Some new music ..

 Tedeschi Trucks band - Susan and  Derek  put out a 3 part series - I AM THE MOON : The Fall , Ascension, and Crescent.  With the Title track being the featured release...

I love this band - so GO listen to all their stuff....  I'll give you another one - Midnight in Harlem.

To keep the Husband and wife thing going,,, This is Amanda Shires off her new release 

Take it Like a Man.. and that is her husband Jason Isbell on Guitar.

Maggie Rogers has a new Release  - Surrender - here is Horses..

and Hawk for the Dove

and let's end with Death Cab for Cutie -  the band name from the song "Death Cab for Cutie", which was written by Neil Innes and Vivian Stanshall and recorded by their group the Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band.

Here is "Here to Forever"

and Finally - one of my Grandsons new Favorite song - 'cept he calls it "Crazy Training"

Money money money money,,,,,,, Money.

 So there are a few baseball  players that are gonna demand huge salaries .. Soto , Judge , etc..

Let's look at who is getting what  right now....

There are a few ways to look at this,,,,,  here are the Annual salaries.. 

1. Max Scherzer, New York Mets: $43,333,333

• Max Scherzer, New York Mets: $43,333,333.
• Gerrit Cole, New York Yankees: $36 million.
• Mike Trout, Los Angeles Angels: $35,541,667.
• Carlos Correa, Minnesota Twins: $35.1 million.

and here are the Total value of some contracts

.

Mike Trout, OF, Angels:  $426,000,000 over 12 years

Mookie Betts, OF, Dodgers: $365,000,000 over 12 years

Francisco Lindor, SS, Mets: $341,000,000 over 10 years

Fernando Tatis Jr., SS, Padres: $340,000,000 over 14 years

Bryce Harper, OF, Phillies: $330,000,0000 over 13 years

Now-- another factor is age.

Max Scherzer is 38 years old - will be 40 at end of that contract

Mike trout is 30 - he will be 38 at the end of that contract

Mookie is 29  - signed thru 2032 - he will be 39 at the end 

Gerrit Cole is 31 and will be 37 at the end of his contract

Ok - I could go on..... but the players age is a factor in this discussion.

There is Juan Soto .  he is 23 years old. Will be 24 in October 2022.

he makes 17 million dollars in 2022..The Nationals control him for 2 more years,,, so he has 2 more of Arbitration and then he is an Unrestricted free agent in 2025... so I would be thinking that the Nats will need to get a great deal to let him go.... but he will probably command 40 some million a year and a 10 - 12 year deal. Soto turned down 15 years - $440 Million  - $30 million per year.

Aaron Judge is 30 years old - April 26th.... and he is an unrestricted Free agent after this season - which he is certainly on track to win the MVP. he has 41 home runs, and 89 RBI's as of today.. both stats  lead the Major leagues.

 Judge turned down a 7 years at $213 million - $30 million per year. 

The other guy to talk about is Shohei Otani - I do not know how they are only paying him $5 million per year... he has one more year of Arbitration , and then he is a Free Agent in 2024...  He  was 28 on July 5th.... 

Let's start with Judge -

He will likely command  closer to Mike Trout money -  $30 - $35 million per and maybe the Yankees offer more per year - and less years,,, however he is still gonna want 8-10 years ...  So if Judge is 38 at the end of what ever the next contract is that would match up to Trout money.....

Soto - if I am the Nats... Somebody gotta sweep me off my feet - with several major league position players to trade this guy- cause I control him for 2 more years.... Minor league  or prospects aint gonna move me... I will take my chances a year or two down the road,.... and in the mean time make him another offer,... 

Otani is a great case - again - I gotta get lots in return, because A) I have him for a few more years , and B) he is a 2 for one,,, you get a starting pitcher and a middle of the Line up bat ....  and The health of Mike Trout is a factor here,,, If they lose Trout to an injury ,,, then they will not wanna part with Otani very easily....

THIS is why  I would NOT want to be a General Manager !!!!!

The "YEA but what about" ,,,,, Pivot.

Ain't I been sayin it !!  For ten damn years I been Sayin it !!

this was last week,,,,

Fox News 'fails to adhere to basic journalistic standards,' says credibility rater Newsguard

and I am starting to hear the YEA , BUT pivot  more again ,,,, 

#1 - some news agencies are obsessed with Hunter Biden.  and I will agree with this ,, IF there is criminal activity - then indite, prosecute, and dole out sentences...

