Sunday, September 20, 2026
Manchester City-Sunderland 0-0, 8'
Arsenal were verily thrashed yesterday on the coast at Brighton. City can go table top with a dub or draw here.
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The Immortal Jim Croce
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Little known today, James Joseph Croce was a supernova who lit the American sky for a brief, shining moment in 1972-1973 before a fiery crash to earth (literally) took him from us.
Although you don't know Jim, you know his words: "Leroy Brown"; "you don't tug on Superman's cape, you don't spit into the wind"; "meaner than a junkyard dog"; "time in a bottle". Ironic, funny, poignant, haunting, above all soulful, Jim Croce had a name. I get an exquisite pain whenever I think of losing him. Jim Croce died in a plane crash on this date in 1973. He was only 30 years old.
You Don't Mess Around With Jim (based on real character in South Philadelphia)
You don't tug on Superman's cape
You don't spit into the wind
Bad, Bad Leroy Brown (based on a real life friend in the Army at Fort Dix)
Leroy Brown (term for tough working-class Black men - Pat Buchanan)
meaner than a junkyard dog...
...jigsaw puzzle with a couple of pieces gone
Operator (based on the real life experiences of soldiers he met in the Army)
[Verse 1]
Operator, well could you help me place this call?
See, the number on the match book is old and faded
She's living in L.A. with my best old ex-friend Ray
A guy she said she knew well and sometimes hated
[Chorus]
But isn't that the way they say it goes?
Well let's forget all that
And give me the number if you can find it
So I can call just to tell 'em I'm fine, and to show
I've overcome the blow
I've learned to take it well
I only wish my words could just convince myself
That it just wasn't real
But that's not the way it feels
[Verse 2]
Operator, well could you help me place this call?
Cause I can't read the number that you just gave me
There's something in my eyes
You know it happens every time
I think about the love that I thought would save me
[Verse 3]
Operator, well let's forget about this call
There's no one there I really wanted to talk to
Thank you for your time
Ah, you've been so much more than kind
You can keep the dime
I Got a Name (based on his father's dreams for him)
Like the pine trees linin' the windin' roadI've got a name, I've got a name
Like the singin' bird and the croakin' toad
I've got a name, I've got a name
And I carry it with me like my daddy did
But I'm livin' the dream that he kept hid
Time in a Bottle (written after his wife became pregnant)
If I could save time in a bottleThe first thing that I'd like to do
Is to save every day
'Til eternity passes away
Just to spend them with you
On September 20, 1973, Croce, partner Maury Muehleisen, and four others died in a plane crash, one day before the release of the lead single from Croce's fifth album, "I Got a Name", during a period of significant commercial success. [only two years, 1972-73] "I Got a Name" became a no. 1 ranked song posthumously.
In a letter to Ingrid, his wife, that arrived after his death, Croce told her that he had decided to quit music and wanted to write short stories and movie scripts as a career and withdraw from public life.
Dear Ing,
I know I haven't been very nice to you for some time, but I thought it might be of some comfort, Sweet Thing, to understand that you haven't been the only recipient of JC's manipulations. But since you can't hear me and can't see me, I can't bullshit, using my sneaky logic and facial movements. I have to write it all down instead, which is lots more permanent. So it can be re-read instead of re-membered, so, it's really right on the line.
I know that you see me for who I am, or should I say, as who I are. 'Cause I've been lots of people. If Medusa had personalities or attitudes instead of snakes for her features, her name would have been Jim Croce. But that's unfair to you and it's also unhealthy for me. And I now want to be the oldest man around, a man with a face full of wrinkles and lots of wisdom.
So this is a birth note, Baby. And when I get back everything will be different. We're gonna have a life together, Ing, I promise. I'm gonna concentrate on my health. I'm gonna become a public hermit. I'm gonna get my Master's Degree. I'm gonna write short stories and movie scripts. Who knows, I might even get a tan.
Give a kiss to my little man and tell him Daddy loves him.
Remember, it's the first sixty years that count and I've got 30 to go.
