grommit2

Hi Peaches...that high price is so that Harvard can field a really good football team.

Currently reading Kristin Harmel's The Room on Rue Amelie. WWII Parisians dodging German soldiers while helping downed pilots escape through the Pyrenees. Very similar to The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah. Curiously similar author names. Also curiously similar story lines (downed pilots being stealthily escorted through the Pyrenees back to Allied lines). Also touches on Escape from Paris by Stephen Harding (more downed flyers).

I get a kick out of these battling robots, but... I would like to see more replays, perhaps in slo-mo, to truly appreciate the action. They could free up some time by reducing all the set-up, chatter, blah-blah. So much of it is repetitive: "fight fight", "in the red square...", etc. But, that's just me.

Artie to Ruth: "Do you remember the hereafter? Then you know what I'm here after" Heh heh... T

It is fascinating to see how basketball has changed, especially since the introduction of the three-point line. In the past, the offense was focused on dumping the ball into the big guy (or gal) down low. If it was pitched back out, the not-so-big guy would drive to the hoop. There was lots of movement, picks, passing...to get that little 15 footer. Now the game is focused on the 3-point line. Two players set up in opposite corners. Maybe the center actually sets up down low. Maybe. That leaves two long-range bombers to hoist up threes from several rows back in the stands. But this actually opens up the middle for one of those bombers to blast their way to the hoop. Of course, along the way the concept of travelling has gone away. Players take a hop, step, another step, and still more steps, then puts up a little bank shot. Players are also much taller. For example, the Knicks have Durant, somewhere around seven feet tall, playing point guard. Ah progress!

Want a peek at the dark side? Try Dark Towers by David Enrich. This is an examination of Deutsche Bank, at one time the largest bank in the world with $2 trillion. The attractor is references to Donald Trump to whom Deutsche loaned billions, some of which was never paid back. But the real story is how Deutsche flaunted most national and international financial restrictions, laundered money for Iran when it was (and still is) under international sanctions, processed loans to international scofflaws, and played fast and loose with all those cool instruments such as credit default swaps, etc. You don't need a degree in finance to follow the narrative. You may even be fascinated by the and huge multi-million dollar bonuses, by the extreme greediness of the senior execs, and wonder where the international finance watchdogs were during their profligate years. And along the way, you may wonder what happened to all those folks who trusted Deutsche to not poop on their fiduciary responsibilities. Not a fun story, more like watching a train wreck over and over.

I have to ask this: Pride and Prejudice is supposed to be one of the best novels ever written. But I just don't get it. Yes, I understand the challenges faced by women in those times. Accompanied by the concerns parents had about getting their daughters married off to someone of means. But, there is just something about the characters that annoys me. Now, I have to say that Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, a humorous takeoff, was actually more entertaining. But, then, what do I know?

And now I'm done. Story drags for the first 180+ pages (wine, prescription drugs, and that bath robe she could never keep closed). And then the action picks up, the plot twists, until eventually all is explained. If you can tolerate those first 180 pages, you will be treated to a rousing second half.

Currently: The Woman in the Window by AJ Finn. I decided to follow the review comments and try this one. After all, a "#1 New York Times Bestseller", and many more raves, implies this is a compelling read. "Soon to be a Major Motion Picture"...was it released in May 2020? Half way through the book and the action has switched from a picture of the lead as a troubled, alcoholic, medicated psychologist....to the actual events happening across the way. Geez...this is difficult. Does it get any better?

Controlled mayhem. Good stuff! Question: what is the value of using fire? Does it ever contribute to a victory? Or does it just look cool.

Ok...my 2 cents: Kochland by Chris Leonard. Tells the story of Koch Industries, the largest (in terms of revenue) privately held corporation in America. Detailed, well-structured, fact-based. Describes how they applied consistent principles to expanding their business using Porter's competitive analysis techniques and an aggressive data collection and information gathering operation. Gets into how they got into trouble with environmental pollution, their fervent attempts at keeping their various businesses walled-off and protected. The best part is how they developed a political influence operation, including endowing university chairs in exchange for climate-denial professors.

Athousandclowns: I contend it was Noah all along. He just had to clean up that affair. Oh...no...Got my shows mixed up. Oops.

