Cometh the hour, cometh the man
Aye, what’s this? A Scot weeping? Weeping openly? Nae! It cannae be!
If you are paying attention to more than Starred Wreck or Game of Thorns — that is, if you are opening your eyes to the whole big real world in front of you, and you are paying more than scant attention and not just wrapped up in your telephone or, worse yet, your own self — you might be able to understand more about human nature itself, for example, about genetic stereotypes that have been passed along through the ages, generation to generation, regardless of any truth or scientific validity — in short, life as it is.
In doing so, you realize something better than the weather patterns on Westeros or how Vulcans are not moved by emotion. Yea, verily, what good does knowledge of those things do for yourself? Westeros and Vulcan are not generally useful for carrying out conversations with 99pc of the Earth’s population. Try it someday. Go outside the conventions and the social-media grooves you find yourself stuck in and try to talk about Westeros to the next random stranger you see on the Metro or on the line at *$$ Coffee. We’ll wait right here.
How’d that turn out? In reality, science fiction and cosplay and Young Adult fiction are only fractionally important, despite what everyone in your circle might contend and despite the fetishization and overwrought tendencies therein. How come?
Take the man in the snapshot here, one Mistah Andy Murray (pronounced with a burr, such as in ‘AcHN-dee MUHRrr-eah’). If you know about life and the human condition, you know what a ‘burr’ is, now.
But if you are busy replaying the ‘Red Wedding’ scene over and over, or counting and memorizing the tattoo pattern on that Romulan Nero’s face, that generalized information about a ‘burr’ might drift right on by. And with it the whole motion of a ‘burr’ being inherent to auld Scottish speech patterns. And with it, the chance to be a part of the world at-large; in short, the world outside yourself.
You will also not be aware that, through the ages, Scots are notoriously industrious, thrifty (nae, even skinflint) and not given to emotion, sort of like your Vulcans, except that knowing about the real world will always be of greater utility and reward than knowing about something made-up. It will always be better to understand the reality of the human condition than any fictional construct.
Moreover, you will thus appreciate that for a Scot to be weeping, and weeping openly, as the man in the snapshot, Mistah Andy Murray, is doing, signifies something truly special. For a Scot to be moved by tears, and tears of joy at that, and not merely dispossessed by anger or unmoved at all, is a glorious thing. It can touch you, if you let it.
Now, why is he weeping, and weeping openly? It is because he has won something of great importance to himself. It is an annual athletic competition known as Wimbledon in the sport of lawn tennis. (N.B. Lawn tennis is not necessarily played on grass; rather, the term ‘lawn tennis’ is used a signifier to distinguish it from another, quite different game known as ‘platform tennis’.) And unlike TV shows and movies, Wimbledon happens every year, the events surrounding it are different every time. Its winners (and even some its notorious losers) are recorded for all time. You could look them up.
Unfortunately for the Young Adult and cosplay and science fiction fans, their reality never really changes. ‘Winter is Coming’ all the time, and when it comes, it always comes in the same exact way: the way that has been crafted. It’s made-up. It’s the same all the time. It’s fixed. Meanwhile, the human condition and its ebbs and flows pass them by.
Now, fetishization of sports and politics and trivia also can be problematic. There are just as many sports and politics and trivia fetishists out there living unnecessarily limited lives as there are science fiction, cosplay and Young Adult fetishists living unnecessarily limited lives. What’s the difference?
The difference is that the sports and politics and trivia fetishists are rooted in the real, the living and the breathing. As such, their excitements have a better chance of fostering connection and meaning with the world at-large. Fetishization of sports and politics and trivia is not useful in itself, just as fetishization of science fiction and cosplay and Young Adult overwrought angst is not; however, fetishization of sports and politics and trivia is more likely to be able to further the human condition among a larger group of your fellow inhabitants on Planet Earth. This is Step One toward An Understanding. You don’t have to embrace or accept, but it is never a bad thing to Understand.
In general, it is always beneficial to know a little something about nearly everything, the real, the fake, the historic and the alternatively historic. But to know nearly everything about one little thing that is not rooted in real-life events, that is where your science fiction and cosplay and Young Adult fetishists are likely to encounter a moral and spiritual dead-end. Fetishization and overwrought mania are not useful, but if you have to pick one camp (sports, politics, trivia) over the other (Young Adult, cosplay, science fiction), well, we hope you pick the right camp.
P.S. Today, AcHN-dee MUHRrr-eah won the Wimbledon men’s singles title for the second time; he has now won three Grand Slam singles titles. We appreciate greatly that he has been living up to Jimmie Valvano’s dictum of having a full day: thinking, laughing, weeping. As well, AcHN-dee MUHRrr-eah clearly embodied the three things the late, great Arthur Ashe said characterize all great lawn-tennis players: quick feet, quick hands, quick brain.
