Not looking good

The Predators beat the Bruins 6-3 last night.

The Bruins looked a little lost on the ice while the Predators looked like they had actually practiced their game play recently.

So now the Bruins are holding on to the second wildcard slot by one point over the Blue Jackets.

Fortunately the Blue Jackets are also off tonight so it doesn't look like the Bruins will slip backwards on an off night.

Their next game is tomorrow against the Capitals. Puck drop at 12:30pm and it will be carried by those boobs at ESPN.

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In the world of baseball, the Tigers kicked the crap out of the "double-A" Red Sox team.

Connelly Early started and he pitched pretty well. He faced 13 batters over 3⅓ innings, giving up 2 hits, 1 walk, striking out 4 and giving up 0 runs.

Tomorrow they take on the Rays. First pitch is at 1:05pm and the game will be streamed on NESN360

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Let me start by saying I am not an expert on the middle east. I don't pretend to be an expert on the middle east. I'm just an old guy who has seen the various kingdoms/nations/tribes of the middle east continue to defy the alleged "logic" of western thinking.

Having said that, I want to point out that the key line in this story that displays of a complete lack of understanding of the tribal mindset in the middle east:

"Frankly they don't have a lot of people to say that for them."

Trust me, there are plenty of people wandering around Iran who will be more than happy to proclaim themselves as "supreme being" and continue the fight. For every dictator in a funny hat that we kill, there are 10 more waiting in line to take control and do more damage than the guy before them.

This is likely to go on just as long, if not longer, than our involvement in Afghanistan.

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Speaking of Trump blowing shit up...

The DJIA has not done well over the last month.

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Here are some links:

• This could be interesting.



• Keep in mind that Iran is a nation that has been blowing up civilian ships since they mined the Persian Gulf back in the late 80s.



• This story reminds me a lot of this movie scene from Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid.



• Apparently Psycho Vlad hates everybody.

Another loss

The Red Sox lost to the Phillies this afternoon but since I knew more players on the Phillies roster than I did on the Red Sox roster, I assume that this was another case of the minor league Red Sox playing a MLB team.

For the record, we are now 21 days from the start of the Red Sox's season. They will start their season in Cincinnati with three games against the Reds. After that they will be heading over the Houston for three games against the Astros.

Their home opener at Fenway is April 3 when the Padres coem to town.

There are still a lot of spring training games to watch but I'm looking forward to the start of the professional baseball season.

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I am actually shocked he did this although I have no idea what a "Special Envoy for The Shield of the Americas" is.

Maybe he's planning on invading Canada...

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I've been reading up on something called "balcony solar".

Turns out that in Europe, it is a thing where people buy two or three small solar panels and plug them into an inverter that in turn is plugged into their house. This system generates around 400 watts and that extra 400 watts can usually results in a monthly electric bill that is around $50 less.

They cost the average homeowner about $300.

That means the system pays for itself in six months as opposed to the giant systems here in the US that cost in the $20,000 - $30,000 range and have a return on investment length measured in decades instead of months.

I'm thinking about looking for one and see what it can do for me. I don't mind spending $300 if I can repay it back to myself in six months.

Then again, I'm not entirely sure how I can feed electricity into my home without affecting the public electric grid.

Guess I better do some additional reading...

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Here are some links:

• Key line in this story: "Merz sat next to Trump and remained mostly silent..."



• I'm pretty sure we will not have a power outage but I have full gas containers just in case.



• How the hell is this nutcase still free to roam around with the rest of us. Only a matter of time before she kills someone.



• I'm betting that a lot of alcohol and a liberal dose of stupidity were involved.

Baseball is an odd business

Last night, the Red Sox played an exhibition game against the Puerto Rican National Team. You need to keep in mind that all the national teams going into the World Baseball Classic are basically made up of MLB players. That means that the major league teams, like the Red Sox, are currently made up of minor leaguer players and prospects while the national teams are made up of actual veteran playerss.

As to be expected, the Red Sox lost their game but since it was an exhibition, it doesn't matter.

It turns out that it doesn't even matter who you were playing for duing the game because at one point in the game, the Red Sox sent one of their players across the diamond to play for Team Puerto Rico. He actualy pitched for them against the Red Sox, his own team.

That's right folks, the guy you see in red standing on the mound is Red Sox prospect Erik Rivera who up until yesterday evening was assigned to the Red Sox affiliate Greenville Drive. Then, at some point in the evening, the Red Sox announced that he was now assigned to the Puerto Rican National Team and he went out to pitch. I have no idea if he is still assinged to Puerto Rico or if he is once again assigned to Greenville.

Baseball is a weird sport and I really like it.

As for today, not only did the Red Sox lose 4-0 to the Yankees, I had to listen to those idiots on ESPN. Since when did ESPN start covering spring training games?

Regarding the game itself, Crochet did okay but not great. He seemed a little off so Cora pulled him in the 3^rd inning for a break and then put him back in the 4^th to get him to 53 pitches. He faced 11 batters, struck out 3 and gave up 3 earned runs.