I Love you,
Jim
Saturday, September 19, 2026
FT Rutgers 35 USC (10) 42
Rutgers 21 UMass 37 at SHIA Stadium. L.
Rutgers 21 BC 28 in Chestnut Hill. L.
Rutgers 35 USC (10) 42, SHIA Stadium. L.
SCHADENFREUDE!
NC State held a 31-28 lead on the road with six seconds remaining and faced a fourth down while backed up to its 5-yard line. Wolfpack quarterback CJ Bailey attempted to secure the win by scrambling and running out the clock before taking a safety.
As three Vanderbilt defenders hit Bailey in the end zone, however, pass rusher Miles Capers punched the ball out and cornerback Cayden Daniels recovered the fumble for the go-ahead touchdown.
Espo
FT Bilt 35 Packa Wolves 31
O NO SCHIANO!
The dumb ass went for it on 4th and one from his own 24. SC DID stop them. Schiano, you just gifted them the GAME!
THEY WENT FOR IT AND CAME UP SHORT! R BALL!
I'm telling ya, Lincoln Riley went for it rather than take the 3 because HE NEEDS THE POINTS. HE KNOWS HIS DEFENSE IS NOT STOPPING RUTGERS. I can't believe I'm writing that sentence.
1ST AND GOAL AT THE 10. USC CANNOT STOP RUTGERS!
Lincoln Riley teams have the rep and the record of not being able to play defense.
RUTGERS COMES RIGHT BACK! 3 PLAYS 75 YARDS. 27-21, 8:49 3Q. INSPIRED RUTGERS!
Oh my God
Rutgers was INSPIRED! Lonergan to Duff was unstoppable! On this first possession of the 2H they got down to the SC 9. I was getting ready to post "INSPIRED RUTGERS TAKES LEAD!"
pick-six. 14-27, USC 10:32 3Q.
KY Jelly leads Texas DEI (9) 14-7, 9:19 3Q
COCKS! and Dogs just started in South Carolina Must Be Destroyed.
Rutgers gets the touch! 7-10, end 1Q
R's first play on their second possession:
Ryan Kartje@RyanKartje
USC's defensive line absolutely overwhelms Rutgers on first down, but Luke Wafle snags the QB's facemask during the sack, and Rutgers gets the big penalty
4:09 PM · Sep 19, 2026
And that was the key play. Credit Schiano and QB Dylan Lonergan, Schiano went right back to him and he completed a few passes, including on the TD. R went for it on 4th and 4 at SC 11 and got it. Ballsy, good call by Schiano. 75 yards on 12 plays, 8:04 of clock. 👏R
Resistant-less Rutgers 0 Irresistible USC 3, 9:30 1Q
The "Trojans" took the opening kick, moved at will, stalling only for penalties, used 5:30 of clock, chomped off 58 yards in 12 plays, got down to the Ruptures 17 and took the peep.
Weather Delays on a Schadenfreude Saturday Down South
Eff Esse Ew at Ala-Damn-Bama
Apple Chills at It's Probation Time Again Y'all (UNC 17-15, 8:20 left, with ball on IPTAY 2)
Schadenfreude Saturday
For 95% of America today it's Schadenfreude Saturday Down South. At 7:30 pm Normal Slave States Time it's Elle Esse Ew at Olé Miss. But I'm a Yankee. At 3:30 it's Schianofreude, Ew Esse Cee (12) at Ruptures. The "Trojans" are -21.5 at SHIA Stadium. Greg Schiano's last chance?
"And of course we are Yankees." Elizabeth Garman Gill
-Patrick Regan Narduzzi
In re grains of salt
Mikkel Olesen, a senior researcher at the Danish Institute for International Studies Olesen stressed that details of the [Greenland] deal remain unclear and that available information should be taken “with a grain of salt” as most of it has so far come from the US side.
