... of the great opening day by Ben Revere.
I joined my first fantasy baseball league this year.
During Sunday's draft, I need an outfielder in the middle rounds.
I hadn't heard of Revere, but he was ranked among the best available when my turn came.
How'd he do?
Three hits, three RBI and two runs scored.
A nice way to start the season.
Monday, March 31, 2014
Sunday, March 30, 2014
Can he think about governing now?
Good job, Connecticut.
You knocked out President Obama's pick for the national championship.
And the last of his Final Four picks still playing.
Way to spend your time this winter, watching college basketball instead of thinking about Russia or healthcare.
Get back to work.
You knocked out President Obama's pick for the national championship.
And the last of his Final Four picks still playing.
Way to spend your time this winter, watching college basketball instead of thinking about Russia or healthcare.
Get back to work.
More benefits for the top 1 percent
The news that college athletes could join a union has been greeted as a triumph for the student over the big-money NCAA.
Members of the top college basketball and football programs want their share of the money produced for their schools.
How many would benefit from this?
Maybe one percent of the top players.
Who would get hurt?
The many players at lower levels, and minor sports, who have scholarships and place to place thanks to all the money brought in by March Madness and the coming football playoff.
If colleges need to pay athletes in football and men's basketball, there will be less for others.
Or we could raise the athletic fees for college, so the rest of the student body could give money to athletes on the top teams.
Think about it that way.
Members of the top college basketball and football programs want their share of the money produced for their schools.
How many would benefit from this?
Maybe one percent of the top players.
Who would get hurt?
The many players at lower levels, and minor sports, who have scholarships and place to place thanks to all the money brought in by March Madness and the coming football playoff.
If colleges need to pay athletes in football and men's basketball, there will be less for others.
Or we could raise the athletic fees for college, so the rest of the student body could give money to athletes on the top teams.
Think about it that way.
Inept would be an improvement
This New York Post columnist remains firmly convinced President Obama doesn't know what he's doing.
The view from his faculty lounge has no space for reality. Anything that doesn’t fit the grand plan is dismissed as illegitimate. So while global hot spots multiply and the world grows dangerously unstable, the president still plans to slash the military.
His trip abroad last week further secured his reputation for historic ineptitude. It wasn’t that the trip was a disaster — it never rose to that level. His presence and his promises simply made no difference.
The view from his faculty lounge has no space for reality. Anything that doesn’t fit the grand plan is dismissed as illegitimate. So while global hot spots multiply and the world grows dangerously unstable, the president still plans to slash the military.
His trip abroad last week further secured his reputation for historic ineptitude. It wasn’t that the trip was a disaster — it never rose to that level. His presence and his promises simply made no difference.
D is for Drifter
Howie Carr wants Scott Brown back in the Senate.
And doesn't see a problem for him crossing the border to New Hampshire.
I love the carpetbagging issue. Was Hillary Clinton from New York? Ditto, Robert Kennedy. Are Granny, Deval, Katherine Clark and Barney Frank from Massachusetts? Where were Jeanne Shaheen and Paul Hodes born?
The “D” after all their names doesn’t just stand for Democrat, it stands for “drifter.”
And doesn't see a problem for him crossing the border to New Hampshire.
I love the carpetbagging issue. Was Hillary Clinton from New York? Ditto, Robert Kennedy. Are Granny, Deval, Katherine Clark and Barney Frank from Massachusetts? Where were Jeanne Shaheen and Paul Hodes born?
The “D” after all their names doesn’t just stand for Democrat, it stands for “drifter.”
Saturday, March 29, 2014
Why you save stuff
Don Surber tells a story of why it's good to have information from the 70s hanging around.
Broken beyond repair
It takes a lot of toilets to flush $125.5 million down the drain.
Looks like Maryland found a way.
And you can't blame Republican obstruction.
Maryland is not alone in having deep-seated problems with its health marketplace. Technical issues also have plagued Oregon, Minnesota and Hawaii. But Maryland will be the first to walk away from its site, a particular embarrassment for Lt. Gov. Anthony G. Brown (D), who was placed in charged of implementing health-care reform in Maryland by Gov. Martin O’Malley (D).
Looks like Maryland found a way.
And you can't blame Republican obstruction.
Maryland is not alone in having deep-seated problems with its health marketplace. Technical issues also have plagued Oregon, Minnesota and Hawaii. But Maryland will be the first to walk away from its site, a particular embarrassment for Lt. Gov. Anthony G. Brown (D), who was placed in charged of implementing health-care reform in Maryland by Gov. Martin O’Malley (D).
