Detroit 1-3

More rain delay. A sloppy sixth, missing some chances and their closer blowing it in the second inning of a tied game cost the Tigers a game they could have had. Cards got four in the first, but are hanging on 4-3 late. [And won. Dangerous, just like they got in back in '06.]

Getting Reyes Back

The Mets are trying to find a way to retain super free agent, José Reyes, but as suggested here, it might require some creativity to find a deal within the means of the team that meets with his approval.  Some "out of the box" suggestions:

#1 Change the name of the team to something that makes it sound like a new form of some other team’s name ala Anaheim Angels of Anaheim Formerly Known As Something or Other, tricking Reyes into thinking that he is signing for a team with a future.

#2 Sign him for a long contract, knowing his body won’t hold up that long, but use some form of foreign currency, like Lire, so that not only will it be something the team can afford, it might be close to what he actually is worth.

#3 Sign him part time, since he’s going to be injured or playing partial strength 1/3 of the year anyways.

#4 Sign him for what he’s worth, full time, in American dollars, but have a clause where he has to do gigs on the side, even when he’s injured. Figure out a way to make money off him a third way, after realizing he sings about as good as Murphy plays Second.

#5 Seeing how good the bullpen was on $10M, dispose of Pelfrey and everyone else possible, including a few expensive players by tossing in an Ike Davis or by some trickery (maybe Madoff can help?) and replacing them with scrubs worth 10M. The more expensive players will be busts or get injured at some point anyways. Money saved goes to pay Reyes.

#6 Sell souls to devil. Worked for the Cards this year.

#7 Point out what happened to Carl Crawford — does he really need that kind of headache, just for money?

#8 Try to stop him from laughing.

#9 Beg. It works on the subways. It’s good to have a gimmick or spiel. Perhaps, a song or dancing. Admittedly, many people trust some drunk on the street (with some amount of cause) with their money more than the current ownership.

#10 Include special perks like a second "Reyes" Apple that pops up whenever he hits a triple. Whenever he wants, he can have one turn at bat, get a bunt base hit and leave the game. Or, something.

A killjoy comment was made about the "humor" of overpaying someone whose talent is largely in his legs, which are due to break down, even as they do now periodically. This is a bit harsh -- see, e.g., his batting title -- but it is a telling point.

Health Care Law

Continues to be a major matter of speculation, including the possible timing of SC consideration.  I still think, given the main provision at issue won't go in effect before then, it should be decided after the 2012 elections.  If not, should hold the Tax Injunction Act so requires.

Detroit 1-2

Fister does it again.  With their ace in the mix, should escape Detroit at least only down 3-2.  Have a chance to make a series out of this.

Some Minimum Level of Party Loyalty? Nah.

"The things I support in this bill are outweighed by the things I can't support," Tester told reporters afterward.

Fine, asshole.  Don't filibuster the thing, vote against it on an up/down vote.  Don't filibuster your own party.  Thanks.

The Closer

There are so many forensics shows (including various locales) but I am not a big fan.  Saw Law & Order through various detectives, but stopped watching regularly about half-way through or so.  Saw NCIS recently -- a basic cable station aired it back-to-back (etc.) and it was an okay time waster, though a tad boring.  And, back in the day, I saw a few episodes of The Closer, maybe, but never go into it.  In the midst of its seventh, and last season (so it says), that changed.  It's my new thing. 

It's a fun show.  Kyra Sedgwick plays a Georgia girl brought by a former flame (and assistant chief) to "close" tough cases for the LAPD.  Turns out she was CIA trained (tidbit I caught when watching the First Season on DVD) and all, so she's wicked talented, though her people skills leave something to be desired.  This causes various problems in the department, though her team is on her side by the end of S1.  She is willing to break the rules (which is coming back to haunt her in the current story arc) to close those cases, such as leave people in harm's way.  In S1, she tricks a seventeen year old rapist/murderer (well, accident) to confess to his crimes against a Mexican national in a police station down there, his parents helping him to escape and him having no incentive to come back to the U.S.  Better than a few times when her actions led to the death of the murderers in question. 

She is also something of a nut -- she has an emotional side, a candy fetish and keeps mixing up the gender of her cat (turns out to be pregnant, but she likes him/her as a boy).  The cats bring in some amusing stuff, plus a touching episode or two.  Not a big one for appearance, favoring serviceable clothing (including sweaters)  and bright red lipstick. Hooks up again with a FBI agent she had worked with in the past, who conveniently seems to be connected to every other case she handles somehow.  They marry in the Fourth Season (the other one I have seen).  Well acted with generally good story lines.  Good opening with a distinctive beat. The continual theme of recording interviews etc. is good standard practice. 