Friday, September 18, 2026
Pitt 27 Syracuse 13. "The Takeaway" (AP)
Pitt: The Panthers have won three games three different ways. They blew out Miami (Ohio) in the opener, showed some grit while slogging past UCF in a monsoon last weekend, and rode their ground game to a third straight victory over the Orange. That kind of versatility could play in a league that looks wide open behind frontrunner Miami.
Public Occurrences September 18, 2026
February 28: ‘Major combat operations’
April 7: ‘A whole civilization will die tonight’
June 14: ‘The Deal with the Islamic Republic of Iran is now complete’
On June 14, Trump declared the agreement complete and told the world’s ships to start their engines.
July 10: ‘The Cease Fire is OVER!’
August 10: ‘Donald Trump Won the Iran War’
8:06 pm:
AP
Thursday, September 17, 2026
Can't wait to hear Brent Axe on this one
Ten penalties for 94 yards on Syracuse; Pitt 8/72.
Axe and co-s were also spot-on about Steve Angeli. Finally, in this game, Fran Brown lifted him. Brown is in trouble, Syracuse football is in trouble.
Pitt and Syracuse have played every year since 1955 (the greatest year in mankind's history), 71 straight years. The "Panthers" have owned the "Orangemen" in this millennium (a stat that makes Axe an axe murderer). In those twenty-six years Pitt is 21-5 against Syracuse.
The "Mountain Cats" are 3-0 against Miami (1-1 on season), Central Florida (1-1), and Syracuse (1-2). All three games at home. No, not Murderer's Row but a MAC team that was 7-7 in 2025, a Big XII team (5-7, 2025) and an ACC team (3-9). Pitt was 8-5 last season. Not Murderer's Row, but just a block down from where we ourselves were. We were favored in all three dubs.
How good is Pitt? They got one vote for top twenty-five this past week. I think the consensus hovered around 40th pre-season. I think as a whole the team is better than that, I'd peg them as border top-25. Mason Heintschel has not thrown a TD pass since Miami. He has the one INT tonight. He has not dominated, except for Miami. Teams have film on him now. He is very good, and he won't kill you with mistakes, but axe the dark horse Heisman talk. We do run the ball at Pitt and tonight Ferguson, Jr. and Wright made like Dorsett and Walker, over 200 yards between them. I think the offense is better than 40-ish. But the defense, Pat Narduzzi's specialty--CONGRATULATIONS PAT!--is one of the best in the country imo, and it is that unit that moves Pitt's needle at, or into, the top-25 league.
Pitt 27 Syracuse 10, 8:16 4Q, off Steve Angeli's second INT at 11:35
"We run the ball at Pitt" -Dave Wannstedt
Pitt has averaged 7.4 yards per carry on the ground. Damon Ferguson, Jr. has 102 yards on 10 carries; La'Vell Wright 72 on 10.
We're into the 4th Q! And it is PITT who has the only score of the 2H. 24-10, 12:10 3Q
The "Panthers" stuffed the "Orangemen" 3-and-out and the first possession of the half and then went 76 yards in only four plays--all runs by the way, two by Damon Ferguson, Jr., one by La'Vell Wright, and the cap by Mason Heintschel. Angeli has thrown two picks in the 2H.
Pitt 17-10 HT. They went to a different kicker and he got the FG.
Everything that could go badly for Syracuse in that half went so. They dominated the time of possession. They would have the lead but for their boneheaded penalties. They tried to establish the run game early and failed. They then did one smart thing and put the ball in the hands of their best player, QB Steve Angeli. Pitt, on the other hand, has to rely on its run game. It's been effective and it keeps the ball out of Angeli's hands.
So it's a one-score game and Syracuse has big Mo' and will get the ball to start 2H.
3rd and 5 Pitt 16, Syr FTO
Steve Angeli is 11/18, 155 yards. Syr. will ride him on this drive. They're not going to try another FG.
4th down penalty on Pitt gave "Orangemen" new life. They score. Pitt 17-7, 3:28 2Q
The T.o.P. must be LOPSIDED in Syracuse's favor...Almost 2-1! 17:13 to 9:19.
Syracuse 1st and goal at Pitt 1!
