Barry Bonds arrived in San Francisco in 1993 after seven seasons with the Pittsburgh Pirates. Bonds retired a SF Giant after playing fifteen seasons of historic, Hall of Fame baseball in the SF Bay Area.
Rafael Devers comes to San Francisco after 78 games into his ninth season with the Boston Red Sox. He's a three-time All-Star as well as a World Series Champion. Like Bonds, he bats left and is an elite major league slugger.
Adding a slugger like Rafael gives the Giants an offensive weapon they haven't really had since Barry Bonds. In his eight-plus season in the majors, there's one word that defines the worthiness of having such a slugger: Consistency!
I participated in a peaceful and communal celebration of unity at the "No Kings Protest" here in San Francisco. Americans of all walks of life came together as citizens who support constitutional law and the governing Democracy it has held together for 250 challenging years.
Americans are angry with what the current Presidential Administration is doing to our country by ignoring constitutional laws and weakening and/or ignoring the checks and balances of government.
What citizens across America demonstrated on Saturday, is this Democracy will not fall to authoritarianism without a fight. And every man and woman in this great nation, who passionately believes in the future of democracy in America, is willing to fight to preserve its ideological principles. They stand for "We the People," and understand that any and all government representatives holding office do so to serve All the People while adhering to the laws of the land.
A passionate San Francisco protest recruitment sign inspired by Uncle Samuel L. Jackson:
Once independent, the founders created a system that imitated the British model of mixed government and created barriers - the powers of Congress and the oversight of the Supreme Court - that they hoped would safeguard their liberties against the threat of renewed tyranny.
Newsom's blistering speech on Trump as LA protests persist
Finally, an elected official gives it straight to the American public. California governor Gavin Newsom pulled the "elephant from under the carpet" and held it up by its dirty, crusty, smelly, corrupt orange toes for America and the world to see. He told us what we all have known and heard, but the way he told it seems to drive home the danger and urgency.
Newsom, straight faced, direct, and in a heavy-toned voice laid out the un-American and unacceptable actions and behavior of Donald J. Trump and his corrupt presidential administration. He stated the illegal actions that began since trump's inauguration and the effects it is having on Los Angeles and throughout the country. He asks that citizens not stand by silently while Democracy is being demolished but he also warns of the consequences violent protesting will incur on individuals. He strongly encourages peaceful protest.
Governor Newsom has his detractors, for I myself haven't agreed on all his policies. But I believe he still believes in a Democracy and government "of the people, by the people, for the people." Neither Newsom, nor many other Americans can say the same about the elephant he held up for observation. An Elephant who is continually trying to grab this country by the pussy, putting his trunk where it doesn't belong and violating a wholesome constitution in ways only an authoritarian dictator would.
Yes, America is a country governed by laws, often referred to as the "rule of law". This principle ensures that all persons, institutions, and entities are accountable to publicly promulgated, equally enforced, and independently adjudicated laws. The U.S. Constitution is the supreme law of the land, and the U.S. legal system is designed to promote fairness and impartiality in the application of laws. -AI Overview
When E. Jean Carroll and Donald Trump went to trial over her sexual assault allegations, a nine-person civil jury found that Trump sexually abused her but that she failed to prove he raped her. I urge any and all attorneys in this country concerned about the current abuse and rape of America to step up and take a stand against the illegal, unconstitutional actions of a power grabbing . . . Elephant, who is trampling our Democracy with dirty, crusty, smelly, corrupt orange toes. An out of control, stampeding elephant is a danger not just to innocent persons but also to himself and those trainers trying so desperately to keep him within the legal confines of his one ring Executive Branch circus.
He is liable to bring down the whole show
Today it's immigrants and constitutional law under attack. Tomorrow it could be lawyers, judges, senators, brokerage houses, Las Vegas, you name it. Because the only thing authoritarian dictators want from their subjects is obedience. And they've been known to obtain it using threats, intimidation, bullying and violence. What more proof than a Republican party cowered into doing the bidding of a wannabe _________ fill in the blank.
A fluttering Green & Red flag was flying over San Francisco's City Hall today. Our city hall will fly various foreign flags for special occasions like national holidays and visiting foreign dignitaries. So, when I saw today's unfamiliar green and red foreign flag, I did my usual google search to identify the country. After identifying it as the national flag of Portugal, I went on about my daily activities.
Tonight, with my San Francisco Giants looking clueless while down 5-2 in the 8th inning against the worst team in baseball, I turned the channel and tuned into a UEFA Nations League Finals game between Spain and Portugal. Spain leading 2-1 with a little over 30 minutes left in the game. Not being a soccer fan, I was surprisingly locked in and mesmerized by an exciting match of back-and-forth championship competitiveness. Both teams played their hearts out.
Portugal's legendary star, 40-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo, scored off a deflected shot that tied the game 2-2. I thought it was a coincidence me watching a Portugal team after identifying their flag fluttering over our city hall earlier today. But stranger things have happened. So, I continued my cheering for Portugal as regulation time ended, and a penalty shootout ensued.
