choice but to fall asleep! Last night, no dice. Ah well.

Mueller Speaks

I have read the transcript and have listened to the Guardian's audio-visual excerpts. The underscored emphasis below in the money shots of the transcript excerpts is mine from Mueller's oral emphasis. The bolded emphasis is mine entirely, for which I offer explanation at the end of the transcript excerpts

The first volume of the report details numerous efforts emanating from Russia to influence the election. This volume includes a discussion of the Trump campaign’s response to this activity, as well as our conclusion that there was insufficient evidence to charge a broader conspiracy. And in the second volume, the report describes the results and analysis of our obstruction of justice investigation involving the president.

The order appointing me special counsel authorized us to investigate actions that could obstruct the investigation. We conducted that investigation…And as set forth in the report, after that investigation, if we had had confidence that the president clearly did not commit a crime, we would have said so. We did not, however, make a determination as to whether the president did commit a crime.

…

The introduction to the Volume II of our report explains that decision. It explains that under longstanding department policy, a president cannot be charged with a federal crime while he is in office. That is unconstitutional. Even if the charge is kept under seal and hidden from public view, that, too, is prohibited. A special counsel’s office is part of the Department of Justice, and by regulation, it was bound by that department policy. Charging the president with a crime was therefore not an option we could consider.

...

…we concluded that we would not reach a determination one way or the other about whether the president committed a crime. That is the office’s final position, and we will not comment on any other conclusions or hypotheticals about the president.

He "could not" charge Trump with a crime, therefore he "would not" make a determination "one way or the other.". See? 

Now, to those of you who say "Everybody is presumed innocent! If you, Mueller, didn't determine Trump committed a crime that means Trump didn't commit a crime!"  No. For at least two reasons, no. First, Mueller explains clearly that he "could not" charge Trump and why he couldn't: there was no prosecutable crime. Second, people throw the presumption of innocence all over the place. The ONLY place where there is a presumption of innocence is in the jury box, okay? You think cops presume people innocent? Thank God they do not! Prosecutors? Of course they do not presume people innocent! In fact a prosecutor has to have a subjective belief (as well as a reasonable objective belief that the case can be proved beyond a reasonable doubt at trial) in the person's guilt to file charges in court! Cops and prosecutors presume people they arrest and arraign are guilty. They are sometimes wrong, especially on my cases, but the money shot here is do not be loose with presumption of innocence talk. 

The Greatest Profession

For the layperson, 95% of the time the law does not permit a lawyer to inquire of a witness's criminal history beyond two questions: "Have you ever been convicted of a crime?" And if so, "How many times?" With that background I ran across this exchange in a case I was reading:

Prosecutor: This gentleman named Zack, what was he doing time for?
The Court:  Excuse me?
Defense:     Objection, your Honor.
The Court:  Approach.
(sidebar)
The Court:   Shawn, [prosecutor] do you know what you just said?
Prosecutor:  Mr. Zaccarino—
The Court:   You said, What was he doing time for?
Prosecutor:  Oh,…
Defense:      Your Honor, we’re going to move at this time for a mistrial…The inference is obvious regarding the conversation and the location of the conversation.
Prosecutor:  Oh, I can’t believe I said that. I don’t know---that is unbelievable. I don’t know if a curative—
The Court:  No.
Prosecutor;  Doggone it.
The Court:   I’ll take the motion for mistrial under advisement and rule on it before the State rests.
Prosecutor:  Can –maybe I can try to rehabilitate.
The Court:   I will let you rephrase your question. And let’s not say anything further about it.

Poor Shawn! A case of temporary insanity. He didn't even know what he had said. When you are tired, and trials are exhausting, sometimes you don't even know where you are. Oh my God, I chuckled out loud in the library when I read that. Everytime I thought of it I laughed to myself. I forgot about it until this post and when I began typing I laughed out loud again.

I think the most endearing thing about the criminal bar is that we're small compared to the civil bar. Vastly smaller. We--judges, prosecutors, and defense attorneys--all know each other, we've known each other for years and years. When court is in session of course it is "Your Honor," "Mr. Smith," "Ms. Jones." Especially in front of the jury. But out of the hearing of the jury as here, or when court is not in session judges address us by our first names. Familiarity breeds affection.

Never enjoyed myself so much in a law library as when I read that case.

Canaries, Blades, Villans in Premier League

Yo-Yo Norwich won the Coca-Cola League, Sheffield United finished second, both gaining automatic promotion, and Aston Villa beat Derby yesterday in the third-to-sixth playoff final at Wembley for the final slot. It’s been a few years for Sheffield and Villa, the former since the Carlos Tevez third party transfer fiasco. Villa will be the only club from Birmingham metro, the second largest in England, in the EPL. Birmingham City finished 17th in the Championship. Strange that. Manchester has become England’s Second City.

Louie 2 Blue 4 Garden Black Beans (1-0)

80,000 without power, but no deaths reported from Ohio tornado
(ABC)
too bad

Ju see that? Everest.

There’s like 300 people there in line waiting to get to the summit. Christ, it looks like a porta-potty line. Man. I guess the thrill is gone, huh? Your life may be gone too. Ten people have died on Mt Everest during this “window” of good weather. The Nepalese government which issued the permits says Na-hah. Doesn’t have anything to do with the lines. Faulty equipment, inexperience. Well, those chaps there are all in the “DEATH ZONE,” that’s above 26,000 feet. They don’t call it the “faulty equipment zone,” the “experience necessary zone,” they call it the DEATH ZONE and I wouldn’t be standing in line taking a frigging leak in the DEATH ZONE.

From his education the lawyer learns what the law is. He may not be able to cite to the specific authority but it's there, he has seen it.