BIG plays this drive: 28-yard run, 7-yard run, 5-yard run, 24-yard pass. :o
"Syracuse Football Has an Execution Problem, and Fran Brown Must Fix It Now" si.com
Brown is in favor of Syracuse football's execution.
Fran Brown got a penalty
There were two Syracuse penalties on Pitt's second TD drive. One was for pass interference. That's 15 yards. The second was unsportsmanlike conduct on Brown for yelling about the PI penalty.
ANOTHER Syracuse penalty. Pitt 1st down own 49
Fran Brown must needs stop his warriors from doing loco.
"Panthers" 7 "Orangemen" 0, End 1Q
On 4th and 7 from our 37 they went for it. Pitt ball. 6:42 1Q.
That is one of those positions on the field where you have no choice but to go for it, too long for a FG, too short for a punt.
"Orangemen" on War Path!
We committed an unsportsmanlike penalty when we had them reeling. They have since been moving the ball on us. At our 40 now.
Pat Narduzzi
Wednesday, September 16, 2026
Trump on "hostile" acts
As if to confirm the deep concerns that pushed them closer, Mr. Trump threatened retribution.
Trump on EU-Canada
Trump says Canada becoming EU ‘associate member’ could be ‘hostile act’
The US president threatened heavy tariffs and said the US could cut some trade with Europe over the proposed status.
Speaking to reporters in Charlotte, North Carolina, on Wednesday, Trump said his response would depend on what European leaders were trying to achieve.
“If it’s a good intention, that’s fine. If it’s a bad intention, we’ll put very heavy tariffs,” Trump said. He also suggested the US could stop trading with Europe “on many things”.
Trump on Interest Rate Hike
“If we stopped Trading with every country that we have a Deficit with, which is most of them, we would make, at least, 1.5 Trillion Dollars a year.
“LOWER THE INTEREST RATES FOR THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND FAST!”
Anthropic Researcher: ">10% Chance AI Could "Kill All Humans’ Within Next 10 Years :o
@EvanHub
Jacob is correct here—we really do earnestly believe AI could kill all humans! I personally think it is >10% within the next decade. I believe Anthropic is trying its best, but we do not yet have a plan to solve alignment for superintelligence and are not clearly on track to.
Public Occurrences September 16, 2026
Federal Reserve Decision live: US central bank raises rates for first time since 2023
2:30 pm:
*Never mind.
EU blindsided by Von der Leyen’s Canada ‘associate member’ pitch
The Commission president unveiled the idea without consulting EU capitals — and Ottawa quickly tamped down expectations.
CARNEY!!! CANADA TO BECOME FIRST "ASSOCIATE MEMBER" OF EU!
“We share one ocean, one set of values, one way of seeing the world. And we will now build our shared future as well.”--Ursula von der Leyen, European Commission President
...the announcement Wednesday was met with a standing ovation from [European] lawmakers, and Mr. Carney and Ms. von der Leyen shook hands warmly as she made the announcement.
“China, Russia and the U.S. have turned their backs on international law. We need new allies.”--Barry Andrews, a member of the European Parliament from Ireland.
This is a delicious forensic takedown of vice president J.D. Vance on the issue of anti-Israel sentiment among young people in America. It is no less delicious for being condescending ("naive"; Vance "is new to this [antisemitism]", "charming") by a late 20's-early 30's dude on the 42-year old veep.
Elliot Kaufman's substantive putdown is on Vance's argument that one has to appeal to young people on the American national interest in support of Israel. That's wrong, says the mature Mr. Kaufman. The appeal should be made on the moral basis of support for Israel. (?) I guess because young people like Elliot are considered to be activated more by morality in politics than by national interest. "The moral case for the Jewish state will need an update to connect", writes he. "If Mr. Vance would like to make the interest-based case for supporting Israel, that would still be welcome."
