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Post by billhammond on Jun 30, 2024 11:50:47 GMT -5
Looking forward to a family barbeque today - reverse sear steak. We will be celebrating a belated Father's Day and the end of eldest son's family's recent bought of hand, foot and mouth disease, a nasty virus (thank you, day care). < bout, please > |
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Post by billhammond on Jun 29, 2024 14:04:36 GMT -5
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Post by billhammond on Jun 29, 2024 13:57:07 GMT -5
Reading the first graf of an NYT article, I came across a guitar technique I'm not familiar with: A lazy Google search turned up nada. Has anyone heard this term before, and if so, what is it? What is the thumb under technique on a lute? Thumb under: the hand and the finger are held parallel or nearly parallel to the strings. The thumb is used to pluck the strings behind the fingers in direction to the palm of the hand and the fingers go around and to the outside of the thumb. |
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Post by billhammond on Jun 27, 2024 20:33:33 GMT -5
Biden's froggy voice is doing him no favors.
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Post by billhammond on Jun 27, 2024 19:51:28 GMT -5
Here's an oddity -- CNN is broadcasting tonight's debate, and I just checked my cable listings and our local ABC, NBC and CBS affiliates are carrying it, too. But the local Fox station is not. What the hell? This post is available for later discussion of what went down tonight. It was set up entirely to promote Joe Biden. Moderators are blatantly liberal, too. It was set up to destroy Trump. Needless to say, there's really no reason to watch. Never mind that Trump agreed to all the conditions. I guess if you are not gonna watch tonight because it's all rigged, you won't be voting this fall for the same reason? |
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Post by billhammond on Jun 27, 2024 18:38:59 GMT -5
Here's an oddity -- CNN is broadcasting tonight's debate, and I just checked my cable listings and our local ABC, NBC and CBS affiliates are carrying it, too. But the local Fox station is not. What the hell? I guess it must be because Fox hates CNN so much. |
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Post by billhammond on Jun 27, 2024 18:37:00 GMT -5
I don't want to watch but I'll probably watch some of it. I am heartened by the no-audience and muted-mike protocol. |
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Post by billhammond on Jun 27, 2024 18:16:08 GMT -5
Here's an oddity -- CNN is broadcasting tonight's debate, and I just checked my cable listings and our local ABC, NBC and CBS affiliates are carrying it, too. But the local Fox station is not.
What the hell?
This post is available for later discussion of what went down tonight.
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Post by billhammond on Jun 27, 2024 16:48:49 GMT -5
Excerpt from AP:
LOS ANGELES — A jury in U.S. District Court ordered the NFL to pay nearly $4.8 billion in damages Thursday after ruling that the league violated antitrust laws in distributing out-of-market Sunday afternoon games on a premium subscription service.
The jury awarded $4.7 billion in damages to the residential class and $96 million in damages to the commercial class.
The lawsuit covered 2.4 million residential subscribers and 48,000 businesses who paid for the package of out-of-market games from the 2011 through 2022 seasons on DirecTV. The lawsuit claimed the league broke antitrust laws by selling its package of Sunday games at an inflated price. The subscribers also say the league restricted competition by offering ''Sunday Ticket'' only on a satellite provider.
The NFL said it would appeal the verdict. That appeal would go to the 9th Circuit and then possibly the Supreme Court.
''We are disappointed with the jury's verdict today in the NFL Sunday Ticket class action lawsuit,'' the league said in a statement. ''We continue to believe that our media distribution strategy, which features all NFL games broadcast on free over-the-air television in the markets of the participating teams and national distribution of our most popular games, supplemented by many additional choices including RedZone, Sunday Ticket and NFL+, is by far the most fan friendly distribution model in all of sports and entertainment.
''We will certainly contest this decision as we believe that the class action claims in this case are baseless and without merit.''
The jury of five men and three women deliberated for nearly five hours before reaching its decision.
''This case transcends football. This case matters,'' plaintiffs attorney Bill Carmody said during Wednesday's closing arguments. ''It's about justice. It's about telling the 32 team owners who collectively own all the big TV rights, the most popular content in the history of TV — that's what they have. It's about telling them that even you cannot ignore the antitrust laws. Even you cannot collude to overcharge consumers. Even you can't hide the truth and think you're going to get away with it.''
The league maintained it has the right to sell ''Sunday Ticket'' under its antitrust exemption for broadcasting. The plaintiffs say that only covers over-the-air broadcasts and not pay TV.
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Post by billhammond on Jun 27, 2024 13:44:00 GMT -5
The best donuts in the Indianapolis area are at a cash-only bakery. There are a few cash-only restaurants near here. My beloved Italian market, Morelli's, is cash or check only, must be a big part of why their booze prices are so low. Write them a check and they don't even ask for ID, nice to be trusted. |
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Post by billhammond on Jun 25, 2024 20:12:48 GMT -5
New recipe is perfect and we all like the result! More like bread, less like cake.
