|
|
Post by epaul on Aug 20, 2024 9:44:18 GMT -5
Everything is water, and the world is full of frogs. -D. Maki  |
|
|
|
Post by epaul on Aug 20, 2024 9:31:12 GMT -5
The tree came with the house. It was one of my favorite things about the house when we moved in 26 years ago but over time it has been failing and gave up the ghost last winter. Probably should have had it removed a year or two ago but I've got a thing for old growth trees. Ken, depending on a whole bunch of things, you could basically have two-thirds or so the limbs removed leaving an interesting looking stump. Call it art. Give it a made up Japanese name with a made up history to appease the neighbors. It will be great nesting habit (drill some of the first holes yourself). You can hang bird houses on it. The removal cost will be much less and the remaining stump will pose no threat to the house. Look at the tree and envision an interesting shape.  |
|
|
|
Post by epaul on Aug 19, 2024 12:40:05 GMT -5
I suppose I will get used to it, but, so far, I hate the new format. It is busy and seems designed just to drag the reader past more ads. If that is what is needed to pay the bills, so be it. But, I loved the old format, it was so clean and eye-friendly (more white space, didn't feel "crowded").
(but, the Strib still has the Forum and Herald beat ten times over)
|
|
|
|
Sports
Aug 19, 2024 12:31:47 GMT -5
Post by epaul on Aug 19, 2024 12:31:47 GMT -5
Don't mean to suggest this teen-NBA readiness is recent. Moses "The Mailman" Malone jumped straight to the NBA right out of high school, as a 6'8" 240 lb. power forward, in 1974. Other notables that went direct to the NBA right out of high school: Kevin Garnet, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Darryl Dawkins... and 17 more I'm not going to take the time to list.
In 2005, Amir Johnson became the last player to make the jump from high school to the NBA... because in 2006 the NBA passed a rule that stated a player had to be 19 years old and at least one year out of high school before he could enter the NBA draft. Which was the start of our current string of "one and dones" (one year of college then off to the pros).
There is enough basketball talent in high school gyms to start up a dozen pro leagues.
|
|
|
|
Sports
Aug 19, 2024 10:26:12 GMT -5
Post by epaul on Aug 19, 2024 10:26:12 GMT -5
Luka Dončić was playing pro ball in Europe when he was 16! (and then, as now, Luka managed to hide his muscles and build a game that didn't need them).
|
|
|
|
Sports
Aug 19, 2024 10:17:36 GMT -5
Post by epaul on Aug 19, 2024 10:17:36 GMT -5
A top high school team would have a cakewalk in WNBA. And that isn't in any way meant as a WNBA slight or diminishment. Rather an acknowledgement of just how crazy the development of players has gotten. There are 19 year olds staring the NBA. Two years out of high school and they are starting in the NBA.
Victor Wembanyama entered the NBA as 7'4" 19 year old and he is not only a starter, he is a game changer. Well, he was pretty damn dominant as a 7'4" 17 year old. As was Anthony Edwards. Saw a clip of high school all star game he was in as a 16 year old. Holy Crips! He was ripped with man muscles and he was soaring sky high. And while he stood out, he didn't stand out. High school courts are loaded with the amazing. And developed muscles.
|
|
|
|
Post by epaul on Aug 18, 2024 13:19:31 GMT -5
White Sox eliminated from MLB playoff contention, breaking record for earliest elimination in wild-card or divisional era!
|
|
|
|
Post by epaul on Aug 18, 2024 11:53:39 GMT -5
Happy Birthday, John! Todd should have it all ready to go by mid-week. (there will be a Bose sound system in it! And working brakes!)    (Todd... WORKING BRAKES!) |
|
|
|
Post by epaul on Aug 18, 2024 10:45:16 GMT -5
Morning!
Going through all the Marvel "Thor" movies (again). Last night was "Thor: Dark Worlds". Tonight "Thor: Ragnarock". With popcorn.
|
|
|
|
Sports
Aug 18, 2024 0:07:23 GMT -5
Post by epaul on Aug 18, 2024 0:07:23 GMT -5
HORSE.
NBA player: I'm calling a 360 Windmill Dunk. You have to take off at the free throw line.
WNBA player: Fuck that.
|
|
|
|
Post by epaul on Aug 18, 2024 0:01:03 GMT -5
Terry, next year enter one of your guitars in the Woodworking Division, Open Class. Blow the judges' minds. Include a poster board with pics of the various build stages.
(Grand Champ should net you at least $10 and a nice purple ribbon!)
|
|
|
|
Post by epaul on Aug 17, 2024 14:51:30 GMT -5
Chorine aside, swimming in the nude, especially amongst males, was a cultural inheritance from England, and before that, from Greco-Roman traditions, and before that, cavemen. The Y, especially, was in a direct line with the culture of English gentlemen's clubs.
|
|
|
|
Post by epaul on Aug 17, 2024 14:23:19 GMT -5
And, John, I have seen enough of Oliver to last me for however long I last on this earth. I can't say I have stopped watching the Late Night shows as I have never started watching them. (from Youtube exposure, I do like Jimmy Fallon. He is a talented and very funny fellow!).
But, I'll agree with you on Oliver. Irritating.
I'm just saying, I see your perspective. And at times I share it. "Republicans are dumb" shouldn't be the cheap late night applause line it has become. But, there is a fix, STOP BEING DUMB!...