Facebook quote of the week
Wish the scores at bottom of TV screen were bigger...maybe I'll go get the binoculars
Friday, March 28, 2014
Can we have a "Charles Barkley" show?
Waiting for the Virginia game, it's a hoot watching Charles Barkley and crew on CBS.
Probably one of the funniest 15 minutes of the TV season - capped by Barkley singing "My Way."
Probably one of the funniest 15 minutes of the TV season - capped by Barkley singing "My Way."
Name the party
Which party has the most politicians in trouble this week?
Right now, a crime wave is sweeping the nation, and everyone in this out-of-control mob has a D after their names, even if most of the media are loath to report it.
Talk about these guys? That's a bridge too far.
Right now, a crime wave is sweeping the nation, and everyone in this out-of-control mob has a D after their names, even if most of the media are loath to report it.
Talk about these guys? That's a bridge too far.
Weekend watchdog
The Carolina teams are gone.
The transfers from the Big East are done.
It's left to Virginia to uphold the honor of the ACC.
The top-seeded Cavaliers join the Garden Party Friday at 9:57 p.m., facing pundit-favorite Michigan State in New York on TBS. The winner advances to Sunday's East Region final against either Connecticut or Iowa State, who tip at 7:27 p.m.
CBS offers the Midwest Region matchups between Tennessee and Michigan at 7:15 p.m. and Louisville-Kentucky in the nightcap.
TBS has the regional finals Saturday - Dayton against Florida at 6 p.m. followed by the West regional between Wisconsin and Arizona.
CBS jumps back in the action Sunday at 2 and 4:30 p.m. - then it's off to the Final Four.
The women's Sweet 16 starts Saturday at noon on ESPN with Kentucky against Baylor. Undefeated Notre Dame goes Oklahoma State in the other regional semifinal at 2:30 p.m. It's off to Lincoln at 4:30 p.m. for undefeated Connecticut facing BYU, then Texas A&M takes on DePaul.
Tennessee tackles Maryland Sunday at noon on ESPN, and Louisville hosts LSU at 2:30 p.m. on ESPN2. Out west, Stanford meets Penn State at 4:30 p.m. and South Carolina plays North Carolina at 7 p.m.
The regional finals are Monday and Tuesday.
The best of Division II meet Saturday at 3 p.m. on CBS as West Liberty battles Central Missouri.
The Wizards face Indiana Friday at 7 p.m. on Comcast, and the Hawks come to town Saturday at 8 p.m.
Back from Australia, the Dodgers take on the Padres on ESPN Sunday night at 8 p.m.
The Nationals get ready for the season Saturday, hosting the Tigers at 2 p.m. on MASN.
On the college diamond, Baylor travels to West Virginia Sunday at 1:30 p.m. on FoxSports1.
NASCAR visits Martinsville Sunday at 1 p.m. on Fox, and the truck race will be on FoxSports1 at 2:30 p.m.
ABC has the opening race of the Indy Car series, Sunday at 3:30 p.m. from Florida.
The Formula One circuit hits Malayasia Sunday at 4 a.m. on NBC Sports network. There's practice at 2 a.m. Friday and qualifying Saturday at 4 a.m.
NBC offers the Flyers and Bruins Sunday at noon, while the Blackhawks and Penguins meet Sunday at 7:30 p.m. on NBC Sports network.
The road to the Frozen Four begins Saturday at 3 p.m. on ESPN2, then Robert Morris meets Minnesota in the West regional.
Top golfers meet at the Valero Texas Open Saturday at 2 p.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m. on NBC.
D.C. United meets Chicago in MLS action Saturday at 4 p.m. on NBC Sports network.
There's three matches in the Premier League Saturday morning, starting with Manchester United against Aston Villa at 8:45 a.m. Crystal Place clashes with Chelsea at 11 a.m. followed by Arsenal-Manchester City. Fulham faces Everton Sunday at 8:30 a.m. before Liverpool meets Tottenham Hotspur.
ESPN2 shows a men's semifinal from the Sony Open Friday at 3 p.m. ESPN has the second men's semifinal Friday at 7 p.m. and the men's championship Sunday at 2:30 p.m., while the women's championship will be on ESPN2 Saturday at 1 p.m.
Providence meets St. John's in college lacrosse Saturday at 6 p.m. on FoxSports1.
MASN2 has college softball between UTEP and Tulsa Saturday at 4 p.m.
Thursday, March 27, 2014
Fire up the Mayflower vans
Thirty years after the Colts left Baltimore, the state of Maryland thinks it can boss a business around.
