Pariah

The Broncos were definitely the second best orange team on the field yesterday.
 
There are bright spots.  Let's start with the QB.  Teddy is playing, not really well, but solidly above average, at least by DVOA.  He's about Tannehill level and that's not nothing.  Playoff caliber in fact.
 
In the running game, MGIII is 8th in the league in DVOA.  He's playing at a high level.  Javonte, like, isn't.  Not sure what's up with him.
 
For receivers, Jeudy's been hurt.  Patrick and Sutton are 9th and 19th in DVOA.  They're not the problem.  Fant appears to be mostly a blocker.
 
The O-line is really average, a little better at pass pro than run blocking.
 
What about the defense?  The line is top-third... ah, but the secondary gives up a lot of deep plays.  That's a problem but hardly enough to explain the record.
 
Well, let's google the coaches... Oh, dear.  Why are there this many recent articles criticizing Fangio and Shurmur?  Skimming them, it appears Shurmur is far too predictable and refuses to go away from a pass-heavy approach even with his top WR on IR.  And Fangio seems to be struggling to manage both the game and the defense.
 
Anyway, this is a roundabout way to say "don't panic", at least not yet.  Admittedly I have little hope the coaching staff will get a clue this season, but a new regime next year with the current lineup could improve things drastically.
 
Alternatively, you could unearth a trove of deeply racist and offensive emails from the coaches and get them ejected midseason.  Worked for my team!
 
 
 
 
 
 

yetHereYouAreStillUsingTheSpacebar

“The theory of utilitarianism is nice, but I believe it fundamentally cannot explain why people continue to root for the Detroit Lions.”
Existential Comics

Maybe half of them got snapped.

I finally got around to watching Ant-Man and Ant-Man and The Wasp on Disney+. 
 
Scott Lang may be the best superhero dad ever. 

You didn't tell me you'd written a new book. Well done!

Sometimes Florida does something right. 

Murderer murders girlfriend, steals her van and credit card, runs home, hides in the Everglades, Swamp Thing finds him and metes out justice.  QED.

What he said.

To be clear, while I still love Hero and play it every chance I get*, I also just enjoy the company of Hero gamers, who tend to be able to do math, think critically, and still appreciate cool stuff.
 
 
* Just had a potential PBEM Star Hero game fall through a couple weeks back, which sucks.

Great minions.  Lousy counselors.  Look for Amazon to hire them by the thousands.

I finally got around to watching Ant-Man and Ant-Man and The Wasp on Disney+. 
 
Scott Lang may be the best superhero dad ever. 

Communism is just a red herring.
 
And as far as DI athletics goes ... I'm okay with it, as long as we're willing to call it what it is: a de facto minor league for the NFL, NBA, and WNBA. With recent NIL rules/legislation, the laughable illusion of the amateur student-athlete is rapidly diminishing. It would be nice if the colleges actually required them to go to meaningful classes, though (looking at you, North Carolina). 

Disney Muppets Haunted Mansion: Enjoyable Muppet story, with lots of cameos. (Disney+)
 
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street In Concert: Patty LuPone/George Hearn version, with full orchestra. Always a treat. (DVD)
 
The Emperor's New Groove: A story full of llama drama. (Disney+) 

They create greater disorder.  Duh.

School's not even out and I've already got my grades posted. Literally the first time I've ever been able to say that.

School's not even out and I've already got my grades posted. Literally the first time I've ever been able to say that.

Oh, the angst!
 
Big 12's Bob Bowlsby calls Oklahoma, Texas exit for the SEC a ‘personal betrayal’

As I watch you move, across the moonlit room
There's so much tenderness in your loving
Tomorrow I must leave, the dawn knows no reprieve
God give me strength when I am leaving...   So raise your hands to heaven and pray
That we'll be back together someday   Tonight, I need your sweet caress
Hold me in the darkness
Tonight, you calm my restlessness
You relieve my sadness   As we move to embrace, tears run down your face
I whisper words of love, so softly
I can't believe this pain, it's driving me insane
Without your touch, life will be lonely   So raise your hands to heaven and pray
That we'll be back together someday   Tonight, I need your sweet caress
Hold me in the darkness
Tonight, you calm my restlessness
You relieve my sadness   Morning has come, another day
I must pack my bags and say goodbye.

Well, I heard some people talkin' just the other day
And they said you were gonna put me on a shelf
But let me tell you I got some news for you
And you'll soon find out it's true
And then you'll have to eat your lunch all by yourself   'Cause I'm already gone
And I'm feelin' strong
I will sing this vict'ry song
Woo hoo hoo, my my, woo hoo hoo   The letter that you wrote me made me stop and wonder why
But I guess you felt like you had to set things right
Just remember this, my girl, when you look up in the sky
You can see the stars and still not see the light (that's right)   And I'm already gone
And I'm feelin' strong
I will sing this vict'ry song
Woo hoo hoo, my my, woo hoo hoo   Well, I know it wasn't you who held me down
Heaven knows it wasn't you who set me free
So often times it happens that we live our lives in chains
And we never even know we have the key   But me, I'm already gone
And I'm feelin' strong
I will sing this vict'ry song   'Cause I'm already gone
Yes, I'm already gone
And I'm feelin' strong
I will sing this vict'ry song
'Cause I'm already gone
Yes, I'm already gone
Already gone
All right, nighty-night
Already gone

Mike's dad (listening to the Home Free Pandora station, dealing with acapella music): Oh! I really like this band! It's a cover of "Sounds of Silence". And it's really well done...but it's by Disturbed. Mike's dad: I need to track this band down! Me & Mike: ...umm...that might not be a good id-- (queues up the Disturbed station on Pandora and lands on "Get Down With the Sickness") Mike's dad: ...I may have chosen poorly...

Comment of the day from the Book of Face:
 
"Why argue with an anti-vaxxer, when you can just wait?" 

Comment of the day from the Book of Face:
 
"Why argue with an anti-vaxxer, when you can just wait?"