One high note for the Red Sox was Tolle. He came in in relief and threw 3 really good innings, facing 10 batters, striking out 7 and giving up 0 runs.

Their next game is tomorrow against the Phillies and there is no tv coverage. Guess I'll be listening to the game on WEEI.

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The Bruins held their own last night and managed to squeak past the Penguins, winning the game 2-1 in regulation and picking up the two points.

This still leaves them in the second wildcard slot but now the closest team to them is three points away.

Their next game is tomorrow against the Predators. Puck drops at 8:00pm

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Because I made a trip to Boston last week, my gas tank was below a half full. So on Friday, I ran over to BJ's and filled my tank for $2.49 per gallon.

Yesterday I noticed that it's up to $2.59 per gallon.

I didn't drive by there today so I have no idea what it is up to currently but I can tell you that according to Gas Buddy, the cost of a gallon of gasoline at most gas stations in my area is between $2.80 and $3.10 per gallon which is slightly more than what it's been for the last year.

I guess what I'm saying is the news media keeps telling me that gas prices are going through the roof because of the attack on Iran but I'm not really seeing it.

This is another case of fear mongering by the news. It ranks right up there with the national news starting their broadcast with, "Millions in the path of a a winter storm!" like it's the end of the world.

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Here are some links:

• It's tough to shoot down those little drones.



• This might be the right move. He can play football but he's a bit of a problem off the field.



• Apparently someone is blowing up the weed in New Jersey.



• If I rent a car, I can take my EZPass transonder off my car and use it on the rental. How am I going to do that with a sticker?

The Beast is no longer

This afternoon a young man who has a side gig collecting old machines and either rebuilding them or scraping them, took The Beast. I asked him if he intended to rebuild it because I have the owners manuals for the machine and its engine. He said he was planning on giving the engine to a friend who had a log splitter with a destroyed engine and scrap the rest of the machine for its steel value.

So now I once again have plenty of room in my garage and no worries about what to do with the old machine.

As he was leaving he told me that if I had anything else in the future to call him. I told him I had an ancient push mower that I probably would be replacing in the near future and he said, "Give me a call. Those old mowing decks are worth some good money."

If I replace my mower this spring, I'll give him a call..

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Looks like The Very Stable Genius and his minions have entered the 'shut it all down' stage of US diplomacy.

Is it possible that this entire military action is just a way distract everyone from the Epstein files?

Just asking...

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This evening will be a baseball and hockey kind of night.

Red Sox are up first at 6:05 when they take on Team Puerto Rico.

This is followed by the Bruins taking on the Penguins at 7:00.

Yes, I will be switching back and forth between them.

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Here are some links:

• He does kinda look like a crack head...



• I'm I the only one that thinks this is a bad idea?



• I'm one of those people who "...may find the humour..."

Interesting baseball game

The Red Sox lineup this afternoon consisted mostly of guys that I've never really heard of.

Fielders named Matt Thaiss, Vinny Capra and Mason White. Pitchers named Ryan Watson, Michael Sansone and Patrick Halligan.

Even with most of their regular players off to the World Baseball Classic, the Red Sox still managed to hold off the Blue Jays, winning the game 7-6.

Tomorrow they will take on Team Puerto Rico. First pitch is at 6:05 and the game will be carried by NESN+

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I read this story and the first thought that crossed my mind was that famous scene from the movie Mr. Mom

I'm trying my best to stand by my initial belief that it was about time we decided to kick Iran's ass. They have caused nothing but pain and suffering for not only their own citizens but for people all over the world. They are the primary support for almost every terrorist organization on the planet.

But I'm finding it difficult simply because I don't think The Very Stable Genius has an endgame for his war. He keeps telling the Iranian people to "rise up and take control!" which is a recipe for disaster if ever I heard one. The last time the Iranians rose up and took control, they ended up with the religious fanatics.

There is nothing about this war that makes me think it will go any differently than the war in Iraq or the war in Afghanistan. In other words, we will probably be mired in another 10 year war against an enemy that doesn't care if he lives or dies because he is convinced that his invisible friend will have a bunch of virgins waiting for him in the afterlife.

In my tiny brain, this looks like a long shit-covered road that leads to the worlds largest septic tank and we are marching straight down the middle of it. Personally, I expect that we will probably see attacks on American soil. I'm thinking it might be time to stock up on ammo...

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Several days ago I did something I have never done before - I listed a television for sale on Facebook Marketplace.

I hate trying to "sell" my old stuff. It's a pain my ass and I always feel like I might be taking advantage of some poor guy who can't afford to buy a new tv so he's settling for tv that he hopes will work longer than a few days.

Turns out no one wanted it. Hell, as far as I know, no one even looked at it. So I took it to a charitable resale organization and gave it to them. I may not have gotten anything for it but it is no longer sitting in my living room taking up space and maybe the charity will make a few bucks.

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Here are some links:

• In all honesty, he's not wrong.



• The apple does not fall far from the tree.



• Oh Canada.