It was trying to use eminent domain in 1984, and today with the Netflix show "House of Cards."
"House of Cards" has two options.
Getting their tax credits, or find Mayflower vans.
It's not like they need to do the show in Maryland.
It was trying to use eminent domain in 1984, and today with the Netflix show "House of Cards."
"House of Cards" has two options.
Getting their tax credits, or find Mayflower vans.
It's not like they need to do the show in Maryland.
How?
Harry Reid moves from messing up the Senate to predicting the Washington Redskins will change their name shortly.
And uses a lousy example.
The Wizards, you know, they were the Washington Bullets. With all the killing that took place, the murders in Washington, Abe Pollin – a very nice man – decided I don’t need any of this. So they changed it to the Washington Wizards. We’re all used to the Washington Wizards.
Except...
Have you seen the Wizards' current logos, trademarks and court set-ups?
They tried a different color scheme, but returned to the same one used by the Bullets during their tenure.
The Bullets were more fundamentally sound - holding the balls with the two l's of Bullets - while the Wizards have a "dc" logo with the ball atop the d.
The Redskins are much more popular.
Fans are much more invested in their Redskins stuff.
The chief logo has many more years to live.
If there were a better nickname out there, it would be in use by now.
And uses a lousy example.
The Wizards, you know, they were the Washington Bullets. With all the killing that took place, the murders in Washington, Abe Pollin – a very nice man – decided I don’t need any of this. So they changed it to the Washington Wizards. We’re all used to the Washington Wizards.
Except...
Have you seen the Wizards' current logos, trademarks and court set-ups?
They tried a different color scheme, but returned to the same one used by the Bullets during their tenure.
The Bullets were more fundamentally sound - holding the balls with the two l's of Bullets - while the Wizards have a "dc" logo with the ball atop the d.
The Redskins are much more popular.
Fans are much more invested in their Redskins stuff.
The chief logo has many more years to live.
If there were a better nickname out there, it would be in use by now.
Who gets the burden
Volokh offers space for a Stanford law professor to focus on the issues in the Hobby Lobby case.
He breaks down the hearing to four important questions.
(1) Could Hobby Lobby avoid a substantial burden on its religious exercise by dropping health insurance and paying fines of $2,000 per employee?
(2) Does the government have a compelling interest in protecting the statutory rights of Hobby Lobby’s employees?
(3) Would a ruling in favor of Hobby Lobby give rise to a slippery slope of exemptions from vaccines, minimum wage laws, anti-discrimination laws, and the like?
(4) Has the government satisfied the least restrictive means test?
I think the answer to all four questions is “no.” I offer brief thoughts on each below.
Read and learn.
He breaks down the hearing to four important questions.
(1) Could Hobby Lobby avoid a substantial burden on its religious exercise by dropping health insurance and paying fines of $2,000 per employee?
(2) Does the government have a compelling interest in protecting the statutory rights of Hobby Lobby’s employees?
(3) Would a ruling in favor of Hobby Lobby give rise to a slippery slope of exemptions from vaccines, minimum wage laws, anti-discrimination laws, and the like?
(4) Has the government satisfied the least restrictive means test?
I think the answer to all four questions is “no.” I offer brief thoughts on each below.
Read and learn.
Make it up as we go along
John Fund looks at the court case on exchanges - did Congress really mean subsidies should be dispensed only through state exchanges?
In a sign that the Obama Justice Department fears a defeat, it took the highly unusual step of asserting last week that the D.C. appeals court lacks the jurisdiction to invalidate its interpretation of Obamacare. The Wall Street Journal noted: “In other words, even if the court finds that the administration is acting illegally, it cannot strike down the IRS-HHS rule and the executive branch will continue to ignore both Congress’s law and the law of the courts. There are few if any precedents for such a remarkable argument.” Judges will clearly not be amused by arguments that the executive branch thinks they are superfluous.
In a sign that the Obama Justice Department fears a defeat, it took the highly unusual step of asserting last week that the D.C. appeals court lacks the jurisdiction to invalidate its interpretation of Obamacare. The Wall Street Journal noted: “In other words, even if the court finds that the administration is acting illegally, it cannot strike down the IRS-HHS rule and the executive branch will continue to ignore both Congress’s law and the law of the courts. There are few if any precedents for such a remarkable argument.” Judges will clearly not be amused by arguments that the executive branch thinks they are superfluous.
Track the delays
Politico gives a brief look at the Obamacare delays.
Check back frequently for updates.
Check back frequently for updates.