Free ones: Rundown…
Belmont 8
Gulfstream Park Proper 3, 8, 10, 11
Santa Anita 8, 9
Pay-side (Weekday/Weekend): Today…
Arlington 4, 5, 7
Belterra 4, 5, 6
Ellis Park 2, 3, 6, 8
Laurel 4, 5, 7
Lone Star 1, 3
Monmouth 5
Suffolk 4, 5, 6, 9, 10
Woodbine 3, 6, 7, 8, 10
Today’s Stakes Pageantry: Suffolk 10, Woodbine 8 on the pay-side.
Presque 5 is wild-open, wild-open now, and #5 Pink Elephant, #1A Cavalia are OK. Two races later there, #7 Duff can win it.
Tiptoeing around the morning-line fave in Suffolk (!) 8: #1 Miss Wilby, #5 Chasing Blue are preferred instead.
Yesterday’s Activity:
Track (Win Mutuels $20+/Gettable)
Albuquerque (1/0) — Navajo Nation works on Amber Alert in shadow of girl’s death.
Arlington (1/1) — Publicly touted Greengrassofwyoming was one of ’em Dual Qualifiers (84, 84) in a contentious Race 6; he was well off the pace, though, before rallying to win by a clean nose at $20.60. Good work.
Arapahoe (0/0) — Host Rockies club Philalala, 8-3; Tony Wolters had 3 RBIs in the win.
Assiniboia (2/1) — Race 7 was contentious, and Oxford City Slew was one of ’em Dual Qualifiers (87, 88); ’Slew went gate-to-wire to win by 1¾ at $26.20. Good work.
Belmont (1/1) — Publicly touted Songsational was one of ’em Dual Qualifiers (96, 87) in a contentious Race 5; he went gate-to-wire to win by a clean half-length at $29.20. Good work.
Belterra (1/1) — Not really contentious, Race 8, but High-Octane Chancers saw that Tracey Said So was one of ’em Dual Qualifier (90, 81) horses; she went gate-to-wire to win by 3½ at $24.20. Good work.
Canterbury (3/0) — At press-time, visiting Twins led Tejas, 8-5, in the top of the 9th; Eddie Rosario was 4-for-4 with 4 R for Minnesota.
Chas. Town (1/0) — Loan for South Berkeley fire hall approved.
Delpark (3/1) — Race 5 was not contentious, but High-Octane Chancers noticed the competitive 84 on the LifeLiner Spread Column analysis on Cass’s Dovehunt; she raced tail-to-wire to rally to victory by a clean head, paying $26.80 up top. Good work.
Ellis Park (1/0) — Missing Bremen woman found.
Emerald (0/0) — Mariners lose at K.C., 5-3; Kyle Seager’s 3-run HR was the entirety of the Seattle offense.
Evangeline (2/1) — A contentious Race 7 had the Dual Qualifier Abena (81, 82) in it; she went gate-to-wire to win by 3 at $22.80. Good work.
Finger (0/0) — Diabetic issue leads to three-vehicle crash in Geneva.
Fair Meadows (0/0) — 9 passengers sick; Atlanta flight diverted to Tulsa.
Fairmount (0/0) — Cards larrup host Milwaukee, 8-1; Aledmys Diaz had a 3-run HR.
Gulf (2/2) — Race 6 was not contentious, but High-Octane Chancers saw that Moonwalker was a Dual Qualifier (86, 84); he raced gate-to-wire to win by 1¾ at $42.80. In Race 8, which was contentious, publicly touted Vigas also had Dual Qualifier status (82, 87); he went flank-to-wire to win by 2½ at $25.40. Good work.
Grande Prairie (0/0) — Alberta children find gun in backyard; man charged after police chase.
Grants Pass (0/0) — Rogue Valley Transportation District offers services on Saturdays after more than a year.
Hazel (0/0) — Visiting Tigers edge Toronto, 3-2; Victor Martinez had a solo HR, his 17th HR of the season, for Detroit.
Hastings (1/1) — Race 6 was contentious, and B a Hole Auger (what?) barely qualified for contenderdom via his 80 on the LifeLiner Spread Column analysis; ’Auger went flank-to-wire to win by a clean head at $23.30. Good work.
Louisiana (1/0) — Waskom Rural Water Supply issues boil advisory.
