Limerick Friday #468: Despair Sets In As Society Crumbles -- Day 75

We used to be at the top

Now citizens murdered by cops

A batshit prez

And everyone sez

Will this really every stop?

TWD is a slog now, true

But you have to give it its due

Some episodes well told

And some of the best of old

Occasionally does shine through

Promotions tossed around

For every no-talent ass clown

We'll pay you not to work

That's quite a job perk

Now welcome to manager town

Rain like a rising tide

Buckle up for a soggy ride

Good time to read

And guidance to heed

Plus keep all the jackasses inside

Decisions hard and not facile

Beyond the public hassle

Pandemics need lids

While protecting your kids

'Tis why your home is your castle

Last time ...

Day 74, Quasi-Quarantine: 'Fins Fortify Front With Enigmatic Emmanuel Ogbah

Theoretically, someone has to play defensive end for the Dolphins. Theoretically, someone will also need to sack the quarterback at some point.

With first-round busts Taco Charlton and Charles Harris headed out the door, Miami paid big for Kyle Van Noy, Shaq Lawson, and Emmanuel Ogbah to help fill the void.

Ogbah is among the most intriguing gets for the 'Fins in free agency, with Miami securing his services for a relatively team-friendly contract -- two years, $15 million.

The pluses: 
At 6-4, 275 pounds, with top-of-the-chart measurables, Ogbah has the size and athletic ability that Brian Flores targets at the front of his defenses. Last season with Kansas City, Ogbah posted 5.5 sacks in just 10 games -- enjoying the best season of his four-year career -- highlighted by 1.5 sacks of Lamar Jackson.

Ogbah is a presence in passing lanes as well, with 19 career batted passes. He also comes from a winning program, refining his craft with the champion Chiefs.

The negatives: 
Despite being picked at the top of the second round, Ogbah washed out of Cleveland, which traded him to Kansas City prior to last season. In four years, he has just 18 career sacks, three forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries.

Ogbah's production has been limited by injuries. He fractured a foot as a rookie, missing six games, and last season's torn pectoral muscle cost him nine games, including the Super Bowl.

The bottom line: 
Miami is betting on the come with Ogbah, landing him with a manageable contract after his best season. The team is hoping he can stay healthy and provide a consistent pass rush.

The talent has rarely been questioned with Ogbah. Can he emerge as a consistent contributor for a Dolphins team that desperately needs help up front? The 'Fins have hedged their bets with the way his deal is structured, making Ogbah a vital -- and largely overlooked -- addition.

Day 73, Quasi-Quarantine: "Floodlines" Dives Deep Into Betrayal, Abandonment, And Recovery

Disclaimer: I'm not a podcast listener. I've listened to a handful in my day, but I've struggled with multitasking in this format. As an avid subscriber of The Atlantic and a lover of New Orleans, however, I jumped back into the medium when "Floodlines" was released.

Promoted as "the story of an unnatural disaster," this podcast deals with the effects of Hurricane Katrina on New Orleans, touching on events that led up to the 2015 storm, what happened during the catastrophe, and the factors that have altered the region during the rebuild.

Vann R. Newkirk II is the host, and his rolling delivery make him a natural choice to document the city's struggles. The podcast runs the gamut, exploring endemic corruption, racism, the confused federal response, rampant rumors, and the heroes who rose from the floodwaters to carve out a role in trying to save the New Orleans they grew to love.

The final episode centers on a six-hour, no-break interview with Michael Brown, an at-times contentious exchange with the man who was the FEMA chief at the time. This emotional ending served as a fitting capper to a podcast marked by beautiful music, haunting imagery, and stunning recollections from 15 years past.

Toni Morrison once said, "All water has a perfect memory and is forever trying to get back to where it was." That is ever so true of New Orleans, the doomed city whose path in that direction has been flooded by ignorance of a million kinds. "Floodlines" does the important work of exposing that path in a search for understanding and truth.

Day 72, Quasi-Quarantine: Piece By Piece, Echo Base Emerges From The Landscape

As part of our ever-expanding Echo Base build in a depiction of Hoth that now takes up most of our sitting room (yes, apparently, we have one of those), my son and I drew inspiration from a new book called, appropriately, "LEGO Star Wars Ideas Book."

We added 10 new, small elements from the book, ranging from a planning table to a communications center to a floor lamp. Then, we built a tiled floor and combined the new elements with the Hoth Medical Center to make a surprisingly intricate Echo Base.

These simple additions alone have made the ideas book worthwhile, and we've already created a couple of other items as well. While my son's involvement is, perhaps ... inconsistent ... I like that he is stretching his imagination to involve re-envisioning and re-imagining how disparate pieces can be used in a number of ways.