The lawyer's experience in practice gives him the not infallible ability to know what the law should be on an unfamiliar point. He then must research the law to see if what the law should be is what the law is. It is a time intensive task. How much research is enough research? What if I am wrong? How much time do I spend looking?

When he is not wrong and after hours of research and accumulating doubt such that he almost gives up he finds THE CASE the lawyer experiences a Eureka! moment.

Canada hates Toronto.

Toronto loves the “Raptors”.

Does Canada hate the “Raptors”?

Illegitimate Trump

I wonder why Nancy Pelosi has not got for the jugular (in her own discreet uber-effective way). What drives Trump over the cliff every time is the L-word. His Legitimacy. I am so in awe at what Nancy has done and how she has done it that my "wonder" does not rise to the level of a concern much less a criticism. I trust her as I've never trusted a political savant previously. So, I just wonder. 

Doe Lose Fo’, Tonto Go Go State

100-94 the final and it’s Tonto’s first trip to The Finals. Kawhi Leonard ended up dominating the serious and had 27 and 17 ‘bounds in this one. Giannis had 21 and 11 for Doe a Deer a Female Deer, who I thought had horns. Best record in the league, Team of Destiny I called ‘em. Not hardly. Diff from box score seems to have been shooting. T-Rex shot 48%, Doe didn’t, 40% on the schnozzle. 48 is damn good. 40 is the Miami “Heat” (Will this be J-Wins “breakout” year no.).

I don’t know much about Tonto exceptin’ Kawhi. Goo ballplayer, Kawhi, goo ballplayer. Plays very goo D. Gonna be stretched mighty thin guarding Splash Bros, Inc + Dray. They won 58 games, Tonto did. GS 57. North 12-6 in ‘loffs; State 12-2. Goldie 4-1 in The Finals is my prediction if you care and I know you don’t. Night!

Nancy Pelosi loathes Donald Trump. Loathes him. At least as much as I do. But for a long time and as recently as after the the November 2018 elections, Trump didn't know. Psst Trumpie. She fucking hates you. Remember the Chuck & Nancy show? Remember, "If the Democrats win the House they should choose Nancy Pelosi as Speaker. Maybe some Republicans can help!"? Trump is so dull-witted that he missed it. Sad!

-“I wish that his family or his administration or his staff would have an intervention for the good of the country."

-“I think he just doesn’t have confidence in himself.”

-“He’s just not worth it.”

-“I pray for the president. Maybe he wants to take a leave of absence.”

“That was the best experience of my life!”

“Jerry” to my son the social worker after a 2 1/2 hour skateboarding event. Jerry is 13 years old.

Ex-May: 2nd Ex-PM Exits Over Brexit

Theresa May follows David Cameron, the latter resigning as Tory boss because Brits approved Brexit, the former because Parliament wouldn’t.

Can’t the EU just kick them out? The Brits invoked Article 50! Enough already. They have dawdled way past too long. “You have sat too long for any good you have been doing lately. Depart, I say; and let us have done with you. In the name of God, go!”

Human beings are capable of unspeakable cruelty. We have made of this luminous blue orb a ghastly, dark place. Yet, we are capable of extraordinary kindness as well. We are capable of creating the most exquisite beauty to fill the darkness with light. That kindness which is gratuitous is appreciated the more; beauty which is unexpected is the most exquisite of all.

Today, on Miami Beach, USA, a young girl steps out onto the threshold of her home and plays impromptu a violin concerto by God's composer, Johann Sebastian Bach.

Cars stopped. People gathered to listen and to record. At the end, spontaneous applause for a little girl who, unexpectedly, had filled a corner with light and beauty and enchanted a neighborhood. 

Tontosaurus Rex Wounds 6 Point Buck (3-2)

Three straight and now the Greek is Freakin’. Tonto can close it out in the North Saturday night. 

Nancy Pelosi is playing a very sly game of multi-dimensional chess while others are playing in one dimension. Pelosi is jumping from her caucus to Trump, keeping both off guard, then back again, then jumping to the country and back again to her caucus or to Trump.

In 2016 I suggested, if I may say, that the Democrats attack Trump from multiple different angles with multiple different antagonists--simultaneously. Warren here, HRC there. Obama over there.

I argued that it would short-circuit Trump. Trump cannot fail to rise to the bait. He doesn't have it in him. He says he learned this from Roy Cohn. The counterpunch must always be harder than the punch. Not counterpunching was not an option.

A person only has two fists. If you surround Trump, a pack of jackals tormenting a cornered a lion, one nipping him on the flank, another on the tail, simultaneously, the lion will respond to each--he knows no other way! The lion will whiplash himself back and forth and back again. Nancy Pelosi has Trump jumping to this level of the chess board, then back down again to that one. Up again, down again. It is exhausting for both man and lion and ultimately futile.

Nancy Pelosi had the epiphanic insight into crushing the counter puncher: not a one punch knockout. Jabs. A jab here. A jab there. A jab does not do devastating damage. A jab just stings your opponent, throws him a little off balance, keeps him "honest." The jab conserves energy and goads the counter puncher into responding to each with disproportionate force, expending energy. Agility. Jab and dodge. Go into a corner and cover up if necessary, weather the counter puncher's impotent rage, his wild, futile blows. You don't have to trade punches with him! Not trading punches shows him he isn't hurting you. Not responding to Trump is the response. "That the best you got?" Taunt him! Yes! Goad him into yet wilder more frantic roundhouses that glance when they land at all. Let him punch himself out. Trump will continue doing it! Even as he becomes frantic and exhausted and his reflexes slow by milliseconds and his punches dull by grams; then his reflexes slow by half-seconds, the force of his punches by ounces; then by seconds and pounds. Then! then. Then, one of the jackals can do real damage, the lion will focus on that one and expose his vitals to the others. Then! one of Nancy Pelosi's jabs draws Trump's blood; Pelosi sees it: the cowardly lyin' is wounded. Now a flurry of Pelosi's jabs wobbles Trump.