#2 - you can't be screaming  about "Hunter Biden ""Hunter Biden ""Hunter Biden ""Hunter Biden "

and then not want to discuss that Dumps Daughter gained many many Patents in China while she had an office IN the White House. 

 you can't be screaming  about "Hunter Biden ""Hunter Biden ""Hunter Biden ""Hunter Biden " and then not want to talk about Jared Kushner who got a 2 Billion Dollar - yup that Billion with  a B  - loan from the Saudi government 2 months after he left the  White House, wher ehe had an office IN the West Wing.

you can't be screaming  about "Hunter Biden ""Hunter Biden ""Hunter Biden ""Hunter Biden "

and then not want to talk about Eric and Don JR flitting around the globe making real estate deals with their fathers picture on the Literature - while  he was the fucking president !!

OK -

and the Pivot is this - you hear and read - the statement - oh yea the January 6th testimony is bad , But - what about Hunter Biden... and then go off for 10 minutes , and many Paragraphs about that.

If there is no accountability - there is no Democracy

 I will list what is evidence that the former POTUS Must be indicted.

1) He knew he lost the election, and refused to accept the results, and whiped his supports into the frenzy that he knew would result in violence. 

2) He tried to overturn those election results by contacting those Governors and Attorneys Generals  an d election officials in the swing states to "just say the election was stolen and let me do the rest"

3) He knew that there were those on January 6th that were armed. And he provoked them to go to the Capitol anyway.

4) He did nothing to stop the attack once underway - even though he was asked multiple times by his own people,  he could have made statement immediately , but chose not to.

5) This was a planned strategy - he knew that the results would immediately favor him, as he told his supports to NOT vote by mail,,, so it appeared he had won many states until the mail in ballots were counted..  He knew he would take advantage of that - by declaring victory that night - knowing that might not be the case. 

6) Even as the Insurrection was happening ,, he tweeted things about Mike Pence letting him down. And repeating that this is what  happens when elections are stolen.

7) in his speech afterwards - he refused to condemn the Rioters - he said that he loved them . and that they were very special. 

If there is no accountability - the nation can not continue to be a Democratic Republic. 

Make this Shit Make Sense

 This is what I guess I call trigger legislation - which is why it was proposed back in February 2021..in anticipation that IF/ When the SCOTUS over turned Roe... that this legislation would kick into place,,,, now that has not quite happened ,,,  as I think they need a popular vote in North Carolina   to confirm it,,,,,

However,, that said - this is the Legislation that they are  proposing - and by THEY - I  mean the Rabid pro life assholes,,,  1st opening Pandora's box by legislating that tLife begins at conception,,, but we can discuss that point later,,, this is what they are proposing...

"Sec. 39. Life begins at fertilization.  It is a matter of indisputable scientific fact that a distinct and separate human life begins at the moment of fertilization. As such, that new human life is recognized by the State as an  individual person, entitled to the protection of the laws of this State from the moment of  fertilization until the moment of natural death. Any person who willfully seeks to destroy the life  of another person, by any means, at any stage of life, or succeeds in doing so, shall be held  accountable for attempted murder or for first degree murder, respectively. Any person has the right to defend his or her own life or the life of another person, even by the use of deadly force if necessary, from willful destruction by another person.

Am I fucking reading this right ???  That they are saying that the use of "Deadly Force"  is acceptable if a woman seeks an abortion. SO- It's ok to kill the Mother who is seeking the procedure.  (and BTW the Fetus)  . How in the  Actual FUCK is that PRO -LIFE ?!?!?!?!?

The excitement continues to build.....

 So, let's see if you are in a Cult....  or simply detached from reality.....

I will type out 3 statements..and you anser to yourself - I guess - AGREE or Dis AGREE...  Ok - let;s go !

1) IF there is credible evidence that Hunter Biden committed a Crime - he should be indicted. And IF found guilty in a Court of Law, be sentenced and sent to jail wit the appropriate Sentence . 

2) IF there is credible evidence that  any BLM protester committed a Crime - he/she should be indicted. And IF found guilty in a Court of Law, be sentenced and sent to jail wit the appropriate Sentence . 

3) IF there is credible evidence that  Donald Trump committed a Crime - he should be indicted. And IF found guilty in a Court of Law, be sentenced and sent to jail wit the appropriate Sentence .

I believe that everyone would agree with 1 and 2 , BUT ,, BUT - If you are in the Cult of Personality that is the former POTUS - you agree with the first  2 ,, but not with the 3rd...

I have seen some simply Crazy ass statements lately ... 

A congressman asked If a women has ever given birth to anything BUT a Human !!

That doors are the blame for mass shootings,,, that there should be one door into and out of schools that is guarded by an armed Guard...  (wonder what the Fire Marshall thinks of that ???  I went to a HS with near 800 children ,, humm  all going out thru one door in an emergency ??) 

