Messages

451

The New Joe Montgomery Birther Pit / Re: 2022 midterm elections

« on: November 10, 2022, 02:46:18 PM »

Pitt!  Forgot Pitt

SEK native shop talk... Pittsburg is an interesting example of a formerly entirely blue area that's now purpleish, but likely on it's way to being red. It was a huge union area in the early/mid 20th century due to coal mining being the major industry and those democratic leanings held fairly strong through the early 2000s even though coal mining had basically evaporated. But, in the last decade or so, it's gone from being one of the only reliably blue counties in the state to more red than blue.

Also, Big Brutus is pretty damn cool.

Have you every gone to see the mined land / superfund sites?
SEK is a great example of what Thomas Franks talks about in his book "What's the Matter with Kansas:

Grandstanding leaders never deliver, their fury mounts and mounts, and nevertheless they turn out every two years to return their right-wing heroes to office for a second, a third, a twentieth try. The trick never ages; the illusion never wears off. Vote to stop abortion; receive a rollback in capital gains taxes. Vote to make our country strong again; receive deindustrialization. Vote to screw those politically correct college professors; receive electricity deregulation. Vote to get government off our backs; receive conglomeration and monopoly everywhere from media to meatpacking. Vote to stand tall against terrorists; receive Social Security privatization. Vote to strike a blow against elitism; receive a social order in which wealth is more concentrated then ever before in our lifetimes, in which workers have been stripped of power and CEOs are rewarded in a manner beyond imagining.

Nope, but it's funny - my former pro union turned maga uncle from pburg was up in KC a few weeks ago and somehow all the strip mining came up and I asked about swimming in the strip pits (a very common thing for SEK people). He said he did it all the time 40-50 years ago (he's 75) and I asked him if he was worried about any issues coming from that. He just stared at me blankly and asked why he should be worried and I didn't want to set off an argument, so I let it go.

452

The New Joe Montgomery Birther Pit / Re: 2022 midterm elections

« on: November 10, 2022, 01:47:54 PM »

Pitt!  Forgot Pitt

SEK native shop talk... Pittsburg is an interesting example of a formerly entirely blue area that's now purpleish, but likely on it's way to being red. It was a huge union area in the early/mid 20th century due to coal mining being the major industry and those democratic leanings held fairly strong through the early 2000s even though coal mining had basically evaporated. But, in the last decade or so, it's gone from being one of the only reliably blue counties in the state to more red than blue.

Also, Big Brutus is pretty damn cool.

453

The New Joe Montgomery Birther Pit / Re: Possible WW3 thread

« on: November 10, 2022, 01:39:13 PM »

Gen Mark Milley, chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, just said the Pentagon believes 100,000 Russian soldiers have died in Ukraine.

In 20 years (1955-1975) the US lost 58,000 soldiers in Vietnam.

I believe he estimated similar casualties for Ukraine. It has been an incredibly violent conflict.

No idea if accurate and while that is enormous by American standards (this being a greater pace of military deaths than either WW2 or WW1), it's a drop in the bucket compared to Soviet standards (2ish million in WW1 and 9ish million in WW2). That region has always had a different viewpoint on military casualties that's persisted over centuries. 

454

The New Joe Montgomery Birther Pit / Re: 2024 Dem Candidate

« on: November 09, 2022, 02:43:25 PM »

True story - I worked with Fetterman on a community improvement project when he was mayor of Braddock about 10 years ago. Didn't work super closely with him, but he was pretty involved and the project was successful as part of his attempt to revitalize a horrifically depressed town (if anyone wants an example of a formerly legit town that completely went to crap after all the middle class manufacturing jobs left, Braddock is a great example).

Back then - I'm sure he's been compromised at this point - he was quite genuine, forward-thinking, no-bullshit, etc. and he was very engaging when he was invited to address our entire organization at a retreat. Didn't follow his career too closely after that, but in thinking about how he was back then, it's surprising he is where he's at now (hence the compromise comment).