Sorry, that Bob Newhart bit, "JUST STOP IT", popped into my head and it was too good to pass up. So I will retreat to my original point. I agree with you on Oliver. And not favoring affirmative action does not equate to racism, and opposing abortion does not equal anti-woman, and we do mischaracterize each other.
|
|
|
|
Post by epaul on Aug 17, 2024 13:40:28 GMT -5
Another note: The folks most affected by the Mpls riots, and most familiar with the events and details of the Mpls riots, are the people of Mpls. In in his 2022 reelection, Gov. Walz received over 70% of the Mpls vote.
No doubt some will take that as evidence that the people that live in Mpls. are fools and idiots. Others will think, hmm, maybe the people that live in Mpls. have a better grasp of what went on, when and why, than Republican propagandists and Youtubers in Putin Pay that live somewhere far away from Mpls.
But, yes, Walz was a day late in deploying the Guard. And he deserves criticism for it. And, yes, at first he tried to shed and spread that criticism before accepting it. He isn't a farmer, he's a politician. Voters deal with what they get, and clearly, the people of Minnesota, who are like the people in any other state, have decided he has been their best option. And most do like him.
|
|
|
|
Post by epaul on Aug 17, 2024 12:41:10 GMT -5
... Like when he [Trump] didn't force the National Guard on Tim Walz' BLM riots. Because Walz refused to Constitutionally ask for it and preferred to see Minneapolis burn. Opinions are fine. But circulating falsehoods is another. I'm not entirely sure what Aqua said above or what his intent was (was he sarcastically ridiculing MAGA falsehoods or was he spreading them (Trump had nothing to do with the NG deployment; Walz did not refuse to deploy the Guard; Walz did not "prefer" to see Mpls burn). Below you will find a timeline of the Mpls. riots and Walz's deployment of the National Guard. It can be verified by actual sources. First, a few things to note: 1. How quickly events moved. Walz could have, and should have, started the deployment of the National Guard a day earlier, on the 27th, instead of waiting until the 28th. Full deployment then would then have occurred on the 29th (as Guardsmen were at their homes and scattered all over the state). If you believe the Guard should have been activated on the very first day the protests began, peaceful though they were at time, fine, then Walz was two days late. But, ordering the deployment of the National Guard every time a protest starts is unusual behavior. 2. Note when Trump shows up. His first tweet calling for a deployment of the National Guard shows up well after the news reports the actual deployment. His first tweets are those of support for Walz's actions (as was his public congratulations of Walz's actions during a teleconference with the nation's governors on June 30.) Trump had absolutely nothing to do Mpls, Walz, the National Guard, any of it. Nothing. Somehow, he is now claiming what? That he sent in the National Guard or forced Walz to send in the Guard? 3. What on earth is Aqua saying and how is it connected to anything real? That Walz refused to send in the Guard and Trump made him? That Gov. Walz wanted to see Mpls. burn? Is Aqua sarcastically dissing MAGA twists of the events or does he actually, sadly, believe what he said? Or was he just Trolling. The Timeline: There is some confusion about the Mpls riots, Walz, and the role of National Guard. The timeline is straight forward, factual, and easily checked (if you avoid MAGA sites). - May 25, 2020. Floyd was killed during an arrest gone bad. - May 26, The video of Chauvin kneeling on Floyd’s neck was released - Late afternoon of May 26 protests began - May 27, incidents of looting, vandalism, and some arson begin and grow. - Evening of May 27, Mayor Frey asks Gov. Walz for National Guard help. - Afternoon of May 28 , Gov. Walz activates a unit of Guard MPs. - 10:41 PM, May 28, 500 National Guard MPs are reported as present and posted on Mpls. Streets. - 11:53 PM, May 28 Trump posts on X that he would “send in the National Guard”. In a follow up post minutes later, Trump posted that he had spoken with Walz and let him know he had his full support. - May 30. Full deployment of MN National Guard on the streets of Mpls. One of many factual timelines of the Mpls riots and National Guard deployment: www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-election/walzs-response-2020-minnesota-riots-microscope-joins-ticket-rcna165302 |
|
|
|
Post by epaul on Aug 16, 2024 17:52:53 GMT -5
You should begin feeding Cichlasoma portalegrensis fry newly hatched brine shrimp shortly after the egg sack has been absorbed, usually 3-4 days after free swimming has commenced (roughly a week after hatching, so have your brine shrimp nursery set up).
The guy that said as soon as free swimming has commenced is an idiot! The egg sack is there for a reason!
|
|
|
|
Post by epaul on Aug 16, 2024 17:47:21 GMT -5
I'd love to comment right now, but I'm involved in a heated debate over on the Cichlid Forum on how soon you should begin feeding newly-hatched brine shrimp to Cichlasoma portalegrensis fry.
|
|
|
|
Post by epaul on Aug 16, 2024 10:31:31 GMT -5
Morning!
Rainy day. Which is good.
Wheat crop is largely in and it is a record. The wheat on the farm went darn close to a 100. Like 99.5 close.
|
|
|
|
Post by epaul on Aug 16, 2024 10:25:27 GMT -5
There is still time to remedy your unintentional faux pas. Hit it hard this weekend!
|
|
|
|
Post by epaul on Aug 16, 2024 8:48:12 GMT -5
Happy Birthday, John! And... Oh my! Look what miraculously showed up back in Todd's shop... and this time he's pretty sure he can get the brakes working!  |
|