That looks fabulous, Howard. How are you most likely to use it? Sandwiches? Toast with breakfast? Just by itself with great butters? |
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Post by billhammond on Jun 25, 2024 16:58:35 GMT -5
I'm guessing that like Minnesota couples in wintertime, there are occasional moments of disagreement in your households about thermostat settings in summer.
My house's interior temp reached 80 today for the first time this year, and because we still have a fair amount of humidity, it was getting a bit uncomfortable, so I broke down and switched on the A/C.
What do you folks set your 'stat at?
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Post by billhammond on Jun 25, 2024 12:19:55 GMT -5
Speaking of birds in flight: I was talking to the husband of the couple we're going to Iceland with in August. He heard about something that might be happening while were there. Apparently, All the human habitation with lights and such are confusing native Puffins. Also apparently, Puffins don't nurture their chicks much. They are kinda on their own after a young age. And the young birds are confused and end up in populated areas sitting or roads and flat areas. So, one thing locals do is pick up the little birds and hand carry them to a nearby cliff and throw them over. The chicks figure it out before hitting the bottom and take off in flight. Don't know how true it is, but it sounds interesting. I definitely want to see some Puffins. You'll no doubt see lots of oystercatchers, great fliers.  |
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Post by billhammond on Jun 24, 2024 7:09:51 GMT -5
We're in for a hot and sticky spell, but it's pleasant right now, mid-60s and sunny.
I had the coolest thing happen overnight. On my obligatory mid-slumber bathroom visit, I noticed a 6-inch-wide "sidewalk" of soft white light on the hardwood floor, extending diagonally from southeast to northwest. Turns out the shape of the "sidewalk" was created by the beveled walls of the alcove entry, and the light source was a super-bright full moon, projecting through the picture window in the living room.
Probably happens often, but it was a delightful surprise for me.
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Post by billhammond on Jun 24, 2024 6:26:20 GMT -5
He's a civil engineer whose worked on Cedar Rapids water treatment plants for the last 30+ years or so, including rebuilding after the 2008 flood. |
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Post by billhammond on Jun 23, 2024 10:40:42 GMT -5
The crash took place on Saturday the 15th of June. Mike was a great guy and I am really going to miss our long conversations. Didn't he live in Japan? Was he still flying for a living? |
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Post by billhammond on Jun 23, 2024 9:48:19 GMT -5
I just learned that good friend Mike Gilles, who was one of the original posters on the AG forum, and who took part in the Valparaiso AG Forum gathering, was killed in a plane crash on Fathers Day. I know many of you remember Mike. He was the corporate pilot for the Hilton family for many years. He also put together a great weekend for some us at a Hilton in Madison, Wisconsin many years back. Below is a newspaper account of the crash. Mike and I were in regular contact and I am deeply saddened by his death. “Two people were killed when a vintage airplane crashed near Chino Airport shortly after takeoff during an air museum event on Saturday, June 15, authorities said. The twin-engine Lockheed 12A crashed around 12:35 p.m., Federal Aviation Administration spokeswoman Mina Kaji said. The plane caught fire after it crashed just west of the airport, Chino Valley Fire District Battalion Chief Bryan Turner said. Firefighters got the fire under control in about 10 minutes before finding the two people inside. Turner described the plane as older and historical. The San Bernardino County Coroner’s Office identified the victims Sunday as Frank J. Wright, 67, of Riverside, and Michael P. Gilles, 71, of Aliso Viejo. Both men were licensed to fly multi-engine airplanes, according to FAA records. Gilles was also licensed to pilot gliders and hot air balloons. The airplane belonged to the Yanks Air Museum, according to a Facebook post from that organization.” How awful! I remember Mike well. RIP, Mr. Gilles. |
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Post by billhammond on Jun 22, 2024 20:13:35 GMT -5
Maybe I should be sipping a better Champagne with this stuff?
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Post by billhammond on Jun 22, 2024 19:52:01 GMT -5
Well, my first taste was underwhelming -- the dip had a nice, smooth texture and a tangy flavor, but kind of bland. Then I realized that my quite cold fridge might have affected the taste, so I let the tub sit a half-hour at room tamp, and subsequent chipfuls seemed more flavorful.
But I still don't quite understand the dip-o-mania frenzy. Power of social media, I guess.
Great minds may differ.
But the tamales Marty and I had at Casa Azul Agave today were dynamite.
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Post by billhammond on Jun 22, 2024 17:32:39 GMT -5
I've seen it. Now I'll have to pick some up before the story comes out and the Strib hordes empty the stores. I bought a tub today. Haven't tried it yet, but I have strong rippled chips on hand. |
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