The idea is superb. Chemo is medievel in conception. Poison. Immunooncolgy holds a real promise. But it’s step by painstaking step. There will be breakthroughs. But there will also be disappointments.

@Mik said in Around the bowl and down the hole: This has been SUCH a volatile season for transfers. Say, you don't think that NIL money has anything to do with it, do you? Naaaah. Couldn't be. If you listened to 'scone's rant, he said Bama is throwing NIL money around, but still losing players. Thought that was interesting...

Nothing to see here, move along...

They're still out there, as best I know. I have a GP-130, their flagship vertical. For the money, it is a very good piano. It's been the performance value pick of Piano Buyer for many years. My understanding is that they only bring in about 50 of these a year. Their 48" is offered in many more finishes and works pretty well for an average player, especially if you like the sound. The 130 is like a Model T, you can have any color you want, as long as it is black. George is quite right, this piano can get loud, especially in the bass. My old tech has retired, but the new guy marvels at the sustain and the bass. In his opinion, the bass is as good or better than a six and a half foot grand. The treble is good and after Rick Clark's tuning schedule, the piano holds tune well. There is a hole behind the music desk and with the lid propped, this piano can generate a wall of sound, almost like laying underneath a grand while somebody plays. Having said that, some pianists will not like this piano, particularly men. It's at its best with a lighter hand, which is why it works really well for my wife. With lighter hands, the piano can be melodious, yet it's like a car with a turbo...Lean into it and things happen. Build quality is very good for a Chinese factory. There are some things I would change...The only problem the piano has ever had was a plastic fitting on the end of the rod which controls the sustain (and I think that was due to letting someone play it that shouldn't have) broke. The fitting would literally have been on a slow boat from China, so I made one from a shaped dowel rod, drilled it and glued the metal pin in. Piano fixed. But that problem speaks to modern piano manufacturing with some plastic or synthetic parts. The other, associated problem would be dealer network and parts support for any unique parts. My piano came from Dallas. I think my closest dealer now, may be in Houston. So, what niche does this piano fit? My opinion... You have limited space. You have a limited budget. You are an average to good pianist, with a lighter hand. You like the bass of a big vertical, but also need a decent treble with balanced scale. I think the piano punches above its weight, especially in the right hands. A few words from Piano Buyer... https://www.pianobuyer.com/post/staff-picks-recommendations

Season 5 is a lot more "Fargo-ish." Much more quirky, and darker than 4 was. But of all the things I did NOT expect to see in Fargo was Jon Hamm with nipple piercings, in a hot tub. Link to video

@LuFins-Dad said in how about that S & P?: @George-K said in how about that S & P?: @LuFins-Dad said in how about that S & P?: Up ~ 20% over Biden’s Admin! Up about 5% over it's previous peak during the Biden administration - in December 2001. Now, let’s adjust for the aggregate inflation over the Biden Admin. According to these guys, using CPI data (which I think may undershoot actual inflation) it's about 18%. https://www.usinflationcalculator.com/inflation/current-inflation-rates/

@Axtremus said in And now, for something different...: The drums should be strapped to the drummers Tympani don't qualify, then? Buddy Rich wept. The harps should rest on the ground. [image: 1705757926682-image.jpeg]

So coming off the season we’ve had our star LG in an interview state the number one thing Pittsburgh needs to do to compete for a championship is start the right guy at QB from the beginning. Dionte Johnson #1A WR states that he’s been on the Mason plane from the beginning and was grateful Mason was the starter at the end of the year and he hopes he gets the job.. George Pickens #1B WR posts images of GOATS on Rudolph posts… Tomlin promptly announced that Kenny Pickett is QB1going forward. SMH.

Good piece though, kept my interest all the way through despite the fact that I’ve read so many opinion pieces on the topic in the last few months.

Titanic

Just pay four musicians to play string quartets up there.

@Mik said in Instant Gratification: The transfer portal may collapse from overuse. I keep telling my buddies that. The portal, combined with NIL money, is making college sports just a minor league industry without any rigor. No loyalty, and you’d think this native Louisiana kid would have that!

Or, drop a digital into the case ...

Not as romantic as “Sleepless in Seattle.” “Panic in Chicago” can be title of a thriller/action movie.

I’d love a Lamborghini, but they don’t make one with a crane to haul me back out of it.

To sell subscriptions.

Maybe, maybe not. We don’t know, do we? No, we don’t.

Gotta be plenty of nuts in a city that large.