455

The New Joe Montgomery Birther Pit / Re: 2024 Dem Candidate

« on: November 09, 2022, 12:49:57 PM »

I wish Booker had more traction. He's not too progressive (relative to the other options) and is for pub things like school vouchers. Given the shitshow that is leaders in the dem party, it's odd to me that he hasn't been able to break through.

456

Jerome Tang Coaches Kansas State Basketball / Re: Master Dudes Thread

« on: November 09, 2022, 08:20:01 AM »

Given that Cameron Carr's father and sister probably didn't leave Kstate on great terms, this isn't terribly surprising.

I've seen speculation on this, from mostly huge cat, but else indicating that she was nothing more than your run of the mill grad transfer, she's certainly remained EMAW enough on her social media feeds. Do you have anything more to this or is it completely speculative? If they were so sour on K-State it seems weird that they would keep K-State so late in the process when he had so many offers. He was here last week? week before that?

Certainly nothing definitive, but there were some "read between the lines" types of comments from some of the other players last year after Carr was gone that talked about the team being more together/less focused on individuals, etc. (I don't remember who said what, but I remember seeing them and Carr certainly had a tendency to chuck up bad shots). And, the fact that daddy Carr left pretty quickly after daughter Carr left doesn't speak highly of his value to the program (he's now an assistant coach at DII Drury University - albeit on the men's side). Certainly possible he just wanted to shift to the men's side...

457

Jerome Tang Coaches Kansas State Basketball / Re: Master Dudes Thread

« on: November 08, 2022, 09:58:26 PM »

Given that Cameron Carr's father and sister probably didn't leave Kstate on great terms, this isn't terribly surprising.

458

Other Sports (Tiger's Back) / Re: ksu ladycats

« on: November 07, 2022, 09:21:52 PM »

Yeah this team is going to be fun to watch.

Kind of crazy, but half of this team is former top 100 recruits. There's definitely some talent there.

459

Other Sports (Tiger's Back) / Re: First Official K-State Women's Soccer Thread

« on: October 28, 2022, 12:15:46 PM »

Maybe in another seven years Dibbini can get us past .500 in a season. But, don't want to get too far ahead - building a program requires baby steps (taken at a sloth-like pace).

460

Jerome Tang Coaches Kansas State Basketball / Re: Master Dudes Thread

« on: October 28, 2022, 12:11:01 PM »

Clent Stewart pupil combo guard David Castillo is visiting this weekend. He just happens to be No. 8 overall in ESPN's 2024 rankings and consensus top 25 by both on3 & 247.

The gift of Wooly keeps on giving...

461

Kansas State Football / Re: Smoke your cigars and enjoy the band while you can....

« on: October 20, 2022, 12:44:39 PM »

I hope he produces, because his attitude is a lot more likable than bowlsby


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Exactly... the national perception of the Big 12 for the past decade was largely fueled by Bowlsby's "measured" (to put it kindly) approach to virtually everything related to the league, including being a mouthpiece in the media. A blowhard is exactly what this league needs right now and if he can back up even half of what he says, the league will be significantly further ahead than it would have been if they'd gone with another athletic director retread.

462

Other Sports (Tiger's Back) / Re: Volleyball

« on: October 19, 2022, 09:33:14 PM »

Full Suzie Fritz experience this week - up 2-0 on medicore TCU at home and lose 2-3 with a completely uncompetitive/give-up game 5. Four days later, down 0-2 on the road against a bad Oklahoma team and win 3-2 in a grind-it-out 15-13 game 5 in which we were down 4 points early and could have easily given up (again).

Suzie is rotating in all 3 OHs at this point - seemingly going with whichever two are playing the best at any particiular time (Carter had one of her better matches of the year tonight).

Odds would favor us losing our next four (Baylor, Texas, KU, ISU), which will probably eliminate our chances of making the tourney and leave us likely to finish no better than 7-9 in league play.

463

Kansas State Football / Re: Smoke your cigars and enjoy the band while you can....