Wednesday, March 26, 2014
Who started this mess?
Salon puts the pressure of unintended consequences on Hobby Lobby in its fight for a religious exemption from the contraceptive mandate.
But Hobby Lobby didn't write the law.
Or lobby for it.
Or pass it.
They are trying to deal with it.
Although I love the "you didn't build this yourself" angle of this paragraph.
Entrepreneurs, like the owners of Hobby Lobby, are provided innumerable privileges by the public that allow their businesses to thrive, and the price of those privileges is that they have to adhere to public laws and regulations.
You might have worked in the garage to start this business, but it's our world. You need to follow along.
Except for Hobby Lobby, it's God's world and we need to follow that.
But Hobby Lobby didn't write the law.
Or lobby for it.
Or pass it.
They are trying to deal with it.
Although I love the "you didn't build this yourself" angle of this paragraph.
Entrepreneurs, like the owners of Hobby Lobby, are provided innumerable privileges by the public that allow their businesses to thrive, and the price of those privileges is that they have to adhere to public laws and regulations.
You might have worked in the garage to start this business, but it's our world. You need to follow along.
Except for Hobby Lobby, it's God's world and we need to follow that.
Guessing what's going on
Megan McArdle tries to find a reason for the latest exchange extension - if you tried to sign up by March 31, we'll give you just a little more time.
So again, here's the really worrying scenario: The demographics haven't budged, or have only barely improved from earlier months. The White House knows that means that big premium increases are in the offing for 2015, and they're hoping to head them off at least temporarily with this delay. Extending open enrollment, which is essentially what they're doing, would then be a desperate play to get more young, healthy customers into the exchanges, and perhaps to make it a bit harder for insurers to raise rates. In some states, insurers have to file preliminary rate increases in May. And thanks to this latest extension, they won't have final data to back up any requests for a premium hike.
So again, here's the really worrying scenario: The demographics haven't budged, or have only barely improved from earlier months. The White House knows that means that big premium increases are in the offing for 2015, and they're hoping to head them off at least temporarily with this delay. Extending open enrollment, which is essentially what they're doing, would then be a desperate play to get more young, healthy customers into the exchanges, and perhaps to make it a bit harder for insurers to raise rates. In some states, insurers have to file preliminary rate increases in May. And thanks to this latest extension, they won't have final data to back up any requests for a premium hike.
Another story to share
When did the Koch Brothers buy the New York Times?
Here's a column about the troubles with Obamacare.
Previously, our family deductible totaled $13,600 for outpatient care and $6,600 for hospital care (with a maximum combined out-of-pocket cost of $13,600). Under our new plan, we have a deductible of $10,000 (and an out-of-pocket maximum of $12,700). In both cases, having deductibles that high means this is largely insurance to make sure that we don’t go bankrupt if we become very ill. Yes, the new plan has more coverage, including pediatric vision. But we don’t have children, and I’d trade coverage for things like substance abuse treatment and mental health in return for lower premiums.
I thought all the stories of higher rates and higher deductibles were inventions of the Koch Brothers.
Sometime give Rachel Maddow a copy of today's Times.
Here's a column about the troubles with Obamacare.
Previously, our family deductible totaled $13,600 for outpatient care and $6,600 for hospital care (with a maximum combined out-of-pocket cost of $13,600). Under our new plan, we have a deductible of $10,000 (and an out-of-pocket maximum of $12,700). In both cases, having deductibles that high means this is largely insurance to make sure that we don’t go bankrupt if we become very ill. Yes, the new plan has more coverage, including pediatric vision. But we don’t have children, and I’d trade coverage for things like substance abuse treatment and mental health in return for lower premiums.
I thought all the stories of higher rates and higher deductibles were inventions of the Koch Brothers.
Sometime give Rachel Maddow a copy of today's Times.
He's already squealing
A great day in the Iowa Senate race Tuesday.
A Republican candidate put out a great ad.
The Democratic candidate stepped in a farm mess.
Think the Iowa public will remember in November?
A Republican candidate put out a great ad.
The Democratic candidate stepped in a farm mess.
Think the Iowa public will remember in November?
Tuesday, March 25, 2014
End it; don't defend it
What's the winning strategy for 2014?
End Obamacare
or
Defend Obamacare?
Democrats are in a fix trying to fix the law.
If you’re a Democrat, you can’t run against the law full bore; there’s too much soundbite material there for the GOP to use against the rest of the party and it’s too grave an admission of misjudgment on your own part. If Mary Landrieu was too stupid not to oppose a paradigm-shifting boondoggle when she had the chance in 2010, she’s too stupid to go back to the Senate. So now she has to muddle through with some “mend it, don’t end it” nonsense about how the law’s principles were and are sound.
