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statsman

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Everything posted by statsman

  1. I don’t know. I think the story is- young Jeff Epstein learns that rich and powerful people can do things for you. You don’t want to work for them- they see you as a servant. You want them to like you. He started probing the seedy underbelly of powerful men’s illicit desires (which- oh, happy day!- aligned with his) and parlayed some big favors into a higher strata in the tower. And he kept doing that until he was arrested and imprisoned. When he got out, he started trying to develop a new network, and perhaps tried to use charm and wealth (although he still had the underage -I’m uncomfortable with overuse of the euphemisms- sex slaves). Jeff Epstein, himself, isn’t that interesting. Like with Jay Gatsby, the real story is about America and how it works. I have faith in America, though, and take comfort in knowing that despite how wealthy and connected Epstein was, his victims were able to hold him accountable. (Did he kill himself or was he murdered? I’m wary with conspiracies, but I could see it either way)
  2. WSJ digs deeper (shareable link) CIA's William Burns, Goldman's Kathryn Ruemmler, Noam Chomsky, the president of Bard College, a Kissinger consultant and a Rothschild. They all met with Jeffrey Epstein in the years after his conviction, documents show. https://www.wsj.com/articles/jeffrey-epstein-calendar-cia-director-goldman-sachs-noam-chomsky-c9f6a3ff?st=5j4nv5cq6fwe2n1&reflink=share_mobilewebshare Thoughts- It looks like, after his parole, he was trying to re-establish a network of powerful connections Powerful people really should be more diligent about vetting new friends.
  3. I love KD. I really love him. But he doesn’t have a good handle (he’s 7’ tall, for crying out loud) and I think everyone in the league knows it.
  4. Time for Brazil to decide- https://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-asks-brazil-to-hand-over-russian-accused-of-spying-ddd6a227?st=0eyzy7jbahvakxo&reflink=article_email_share
  5. For some reason, the WSJ news comments sites (not every news story allows comments) has been inundated with Russian trolls, pretending to be Americans, bemoaning the Us support (with a tone of “more in sorrow than in anger”). I tell myself I need to stay away and not engage, but I just can’t help myself. I mock the silly and false contentions, and call them out for showing themselves to not be real Americans (one claimed he was a Vietnam vet but couldn’t answer some simple questions). Their strategy seems to be to lay down a drumbeat of “it’s not worth it- Ukraine doesn’t deserve help and it’s futile anyway- it’s not worth it” Thank God they’re not as good at fighting as they are at trolling.
  6. Don’t ask Jordan, unless you want to hear, “Yes. Yes, those other nine seasons were failures”.😂
  7. Yep. There are four talent rich regions* in this nation- the south, Texas, California and the Ohio valley. *I don’t know how to rate or quantify the pacific islands. I know there is talent there, but I don’t know how much.
  8. Yes, but, fellow Texas fans- do you see a flaw in the reasoning of “let’s plan to build our brand by making the CFP several times in the next decade, in this relatively weak conference”? Nobody knows better than us that it’s easier said than done.
  9. Anyone enjoy Corby opining on the Texas program?
  10. statsman

    49-0

    Walking out after 2012 ass whipping, we were crossing the street outside Fair Park. Waiting for the walk light, this one line old Sooner, turned to me and started wagging his finger. “I’ve been coming to this game for 50 years! THAT was the worst I have ever seen the University of Texas look!” He sounded offended Honestly, I felt a little shamed. I thought about that old bumpkin last year, leaving the game. I’ve seen embarrassing performances before, from both teams, but I never saw one quit as thoroughly as the Sooners did last year.
  11. I think Draymond was really back to being his buddy in the 2021 Olympics. His public statements may have been BS, as you say, but he seemed over it. The Russ beef was so petty and aggressive, it’s possible you’re right in what you’re saying.
  12. I can agree with Kasparov, that the USshould do more and give more. I can also believe that Europe should do more and give more.
  13. KD article in The Ringer- https://www.theringer.com/nba/2023/4/25/23696667/kevin-durant-phoenix-suns-basketball-nomad When it comes to holding grudges, he is no Michael Jordan. I remember how he forgave Draymond (I don’t think Green ever really apologized) and they figured a way to blame it all on Kerr (it was Green’s fault). In the article, he defends Westbrook and says that he doesn’t really think Russ had a beef with him (Narrator: “Russ definitely had a beef with him”). I guess it’s to his credit that he just doesn’t want to go around pissed off at people.
  14. From the next AvWeek: ”Russia’s largest airline, Aeroflot, has sent one of its Airbus A330-300 wide body aircraft to Iran for technical maintenance for the first time.” 😂
  15. statsman

    49-0

    After 2005, OU fans were what-iffing that if their LB (I forget his name) hadn’t got hurt, if a penalty had been called, they’d be right in it. After 2023, when their whole team, players and coaches, quit in the third quarter, there was no “what iffing “. So, yeah, we shouldn’t have called off the dogs in 2005.
  16. A Russian prisoner recruited by Wagner agreed to fight in Ukraine in exchange for his freedom. All he had to do was stay alive long to collect. ”See you in six months.”https://www.wsj.com/articles/grim-life-and-brutal-death-of-a-wagner-recruit-40d9473a?st=dar2zx9hwlfcule&reflink=share_mobilewebshare
  17. Shareable link- In Ukraine's looming offensive on Russia, Kyiv will want to regain the initiative in the conflict and win further support from the U.S. and its allieshttps://www.wsj.com/articles/ukraine-gears-up-to-hit-russiansand-show-west-it-can-win-89c43105?st=qwi6x6y14kjwr9o&reflink=share_mobilewebshare
  18. You’re right in that I should have realized how ridiculous it would be for Westbrook to be on a minimum this year.
  19. I googled (thinking he might be in the last year of his old supermax) and was surprised to see this- https://www.spotrac.com/nba/la-clippers/russell-westbrook-6141/#:~:text=Current Contract,dead cap value of %24495%2C955.
  20. He is one a one year $800k contract. This is awesome. They will lose the series (again- Russ has only won one series since 2016) and lock him in on a multi-year contract.
  21. We don’t really cover “The Great Game” in world history classes in the US, but it was a real thing and the Brits and Russians sure study it.
  22. He’s Kevin Durant. You know who he is.
  23. Thanks for the link. It sounds like they have an attitude of “I came to the NHL to parlay my hockey skills into a lot of money. Talking about Ukraine gets in the way of that”.
  24. Question about Russians abroad. I don’t really follow the NHL, but I gather there are a lot of Russian players. How do they handle the issue of the war. Do they try to not talk about it? Does the media let them? Do they fear for their families back home if they criticize Putin?
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