Just another 18 wins in a row and we’re back to.500, baby! #LGM

The new bullpen looks good. (I know, micro sample size, but still…) #LGM

It’s so nice to see Manaea getting back to form. Too late for this miserable season, but I’m hoping he can keep it going next year. #LGM

Gill: All 100 senators last week passed a non-binding resolution condemning any pardon for Ghislaine Maxwell. They're simultaneously considering confirming the guy who met with her and moved her to a low-security facility as the top cop in the United States. That is so insane to me.

Cubs add pitching, outfield help in deals with Mets and Angels but give up top talents www.nytimes.com/athletic/749... Gift article for folks who don’t have a NYT subscription. Nice write-up on Rojas, who is the highest ranked player the Mets acquired. A guy with great potential.

Cubs add pitching, outfield help in deals with Mets and Angels but give up top talents (Gift Article)

The Cubs traded from the top of their preseason top-20 prospect list to acquire a starter, a reliever and a solid fourth outfielder.

nytimes.com

WTF has happened to Lindor’s fielding this year? Just a lot of mental lapses. #LGM

Gerrymandering lets politicians choose their voters instead of the other way around. Until we end that, it will remain difficult to achieve the things most Americans already agree on.

This is peak Trump: simultaneously churlish, incompetent, assigning blame for problems he caused, and denying that there’s a problem, aside from the incompetence of people he doesn’t like.

Aaron Rupar@atrupar.com · 5d ago

Trump: "We heard in Minnesota there was a cyberattack and they blame it on Iran. I don't think so. I blame it on Minnesota because they're grossly incompetent. Iran's got bigger problems than worrying about Minnesota."

8 years ago.

How Emily Wilson’s Takedown of ‘The Odyssey’ Ignited a Debate www.nytimes.com/2026/07/31/a... This “debate” is ridiculous. Nolan wasn’t faithful to the Batman and Joker source material, either. But because The Odyssey has been around for so long, some people treat it as if it was revealed wisdom.

Emily Wilson’s Pan of ‘The Odyssey’ Ignites a Debate Among Classicists and Commenters

Wilson, whose 2017 translation of Homer’s Greek classic influenced the director Christopher Nolan, panned his screenplay for the movie version in an essay for The London Review of Books.

nytimes.com

California produced over half its May electricity from solar, a world record @blancabegert.bsky.social www.latimes.com/environment/...

California produced over half its May electricity from solar, a world record

New batteries to store solar electricity and low demand in May both contributed to high percentage of electricity that came from solar.

latimes.com

Tough loss for Christian Scott. Quality start. Showed a lot of grit. Mets and Braves both managed only 3 runs on the day, so it’s fitting that they split the doubleheader. #LGM

Maneae continues his rehabilitation tour. That’s 3 quality starts in his last 4 games (and might have been 4 for 4, but the Phillies stadium is the home of the cheap home run). Nice effort today. #LGM

Why Do We Tolerate Elon Musk’s Racist Commentary? www.nytimes.com/2026/07/29/o... A disturbing article, even for those who already know that Musk is a racist. Having quit X years ago, I didn’t realize just how radical he is.

Opinion | Why Do We Tolerate Elon Musk’s Racist Commentary?

Why does the owner of X get a pass for what he says and does there?

nytimes.com

Zach Thornton has 5 career starts, all against teams above.500, including Atlanta, Milwaukee, Philadelphia and a red hot Red Sox team, and he’s 2-1 with a 2.43 ERA and 4 quality starts. He will undoubtedly come back to earth, but this has been so damn impressive. #LGM

After Watching Luxury Cars Drag Race, Trump Blames High Costs on Biden www.nytimes.com/2026/07/27/u... Honestly, he thinks voters are absolute idiots.

Trump Blames Affordability Problems on Biden in Michigan Speech

The president also assured supporters that negotiations over ending the war in Iran, a conflict that has sent fuel and energy prices soaring, are continuing in a “friendly” fashion.

nytimes.com

Zac Thornton has more quality MLB starts this season than Freddy Peralta does. Baseball is a weird game. #LGM

Was out celebrating my birthday and came home to find the Mets beat the Braves 14-3. Happy Birthday to me! #LGM

The Peralta trade was one of the worst trades in Mets history. We thought we were getting an Ace who might anchor our rotation for years to come, and instead… Still, it’s impossible not to like the guy or feel sorry for how he has tanked his value in his contract year. #LGM

Nolan’s Zero-Eros ‘Odyssey’ www.nytimes.com/2026/07/25/o... Having read the book (multiple times), but not having seen the movie, I suspect this is a much more valid criticism of the film than the right wing’s attacks. OTH, I love Christopher Nolan’s films, so of course I’ll see it.

Opinion | Nolan’s Zero-Eros ‘Odyssey’

Homer’s Odysseus was hardly a man of remorse and shame.

nytimes.com

Another good outing by Sean Maneae, who is trying to re-establish himself as a viable starting pitcher. #LGM

If anyone wants a great treat either before or after seeing The Odyssey, I highly recommend listening to the audiobook narrated by Ian McKellen (Robert Fagles translation). What a voice! What a performance! This must be how the ancient bard must have sounded. #TheOdyssey

Saudis Reach Deal With U.S. That Could Let Them Enrich Nuclear Fuel www.nytimes.com/2026/07/21/u... No one expects consistency, logic or coherent strategy from him, but still: WTF is he playing at? I guess business interests Trump American strategic interests.

Saudis Reach Deal With U.S. That Could Let Them Enrich Nuclear Fuel

U.S. lawmakers and Israeli officials have expressed opposition to such a plan, to be announced Wednesday, fearing that the kingdom could use a civilian nuclear project to develop nuclear weapons.

nytimes.com

One thing to add perspective to Thornton’s phenomenal debut: he has pitched 19 innings and given up only one run in his last 3 starts—all against some very hot teams. Boston had won 8 or 9 straight and Philly and the Brewers are playoff teams. #LGM

Thornton’s ERA Now 1.93. He was robbed of his first win in his last start, so he went out and pitched another gem. This time, the team gave him some support, and he notches his first MLB W. #LGM

Another great start by Thornton. Thornton, Scott and McLean are the start of a very good rotation for next year. Extend Holmes now. We should be able to figure out the rest. #LGM

I highly recommend the audiobook.

Jules@itsjustjules123.bsky.social · 2w ago

“To Kill a Mockingbird” has been on my reading list my whole life. For one reason or another I never got around to it. Finally reading it this week and let me say it’s one of the best books I’ve ever read. 😭Highly recommended,and timely. #booksbluesky

Trump Administration Live Updates: Hegseth Estimates Cost of Iran War Has Reached $37.5 Billion www.nytimes.com/live/2026/07... Does anyone believe this figure? The weapons alone cost more than that amount.

Trump Live Updates: Hegseth Estimates Cost of Iran War Has Reached $37.5 Billion

nytimes.com

When Peralta gave up two runs in the first inning I shut the game off and told my wife, “That’s the ballgame.”

The Odyssey is such a hit that apparently the author has already churned out a prequel called “The Iliad”? Typical Hollywood.