That is what Pelosi has been doing as one person to Trump and to her caucus this week. She is adroitly avoiding the blows from her caucus, is blunting them in fact, and is simultaneously attacking Trump from different angles--everything simultaneously: the courts hammer Trump from one angle, she defuses her caucus with accusations of impeachable offenses, strengthening her hand which simultaneously goads Trump into frantic, ineffective counter punches. Trump's counter punches hit air this week. Those weaken him. They strengthen her. Trump is on the defensive, he is being cornered, he was frantic this week and we all saw the effect of it all, Trump weakened: Pelosi's jabs cut.

One woman. One woman has figured this all out. Nancy Pelosi is the Grand Master of multi-dimensional political chess.

Trump calls himself an 'extremely stable genius,' while responding to Pelosi criticism

(USAToday

The wreckage of the last slave ship to successfully bring its human cargo to American shores has been found conclusively in a remote tributary of the Mobile River in Alabama.

The Clotilda's bondage mission came as a result of a bet by the owner that it could be done in 1860, when slave imports had been banned since 1808. The owner won the bet. The Clotilda set off for what is now called Benin and brought back 110-160 African slaves. Survivors were sold into bondage by the White Man. Redoshi, name changed to Aunt Sally Ann Smith by a subsequent Virginia owner,

was the last known survivor of the Clotilda. Redoshi lived until 1937, when she was 89 years old, and is the only slave survivor to be filmed during life, by the United States Department of Agriculture for "The Negro Farmer: Extension Work for Better Farming and Better Living."

Today the identity of the burned scuttled hulk of the Clotilda was positively identified.

The Clotilda in 1914.

Remains of the Clotilda today.

Trump is so dumb—and Nancy Pelosi so adroit with the stiletto—that Trump can be bleeding out on the floor before he realizes she has shivved him. Again. She shivved him today; she shivs him whenever it pleases her to see him writhe with the same stupid, uncomprehending look on his face. Pelosi is playing a sly game of three dimensional chess against Trump, against impeaching Trump, against members of her caucus pressing her to allow impeachment to proceed. She's letting the clock run out on impeachment. She forestalls revolt with her shivving of Trump. She is convinced that the complete ruin of this man and of the lives of his Low Life followers, like my brother-the-klansman, which she, and I, desire above all other desiderata will come in 2020, that impeachment, well, "he is just not worth it." She means, impeachment is not going to happen, not with the Senate controlled by the Low Life's. She is right about the practicality of impeachment. She may be right, or she may not be, that this is the Final Conflict. She may be right, or she may not be, that if this is the Final Conflict, that Trump and the Low Lifes will be utterly ruined, with finality. She has a multi-level plan and I am a following my Leader.

Blue Louie & Black Beans for Cup; Tonto, Male Deer 2-2 for Finals Loss to Goldie

Friends and Enemies, a tip of the hat to Draymond Green here. A toast. No, not for a little thing like two consecutive triple doubles in the conference finals; not for the block on Lillard in game 4; not for the hilarious three that won that game in OT. Small beer, that. All of that. No. A tip of the hat, a toast, to Draymond Green in game 3. I mentioned in a post on that game that Dray was obviously trying to help a young kid with an Afro. The kid’s name is Jordan Bell. Now watch this:

You can have your metrics of the measure of a man. I have always used the same one: how does a person with power treat someone over whom he has power? Amy Klobucher is off my list of presidential candidates for one reason: how she treats her staff. I used to like the late Senator John Heinz, until I read an article that is seared in my memory of how he cruelly treated a starry eyed job applicant. Watch that clip and see young Jordan miss a break away dunk and how he hangs his head in embarrassment afterwards. Watch and listen to Draymond Green standing around the foul line sticking up for Jordan to “Blazer” players talking smack about Jordan. Listen to Draymond, like the best little league coach, telling Jordan in the timeout that it’s gonna be okay. And watch the result on the ensuing possession. Jordan’s young voice “ArREW” as he makes no doubt about this slam, fed to him by Draymond Green.

Mr Green sir, you are a great man. God bless Draymond Green.

Geez Dray, jump much? That’s like a 3” vertical “leap.” He doesn’t look like he takes those too much. That is not classic shooter’s stance. He’s bent slightly at the waist, like he doesn’t know quite how to do this. The ball is not rolling elegantly off his fingertips, it looks like he’s fumbling it. Or twirling it on one finger. Look at the guys standing around. Like they’re standing around the free throw line while Dray takes a freebie. Boxing out to await the rebound. Klay looks reproachfully at Dray. But, thwick, there was no rebound. I mean there’s no “Blazer” even trying to distract Draymond. No whooping or yelling. Not making a run at him. Not making a walk at him. No attempt at defense. Like you’re not allowed to play defense on a guy shooting a free throw; you can’t mess with him, you know. No whooping, no wet willies or anything. Just gotta stand there, box out, and let the guy shoot. That’s what Portland looks like they’re doing. Thwick.

FT (OT) Golden State 119 Portland 117

Lillard missed a three to win with 1.3” left. Steph got the ‘bound, “Blazers” got the 🧹. Fucking Lillard’s gonna have nightmares after this one.

119-117 2.5”

Dray blocked Lillard’s 3’ shot to tie. Mildewia to inbound ball.

Nope. Not Steph or Klay but...Dray. I give up.

Guess who hit the trey?

119-115 39”

Fuckin’ Steph has a treble doublay. 116-115 Pond 57” left.

OT in Mildewia

Steph got called for a travel with 11” left, “Blazers” get the ball to their star Damian Lillard...who missed a five’ shot.