Ouch. Celtics lost Hayward. Too bad. He played well in their system. Moved well both with and without the ball. Played D. Rebounded. Passed to the open man. Able to get his shot off under pressure. Did not force it. Oh well.

Shok and Calvada Co-location seems to be the crux of the issue. According to Stelter's book, Hoax, Fox installed broadcast studios into all of their anchor's homes. (Hannity already had one). But Fox personalities' preparation process does not seem to be so rigorous that it would impede their ability to prepare and deliver a cablecast from home. However, Rachel's preparation process, as described in Rachel Maddow, a Biography, by Lisa Rogak, would seem to be quite challenging to do via a group webcast. Do-able, but quite difficult. Perhaps she and her team could manage it, given a high speed, stable internet connection, which should be available in NYC. West Cummington, Massachusetts, might be another story, since I am not sure they have upgraded to a high bandwidth capability. So, in the interim, Ali Velshi will handle the load. He is terrific. But I miss the days of Ali and Stephanie Ruhle teaming up to deliver a morning show.

Looking for something lighter in these troubled times? Check out Heart of Barkness (yes, BARKness) or Dog On It, by Spencer Quinn Bernie is a private investigator in Nevada. His partner is Chet, the dog. Much of the dialogue is delivered as thoughts in Chet's canine head. And his thoughts are quite humorous.

emma675...thanks for the reference. I found the NBA site: Draft November 18 (I have time to work on my jumper ;> ) Training camp December 1 72 game schedule, players approved, starting December 22 Other stuff TBD

emma675...do we know if this will be a full 80+ game season? With fans allowed in? (Risky!) In a bubble? (Yikes...that would be really challenging) And will they minimize long-distance travel?

The Woman in Cabin 10 Half way through. Difficult to tolerate the lead character's really annoying behavior (alcohol repetition, sleep deprivation). Trying to justify this behavior based on her home invasion. But, we shall see, eh?

Hmm...according to her biography, she purchased a larger apartment in NYC after some fire damage in her much smaller NY apartment. But, it would make perfect sense for her to broadcast from Massachusetts and cut down on that long drive. BUT, the bio spells out intense, time-consuming, hectic prep sessions prior to her nightly show. Not sure how she could do that long-distance. Zoom, etc, virtual conferences might work, but it would be a stretch.

Just finished Slaughterhouse Five. I know it is supposed to be one of the top 50 novels of all time, but...well, not for me.

Hi Meowmommy... I really like your line "the monster eats the entire family". Yes, it will be a relief when our long national nightmare is over. IF it is over soon. Before the entire family is devoured. But...let's be real: given how many wheels have fallen off this bus, I fear that we may never move back to more decorous times. Why? Money: money rents Senators and buys Representatives. And this is at both the Federal and State levels. But there may be some hope: Senator Lindsay Graham said he would really like to know "where all the money comes from". Yes, he was referencing his senatorial race against Jaime Harrison, in which Harrison raked in record donations. But maybe, just maybe, he will push for more transparency. Maybe... Ahh...I kid myself.

AngelaHunter... Lily James was terrific in the movie "Yesterday". Now she gets involved in this stuff. Oh well...life goes on..or at least you hope so.

Hi ScoobieDoobs...you raise an excellent point. Give the guest a question, then let them answer it. Skip all that reading. I wonder why they opted for that approach. And BTW...I wonder if TRM show can bring on a guest from "the other side". Will any ever show up?

Tom Brady...FIVE touchdown passes. Ah yes, all is right with the world!

Hi Bastet... I believe the play-calling coach is actually reading the play code. The codes are non-trivial ("hey, Bob, go down the street to the driveway on the right..."). They are a series of letters, names, and numbers. The challenge is for the quarterback to understand exactly what the coach wants. AND, the QB relays this code to the players, each of whom have to translate exactly what they must do (brush block the defensive end and move upfield to the corner back, because a sideline pass play is the 3rd option on this particular play. And, just to confuse things, the QB may see how the defense is set up, realize he cannot run the original play, and will call a special change ("Alert" is a common play change signal". In this case, the original play is switched to the designated backup. Just a little bit different from the days of calling a "3-1" (the right halfback takes a handoff and runs through the "1 hole" (around left end).