It also keeps him us busy, which is a bonus that can't be taken for granted in this day and age.

Limerick Friday #467: Hope Waves From The Horizon -- Day 68

Salt air just out of reach

As we parent and work and teach

Now light at the tunnel's end

Proving we don't break, just bend

Hope lies in a trip to the beach

To whom the headlines refer

Is never who you'd prefer

Talent keeps saying goodbye

While evil refuses to die

Fred Willard, rest in hilarity, sir

Ignorance and crap

This feels like a trap

Phase 2 for every fool

Sure, let's open a pool

Go soak in a bacteria frappe

"Killing Eve" is back, dontcha know

Giving it another go

It's a hard sell

Need more Villanelle

And much less Sandra Oh

No PTO burning

And continued earning

Improving work-from-home ways

Plus offering recharge days

How lucky I am, I'm learning

Last time ...

Day 67, Quasi-Quarantine: "Homeland" Mercifully Shuffles Off This Mortal Coil

I'll be honest. There have been at least three different times when I've just kind of assumed that "Homeland" was finally off the air.

After a stellar first season and a meh follow-up, the show went straight, over-the-top ridiculous somewhere around Season 3. So seeing this show make it up to and through an eighth season was as unlikely to me as Carrie Matheson making it through an episode without crying. 

For the last few seasons, here's a typical plot for Cryin' Carrie:

• Carrie is given a crucial assignment in a Middle Eastern country, seemingly in complete ignorance of past transgressions and missteps. 
• Carrie catches on to the plot, but makes an emotional decision that backfires, destroying lives in the process. 
• Carrie has a breakdown and is dosed/institutionalized/arrested/captured/sidelined. 
• Carrie promises she is recovered and, against every institutional guardrail, is placed back into active duty and thrust immediately into the most pressing and global threatening scenario possible.
• Carrie and her chin quiver quickly start breaking protocol and wreaking havoc in a Middle Eastern country.

Rinse.

Repeat.

Like, at one point, I realized I had found the one TV character who could make me actively root for the terrorists. "Homeland" went off with a whimper, not a bang, without even the cathartic release of seeing a heroic Carrie death at the end.

Credit to the crew for squeezing out five extra seasons after its most interesting character, Brody, was killed. But now "Homeland" is finally, officially off the air -- and Claire Danes is now freed up to become the face of Kleenex.

Day 66, Quasi-Quarantine: The "Lord Of The Flies" And How I Got The Conch

“Ralph wept for the end of innocence, the darkness of man's heart, and the fall through the air of the true, wise friend called Piggy.”

Those words are what made me realize that I wanted to become a writer.

As an ambivalent teenager prone to plodding through reading  for English class, I saw "Lord of the Flies" as just the latest in a never-ending series of assignments, stretching from here to a seeming infinity. I would hiccup my way to the designated chapter for discussion, sputtering to the finish line before collapsing into sleep with a sigh.

Then I discovered William Golding. Or more accurately, his world of Piggy, Jack, Simon, Sam, Ralph, Roger, and Eric was thrust upon me. I raced through the early part of the book until I reached the chapter that concluded my week's reading.

And I kept going.

And going.

I was captivated, mesmerized, and immersed. I fought for my life on a deserted island alongside kids roughly my age. I battled fear, ennui, hunger, and burgeoning political chaos theory. I dealt with ass-mar and talking pigs and a caste system that threatened to go beyond bullying and schoolyard jeers -- then literally took the plunge to murder.

I was eventually "saved" by adults without the ability to comprehend what was at stake or what had been stolen or compromised.

When I closed the back cover of the book and sat in silence, I knew something had changed. I suspected everything had changed.

I was rescued. I was resonant. I was engaged.

And from that day forward ...

I was a writer.

"Simon stayed where he was, a small brown image, concealed by the leaves. Even if he shut his eyes the sow's head still remained like an after-image. The half-shut eyes were dim with the infinite cynicism of adult life. They assured Simon that everything was a bad business."

For my most recent birthday, I gifted myself a copy of the 1962 edition of my favorite book. The cover art by George Salter conjured up the emotions I experienced reading "Lord of the Flies" that first time, when so much had been given to and shared with me.

Lo these many years writer, I remember the present William Golding had given me.

I am grateful.

I am humbled.

I am a writer.

I have the conch.

Day 65, Quasi-Quarantine, Sounds Of Social Distancing: Ben Nichols

I first heard the "Last Pale Light in the West" in an episode of "The Walking Dead" years ago. I wrote down the title and forgot about it, before recently rediscovering the song and unwittingly stumbling upon a soundtrack for a global pandemic.

