D. Hocking

That is one thing that has been frustrating about this year. They really only needed to be mediocre this year to have a good shot of winning the division and the play-offs. I would like to say that I have seen enough over the year (years) and be smart enough not to give in to false hope, but I suspect that is not the case.

I am saying this way too early and the lead is not big enough,but they are also in danger or winning two in a row and not losing a series. It is like it is upside down world.

Does that mean if we throw the one ring to rule them all down Trump's golden toilet in his penthouse, he will be destroyed?

His resignation letter has that creepy, dear leader type of praise to Trump that all of the GOP seems to feel is necessary now. They don't mention serving the country or helping people or the environment, but they thank having a chance to serve the glory and brilliance that is Trump. https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DhXiK2IVMAANsya.jpg:large

Although I am pretty sure most of my writing instructors told me ending everything with an exclamation point signifies good writing and intelligence.

At least he is humble: Although this might not completely explain council vs counsel --- to vs too -- (or in this case pour vs pore) and lack of coherent thought or statements not backed by fact (or contrary to fact).

Kids today will never realize how exciting it could be when you found out what the new Saturday morning cartoons were going to be and how you looked forward to the fall previews.

As expected... I did not realize they were allowed to get three runs in a single inning (or an entire game for that matter).

I know someone who saw one of the Harry Potter movies like this and said it was pretty incredible. I did see the Avengers a couple of weeks ago. I did like it better than the last one. Without going into too much detail, they executed some of their game plans as well as the Twins. I had been meaning to see The Quiet Place, but it just left my theater. I will have to wait until it is on DVD or try to hit it at the cheap theaters.

He called his rally crowd last night the super elite. Has a president ever so blatantly elevated his supporters while disparaging everyone else, not even pretending to be some unifying force where he represents everyone. Then there is probably a more than a little subtext of calling a largely white crowd the "super elite" in the same speech where he implies there are people out there, not as white, who are going to come and slice up your beautiful daughters. Anyone thing it might be a bit hypocritical that Trey "Benghazi" Gowdy is ranting about how long the Mueller investigation is taking. The GOP is now having hearings trying to discredit the investigators and force them to hand documentation over to them rather than showing any concern or interest of possible Russian interference. The country who the GOP considered the bogey man for decades, Trump might have not won by the popular vote, but he is still in the position of power, and has both houses, and now the SCT in lockstep with him. Between gerrymandering and techniques making it more difficult for people in democratic regions to vote, people really, really need to get out and vote to make it over these hurdles. The Democrats have been their own worst enemy with low mid-term turnouts which cost them in 2010 - resulting in some of the gerrymandering, and 2014 resulting in Mitch becoming majority leader helping the eventual lose of the Garland nomination.

Flake more often follows up his tough talk with falling in and voting the party line. Has Collins shown any independence since she folded for the Tax vote due to some vague promises she got regarding health care which were soon shown to be illusory? While I do think whoever Trump chooses will be worse than Kennedy, he did spend the last couple of weeks being the fifth vote on some decisions that would make Scalia smile from heaven (or elsewhere). He also announced his retirement to make sure Trump has time to get a replacement before in the midterms.

Yes- Gorsuch is not as far right as Scalia (some people say more), he is relatively young. Trump will have no problem finding a young replacement that is to the right of Kennedy. Then there are all the young judges that he appointed to the lower courts that we will be feeling this for decades.

I have not read the opinion so should not be rambling, but I have seen a few comments that they laid the ground work to have private sector unions challenged in the same way. I am not sure how they will close this Pandora's box, and I am being Captain Obvious saying this, but the need and/or desire to get the big money donations has steamrolled any effective operating government where the elected officials are doing things for the needs of the constituents versus the needs of the donors.

You are not the only one to notice this, always so gracious in his victories:

Thanks- I think I might hold off. I probably watch too much TV as it is, and cutting out 8 to 10 hours by not watching Legion might not be a bad thing.

How did the season end? Did it remain weird for the sake of being weird or would you recommend it? I liked season 1, but two seasons of weirdness without a sign of a little more coherency might be a bit much.

Interestingly (and inconsistently) they were able to find statements affected the neutrality in the bakery case just last week. I am not sure how they could not find bias in all of Trump's statements. I am also not sure how they could not find a racial bias in the gerrymandering case. Who knows if they would have gotten anywhere, but I really wish they would have fought harder to get the Garland nomination through. I think they were too confident Hillary would get to chose the next justice and did not think it was worth the fight.

I would be curious to see how many of the GOP actually think the Wall is a waste of time and money, but will not say that out loud. Not only would it be ineffective, but also has consequences for the wildlife that migrate through there. Because we have someone who can never be man enough to admit he is wrong, and it is something that works with his fear mongering and the bogeyman he uses at his campaign rallies,it is going to take time and effort and resources away from things that might be beneficial. Nice with all that is going on, Trump can take time to tweet about Jimmy Fallon and belittle a restaurant (even though Mar a Largo is the place that has had health code violations in the last few years). As much as I cannot stand Sarah Sanders, I think she should have been allowed to eat there (although can understand why she was asked to leave, with a number of the staff being gay, and Sarah being pretty vocal of her approval of the bakery case), but Trump should not be using his power to try to belittle a small business. He does like to use his twitter influence to hurt business of people he does not care and endorse the books and products of his favorite cheerleaders. I also don't agree with what Maxine Waters said about harassing people, but this does not seem like a good response and only exacerbates the rhetoric. He never arises above the situation, but finds a way to reach a new bottom. Also, while I am not sure I agree with Maxine, she did not mention harm and she specifically mentioned confronting cabinet members not his supporters in general. Trump enhanced what she said in a rather reckless manner.

Besides the lying and tweeting his own version of facts, mocking people he disagrees with, his seeming admiration of a number of dictators, his increasingly blatant attempt to dehumanize people south of the border by lumping them all as gang-members and using terms such as infestation, his lack of interest of anyone who is not his base, his increasing need for the campaign rallies where he is the center of a cheering crowd where he says things to get large applause even if they are false and possibly going to further whip up fear or hate, his turning a blind eye of the corruption of Scott Pruitt because he is getting down what he wants (even if it really is the exact opposite purpose of the agency he is heading), etc.. he really is not that bad.

That is good to hear. I had a friend whose husband's family is up there and I know there were talks of lay-offs and shut downs, but that was a couple of years ago. It could have been just that mine or just a bad stretch. It also seems like the peaks and valleys come and go a little more quickly now, although my family has now been gone long enough and know fewer people there that I don't have as good of a feel for what is happening up there.

There really are not many times this can be taken as a compliment are there - at least defensively.

If not there should be, and for some reason I see a yellow lab or golden retriever involved. - would be very 1980's Disney.

I want to wait a few more games before I judge how Joe is really feeling, but that Joe/Eddie at the top of the order might not be a bad thing.

My sister has friends with parents still up there, and she does hear a lot of pro-Trump when she does go out to the bar. They are hoping he will bring the mines back to their former glory. So much more is automated now, that even if the mines are at full strength, it is not going to bring back things like they were pre-1980. Plus, I cannot imagine any corporation investing their profits in the mining towns like they did in the past. That profit would need to go to the CEOs and the shareholders.

Hopefully if enough of the other players hit, Dozier can relax a bit and get some hits. I feel like I have seen Mauer nail a pitcher hard more than anyone.