Good cast.  Some familiar faces, including G.W. Bailey, who I first saw in a motor pool in Korea.  Gina Ravera left after the 4th Season, apparently not having much to do, though the role of another woman detective among a bunch of men (and only female semi-regular) was later filled by Mary McDonnell.  The supporting cast is key to enjoyable episode television, including various quirks and charms, and this one provides the goods.  This includes each having a certain role, including the technical nerd and the young somewhat uptight assistant, old cynical vet and so forth.  Some good guest stars, including -- look at that -- that is one of the assistants from Beakman's World!

Crime and overall drama ... The Closer does the trick. Oh well, about time for the second that does it for me, Body of Proof, also having various familiar faces. 

Supreme Court Justice Watch

Stevens continues to be busy off the Supreme Court.  How are the other active and semi-retired (Souter and O'Connor, especially O'Connor, still hearing lower court cases from time to time)  justices doing in such a context?  They all in some fashion, including speeches, seminars and other projects, find stuff to do.  O'Connor is the most busy, perhaps, serving on lower courts and promoting civics education.  Souter has voiced the importance of civics too (and history overall) and has been a bit more public in the last few years, including in a rightly praised Harvard commencement address that nicely criticized the critics of the "living Constitution" model. 

Scalia and Breyer just was in Congress to talk about what they do, each (even if Scalia doesn't like recording) often giving speeches or talking (Breyer has been on various media outlets) about their judicial philosophy.  Breyer wrote his own book a year or so ago, recommended, and still seems to be promoting it. Is the paperback out or something?  Scalia co-wrote a book on advocacy; he is celebrating his twenty-five years on the Court (unlike O'Connor, doubt it will be a sign of retirement).  Thomas wrote an autobiography and I recall that Sotomayor was in the process of writing one (or helping with an authorized version).  Online you can also find more than one Q&A she had in various fora.  She has said that she believes her involvement with the public at large is a major part of her work. 

C-SPAN also had remarks of others, including Kennedy, who a few years back had some seminars for young adults.  Roberts got a mention when he dissed law review articles; I was inspired to buy a four justice stamp set he announced a few years ago.  If you go to the Supreme Court's speech page, Ginsburg dominates, with a few by others sprinkled in.  I don't hear to much about Alito, though he was seen at a right wing event.  Kagan answered some questions at the Aspen Institute. 

And, Thomas will teach a seminar on constitutional law.  I have a couple volumes on my own view of constitutional matters among other musings around here and elsewhere.  They are about as aspirational (that is, as compared to the law in place now) as his version, though he has a bit more pull.  From the one or two times I saw video, he seems pretty comfortable with law students.  Does he show pics of his R.V.?   Stevens interestingly specifically rejects his views on certain subjects, suggesting how personnel plays such an important part in constitutional law.  After all, it is not as if Thomas is alone in his views on the subjects discussed, though again, how far he takes things is rather unique. 

They also are interpreting constitutional law. 

Thoughts on the Hosanna-Tabor Oral Argument

Oregon v. Smith inhibited religious exemption claims (and the reach of the Free Exercise Clause) but a case this term regarding the "ministerial exemption" promises to bring interesting statutory and 1A issues to the forefront.  A few thoughts here (comments).

Detroit 0-2

They got out of one late game bases loaded, no one out jam, but the guy who got hit to load them prevented them from getting out of it again.  Texas had 8.1 innings of scoreless relief. 

Some JPS Writings

Chapter on the justice he clerked for, Mr. Justice (1965).  Foreword to Illinois Justice: The Scandal of 1969 and the Rise of John Paul Stevens.  Various speeches and articles.  A book review. And, Five Chiefs, on the chief justices he dealt with, an interesting read.

Columbus Day

Today's the day to note, celebrate, mourn or whatever that "brought the Americas into the forefront of Western attention," with special notice for Italians (we had a parade around here).  In this entry, I called it "Imperialism Day."  Truth in advertising?  Lot of that too.

DVD Update

Watching S1 of The Closer and I see Brenda cut corners (and worse) to "close" since the first few episodes.  For some reason, last two thirds of S1 of Once and Again is not at my library, so I will eventually have to buy the thing. But, with so much more to watch, no rush.

More Sports

Tampa was spanked, Jets are 2-3 and the Cards gave up six mid-game.  Cards did their job.  Don't really care what happens in NL.  Brewers bore me.  Should have gave it up in Game 5 a few days back.  GB and Detroit (football) due -- both doing very good.