Laurel (1/0) — Orioles edge visiting Los Angeles de Los Angeles of Anaheim/O.C., 3-2; Mark Trumbo hit his MLB-leading 28th HR, a solo blast, of the season for Balto.
Lone Star (0/0) — See Canterbury commentary.
Marquis (1/0) — Man in custody after driving with shotgun in trunk.
Mountain (1/0) — DiBacco’s Sandwich Shop now open in downtown Weirton.
Monmouth (1/1) — Race 7 was not contentious, but High-Octane Chancers saw that Light’s Gone Wild was in with a field-best 88 on the LifeLiner Spread Column analysis; he went gate-to-wire to win by 1¼ at $27.20. Good work.
Northlands (2/0) — Indecent exposure suspect sought out by Leduc RCMP.
PennNat (3/1) — Race 4 was contentious, and Briteliteinthecity appealed to all types — Old-School Champeens, Progressive-Minded Eggheads and, of course, High-Octane Chancers always. ’City had a strong 88 on the LifeLiner Speed Column analysis, and he rallied like the champion he should have been, winning by 3 at $28.40. Good work.
Keystone (2/0) — See Arapahoe commentary.
Prairie (1/0) — Muscatine dredging riverfront ahead of Iowa bike ride.
Santa Anita (1/0) — Los Doyers edge visiting San Diego, 4-3; Howie Kendrick drove-in 2 in the win.
Sac’to, Northern Cal., Sac’to, Northern Cal. (0/0) — Host Giants double-up on Arizona, 4-2; Grant Green had a 2-run HR in the win.
Suffolk (!) (0/0, excl. hurdles) — Red Sox beat visiting Tampa Bay, 4-1; Dustin Pedroia and Zander Xogaerts each drove-in 2.
Thistle (0/0) — Host Indians edged by Los Jankees de Nueva Jork, 7-6, in 11 inns.; Jose Ramirez had 3 RBIs for Cleveland.
Woodbine (1/0) — See Hazel commentary.
Wyoming (0/0) — Fatal crash leads to changes to Robertson Rd. in Casper.
WMF Report:
Early
Canterbury 6f
Emerald 6f
Los Alamitos 4½f
Monmouth 6f
Prairie 5½f, 6f
Nocturnal Submission: Sifting through the wreckage…
Thank you. Best wishes. Goodbye. Tioraidh!
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First Post: Sunday, July 10, 2016
Cometh the hour, cometh the man
Aye, what’s this? A Scot weeping? Weeping openly? Nae! It cannae be!
If you are paying attention to more than Starred Wreck or Game of Thorns — that is, if you are opening your eyes to the whole big real world in front of you, and you are paying more than scant attention and not just wrapped up in your telephone or, worse yet, your own self — you might be able to understand more about human nature itself, for example, about genetic stereotypes that have been passed along through the ages, generation to generation, regardless of any truth or scientific validity — in short, life as it is.
In doing so, you realize something better than the weather patterns on Westeros or how Vulcans are not moved by emotion. Yea, verily, what good does knowledge of those things do for yourself? Westeros and Vulcan are not generally useful for carrying out conversations with 99pc of the Earth’s population. Try it someday. Go outside the conventions and the social-media grooves you find yourself stuck in and try to talk about Westeros to the next random stranger you see on the Metro or on the line at *$$ Coffee. We’ll wait right here.
How’d that turn out? In reality, science fiction and cosplay and Young Adult fiction are only fractionally important, despite what everyone in your circle might contend and despite the fetishization and overwrought tendencies therein. How come?
Take the man in the snapshot here, one Mistah Andy Murray (pronounced with a burr, such as in ‘AcHN-dee MUHRrr-eah’). If you know about life and the human condition, you know what a ‘burr’ is, now.
But if you are busy replaying the ‘Red Wedding’ scene over and over, or counting and memorizing the tattoo pattern on that Romulan Nero’s face, that generalized information about a ‘burr’ might drift right on by. And with it the whole motion of a ‘burr’ being inherent to auld Scottish speech patterns. And with it, the chance to be a part of the world at-large; in short, the world outside yourself.
You will also not be aware that, through the ages, Scots are notoriously industrious, thrifty (nae, even skinflint) and not given to emotion, sort of like your Vulcans, except that knowing about the real world will always be of greater utility and reward than knowing about something made-up. It will always be better to understand the reality of the human condition than any fictional construct.
Moreover, you will thus appreciate that for a Scot to be weeping, and weeping openly, as the man in the snapshot, Mistah Andy Murray, is doing, signifies something truly special. For a Scot to be moved by tears, and tears of joy at that, and not merely dispossessed by anger or unmoved at all, is a glorious thing. It can touch you, if you let it.