That votes for the POTUS were sent up to a satellite , downloaded in Europe (mainly Italy) and then reset back to the Voting machine as Votes for Joe Biden..  remember it was MTG that said that a Jewish space laser was responsible for Biden winning in many states ! Thats' a Congresswomen - Yea  !!

 

What will we hear today ??

 And how will FOX entertainment skew it so that it looks good ??

What stupid fucking quote will MTG or Lauren Blowbert make ?

Let's talk Baseball...  Yankee Baseball - specifically....

They got off to suck a great start that even at this point,,where they are just past 1/2 way ... 86 games .. they are 61 and 25...  at a .709 pace.... if you extrapolate this out to the 162 games... they would win 115 games - The Rays won the AL east last year with 100 wins.... now no team or manager ever admits to thinking about the post season at this point ..    however....  to catch the Yankees the Red Sox and /or Rays  (they are 14.5 and 15 games back)   IF New York plays  .500 ball from here to the end....  38 wins and 38 losses... they finish with a 99 and 63 record.... that means to get to 99 wins  the Red Sox and /or Rays would need to win 52 and lose only 23 - that is playing .700 ball - now can it be done -- ??  for sure it can - is that likely  ....  no... 

SO that lines up as the  2 Division winners with the best record... right now in the American league its the Yankees and the Astros get byes into the Division series... NY would play the winner of the 4/5 series- today thats like Rays/Sox and Houston (#2 seed ) would play the 3/6 winner,,, Seattle or Twins....

I am saying right now - that the Yankees are going to have to win a Series against the Rays or Sox, Then beat the Astros in the ALCS and then I am guessing the Dodgers or Mets. to win the world series...  I just do not see it.... even with the Team and record they have,....  I think they have a team that can win in the Regular season,, but will struggle in the Playoffs...

Ok - we have 60 years of the Rolling Stones today ....

Before I get back to painting

 SO - before I get back to painting:

I posted about how the two Major  parties that we have in this country are both not doing their jobs !

The Republicans  - IMHO - have lost their souls,, they have traded their valves and beliefs for a Cult of Personality their allegiance to Donald Trump. They are so afraid of going against him,, because it might cost them Money in raising funds for their campaigns. That it will cost them votes, and their positions... They have lost their souls. Given up the Truth for lies. Given up reason and sensibility for conspiracy theories and falsehoods.  History will show that this was the end of the party - at least till they get rid of DJT. 

The Democrats have the power - right now  - but are totally derelict in not using it. 

They have the White house,  a Majority in the House of Reps, and an Even lot in the Senate with the VP casting the deciding vote to make 51 - 50 .... Undoing the Filibuster and not needing the 60 votes to pass fucking anything should be top priority,, but they they are sitting on their collective hands and doing/ accomplishing nearly nothing.  No party can / should cont of having this 3 tier majority for more than 2 years,,, so you gotta act when you have the Majority. cause all most always that party loses the Majority in the Mid Terms. Time to get off the pot ! 

Ok - Lets do a little music,,,  If I posted this before Too Bad.... check out the whole album from Mavis and Levon...

Nathaniel Raitliff and the Night Sweats !!

And of Course - the Tedeschi Trucks band...  Yup still Marries after 21 years.

Wile - E coyote - Super Genius

 Ok - I'm not that ,,, but let me say that I was reading what cases were to be brought before the supreeme Court ,, and that one - the Moore .vs Harper was the one that I saw only one person mentioning,, when I thought HOLY SHIT - this is nuts !! and here is today's story on CNN news..

My Quote : There is one case that I think may be the end of Democracy... IF I am reading it correctly. And I ain't that smart....so I hope not.... but its this one - Moore .Vs Harper - this is the Summary.

"Whether a State's judicial branch may nullify the regulations governing the "Manner of holding Elections for Senators and Representatives . . . prescribed . . . by the Legislature thereof," U.S. CONST. art. I, § 4, cl. 1, and replace them with regulations of the state courts' own devising, based on vague state constitutional provisions purportedly vesting the state judiciary with power to prescribe whatever rules it deems appropriate to ensure a "fair" or "free" election.

That a State may nullify the Regulations and Elections that it deems appropriate (that means if it does not like the results) and then set up whatever rules it wishes to say they have fair election. This will be the COUP from within... 

The News Story : https://www.cnn.com/2022/07/07/opinions/supreme-court-2024-elections-north-carolina-douglas/index.html

On the heels of groundbreaking decisions on Roe v. Wade and gun rights, the US Supreme Court appears poised to take up another case with the potential to profoundly reshape American life – this time at the ballot box. The case in the upcoming Court session could make it easier for political incumbents to entrench themselves in office and could even put the 2024 election in peril.