It took two overtime periods for Tonto to avoid the Portlandia black hole of 3-0.  Presumptive league MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo only scored 12 points. However to say that Tonto "limited" or neutralized G-Freak doesn't explain...23 rebounds. Twenty-three. Nor to a lesser extent 7 assists. The point of the game of basketball is however points scored, not rebounds of non-scored shots. Kawhi Leonard had a firmer grasp of the game's object. He scored 36 on 11/25 from the floor and 12/13 in free throws. (Free throws are a flaw in this most beautiful of games). Kawhi also had 9 boards. Which adds up to a brilliant game. The most impactful player to outcome however appears from the box score to have been Tonto's counterpart at PF to Giannis, P. Siakam. P. had 25 points to G's 12, and 11 'bounds to go along. Strong game from P. You have to say P won the battle of PF's against G--on the basis of points. You gotta say that huge drop off in points from G was the diff in the game.Was this a one-off? 23 'bounds a one off? Geez. I don't know about that. G only took 16 shots, tied for second with three other Male Deal. Those three made 5, 3, and 3 each of their 16. Which sucks like a Hoover. The only guy who could should for Mil tonight was high scorer George Hill who had 24 on 7/9, 3/4, 7/8 free throws. It's a weird box score and I have not yet turned to the learned commentary to get an explanation. I shall close with this observation: if this was a one-off by Mil and a career night by P was needed to avoid 3-0 in double OT at home, I'm not making an investment in Tonto doing it again.

❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
Now that you've gone, Mr. Kompany
Blue Nation turns its grateful eyes to you, wo wo wo
And here's to you, Mr. Kompany
Blue Nation loves you more than you will know 
Wo wo wo
God bless you, please, Mr. Kompany
Heaven holds a place for those who play 
Like you do.

"Please release me, let me go." 🎶 Menachem has started earlier than usual today. 🔪 Maybe I will go to work.

Cap’n Vinny Leaves

The most important player of the Manchester Revolution has left the club at age 33, 11 years and several match turners, match savers, match winners. Vincent Kompany will return to his native Belgium to become player/manager of Anderlecht.

There are so many memories. 

After Roberto Mancini named airhead Carlos Tevez captain in attempt to motivate him, and then after Carlos refused to enter the match against Munich Roberto was asked if Tevez was still his captain. “Vinny Kompany is our captain." Vinny saved the club.

The match winner against United in April 2012 that put City back on top and on their way to their first title.

The “No! No! Don’t...” “Yes! Great goal!” against Leicester just this month.

The diving block in the same Leicester match. 

For 11 years he was the bulwark of the defense and the glue that held Sheikh Mansour’s whole project together. “Where do you want your statue, Vincent Kompany."

In his statement today Vinny said:

"Sheikh Mansour changed my life and that of all the City fans around the world, for that I am forever grateful. A blue nation has arisen and challenged the established order of things, I find that awesome.

"I cherish the counsel and leadership of a good human being, Khaldoon Al Mubarak. Man City could not be in better hands."

I’m gonna take today off thank you very much.

NBA basketball is the most beautiful game.

Frigging Draymond, man, mother fucker can pass, too. I saw two highlights where he pushed the ball up the court like he was frigging Magic Johnson and hit some young guy with an afro, Bell, with beautiful bounce passes, right in stride for the kid. Fumbled one of them under the basket, Bell did, and bounced it right back to D-Green for the jam. I mean that is just fucking sick having your Bad Guy, your designated LeBron-Nuts-Kicker being able to run the break too! FUCK! Those guys, there’s nothing you can do! Just shake your head. Alright man, you rank me.

No K? Ok! Steph, Klay, Dray, Drain Portlandia

It’s the original Golden Three. Steph had 36 (11/2) (6/16), Klay 19 (8/20) (1/5) and Dray had a treble double, 20, 13, 12. Whaddya gonna do ‘gainst that? Can’t do nuttin’, man. WITHOUT back-to-back Finals MVP Kevin Durant. WITHOUT DeMarcus Cousins. Goldie’s up three-zip ‘gainst a team that won 53 games. If you guys was in Merry ‘Ol playin’ footie, they’d ban ya.

Why Is Saturday's Full Moon 'Blue'?-livescience

duh

Oh my goodness gracious. City swatted ‘Arry the Elk ‘Ornet 6-0 today to win the FA cup. That completes the first domestic treble ever. Silky, the Arch Angel, KDB and British Sterling all scored for the Angels, the last twice. Don’t know who missed the extra point.

This of course will only fuel hatred of City, that Sheikh Mansour’s petro-dollars are ruining the competitiveness of the Premier League and speaking as one City fan, quoting FDR in 1936, "I welcome their hatred.”

For who has won the most top flight English football titles? Who has won second-most?
Third?
Fourth?
Fifth?
Sixth?
Seventh?

Who are the “Invincibles,” the only team to go unbeaten through a Premier League season?

How many points did City win the league by this year?

Who lost the fewest matches this year?

And, who had the highest payroll in the EPL this year?

The fact is City have spent Sheikh Mansour’s billions wisely. Ask Glazer Bros about that. Ask PSG. As Liverpool has spent John Henry’s money wisely. The fact is that City’s ownership/management team have not made one bad hire as far as I can remember. Certainly none Alexis Sanchez-like. None Paul Pogba-like. The fact is that there were five clubs in the Premier League this season just past who each spent £122,000,000 or more on payroll. Number two finished number one. Number five finished second. Number three finished fifth. Fourth finished third and Numero Uno finished sixth.

So, in closing let me just say, quoting Borat, “Eat my teats!” Have a good even-ing.

Closed the fucking place down. The law library. Was there before it opened at nine today and stayed until they kicked me out at eight.

I am neither the hardest working nor the ablest nor the smartest lawyer out there but by God I give it all I got.