I am 71 years old. I have turned against Israel since Oct. 7 on moral and interest grounds. Much of the Democratic Party, of which I am also a member, a majority of Americans, and an overwhelming majority of nations are anti-This Israel, as I like to put it. Not incidentally, the Prime Minister, the current Defense Minister, and the prior Defense Minister are all under indictment in international criminal court. As Elliot welcomes Vance to make the interest-based case, I welcome Elliot to make the morality-based case. It cannot be done, not to me at least.
Vance: "...I think what we have to do is articulate why [the American-Israeli relationship] is in the best interest of the United States.”
“I think it’s very, very important,” Mr. Vance concluded...
...
The moral case for the Jewish state will need an update to connect.
...
...I can’t agree that support for Israel among young Americans will be repaired by appeals to the national interest...
...
[Vance] has stressed how U.S. and Israeli interests sometimes “diverge.” But that much is obvious; they are separate countries.
Elliot also will have a hard time convincing Millennials, Gen Z'ers and this Baby Boomer that that is a distinction with a difference.
...
Where is Mr. Vance’s emotion? His advice to drop the old arguments for Israel’s moral meaning, and instead advocate the alliance in the language of interest alone, is a poor fit for our times, when even the “realists” have never been more moralistic.
Tuesday, September 15, 2026
Public Occurrences September 15, 2026
Look at that! Isn't that great?!
AP
In Trumpie's Toilet: A Quartet of Bad News on a Typical Day
Iran war has led to US munitions shortfalls, Pentagon inspector confirms
Pentagon Inspector General via BBC
Iran war driving up inflation for Americans, CBO report says
The Congressional Budget Office estimates that inflation will continue to rise in the first quarter of next year.Congressional Budget Office
CBS
Monday, September 14, 2026
“We have the most precious commodity, which is trust.”--Mark Carney
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"They’re still the same Browns we play every year. They’re nameless grey faces. The Browns is the Browns.”
Former Pittsburgh "Steeler" player JuJu Smith-Schuster, 2021.
Sunday, September 13, 2026
Public Occurrences September 13, 2026
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Schadenfreude Sunday
Bless Cleveland's heart, you can always count on them. 34-10 the final in Jax, they looked "awful" in preseason camp, Deshaun Watson was "horrible" today per The Man from Pluto, it just doesn't get any better than this.
Cleveland should hire Greg Schiano
This is the first game of the new season, the first game for a new Cleveland head coach, and the Jacksonville Jagyouarrs are, I would say embarrassing, but come on, throttling yet another pestiferous edition of the 💩 34-3, and there's still one quarter left.
25m ago
12.01 EDT
28 min Here’s what happened with the Foden red card.
Fernandes shoved Foden over from behind near the touchline.
As Foden fell, Fernandes had a short kick at the loose ball but instead caught Foden. (The alternative interpretation is Fernandes knew full well he was going to catch Foden and used the location of the ball as an excuse.)
Foden rolled backwards and pushed his studs into Fernandes’s stomach. It wasn’t especially violent, but by the laws of the game it constitutes violent conduct.
Them's the rules Phil. You knew it.
25 min Foden doesn’t want to leave the field and is eventually told to do one by a hard-faced Erling Haaland.
Fernandes definitely had a kick at Foden and it’s a surprise he wasn’t booked. Foden’s response was instinctive, unwise and a clear red card.
I agree with Guardian there. That was stupid, Phil. Jesus Christ.
29m ago
11.55 EDT
VAR are checking this. Fernandes had a little kick at Foden, though in theory he was going for the ball. Foden rolled over and then shoved his studs into Fernandes’s stomach. Good luck getting away with that.
30m ago
11.54 EDT
23 min: Phil Foden sent off!
Crikey, what’s happened here. Phil Foden has been given a straight red for lashing out at Bruno Fernandes.
HT at Old Hosiery, Manchester Unitard 0 Manchester CITY 0
Oh GOD! City have played short a man since the 23' when Phil Foden was shown a red card. We'll be short the entire second half! I don't know what Phil did, but it better have been good. He likely cost us 2 or 3 points.
🔥Team. ☄️Team. 45, you are my favorite "Heat" player