After already making it harder for voting rights advocates to secure protection for the right to vote through restrictive rulings that defer to state legislatures, the Court now seems poised to cut off protection from state courts as well.

Joshua A. Douglas

The justices have agreed to hear Moore v. Harper, a case that hinges on a technical legal issue with immense implications, and that raises the question of whether there any limits to the kinds of election rules that state legislatures may pass.

The case began when Republican state legislators in North Carolina enacted an extreme partisan gerrymander that the state supreme court struck down as unlawful. Now these lawmakers are arguing that state courts cannot constrain them when it comes to the political maps they draw. And they are asking the US Supreme Court to say that the state supreme court had no authority to render a ruling under the state constitution.

That’s right – the argument is that the state supreme court is powerless to issue a ruling about state law, at least as it applies to federal elections in the state.

Where are we headed ???

 Mass Shootings are now just a passing interest... once the dead and wounded are counted and the Perp either killed or captured  - everyone offers Thoughts and Prayers  ( Ted Cruz will probably blame fire Escape ladders this time) -  (Fuck it) we move on....  

Yup - we are  getting angrier these days but we know that nothing will be done.... a few more sane folks will say that its time to ban assault weapons,,, but hey - let's move on .... 

I most likely won't be alive (a least I hope it takes longer) to see it - but you younger people will remember back to when Democracy Died.. and the progression that it took to do it.. the events that led up to the Demise of our Country.  My Grandchildren unfortunately will learn about it History Class,, Civics class or the like.....  They will learn that what we knew all along - that the Threat to Democracy - did not come from outside the Country ...  It was not Russia , or Iraq,, or North Korea.... It was right here.... it was us listening to People lie and us believing it. Shunning Science for radical views that are based in in insanity.... Hearing the Urine Soaked Cheeto man tell you that Wind Mills kill birds, and People. Telling you to Drink disinfectant and shine a light down your throat to cure a Virus... and you not believing that the Threat is real.  We have been down the road before.

Supreme Court judges Lying to get on the Court ,,,, Not recusing themselves from matters that they have a personal stake in. Ruling to do away with Freedom of Choice,,,  with Environmental Protections, considering making Same Sex Marriage illegal,  But not mixed race cause hey That fucker Thomas has a stake in that one....    

There is one case that I think may be the end of Democracy... IF I am reading it correctly. And I ain't that smart....so I hope not.... but its this one - Moore .Vs Harper - this is the Summary.

"Whether a State's judicial branch may nullify the regulations governing the "Manner of holding Elections for Senators and Representatives . . . prescribed . . . by the Legislature thereof," U.S. CONST. art. I, § 4, cl. 1, and replace them with regulations of the state courts' own devising, based on vague state constitutional provisions purportedly vesting the state judiciary with power to prescribe whatever rules it deems appropriate to ensure a "fair" or "free" election.

That a State may nullify the Regulations and Elections that it deems appropriate (that means if it does not like the results) and then set up whatever rules it wishes to say they have fair election. This will be the COUP from within... 

You remember those states that did not have the legal right to just change the Electoral votes,,, Georgia, Michigan , Wisconsin, Arizona - their Governors, and  Attorney Generals refuse to FIND VOTES that would over turn the Election.... welp - sounds to me like they can Gerrymander their states into what ever they deem necessary to get the Appropriate result. YEA -Fait Accompli. Just reject and result you don't like and redo the result till ya get what you want.  

Let's jump quickly to really current matters,,,  I think the select Committee on January 6th is laying out in undeniable fashion a case against the Former President.  They are utilizing sworn testimony from Republicans, from the Former POTUS's inner circle and Family to display the case,,... so that the Right cant say its partisan - it's Republicans that are testifying.... and I think that eventually the DOJ - Department of Justice - and the Attorney General Merrick Garland will have no choice but to indite  Trump on charges of Seditious conspiracy, Inciting a Riot , etc... no choice = He called his followers to DC on January 6th, He knew they were Armed,  he ensured that the speakers (including himself) whipped that crowd into a Frenzy and he told them to march on the Capital.  I do find it  - well not funny - but ya know that IF - and its a big IF - just 7 more senators - SEVEN voted to Impeach - we would not be going thru this.

AND I will say that it is at least possible that Biden Pardons Trump (similar to Ford pardoning Nixon) .. In that way he would have to admit the Crimes and then accept the Pardon. to quote a phrase  - a Fait Accompli.