PicoBlog

This story originally ran in the Japanese newspaper Yukan Fuji in 2018. TOKYO — One of the major differences between professional baseball in the United States and Japan is the matter of tie baseball games. In MLB, ties are not allowed. Games must be played until one team defeats the other, no matter how long it takes.  In Japan, ties have always been part of the game, something American gaijin players in NPB have a hard time understanding.

Last night friends came to our house for dinner. I cooked lamb shanks because one of our guests had cooked lamb shanks and posted a picture of them. Each person had a giant bone on their plate. Richard said, “It’s looking a little too paleo in here for me.” I baked a little raspberry galette. I really like these people. I should dig up the dahlia tubers. I prefer writing to you.

A note to Fight Freaks Unite readers: I created Fight Freaks Unite in January 2021 and eight months later it also became available for paid subscriptions for additional content — and as a way to help keep this newsletter going and for readers to support independent journalism. If you haven’t upgraded to a paid subscription please consider it. If you have already, I truly appreciate it! Also, consider a gift subscription for the Fight Freak in your life.

On March 30 of last year, The New York Times published an article that was treated as a bombshell by the political class. Citing exclusively anonymous sources — “three people briefed on the matter” — the Paper of Record announced that Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) “is being investigated by the Justice Department over whether he had a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old and paid for her to travel with him.”

The NYT et al are a pestilence and the Alex Newhouses of the world are insignificant flecks of bacteria…a “researcher” in deed…who isn’t a researcher in some fashion just to get through life…it is as bullshit a term as an “expert”…most real experts are looked upon as crazies until after the fact that they were correct as the horde of “experts” go 🙉🙊🙈 as they fade back into their own mediocre insignificance.

The picture above is an incredible work by Yongsung Kim an astonishing glimpse of what Peter might have seen after failing to stay atop the waves. Jesus sent his disciples into a boat on the Sea of Galilee while he went to the mountains to pray. A storm arose in the middle of the night and threatened their very lives. Jesus came walking out on the water to meet them, which terrified them even more, if that was possible.

When the world is much brighter They were The First Family of Soul and might still be remembered that way, instead of a one hit wonder, if not for The Jackson Five. The five children of a bass-playing Chicago Police detective won a talent show at the Regal Theater, Chicago’s answer to the Apollo, and thanks to an introduction by neighbor Fred Cash of The Impressions, signed to Curtis Mayfield’s Windy C label.

Oakland is no stranger to crime, but 2023 was different. The crime spree was more severe and more concentrated on the engines of commerce than ever before. It was an infection that struck the heart and lungs of the City. And so far in 2024, the infection shows no signs of abating. If not aggressively checked, it will accelerate a downward spiral of economic activity that is difficult to reverse. 

I’ve been meaning to write about these unusual biscuits for several years and now that I’ve got this more expanded newsletter that you’re reading right now, it’s time to share them with you. I first discovered Oboles de Lucerne when a friend’s mom in Paris offered them during apéro hour. Since then I’ve been hooked on the uber-thin, crispy wafer that nearly melts in your mouth, but has enough resistance and crunch to feel as if you’re eating something more substantial, if that makes sense.