I don’t know if Pat Riley wants to give Mil a whaddup and see if—for equal value—say James Johnson and Hassan Whiteside and maybe one of his “young core,” Justice OR Bam OR J-Rich they would sent said Greek Freak Witch to these parts. What’s a phone call?

Green Greek Male Deer Freak Extincts Dinos 125-103 (2-0)

Kawhi Leonard led all scorers with 31 (10/18) 8 reb. Giannis had one less for 30 (10/20) and 17 rebs. Five other Antlers were in doubles. I'm gonna repeat it: Milwaukee is a team of destiny. If Golden Pond does not get K back the Finals are going to be an incendiary outbuilding. These Male Deer are not high-tailing it back into the forest. Giannis is a witch and will carry his herd on his shoulders if need be. This team is fucking possessed! Best story in the NBA this year. FEAR. THE. DEER.

Strange about Bill Kristol: he is smart and extremely well-educated yet can't grab his ass with both hands. Famously wrong in his predictions. Really, he is known for the incorrectness of his future forecasts. You could have made a lot of money over the years taking Kristol's predictions and placing a wager with your local bookmaker on the opposite proposition. He's uncanny. Backward Bill.

He has this faux avuncular solicitousness, "Do others have the sense?..." Inviting, Yes! Mr Kristol you read my mind! He even gets that backwards: "Trumpism has begun to outpace Trump" (?) No. Trumpism preceded Trump, you frigging idjit. What, like Trump created it? Like Trump wandered into some meetings of Americans for Democratic Action and converted them from liberals to fascists? No! He blew his dog whistles at klaverns, under rocks. They were there, they were always there! They just needed somebody to whistle their tune. What a guy Kristol is.

Exceedingly pale skinned sounding gentleman, if one can racially stereotype by voice and I believe I can.

I just declined my services as an attorney to a gentleman who called me and said that he had been visited very early in the morning recently by two special agents of the F.B.I. who who were inquiring of him concerning his activities, quoting him now, "recruiting an armed militia online and outside bars for defensive purposes in the event of civil war."

Did I have an opinion whether it was "odd" that the two federales had in tow a phalanx of armed, uniformed local police officers standing a respectable distance away? You know, in the event of civil war, I guess. I did have an opinion on that matter and answered with typical lawyerly brevity, "No."

Bill Kristol
@BillKristol
Do others have the sense that some kind of dam has broken on the Trumpist Right? Outright contempt for the rule of law, cavalier recklessness in rhetoric and unabashed extremism in policy have become more prevalent and normalized than before. Trumpism has begun to outpace Trump.
9:40 PM · May 16, 2019 · Twitter for iPhone

unintentional self-parody 

E-Xi

This is so un-China like. Xi Jinping committed a fundamental, and monumental, unforced error in the Sino-American trade negotiations. Xi did it. Not the Americans, not his negotiators, Xi did it. Changed the terms of the agreed final draft at the last minute and sent it to Mnuchin like maybe Mnuchin would miss it. Gee, Xi.

Xi then compounded his error with over the top rhetoric like this in state media:

“If anyone today regards China as the China of old, prey to dismemberment, as a ‘soft persimmon’ that can be squeezed at will, their minds are stuck in the 19th century and they’re deceiving themselves.”-Xinhua.

(Deep snoring from Americans.)

Xi painted the floor with shit and is now in a corner with no way out without stepping in it. The left foot: hurt the Chinese economy with painful American tariffs. The right foot: cave--the “soft persimmon.”

Good work, Xi. Keep in touch, hear?

Bumble Bee Beans Broom Trump's Assholes (4-0), 17-6 Goals Over 4

Sans K Oaks Go to Steph, Klay, No Dray

Obese Female Sings in the Town: Peacniks Extinguish Blaze 114-111 (2-0)

Portlandia in medium doo-doo, zero-two two.

114-11 :09

:11

Portlandia teeters.

:29

112-111 :52

Oaks 110-108 1:04

Oak Hard to Burn: Town 108-107 2:01 Left

Four Alarm Again! 102-94 6:43 Left

3Q Flood By Bay: Blaze Doused

94-94 TB 8:04 4Q

Blaze on Golden Pond! Portlandia 65-50 HT

Steve Bullock of Montana and Bill de Blasio of New York are...It’s either “may be available at 13” for the Miami “Heat” to draft, or “running for president” I forget.

Miami 13

I don't want potential, "up side." I want a dead-eye shooting guard. Therefore I don't want:

Southern Cal 6-6 guard Kevin Porter Jr. (9.5 ppg).

Kentucky 6-8 power forward PJ Washington (15.2 ppg...33 for 78 - on threes): “We used to call him a tweener and now we call him positionless. [NIX] He’s a stretch four. The big question with him early in his career was his motor didn’t rev every night. [NIX] That improved last season as well as his outside shot. He’s an outside/inside type of small-ball power forward. Don’t think he has the foot quickness or athleticism to be full-time perimeter player. [NIX]But he’s improving.”

Oregon 7-2 center Bol Bol (21 ppg.💗💗💗..he’s relatively skilled for a man that size, showing shooting range, ability to put the ball on the floor... There is an indifference [on his part] in my opinion to work ethic [STRIKE]and the defensive end [STRIKE 2] of the court and he’s got a weak lower body [STRIKE 2 1/2] to hold any ground in the low post. There’s questions about toughness, too.”[STRIKE 3 NIX]

North Carolina 6-6 small forward Nassir Little (9.8 ppg) [NIX]

Gonzaga 6-8 forward Brandon Clark (16.9 ppg) [💗💗] “He was supposed to be one of most explosive athletes in college basketball after transferring [from San Jose State]. He shot almost all around the basket. [X] The thing I struggled with watching him was his frame — he’s got the game of a power forward but the frame of a small forward. He didn’t score effectively over length at the rim. [X] He’ll be a rotation player. [X] High energy, underskilled. [NIX]

Kentucky 6-6 swingman Keldon Johnson (13.5 ppg)... Plays with a high motor, can defend the two or three. Improving shooter. Solid workmanlike player. I would project him as a rotation player with chance to be a starter. Toughness and character would fit neatly into Miami’s culture. Great work ethic.” [NIX. Fuck Miami's culture]

2. Indiana 6-6 small forward Romeo Langford (16.5 ppg [💙💙💙]...44.8 percent from field [YIKES] but 27.2 percent...on threes) [MAJOR X]: The caveat with the shooting percentage is he played through a thumb injury that required surgery after the season.