The artist, Ben Nichols, is apparently best known for fronting Lucero, an alt-country band based out of Memphis. His voice has been described as "smoky," and that's an apt adjective for his haunting vocals -- lending an ideal resonance to this music.

Released in 2009 on Liberty & Lament (a phenomenal name for a record label, by the way), "Last Pale Light in the West" is an acoustic concept album Nichols created as a side project. The work is based on Cormac McCarthy's epic novel "Blood Meridian" (editor's note: my review be long), with six of the seven songs named for characters in the book.

Now, I'll be honest, I did not realize the connection between the book and the album until recently (like 10 minutes ago). But it does make sense that one of my all-time favorite novels ("The Scooties" 2010 Book of the Year!) has merged with some of my favorite new music.

In addition to the title song, other standouts include the surprisingly peppy "Davy Brown," the knee-jumping "Tobin," the eerie "Toadvine," and the hypnotic "Chambers." The entire album is of a piece and meant to paint a vivid picture.

Mission accomplished, Ben Nichols. 

And mission accomplished, Cormac McCarthy. 

Two kindred spirits from different artistic inclinations have somehow found each other through words, music, and vision. The result from Nichols's dimension is an irresistible album that sets a story to stunning music.

Day 64, Quasi-Quarantine: America's Faux Lego Pastime

Before "Star Wars Fever" overtook him, my son did dedicate some early quasi-quarantine time to constructing and playing with some baseball faux Legos.

With a little help, he enjoyed putting the players into action poses and re-creating in-game plays. This engagement with non-Star Wars Legos was short-lived, but still fun, plus it helped fill some time early in the stay-at-home phase.

No, I do not know why the batter is wearing a Seattle Seahawks helmet. We are not meant to know such things.

Limerick Friday #466: I've Got A Lot Of Problems With Missing Jerry Stiller, Plus PTO To The Rescue -- Day 61

As a modern-day "Honeymooner"

'Twas epic as Arthur Spooner

And Frank Costanza, he wore

Jerry Stiller was hilarity's core

A comic genius gone too sooner

As days grow long and taller

The house is getting smaller

Fewer places to hide

As we're stuck inside

Resisting the urge to holler

Entertainment has become dire

Escaping reality's mire

Let's find a classic to binge

To save me from my last hinge

Ladies and gents, please welcome "The Wire"

The Pack needed a recruiting coup

A big name to serve as the glue

Cue an Aaron McLaughlin commit

To repel that NC State Shit

The next star at Quarterback U.?

A Friday to be a Lego geek

And maybe some hide-n-seek

Mounting, the head shakes and scoffs

So here's a much-needed day off

Releasing frustration from its peak

Last time ...

Day 60, Quasi-Quarantine: Navigate Verbosity To Mine The Gems In Robert McKee's "Story"

Robert McKee is unquestionably a Hollywood legend, and in "Story: Substance, Structure, Style, and the Principles of Screenwriting," he shares his invaluable wisdom in the form of case studies.

"The substance of story is the gap that splits open between what a human being expects to happen when he takes an action and what really does happen; the rift between expectation and result, probability and necessity. To build a scene, we constantly break open these breaches in reality."

At times, this work reads like an ad for screenwriting classes and schools, and McKee's excessively verbose style makes it feel as if he is trying too hard to be pedantic. It can seem a bit like reading a textbook at times, there were more errors than I would have anticipated, and I feel like he casually butts up against chauvinism a lot for having written this in 1997.

Where the book excels is a catalog of glossary terms, story diagrams, and specific examples pulled from cinema. McKee is at his best when he is offering an explanation of genres and how they intersect, and the plea he makes for a return to the value of treatments pays the book off by itself.

"No matter our talent, we all know in the midnight of our souls that 90 percent of what we do is less than our best. If, however, research inspires a pace of ten to one, even twenty to one, and if you then make brilliant choices to find that 10 percent of excellence and burn the rest, every scene will fascinate and the world will sit in awe of your genius."

In one chapter, he dreams up a scenario about a President going mad as the idea for a story, which was, well, eerie and disturbingly prescient. 

"Those in power never want us to feel. Thought can be controlled and manipulated, but emotion is willful and unpredictable. Artists threaten authority by exposing lies and inspiring passion for change. This is why when tyrants seize power, their firing squads aim at the heart of the writer."

I've also read McKee's book "Dialogue," and I feel strongly that a writer of any discipline can benefit from his insights. They can comprise a slog, but the value is well worth the effort.