« on: October 19, 2022, 12:06:50 PM »

How do those tv ratings account for someone hypothetically catching up on love & hip hop but checking scores and times and clicking over to watch the very ends of both osu-tcu and ala-tenn?

Do whatever you want, tv ratings are made-up numbers and nothing you do will change that.


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True story - I actually received a mailer from Nielsen about a year or two ago. For $5 (they actually include a $5 dollar bill in the mail that you can keep regardless), they ask you to fill out a paper journal articulating what you watch on TV for a week and then mail it back to them.

This is the basis for how billions and billions of dollars are spent. And, not just in 1985, but still to this day.

464

Other Sports (Tiger's Back) / Re: Volleyball

« on: October 03, 2022, 01:47:12 PM »

Warner is hitting .120 on the year and has hit above .200 in 4 of 13 matches. Since the Mizzou match nearly a month ago - easily her best of the year - she's hit .000 or negative in four of seven matches, which is just inexplicable. I'm sure Fritz expected more out of a top 25 national recruit, though we're probably seeing why she barely played at Florida.

I'd focus on 1st & 2nd contact on this team before any attackers hitting %.


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That's fair, but at some point, you've got to at least put a few down...

I only saw the third set in the sweep of ISU yesterday and the passing in that game alone went from okay in the first 5 minutes of the set to beyond awful for the next 5-10 minutes and then back to somewhere between acceptable and good for the last 5 minutes. Still, the passing was good enough to at least get Bolding/Fernholz some swings. And Myers had another solid match. 11 aces in three sets - not too shabby.

Looks like they tried out the freshman from Turkey on the right side for the first two sets and then went back to Warner for the last part of the second and the third (and, of course, she hit .000 on eight swings with two kills).

465

Other Sports (Tiger's Back) / Re: Volleyball

« on: September 30, 2022, 08:30:44 AM »

Warner is hitting .120 on the year and has hit above .200 in 4 of 13 matches. Since the Mizzou match nearly a month ago - easily her best of the year - she's hit .000 or negative in four of seven matches, which is just inexplicable. I'm sure Fritz expected more out of a top 25 national recruit, though we're probably seeing why she barely played at Florida.

466

Other Sports (Tiger's Back) / Re: Volleyball

« on: September 29, 2022, 10:19:31 PM »

Jesus Christ 

What? Being swept by Tech?

I'd argue that wasn't too surprising (Tech's probably an NCAA team this year - bubble for sure). If/when we lose vs. Iowa State and WVU in the next week, that'll definitely be worth a "well, there's always next year..." (except it's Fritz, so not really).

The fact that you're cool with getting swept by a team that came off back to back 5 setters against West Virginia and Texas Rio Grande Valley, who lost, 3-1, to Oral Roberts, is all we need to know about the state of this program. We're probably the worst program in the conference.

Didn't say I was cool with it, but it was on the road against a team that will make and/or be close to making NCAAs (they made it last year). Fritz has been mostly losing those types of matches for most of the past decade.

I wouldn't say we're the worst program (especially given the upcoming new facilities), but that's certainly a potential reality in a few years if Mean Gene won't dump Fritz. And, considering the extension/raise he just gave Hughes for a .360 league record after 4 years and zero finishes better than 7th in the Big 12, it's hard to see him getting rid of Fritz anytime soon.

467

Other Sports (Tiger's Back) / Re: Volleyball

« on: September 29, 2022, 03:18:03 PM »

Jesus Christ 

What? Being swept by Tech?

I'd argue that wasn't too surprising (Tech's probably an NCAA team this year - bubble for sure). If/when we lose vs. Iowa State and WVU in the next week, that'll definitely be worth a "well, there's always next year..." (except it's Fritz, so not really).

