My employer “We care deeply about the mental and emotional well being of all our employees . . . unless we have to do anything that actually costs money. As an aside, since we’re starting a new quarter, now is a good time to announce both pay raises and cuts to work hours. Enjoy that extra $.25! You earned it! 😊 👍 🎉”

At this point, if someone doesn’t expect a major corporate move to be predatory or exploitative, they’re incredibly naive.

I actually have him blocked on Twitter. His tweets are both insufferable and terrifying. He has absolutely no idea that he is the embodiment of hubris that writers of all types through the centuries have been warning us against.

I’m, and this is a shock seeing as how I’ve openly admitted to liking souse, am not a fan of scrapple. The flavor is good, but the texture is off.

. . . but it’s decadently delicious.

Have you or kleinbl00 or ThurberMingus ever had souse? It’s basically gelatanized, uh . . . lesser desired pig bits, as a sandwich filling. It sounds terrible, but it goes great on rye with mustard, but eaten sparingly. It’s delicious, but overwhelming, so a little goes a long way.

I will look into this food.

I have to start winding down for the night, but thank you for keeping me company today.

Shoot. This city has restaurants from all over. India, Peru, Thailand, you name it. Nothing from Russia though. Makes me wonder if I’m missing out. Am I?

You had me look up "mets". Best I got was the baseball team. Help me out here.

Sorry. Blame my midwest regional terms. Mets are like, you know, bratwurst and hot dogs and stuff. I mean here, they thick like Bratwurst but they’re not bratwurst, tend to be 100% beef, very little if any spices. They’re dense. They’re greasy. They’re delicious. You can dress one up on a bun like a Reuben sandwich and you’re in junk food heaven.

You should, if ever given the chance, play with microfilm. It’s so much fun in ways I can’t describe. Either way though, you guys put your newspapers to good use. We tended to use them, along with other things, as firestarters.

Yeah. I see where you’re coming from.

The frustration I feel with myself though, I think is very important to point out, doesn’t come from feeling guilty or shameful or sinful or anything like that. The frustration I feel, comes from both the knowledge that I can do more and be better, and the desire to do more and be better, and I’m just not living up to the vision of me that I have of myself. It’s because I’m not being told “I’m not good enough,” it’s because I’m being told “I have it on me to be amazing.” I think it’s coming from multiple directions too, like I’m in a spiritual slump almost to the point of having The Yips, to the being held back by a lot of fear and anxiety. I mean, I’ve lost count of the number of times I wanted to do something, only to talk myself out of it, and end up frustrated with myself the next day. It’s not fun.

A whole rock opera, ready for Broadway.

Your life right now could be like, a movie or something.

Fucking exhausted over here bro. Beyond words. There’s no way to answer this without getting dark.

So, let’s like, talk about trees or something tomorrow.

I’ll have to add that onto the list of things to check out. The Mariners, despite me not watching a lot of their games, are a really fun team.

I haven’t seen it. I’ll have to check it out though. I might have to get a Netflix subscription again, if even for only a couple of months. They have some other shows I’m slightly interested in.

Growing up, I had a baseball card or two of Ryan’s, despite never seeing him play. Of course, even as a kid, I knew who he was and that he was something special. Like Michael Jordan or Mike Tyson, he was a household name.

I’m liking, with this milestone, the various articles that have gone out about cds. I particularly like how the author of this article, talks about after becoming a music editor, his collection of cds grew to unreasonable proportions.

The sheer number of paywalls out there these days is pretty crazy. Sometimes I wonder if they actually hurt papers more than help, especially papers from smaller markets like Milwaukee or Des Moines or something.

It’s funny you mention sports, because that’s how I found every paper these days have a paywall. It was frustrating at first, until I quickly discovered a few things.

If the article is any good, in a few days it’ll get republished on either Yahoo or MSN.

Chances are you’re gonna come across the ideas of the article in a couple of days because people on Reddit and Twitter will be repeating ideas from said article as if it’s they thought of it themselves. This is where I warn that they often hold the idea that they did indeed think if it themselves, and therefore, will quickly and vehemently argue to the last breath with anyone who disagrees (more so on Twitter than Reddit, but to get a feel for this, look at conversations about Judge and Bonds and The Home Run Record or Judge and Ohtani and The MVP Race).

If there is a sports team you like, there is at least one Podcast about them. Often there are multiple. The Pidcasts are often more informative and more interesting.

Lastly, and most importantly, just watch the sport and the teams you like. The commentators and sideline reporters are more than sufficient in keeping you up to date.

In short, I’m not paying to get past your pay well, your article isn’t essential, and chances are I’m gonna hear about whatever your paper has to say from other, and often better, sources.

After the top of The Fifth, I’m calling it a night. The game is 0-1, and it could go one of two ways. It could either stay a low scoring game the rest of the night, or, when the bullpens take over, the baseball field erupts in utter chaos (both teams have bullpens that struggle). Either outcome sounds like fun.

I hope this game doesn’t go into extra innings. I’m so tired.

My wife JUST woke up to see The Marlins with bases loaded, two outs, and Garcia to hit. I literally said “the only Marlin who we will cheer if they hit a grand slam tonight is him.” I saw Caratini ask for the pitch up and away and felt like that was a risky spot. Peralta threw, Garcia Swung, and it looked like the ball might get out And it did. First grand slam of his career, it barely made it out, but it still counts.

I feel sorry for The Brewers and especially Peralta right now, but so happy for Garcia.

I jumped up. I don’t fucking care. I fucking love baseball.

The Brewers had the bases loaded with one out and Caratini hits into a double play. I feel like I’m watching a Rangers game right now. They’ve struggled on and off all season trying to get guys on base to get in runs. It’s no wonder both teams love trying for long balls.

The Rangers by the way? They can freaking HIT.

Speaking of Brewers and Rangers, The Rangers got Mark Mathias from The Brewers and for his first few games, the dude was on fire! Last I saw though, he’s really struggled on his at bats. I think he’s not having fun right now, putting to much pressure on himself. I hope he relaxes. Either way, I would love a card with him in a Rangers uniform next year.

Marlins relief pitcher, Hoeing, is out after nine pitches. Dude got hit by a ball hard. Painful to see.

Good news. No extra innings.

Bad news. Brewers lose and are still tied with The Phillies chasing that wildcard spot.

That’s baseball for you.

Goodnight everyone.

Came across this. Dude was me in a different account. He ain’t seen shit yet. If only I could have warned him.