“I would want to see for myself that shooting form is not broken,” Fraschilla said. “There are some shooting mechanics that would have to be improved on. But when the shot is not falling, he’s putting his head down and getting to the basket. He does know how to get to the basket and get himself fouled. He will not be an elite NBA athlete at shooting guard. But he does know how to score;  he scored 3,000 points in high school [as a five-star prospect out of Indiana a year ago]. He’s in the wheelhouse of 13. He’s a guy to keep your eye on. I think he will rise.”

Who I want:

1. Gonzaga 6-8 swingman Rui Hachimura (19.7 ppg) [💙💙💙] 59.1 percent from field, 15 for 36 on threes). Has an NBA body... He’s a mobile forward with power and strength. He has a high ceiling because he’s new to the game. Really good instincts for a young player. The one negative about him is putting the ball on the floor and playing away from the basket.

Male Deer Beat Red Tonto (1-0)

Milwaukee is the team of destiny in the East this year. There is a fire in this team that has been apparent all season. They have rolled over all playoff opposition: 4-0 over Detroit, 4-1 over Boston, and now they have won the first game against Toronto. They will not be denied in these conference finals. They will be denied in the Finals against Golden State, a generational team. This is an immensely talented, hard-working, driven, well-coached team in Milwaukee.

Where Is the Trump Recession?

With recrudescence breaking out with North Korea Trump lost his Nobel Prize and his one foreign policy achievement. That leaves him the American economy and that is the biggest prize of all.

Unemployment lower than ever, robust GDP growth, no inflation, stock market all time highs, prosperity oozing from every orifice. Smoot-Hawley was the third rail of economics and Trump has smote Smoot, not only touching the third rail but grabbing it right by the ... He pulled out of TPP, redid NAFTA and has been tariffing China continuously. Each of Trump’s actions was predicted by consensus to be hugely damaging to the American economy. Together, they were the Apocalypse. None of it happened.

He has now levied tariffs of $200 billion on imports from China. The American stock market did what it has done each of the times Trump has smooted: hiccuped one day and then rebounded the very next. The Chinese responded with levies of $60 billion on U.S. goods. Why the lack of Chinese reciprocity? On accounta they’ve run out of U.S. imports to whack! The trade disparity between the two countries is so one-sided that Trump could go on levying and the Chinese could not counter. That is Trump’s trump card. The conventional wisdom is that this trade war will cause "pain on all sides." That in fact was exactly what Trump's economic adviser Larry Kudlow said just today. And there will be. But the pain will be immensely one-sided. Chinese will be in agony, Americans will pay ~$800 more. Eh.

Trump has put China in a dangerous position. Chinese politics is immune to democracy’s laws but not to economics’ laws. The CPC's legitimacy is entirely dependent upon continuation of its unnatural economic growth. No country in history has ever defied the laws of economic gravity as China has the last 40 years. Forty years of continuous growth, explosive growth. No "corrections," no long-lasting recessions. How is that possible? The trade imbalance with the largest economy, the U.S., peut etre?

Trump has put Xi Jinping in a no-win position. Xi is the most powerful Chinese Maximum Leader since Mao Zedong. Giving in to Trump puts him at risk. Chinese have loonngg memories. "Concessions," as were made to foreign powers at the beginning of the 20th century are the third rail of Chinese foreign policy. "China has finally stood up" Mao said on the founding of the state. Now China has to sit back down? Ooh. Not giving in to Trump however threatens the economic foundation of the state's legitimacy. This is gonna hurt Chinese! It's not gonna hurt Trump.

FT Golden State 116 Portland 94 (1-0)

Is Golden State favored?

...the best possible Heat scenarios could possibly involve Duke freshman forward Cam Reddish, Texas freshman center Jaxson Hayes, French 18-year-old forward Sekou Doumbouya and North Carolina guard Coby White.

Among other possibilities slipping to No. 13 from current higher projections are Gonzaga junior forward Brandon Clarke, North Carolina freshman guard Nassir Little and Gonzaga junior forward Rui Hachimura.

Other possibilities who could enter the equation at the No. 13 stage of the draft are Southern Cal guard Kevin Porter, Indiana freshman forward Romeo Langford, Virginia Tech sophomore guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Kentucky sophomore forward P.J. Washington, Kentucky freshman guard Keldon Johnson, Kentucky freshman guard Tyler Herro, Oregon freshman center Bol Bol, Chinese guard Bin Bin and 64-year-old Pittsburgh post-graduate Benjamin Harris.

Failing for the 11th time in as many visits to improve their draft position to the random-but-weighted [NBA draft lottery]...the Heat held their seed position for the third consecutive visit.

The previous two visits ultimately left them with Duke forward Justise Winslow at No. 10 in 2015 and Kentucky center Bam Adebayo at No. 14 in 2017.(Sun-Sentinel)

Weee!

"Spoelstra Meets with Division II Coach To Discuss Offense"-Hot Hot Hoops

Weeee!

LOLAKERS

Look at that dweeb! Look at that bubble head!

General Manager.        Owner.

“Hi, Nice to meet you. My name is Uriah Heep."

"Pay no attention to her. She is a bimbo. I have her right...under...my...thumb.