End Obamacare
or
Defend Obamacare?
Democrats are in a fix trying to fix the law.
If you’re a Democrat, you can’t run against the law full bore; there’s too much soundbite material there for the GOP to use against the rest of the party and it’s too grave an admission of misjudgment on your own part. If Mary Landrieu was too stupid not to oppose a paradigm-shifting boondoggle when she had the chance in 2010, she’s too stupid to go back to the Senate. So now she has to muddle through with some “mend it, don’t end it” nonsense about how the law’s principles were and are sound.
These people need a hobby
National Review offers the best of the bad signs about the Supreme Court Tuesday.
But somebody should work on bacon-flavored pills, stat.
But somebody should work on bacon-flavored pills, stat.
Assistance for Wal-Mart
Liberals fuss about Wal-Mart employees needing to use state benefits since the salaries are too low, in their opinion.
Turns out Wal-Mart depends on food stamps for more than helping employees.
Food stamp purchases help their shareholders.
There are oodles of things Wal-Mart is fearful of, from Fed interest-rate policy to climate change, but here’s the specific language on benefits: “changes in the amount of payments made under the Supplement Nutrition Assistance Plan and other public assistance plans (and) changes in the eligibility requirements of public assistance plans.” (Yes, Wal-Mart’s lawyers got the name of the program wrong — it’s the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.)
The latter language could reflect both the change in the food-stamp program as well as the ongoing debate over whether Congress should renew extended jobless benefits that lapsed at the end of December.
If you like these government programs, you're helping Wal-Mart make money.
Turns out Wal-Mart depends on food stamps for more than helping employees.
Food stamp purchases help their shareholders.
There are oodles of things Wal-Mart is fearful of, from Fed interest-rate policy to climate change, but here’s the specific language on benefits: “changes in the amount of payments made under the Supplement Nutrition Assistance Plan and other public assistance plans (and) changes in the eligibility requirements of public assistance plans.” (Yes, Wal-Mart’s lawyers got the name of the program wrong — it’s the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.)
The latter language could reflect both the change in the food-stamp program as well as the ongoing debate over whether Congress should renew extended jobless benefits that lapsed at the end of December.
If you like these government programs, you're helping Wal-Mart make money.
Democrats' slippery slope
Virginia remains without a budget.
The radio waves talk of "bringing our money from Washington" and expanding Medicaid.
I think Democrats are talking themselves into a trap.
It's only a small step from "bring our money back" to "why send so much in the first place?"
When you make Washington money "our money" instead of magical presents that Democrats can bestow, people can think like it's their money.
They don't like wasting it.
They don't like giving it away for nothing that benefits them.
Keep our money out of Washington in the first place.
The radio waves talk of "bringing our money from Washington" and expanding Medicaid.
I think Democrats are talking themselves into a trap.
It's only a small step from "bring our money back" to "why send so much in the first place?"
When you make Washington money "our money" instead of magical presents that Democrats can bestow, people can think like it's their money.
They don't like wasting it.
They don't like giving it away for nothing that benefits them.
Keep our money out of Washington in the first place.
Monday, March 24, 2014
Grumble, grumble, grumble
Just in time for the Walking Dead season finale, I found Hot Air's weekly grumble about the show.
I like the cannibal theory.
Although they might be saving that for the Season 5 opener.
It will be hard waiting months for a new grumble post.
I like the cannibal theory.
Although they might be saving that for the Season 5 opener.
It will be hard waiting months for a new grumble post.
Prepare for the flood
Glenn Beck saw an advance copy of "Noah" this weekend.
It didn't float his boat.
It’s a $100 million disaster. That’s what it is. They just don’t know what to do… I wish I could have brought different news to you, but I can’t. And I appreciate the people at Paramount understanding because I did talk to them after. It was a really uncomfortable 20 minutes afterwards. He was in there pitching. I wish I can, but I can’t. And I’m sorry. Next time – please invite me again and hopefully it will be a good movie.
Wonder what other critics will say.
It didn't float his boat.
It’s a $100 million disaster. That’s what it is. They just don’t know what to do… I wish I could have brought different news to you, but I can’t. And I appreciate the people at Paramount understanding because I did talk to them after. It was a really uncomfortable 20 minutes afterwards. He was in there pitching. I wish I can, but I can’t. And I’m sorry. Next time – please invite me again and hopefully it will be a good movie.
Wonder what other critics will say.
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