Now, why is he weeping, and weeping openly? It is because he has won something of great importance to himself. It is an annual athletic competition known as Wimbledon in the sport of lawn tennis. (N.B. Lawn tennis is not necessarily played on grass; rather, the term ‘lawn tennis’ is used a signifier to distinguish it from another, quite different game known as ‘platform tennis’.) And unlike TV shows and movies, Wimbledon happens every year, the events surrounding it are different every time. Its winners (and even some its notorious losers) are recorded for all time. You could look them up.
Unfortunately for the Young Adult and cosplay and science fiction fans, their reality never really changes. ‘Winter is Coming’ all the time, and when it comes, it always comes in the same exact way: the way that has been crafted. It’s made-up. It’s the same all the time. It’s fixed. Meanwhile, the human condition and its ebbs and flows pass them by.
Now, fetishization of sports and politics and trivia also can be problematic. There are just as many sports and politics and trivia fetishists out there living unnecessarily limited lives as there are science fiction, cosplay and Young Adult fetishists living unnecessarily limited lives. What’s the difference?
The difference is that the sports and politics and trivia fetishists are rooted in the real, the living and the breathing. As such, their excitements have a better chance of fostering connection and meaning with the world at-large. Fetishization of sports and politics and trivia is not useful in itself, just as fetishization of science fiction and cosplay and Young Adult overwrought angst is not; however, fetishization of sports and politics and trivia is more likely to be able to further the human condition among a larger group of your fellow inhabitants on Planet Earth. This is Step One toward An Understanding. You don’t have to embrace or accept, but it is never a bad thing to Understand.
In general, it is always beneficial to know a little something about nearly everything, the real, the fake, the historic and the alternatively historic. But to know nearly everything about one little thing that is not rooted in real-life events, that is where your science fiction and cosplay and Young Adult fetishists are likely to encounter a moral and spiritual dead-end. Fetishization and overwrought mania are not useful, but if you have to pick one camp (sports, politics, trivia) over the other (Young Adult, cosplay, science fiction), well, we hope you pick the right camp.
P.S. Today, AcHN-dee MUHRrr-eah won the Wimbledon men’s singles title for the second time; he has now won three Grand Slam singles titles. We appreciate greatly that he has been living up to Jimmie Valvano’s dictum of having a full day: thinking, laughing, weeping. As well, AcHN-dee MUHRrr-eah clearly embodied the three things the late, great Arthur Ashe said characterize all great lawn-tennis players: quick feet, quick hands, quick brain.
Free ones: Rundown…
Belmont 8
Gulfstream Park Proper 3, 8, 10, 11
Santa Anita 8, 9
Pay-side (Weekday/Weekend): Today…
Arlington 4, 5, 7
Belterra 4, 5, 6
Ellis Park 2, 3, 6, 8
Laurel 4, 5, 7
Lone Star 1, 3
Monmouth 5
Suffolk 4, 5, 6, 9, 10
Woodbine 3, 6, 7, 8, 10
Today’s Stakes Pageantry: Suffolk 10, Woodbine 8 on the pay-side.
Presque 5 is wild-open, wild-open now, and #5 Pink Elephant, #1A Cavalia are OK. Two races later there, #7 Duff can win it.
Tiptoeing around the morning-line fave in Suffolk (!) 8: #1 Miss Wilby, #5 Chasing Blue are preferred instead.
Yesterday’s Activity:
Track (Win Mutuels $20+/Gettable)
Albuquerque (1/0) — Navajo Nation works on Amber Alert in shadow of girl’s death.
Arlington (1/1) — Publicly touted Greengrassofwyoming was one of ’em Dual Qualifiers (84, 84) in a contentious Race 6; he was well off the pace, though, before rallying to win by a clean nose at $20.60. Good work.
Arapahoe (0/0) — Host Rockies club Philalala, 8-3; Tony Wolters had 3 RBIs in the win.
Assiniboia (2/1) — Race 7 was contentious, and Oxford City Slew was one of ’em Dual Qualifiers (87, 88); ’Slew went gate-to-wire to win by 1¾ at $26.20. Good work.
Belmont (1/1) — Publicly touted Songsational was one of ’em Dual Qualifiers (96, 87) in a contentious Race 5; he went gate-to-wire to win by a clean half-length at $29.20. Good work.
Belterra (1/1) — Not really contentious, Race 8, but High-Octane Chancers saw that Tracey Said So was one of ’em Dual Qualifier (90, 81) horses; she went gate-to-wire to win by 3½ at $24.20. Good work.