“ Hi, I’m Linda. I’m the Bubblehead/Owner’s best friend since high school. Those are my qualifications.”

Linda Rambis | executive director, special projects

“Kurt Rambis. Former Laker. Husband of the best friend since high school of the Bubblehead. How's it goin'.”

Kurt Rambis | senior basketball adviser

Joey Buss | co-owner/team president of the South Bay Lakers/Brother of the Bimbo
Most recently, the Lakers' G League president engaged in one-on-one conversations with 
Williams and Lue during the interview process.

Jesse Buss | co-owner; director of scouting and assistant general manager/Brother of the Bubblehead.
The youngest of the Buss siblings, his responsibilities in the organization focus primarily on the team's draft process. 

Phil Jackson | former Lakers head coach | former agent of mass destruction New York “Knicks” | former fiance of the Bubblehead.

Jackson spends half the year at his Montana residence, but he remains close to Kurt Rambis and has been a regular visitor to the Lakers facility.

Kobe Bryant | former Laker


Pelinka was Bryant’s former agent


These are not the Showtime "Lakers."

That is the Clown Showtime "Lakers."

https://mobile.twitter.com/ABC/status/1126916005559709696

UEFA Investigators Set to Seek Manchester City’s Ban From Champions League

(New York Times)

That will be a decision UEFA will regret but once, and that is continuously. 

City, fuck those bastards and the horse they rode in on. Break away. Start the Super League.

Remarkably, their [Man United’s] defeat to Cardiff meant they were as close to relegation as they were to Pep Guardiola’s champions at the end of the season.
(Metro.co.uk)

I know of no athlete in any sport as extraordinary as was the racehorse Secretariat. He was the Big Horse. His size stands out even among his thoroughbred peers. You can’t miss him. His neck was as big around as a tree trunk. His ass as big as Kim Kardashian’s. At necropsy his heart was the size and strength of an industrial pump. He was a “tremendous machine.” The power he got from his massive hindquarters made his dominance inevitable. He was a freak of nature. And he had a killer’s will. These are his Triple Crown races. Never ever has there been an athlete so many standard deviations superior to the other elites in his field. Never ever will we see a Secretariat again.

Prayerful Ederson

Giving thanks at the final whistle today. And we to him. And to all the players. To Pep Guardiola. And to Sheikh Mansour.

I did not finish my work today. I finished 95%. As I print out twenty-four pages from a couple of weeks of work all that is left is to compress those twenty-four pages a little, make it leaner. I am content.

I see shades of green, where there’s s’posed to be blue
Neon green, green pinstripes too
And I think to myself do you want me to puke?

I see skies of blue...actually none that I do
The bright sky blue team is dressed in neon green
And I think to myself, what are they the Mean Green?

The colors of the rainbow so pretty in the sky
Look awful on a ball team, like an LSD high
I see friends shaking heads saying what do they do
They're really saying where’s the blue?

I hear babies cry, they even know
That’s s’posed to be blue, neon green blows
And I think to myself what the hell do they do
Yes I think to myself, Sky Blues dress in sky blue.

Liverfooled!

had scored against Man City’Tragic moment Liverpool "Tragic moment Liverpool fans celebrate around Anfield after ‘Wolves supporters spread fake news Brighton had scored against Man City" (The Sun)The Sun$

M

"Fans were furiously checking Fans were furiously checking their phones for updates from Brighton."

Paddy Power
@paddypower
Wolves fans spreading fake match updates at Anfield is one of the best things to happen all season.
10:53 AM · May 12, 2019 ·


Happy boy🇳🇬
@jeffBreezy_
 Wolves fans pretending Brighton have scored at Anfield... this is the type of shithousery i approve... 😍#MUNCAR #LIVWOL #LEICHE #FPL
11:10 AM - May 12, 2019

Jon Evans
@jonoevans84
Replying to
@paddypower
Don’t Liverpool fans own smartphones?

Anthony
@saintant
Define own.


Define smart.

Oh my God, this is hilarious from the Guardian!

12.13pm 

From the Anfield press room...

The Poznan! City fans at Brighton do the Poznan!

psst. 'pool.

1990!
1990!
1990!

IT'S OVER! IT'S OVER! FULL TIME!

MANCHESTER CITY
REPEAT PREMIER LEAGUE CHAMPIONS!!!!!!!

Liverpool 2 Wolves 0, 81'

Sane again for 'Pool. Don't matter.

I see trees of green, red roses too
I see them bloom for me and you
And I think to myself what a wonderful world

I see skies of blue and clouds of white
The bright blessed day, the dark sacred night
And I think to myself what a wonderful world

The colors of the rainbow so pretty in the sky
Are also on the faces of people going by
I see friends shaking hands saying how do you do
They're really saying I love you

I hear babies crying, I watch them grow
They'll learn much more than I'll never know
And I think to myself what a wonderful world
Yes I think to myself what a wonderful world

Neil Friday McGourty
@Mcgourty22N

Fair play to Man City. Congratulations due to a brilliant team. We kept you honest all the way. #LIVWOL

8:31 AM - 12 May 2019

I want to see Neil's credentials as a real Liverpool fan. There's no indicia of Low Life in that tweet.

CITY 4 BRIGHTON 1, 72'

Ilkay Gundogan and MANCHESTER CITY ARE GOING TO REPEAT AS CHAMPIONS OF THE PREMIER LEAGUE!!!

goal

London Money
@LondonMoneyFS

Is there a way to get your phone to stop auto-correcting swear words for clean ones ? I’m losing valuable time here !
#LIVWOL
#bbcfootball

8:25 AM - 12 May 2019

CITY 3 BRIGHTON 1, 63'

Riyad Mahrez gives the Angels a two goal lead. Now in the 65'. NOW, it's getting close to miracle time for Liverpool Low Lifes.

goal

Now in the 63' at Brighton, the 64' in Liverpool.