Sports Update

NYG got a lot of breaks but karma knocked them out when they were about to go ahead.  Viks finally won, Carolina just lost (again) and the Colts blew a chance to finally win.  Miami (winless) had a bye.  No one noticed.  Detroit/Texas was rained out.  Eagles lost, Bills won.

Wisdom of Bucky

Cato Supreme Court Review and Top 1%

Cato Supreme Court Watch 2010-2011: Overall, some interesting, if nothing really big (sorta like the term), collection of essays. The pre-emption and Wal-Mart chapters were too technical for me. The latter is by an expert who wrote a book on class action, so it's more forgivable than the former, which is a pretty important issue about some important cases (like seatbelts and vaccines) that in a book supposedly for a general audience should have been able to be written better. I didn't agree with the Arizona cases, particularly the standing question (I admit, my side was weak on merits given current law). The Bond chapter was thin. The others were fairly interesting and often leaned correctly libertarian.

Top 1%: Chris Hayes is talking about this now and it calls to mind when Dean in '04 got in trouble about supporting too high taxes for the middle class, but when I asked the resident Slate fray expert (well mine; aka "run") about it, he noted his plan seemed to work out, which doesn't mean it stops it from being political unsellable. At least, that was the judgment of the Democrat decision makers.  I'm inclined to think that all this talk about "middle class tax cuts" can be taken too far, which Dilan Esper (another former frayster) once noted on his Twitter feed. If the fisc requires more money, just continuing tax cuts for the "rich" (especially given how high that is) is not the only problem.

And, when a guest talks about how those making between 250K and one million would feel a pinch if their taxes when up somewhat, well, we are going off the deep end here. Scalia with his nine kids might not be able to handle it, but come on. It is shocking how tax cuts and mismanagement screwed us so much and the fact that even raising taxes for millionaires is controversial when sound fiscal policy would mean (and push comes to shove, by cutting programs or whatever will mean) a lot more than that. Taxes that pay for the government, including avoiding the debts and other issues we now have because of bad fiscal policy.

Just talking about "middle class" and tax increases for the very rich won't do it. It is about all of us and progressive taxation does mean taxation, just a different amount pursuant to need and ability.  But, if making 750K is not "rich," I guess it changes things some.  Let's pretend.  How about those Mets in the NLCS?

More Rain, Same Net Result

Verlander pitched a bit more this time and they only had rain delays, not as suspended game, but Detroit lost again with their ace starting.  He gave up three runs, Detroit missed an opportunity after the rain to tie or go ahead, and the score held at 3-2.

"When Moralism Isn’t Moral"

Yes, he says, Bush’s waterboarding and Israel’s blockade amounted to abhorrent torture and illicit collective punishment; but the answer is not to drag either Bush or the Israelis before a war-crimes tribunal.

One abhorrent act of torture, criminal, a bunch, political.  Review is worthwhile but that doesn't quite fly, even if that is how things work.

Twelve Unlikely Heroes

Upfront, let me say that I received this book free from Book Sneeze in return of providing a review though no duty is present to provide a positive one to obtain said item.  It is just one person's opinion. 

Twelve Unlikely Heroes: How God Commissioned Unexpected People in the Bible and What He Wants to Do with You teaches how God ironically repeatedly uses weak, foolish, and broken people as models of his power, wisdom, and love.  The biblical figures discussed here include:

Joseph: a slave who saved his country and his family

Miriam: Moses' sister who helped that key biblical figure

Samson: an uncontrollable man whom God empowered and used

Jonathan: an heir to a throne he was willing to give up

Esther: the woman God used to spare the Jewish people

Mark: a coward who was restored and wrote the second gospel

Onesimus: a runaway slave who became a minister

and several more. 

It is in fact a third in a series (previous ones: Twelve Ordinary Men and Twelve Extraordinary Women) that discuss various biblical figures for the readers' personal advancement. The book adds historical and cultural backgrounds, which is helpful, since some biblical accounts (consider Onesimus, the subject of a short Pauline epistle) are relatively brief though we can imagine they are often written down only after oral traditions with much more detail and discussion was provided first.  Also, these are complex individuals -- consider Jonathan, who is the son of a rival of David, but they become close friends. The tragic nature of their relationship is worthy of contemplation and provides insights for many other such relationships.

It was a good book that brought alive various biblical figures.  Should be particularly helpful for bible study groups.  ****

J.K. Simmons Connection

Saw the very first episode of The Closer and Mr. Simmons has another topical connection -- For The Love of The Game, a lesser if still pleasant enough Costner sports film about a Detroit pitcher.