Dman's worthless streaming thoughts

Another wild day on the market. Keeping an eye on BX, Blackstone. It carriers a nice yield, and a respected long term investment firm that I know likes the stock a lot. Their funds have been big players in real estate, so it could be problematic if real estate were tank amid a recession or rising interest rates.

Just arrived in one of my favorite cities, Denver. The transformation of this place (downtown redevelopment) is simply stunning. LoDo is a happening place. Even got to see a drug deal go down today on the Mall Street bus. Anyway, I’ll probably be a bit quiet until I get back. Looks like the market is running again...

The JB Pritzker story line is quite amusing, and I bring this up in the context of the news about the Chicago Reader. I get that everyone hates Rauner on a level close to Trump, but that doesn't mean we need to dive into the arms of JB. Those Blago tapes are damming enough to show he is just another in a long line of connected scumbags. And for black politicians to stump for him, well that is shameful. I have a problem with the choices we are presented as voters. I have twice left my Illinois Governor ballot blank because of poor choices. Why do we have to keep settling for such God awful choices, Hillary and Donald? Oh my.

I gave B&G a legit shot. I had long given up on B&B and the general laziness of that show. Having always liked Goff as a producer, I figured this show could be decent. All the criticisms are true- too much giggling, too much social justice garbage, and way too much out of town NBA talk. The final straw was the 4:30 segment criticism of Rizzo. Apparently, Rizzo is not doing enough for them.

I'll say this- B&G you are free to take your show in any direction you damn please. And for my part, I can take my radio "dial" in any direction I damn please. Shame on you for pushing me towards ESPN 1000. Your show is that bad.

I found this funny about Ben Zobrist and training camp. I heard an update on the way home from work yesterday, and it related to this news:

"Zobrist did not participate in Monday's workout due to a back issue, Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune reports."

I get home, open the DH sports section (yes they have Sun Times articles), and see this article:

"Zobrist healthy and ready for anything

By Gordon Wittenmyer (Chicago Sun-Times)
MESA, Ariz. — The only World Series MVP in Cubs history showed up for spring training over the weekend talking with enthusiasm, talking about renewed good health and vigor and talking about winning another World Series.
Ben Zobrist also talked about being 36 years old in a young man’s game, on a young man’s team, with no illusions about what that might mean for his role this year.
“I’m not going to play 158 games or whatever,” said Zobrist, who was limited to 128 games and a career-worst .693 OPS last year in large part because of a lingering wrist injury that bothered the switch hitter much of the season when he hit from his natural right side as he played through it.
“I’m going to have to manage and figure out how to play great for 130,” the three-time all-star added. “Being healthy and playing 130 games of nine innings would be great.”
Plus the extra month of games in October he and teammates plan to play.
“From their standpoint and from my standpoint, it’s about managing my performance and my body physically,” Zobrist said. “And making sure I can do all that and keep it at the highest level I can.”
That figures to create a shifting role for Zobrist, who expects more calculated bench time and who plans to move around to more positions this year, including backup first base — a position he hasn’t been as eager to play the last year or two.
It also could have a significant impact on the Cubs’ plans for a leadoff spot they still have no prototype player to fill.
Zobrist might be the most suited hitter on the roster for the job when he plays, and manager Joe Maddon reiterated Sunday that he expects a rotation of hitters in that spot — which could even involve the one-time, failed leadoff man Kyle Schwarber for occasional work there.
“It’s almost like having a closer. If you don’t have a legitimate closer, it’s OK to work the ninth inning other ways,” said Maddon, whose team faced the same dilemma a year ago and wound up second in the National League in runs scored anyway.
“I’m very comfortable with moving that around, based on guys that get on base often,” Maddon said. “And when you can combine a guy that has a high on-base and then he hits homers, too, that’s even more attractive.
“(Zobrist) is capable. We have a lot of guys that are capable. We’ll let it play out.”
That’s also how Maddon is approaching Zobrist’s overall role for a team with a maturing young core.
Zobrist said his wrist, so troublesome last year that it reversed his career left-right splits, is 100 percent as he starts camp, giving him no problems in the batting cage since starting to swing again this winter.
“Listen, you’re always better off when Ben Zobrist is in your lineup,” Maddon said. “He’s a little older than he had been. But he’s in great shape.
“I told him, ‘Let’s just see what it looks like. Go out there and play, and we’ll try to figure it out as the season begins to unwind.
“Because, who knows? He might have an epiphany and turn back the clock a little bit — he looks that good.”
Said Zobrist: “I’m 36 now as a player. I’m just trying to win championships at this point. I told him, ‘Wherever you need me, I’m ready.’ ”
• This report was produced in partnership with the Chicago Sun-Times. For related coverage, check chicago.suntimes.com."

I finished the Crown over the weekend. I loved the series. I just started Altered Carbon. I am through three episodes, and it's just ok. I'll stick with it since I think it's only at ten episodes. Biding my time until baseball season starts.

My wife tried to quit on it after the first episode. I found it intriguing enough to give it a go. I am confused by some of the plot lines and events, but I think I get the gist of it. I will definitely finish the series.

Finished Altered Carbon. Honestly, way too many plot twists. There are still things I dodn't quite get, and I don't really care to understand. They took a lot of interesting concepts- stacks, AI, constructs, etc and made it way too confusing. They really took a nice concept and made it tough to follow.

I don't want to get political here, but I need to make an observation or three. Warren Buffett did his annual interview with CNBC this week. He made definitive comments about the positive impact of the tax cuts for his businesses, although he hedged by saying, "we don't need them". Yesterday, our new Fed Chairperson, Jerome Powell, said, "My personal outlook for the economy has strengthened since December". Since DECEMBER or two months ago. He went onto to say global growth and fiscal stimulus are the causes.

Now Buffett is the world's supposed best investor. Powell is the leader of the most powerful Central Bank with access to limitless economic data. Their opinions are worth a lot more than talking heads. Those two aside, I have seen numerous CNBC guests concede how the tax plan will be good for the U.S economy.

As a true fiscal conservative, I cannot advocate debt funded tax cuts. I believe fiscal balance is more important than short term stimulus. But the corporate tax fix is going to have a very positive long term impact on the U.S Economy by making the country a more competitive place to do business.

Just saying.

WON'T SOMEONE PLEASE THINK OF THE BIG BUSINESS!!!

I side with American on this. Rahm tried to pull some last minute shit for United and thought he could get it past AA. I want it too, but I’m not up for Rahm doing business the way he does sometimes.

Trump is an economic idiot. I have no clue how such a supposed smart business man does not understand free trade. I get that protectionism is an easy campaign issue especially when going for blue collar voters. But all you have to do is realize that tariffs is a fancy word for sales tax to see that it hurts consumers.

Obama understood that free trade agreements are good for America generally, and it gives us influence in foreign affairs. Trump dumped a beneficial TPP that Obama negotiated, is destroying NAFTA, and now pissing off every other trading partner with his steel moves. If someone like Bernie Sanders did this, it would make sense. But for a Republican business person to not understand the negative implications just shows what a truly stupid person he is.

The global economy is interlinked in a way that is complex and co-dependent. Supply chains are built on international flows, and moves like this disrupt those well established links.

Yea, I'm not against it at all. But you did read that Rahm changed this last minute, without warning, on the final proposal? If I'm American, I'm going to push back at least initially. To not push back, is just being a pushover.

Full admission, I am a loyal American flyer. They’ve been outstanding to me. I hadn’t realized AA already got their 5 new gates while United didn’t. This will end up working out. AA is going to want something small in return here and they’ll move forward.