William Imbo
@IMBO_WILL

Meanwhile, Liverpool vs Wolves has turned quite stale. The Reds clearly hoping for a miracle down in Brighton.

8:17 AM - 12 May 2019

Christ, I wouldn't say they need a "miracle." Brighton scored first! It's 2-1 now. It'd be a "miracle" if Brighton scored again? Come on.

Man City Indonesia
@MCFC_Supporters

🎶💙COME ON CITY!💙🎶 🎶💙COME ON CITY!💙🎶 🎶💙COME ON CITY!💙🎶 🎶💙COME ON CITY!💙🎶

" FIGHT TILL THE END "
#BHAMCI
#SharkTeam
#CTWD

8:15 AM - 12 May 2019

MAN CITY INDONESIA! LOVE YOU!

BenchWarmers
Verified account
@BeWarmers

Wolves fans at Anfield have started fake goal celebrations making Liverpool fans think Brighton have scored against Man City. Savage banter...😂 #LIVWOL #BRIMCI

8:13 AM - 12 May 2019

OH MY GOD, THAT IS BRILLIANT!

HT City 2 Brighton 1; Liverpool 1 Wolves 0

THIS is the Premier League.

CITY 2 BRIGHTON 1!

Aymeric Laporte in the 38' and the Angels have the bit in their teeth again!

Brighton 1 City 1, 28'

Aguerroooo! knots it for the Angels. A draw though does them NO GOOD. They cannot drop points to Liverpool.

Brighton 1 City 0, 27'

City are spitting the bit!

Liverpool 1 Wolves 0, 17'

'Pool ups the ante on City who are scoreless at Brighton.

This Is It

The final hour of the greatest season in the history of the greatest soccer league in the world between the world’s two best teams.

Speaker Evita

“Ha ha ha ha, The news is next, The news is next”

I DEMAND TO KNOW WHAT IS UP WITH NPR CHANGING ITS THEME SONG TO SOME DISCO BEAT!

There are times in a man’s alive when he just doesn’t have it, you know?  I was embarrassed by the work I did on Tuesday and I resolved that I would finish my work on Wednesday no excuses. I'm pretty good about keeping work resolutions. I worked until 10 o’clock. I did not finish. Thursday, the same resolution and I worked well before suddenly and inexplicably losing it. Did not finish. Yesterday, same resolution, worked until about 9:30. Didn’t finish. Today I just did not have it. I did not finish.

FT Golden State 118 Houston 113

‘Twas a reunion of the Splash Brothers tonight in Houston. Steph: 33 (9/20 (4/11); Klay: 27 (10/20) (7/13). Team Beard: Beard: 35 (11/25) (7/15); R2CP3: 27 (11/19 (3/6).

Full Time. Golden Showers douse Rockettes 118-113 and eliminate them from further consideration by gathered humanity.

116-113 :02. Peaceniks full TO.

:03

:08

116-110 :12. An obese female is getting ready to sing. Cows on full TO.

114-110, :12.

113-107. :21.

112-107. :25

110-104. :32.

It’s slip sliding away from the Female Bovines. 107-104 :58 left.

Incendiary Outbuilding Event in Cow Town

102-97 Golden Ponders, 3:10 left 4Q. Don’t touch that computer screen. We will go right down to the finish line. Peaceniks can win the serious tonight and do it without their Playoff Paragon Mr Kevin Durant.

This is history.

The Champions League is an All-English final, Liverpool vs Spurs.
So too the the second-tier Europa League. Chelsea advances to the final with a 4-3 aggregate win over Eintracht. Arsenal advance to meet them after a 4-2 (7-3) aggregate demolition of Valencia.

The top two clubs in the English Premier League, separated by one lonely point, Manchester City and Liverpool, are unquestionably the best clubs in all of Europe this year. The league's fourth place club, Tottenham Hotspur, may yet (although I doubt it in the extreme) be crowned kings of all Europe. They eliminated league leaders and presumptive champions, City. Liverpool, second, came within millimeters in a lone seasonal loss to City of matching Arsenal 2003/04 as Invincibles. Third Chelsea and fifth Arsenal now play for the silver medal in Europa.

There has never been a league to equal the continental dominance and the transcendent excellence of its top clubs as this year's English Premier League.

Rule Britannia!

Lue Leaves "Lakers" Blue

Man. You canNOT overestimate the importance of ownership in sports. Under Buss père this franchise did not make a mistake. Under Buss fille it's a clown show.

The "Lakers" fired head coach Luke Walton at the end of the season. Jeanie with the light brown hair and cohort in kookery “Rob” “Pelinka” then ran off Magic Johnson as president. Their first choice to replace Luke, their one, their only, their everything was...Lue. Imagine the mind of a person who can have practically her pick of head coaches, who thus trains her peepers from horizon to horizon and stops on a piece of detritus washed up on the shores of Lake Mistake and points unhesitatingly at: The One. Lue.

Then imagine Lue returning the the Siren's summons,--eagerly--traveling post haste to the land of starlight and fairy dust. And turning the job down.

Imagine that.

completely suddenly inexplicably lost my work mojo about 5:30. like a switch was turned off. havent been able to get it back. i'm done! blowing this popsicle stand.

Observations by an Odd Man

Earlier this morning I heard my neighbor walked by my unit whistling. When was the last time that you heard somebody whistle? It used to be fairly common. My dad whistled; there was a bailiff in the courthouse who always used to whistle. There was a song “Whistle While You Work,” Da-da, da da da da da. It’s impossible to be in a bad mood and whistle. It brightens everybody’s day. The lost art of whistling.

Smoke rising from the grounds of a jail: almost never a good sign. But today it was. Morning barbecue with music.