Canterbury (3/0) — At press-time, visiting Twins led Tejas, 8-5, in the top of the 9th; Eddie Rosario was 4-for-4 with 4 R for Minnesota.
Chas. Town (1/0) — Loan for South Berkeley fire hall approved.
Delpark (3/1) — Race 5 was not contentious, but High-Octane Chancers noticed the competitive 84 on the LifeLiner Spread Column analysis on Cass’s Dovehunt; she raced tail-to-wire to rally to victory by a clean head, paying $26.80 up top. Good work.
Ellis Park (1/0) — Missing Bremen woman found.
Emerald (0/0) — Mariners lose at K.C., 5-3; Kyle Seager’s 3-run HR was the entirety of the Seattle offense.
Evangeline (2/1) — A contentious Race 7 had the Dual Qualifier Abena (81, 82) in it; she went gate-to-wire to win by 3 at $22.80. Good work.
Finger (0/0) — Diabetic issue leads to three-vehicle crash in Geneva.
Fair Meadows (0/0) — 9 passengers sick; Atlanta flight diverted to Tulsa.
Fairmount (0/0) — Cards larrup host Milwaukee, 8-1; Aledmys Diaz had a 3-run HR.
Gulf (2/2) — Race 6 was not contentious, but High-Octane Chancers saw that Moonwalker was a Dual Qualifier (86, 84); he raced gate-to-wire to win by 1¾ at $42.80. In Race 8, which was contentious, publicly touted Vigas also had Dual Qualifier status (82, 87); he went flank-to-wire to win by 2½ at $25.40. Good work.
Grande Prairie (0/0) — Alberta children find gun in backyard; man charged after police chase.
Grants Pass (0/0) — Rogue Valley Transportation District offers services on Saturdays after more than a year.
Hazel (0/0) — Visiting Tigers edge Toronto, 3-2; Victor Martinez had a solo HR, his 17th HR of the season, for Detroit.
Hastings (1/1) — Race 6 was contentious, and B a Hole Auger (what?) barely qualified for contenderdom via his 80 on the LifeLiner Spread Column analysis; ’Auger went flank-to-wire to win by a clean head at $23.30. Good work.
Louisiana (1/0) — Waskom Rural Water Supply issues boil advisory.
Laurel (1/0) — Orioles edge visiting Los Angeles de Los Angeles of Anaheim/O.C., 3-2; Mark Trumbo hit his MLB-leading 28th HR, a solo blast, of the season for Balto.
Lone Star (0/0) — See Canterbury commentary.
Marquis (1/0) — Man in custody after driving with shotgun in trunk.
Mountain (1/0) — DiBacco’s Sandwich Shop now open in downtown Weirton.
Monmouth (1/1) — Race 7 was not contentious, but High-Octane Chancers saw that Light’s Gone Wild was in with a field-best 88 on the LifeLiner Spread Column analysis; he went gate-to-wire to win by 1¼ at $27.20. Good work.
Northlands (2/0) — Indecent exposure suspect sought out by Leduc RCMP.
PennNat (3/1) — Race 4 was contentious, and Briteliteinthecity appealed to all types — Old-School Champeens, Progressive-Minded Eggheads and, of course, High-Octane Chancers always. ’City had a strong 88 on the LifeLiner Speed Column analysis, and he rallied like the champion he should have been, winning by 3 at $28.40. Good work.
Keystone (2/0) — See Arapahoe commentary.
Prairie (1/0) — Muscatine dredging riverfront ahead of Iowa bike ride.
Santa Anita (1/0) — Los Doyers edge visiting San Diego, 4-3; Howie Kendrick drove-in 2 in the win.
Sac’to, Northern Cal., Sac’to, Northern Cal. (0/0) — Host Giants double-up on Arizona, 4-2; Grant Green had a 2-run HR in the win.
Suffolk (!) (0/0, excl. hurdles) — Red Sox beat visiting Tampa Bay, 4-1; Dustin Pedroia and Zander Xogaerts each drove-in 2.
Thistle (0/0) — Host Indians edged by Los Jankees de Nueva Jork, 7-6, in 11 inns.; Jose Ramirez had 3 RBIs for Cleveland.
Woodbine (1/0) — See Hazel commentary.
Wyoming (0/0) — Fatal crash leads to changes to Robertson Rd. in Casper.
WMF Report:
Early
Canterbury 6f
Emerald 6f
Los Alamitos 4½f
Monmouth 6f
Prairie 5½f, 6f
Nocturnal Submission: Sifting through the wreckage…
Thank you. Best wishes. Goodbye. Tioraidh!
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About Steven Unite
The unofficial spokesperson for the Boys In The Backroom...