468

Kansas State Football / Re: OU game thread

« on: September 24, 2022, 09:07:31 PM »

College football is nuts. Tulane might lose to Southern Miss tonight

It's a rivalry game for whatever that's worth. Southern Miss balling out for the honor of Brett Favre

Have this game on another TV- the names on the back of the Southern Miss jerseys are insane

469

Other Sports (Tiger's Back) / Re: Volleyball

« on: September 23, 2022, 03:16:29 PM »

Those are fantastic, give credit to Suzie for not letting Nike outfit us in those detached sleeve horrors they have everyone else in.

Where's Aliyah in those photos?

Probably skipped the photo session to work on her inevitable transfer...

470

The New Joe Montgomery Birther Pit / Re: Jason Whitlock

« on: September 21, 2022, 04:12:51 PM »

https://twitter.com/WhitlockJason/status/1572643101499428870?s=20&t=vP6SbuDJZBAqD8Zz4tM-Lg

My favorite part is the bit where he describes what "Kaepernick disease" is, then says it's been around for 10 years and then notes that it's basically the same thing as what LeBron and Muhammad Ali did during their careers.

My second favorite part is him saying that "Kaepernick disease" is what ruined Josh Rosen's career. Yeah, definitely that and not the fact that he was a terrible, terrible QB.

471

Other Sports (Tiger's Back) / Re: Volleyball

« on: September 20, 2022, 04:34:53 PM »

Maybe they should move Carter to OPP

I think she's getting frustrated and not making good decisions caused by a whole bunch of out of system volleyball.  It's a tough way to play the game.  Not sure how a right handed OPP would fare in conference play.


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Bingo

I think there's truth to that, but it's not like there wasn't a bunch of out of system play last year too and she managed to overcome that (most of the time). Personally, I think there's something else going on (whatever that might be).

But, it all falls in line with a Fritz team - never know what the hell will happen in any given match (including the star player of the past two years  not playing in favor of a lightly recruited freshman).

472

Kansas State Football / Re: No trust on offense

« on: September 18, 2022, 10:16:05 PM »

I don't think it's clear Warner is the "least athletic" WR. He might not be the fastest but he's really good at YAC and definitely seems to do more in space on offense than Brooks at least. However, he is white.

Will just have to agree to disagree on Brooks vs. Warner in space (do agree on the white part though).

473

Kansas State Football / Re: No trust on offense

« on: September 18, 2022, 09:52:57 PM »

What was weird yesterday was us running those motion plays for Warner. I mean, nice kid and all, but he's clearly the least athletic WR we have. Why we ran those plays for Warner (vs. Knowles/Brooks, etc.) is bizarre to me. Maybe they were trying to setup something else that never came to fruition, but even then - get the ball in the hands of your most dynamic playmakers.

474

Other Sports (Tiger's Back) / Re: Volleyball

« on: September 18, 2022, 09:42:52 PM »

After losing to both Rice and No. 17 Creighton this weekend, we finish the non-conference at 9-4. It's a pisser because we had a good chance at a quality win vs. Rice and blew a 2-0 lead. The passing continues to break down at various points in most of our matches and, when that happens, we lose the ability to use our middles most of the time and they've been the most efficient - by far - this year.

It's been a weird year - Carter has essentially been benched and hasn't played regularly for the last 2-3 weeks (and, to be fair to Fritz, Carter's numbers this year have been pretty bad in most matches). The frosh from Nebraska is hitting at a much, much better clip as Carter's replacement, but we are getting zero from the opposite hitters. When the passing breaks down, we're back to the OHs sending shots over that, most of the time, have no chance to land as kills.

Still, to be at 9-4 at this point given that our best player has regressed badly and we're playing a libero at setter is actually somewhat impressive. If Fritz can play .500 level ball in the Big 12, we should have a decent chance at an NCAA berth (though, as of now, we don't really have any high quality wins).

We're home against fringe top 25 KU on Saturday - will be insightful as to where we're likely headed the rest of the year.

475

Kansas State Football / Re: Tulane

« on: September 17, 2022, 05:16:22 PM »

Our offensive output today is worse than every game with the Howard/Mess combo except for the ISU shutout in 2020.

Let that sink in...