Throughout regulation I thought Spain looked the better team, but Portugal looked hungrier. I learned Spain was a defending champion and was likely favored in this match. The two rival teams have a long history against one another with Spain having the winning advantage.
They have met a total of 41 times, resulting in 6 Portuguese victories, 18 draws, and 17 Spanish victories.
However, on this night, Spain faltered. Portugal won the shootout convincingly with incredible saves and three amazing spot kicks to seal the victory 5-3.
Congratulations Portugal!
Afterwards, while posting here about this great Portugal sports occasion, I checked to see if perhaps my Giants were able to spot kick a few baseballs out of the ballpark. Wow was I surprised, shocked, elated. Who says rally hats and luck charms are fool's gold. A foreign flag flies over SF city hall and two sports teams hungry for a win deliver. Thanks Portugal!
note: what I didn't know until later is the soccer match was not a live broadcast. It was a pre-recording from a game played two days ago, but I'll still take the wins.
*The Giants, who lead the major leagues with 17 one-run wins, are the first team to win six consecutive games by one run since the 1989 California Angels.
Just a little Raiders off-season dessert. The acquisition of defensive Swiss-army knife Jeremy Chinn gives our Raiders veteran presence with that hardnosed Raiders style of play. The 6' 3", 220 lbs. safety is a welcome versatile weapon who is slated to be a big part of DC Patrick Graham's retooled defense. One look at his Washington Commanders highlights and you see why the Raiders went out and got him. He was born to be a Raider!!!
Watching this 21-year-old tennis phenom defeat the world's #1 player, Aryna Sabalenka, convinced me that she has truly arrived. If you saw Coco Gauff's takedown of Sabalenka you witnessed a battle that was as much mental as physical. Her composure and competitiveness were on full display as she delivered a performance for the ages.
If the icons of the Tennis world hadn't yet determined whether this young competitor has what it takes to carry forward the legacy of past superstars, then this performance just might have convinced them of her worthiness.
The 2025 NBA Finals welcomes a player whose game-winning playoff shots are cementing him as an elite game closer. Tyrese Haliburton of the Indiana Pacers has been phenomenal through these playoffs. Last night he added his fourth playoff-game winning shot to continue the Pacers improbable march toward an NBA Championship.
On the road against the #1 seed Oklahoma City Thunder, who just happen to be led by this season's offensive MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Hella-Burton and the #6 seed Pacers put a pause in the early crowning of OKC. Yes, the Pacers trailed the entire game. Yes, MVP Shai scored a game-high 38pts. And yes, just about everyone watching at home had already began crowning OKC champions. But nobody, and I mean nobody, but the Pacers and their loyal fans saw the shot heard round the basketball world coming. We all should have.
With 0.03 seconds remaining, Tyrese Hella-Burton sank a two-point shot to give the Indiana Pacers their first lead of the game. 0.03 seconds for Las Vegas bettors to rethink their wager. 0.03 seconds for basketball fans across the globe to rethink just who might be hoisting a Finals MVP and Championship trophy at the conclusion of this series.
I remember some of my favorite NFL Commercials from years ago with actor Don Cheadle emphasizing how anything can happen to change a playoff game in just "5 seconds." 5 seconds can be an eternity in the playoffs. And as Pacers closer, Tyrese Hella-Burton, continues to remind us in his post-game interviews, "It ain't over until it's over."
While discussing ADHD symptoms with others, it became apparent to many of us that our country’s leadership is exhibiting behaviors consistent with the . . . disorder. While an individual with ADHD is not necessarily a threat to himself or others, a democratic government in the clutches of such an individual, without checks, balances and laws of due process threatens the entire backbone of a democratic society and world.
After witnessing almost five months of erratic trump administration behavior in decisions which negatively impact national and world stability, we came to the conclusion that one unchecked pattern of behavior in particular is the culprit of much trumpian havoc: IMPULSIVITY!
An impulsive person is someone who tends to act or make decisions quickly and without much thought, often driven by immediate desires or feelings rather than careful consideration of the consequences. This can manifest in various ways, from making unplanned purchases to engaging in risky behaviors.
Here's a more detailed explanation:
Acting on impulse:
Impulsive individuals are prone to acting on the spur of the moment, without pausing to consider the potential outcomes of their actions.
Lack of forethought:
They may not fully weigh the pros and cons of a situation before making a decision or taking action.
Driven by immediate gratification:
Impulsivity can be linked to a desire for quick rewards or the avoidance of immediate discomfort.
Examples:
Impulsive behavior can include things like buying something you don't need, overspending, engaging in risky sexual behavior, or reacting aggressively in the heat of an argument.
Potential consequences:
While some impulsive actions may be harmless, others can have serious negative consequences, such as financial problems, legal issues, or damage to relationships.
Underlying factors:
Impulsivity can be related to various mental health conditions, such as attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), borderline personality disorder, or substance abuse disorders.
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