Day 59, Quasi-Quarantine: Dissecting The Lessons (Not Learned) From Ebola

I recently completed Lessons from Ebola (PH557x), a free, month-long course through Harvard's virtual learning program, HarvardX. Filmed in 2015, the class set out to discuss that year's Ebola outbreak in West Africa, centered on the countries of Sierra Leone, Liberia, and Guinea -- all war-torn nations without the health infrastructure needed to address a pandemic.

The course was led by Ashish Jha, who is now the Dean of the Brown University School of Public Health, in addition to the K.T. Li Professor of Global Health and the Director of the Harvard Global Health Institute. He conducted a series of interviews to cover the Ebola outbreak from a number of different perspectives and angles, including intervention, care, compliance, accountability, and politics.

Jha interviewed the biggest experts in the field: Paul Farmer, Allen Brandt, Peter Piot, and Chelsea Clinton, among others. They discussed the Ebola response on the local, regional, national, and international levels, and why Ebola is considered "the caregiver's disease." They dug into why the WHO was so late in declaring a global health emergency and why there was such a lack of faith in the Director General, Margaret Chan. The team took a look at why global lessons from SARS, H1N1, and HIV/AIDS were only partially applied, and why pessimism in the idea that would change in the next 5 years was so pervasive.

Expert after expert emphasized that, contrary to what you may hear, Ebola and other pandemics are not perfect storms -- they are accidents waiting to happen. Jha cited his colleague Julio Frank, who pointed out that the longest flight between any two places in the world is now shorter than the incubation period of every known human pathogen.

In summing up, Jha reiterated that, due to globalization, what happens in Delhi or Monrovia has an effect in Tokyo, Melbourne, and Cambridge. He noted that, while the the tools exist to strengthen health systems and create a global governance structure, until we care about the health of every person in the world, our efforts will be unsuccessful. Whether you choose to look at it through a global health security (to protect our area, we must improve health everywhere) agenda or a global health solidarity (we're all one people on one planet) lens, we are falling short on all levels and will continue to incur fatal lessons until we create the engagement needed to dramatically invest in global health infrastructure.

Me being me and all, I took 50 pages of notes. I'm not a burgeoning epidemiologist, but with COVID-19 hanging over all of us, I was interested in learning clues about what has gone wrong in the past and why our nation's response has been so bumbling, illogical, and ignorant. I mean, I think I had some significant clues as to why before taking this class, but I'm grateful that I now have the foundation of what has happened in the past, why we are so impacted in the present -- and what we will no doubt face again in the future.

Day 58, Quasi-Quaratine: Hoth Medical Center Dodges Pampers Questions, But Serves As Key Core Of A Broader Build

Recently, I watched "The Empire Strikes Back" with the kids for the first time, and the lone, persistent question they had was, "Why did they make Luke wear a giant diaper when he was hurt?"

This was not the question I was expecting, nor was it the question I was prepared to answer.

The Lego Hoth Medical Chamber set (#75203) is also not equipped to address that query, but it's a fun little build that captures an iconic moment in the Star Wars canon. 

Coming in at 255 pieces, this Echo Base infirmary features a rotating examination chair, bed/cubby area, wash station, and various storage and cabinetry. The set also includes rudimentary tools like syringes, a bottle, cup, and scissors.

The first of two highlights for me was the fact that this is a fold-out model, which is really cool and allows you to change the orientation of how you'd like to use the set. The bacta tank (and the foundation for my kids' confusion) was the other bright spot, with a clever way to accessing the tank.

The set came with four unique minifigures, which adds to the value of the build. Princess Leia in her Hoth vest and Luke Skywalker, sporting a black eye and (apparently) Pampers after being captured by the Wampa, were the most recognizable figures. However, the 2-1B medical droid was a hit in my household, and the FX-7 medical assistant droid added a nice touch.

Admittedly, this build did not have a ton of bells and whistles, with some feedback from hardcore fans that the lack of stickers and design elements made this set very plain and utilitarian (kind of like an infirmary, when you think about it).

But for me, this set was procured to serve as the center piece for a sprawling Hoth planet that we've created during quasi-quarantine. So from the standpoint of being the hub to build around, this set is an ideal addition, was exactly as expected -- and helped redirect any further questions about Star Wars diapers.

Day 57, Quasi-Quarantine: "Devs" Runs The Gamut From Loss To Fixation To Conspiracy To Discovery

"Devs" was a show that kept popping up in social media circles, and with a healthy dose of what-the-F-else-am-I-gonna-do, I gave it a whirl.

Nick Offerman jumps all over his role as Forest, the guru of a tech company that is pursuing AI and quantum computing while navigating shadowy governmental connections. It's a very un-Ron-Swanson-like gig for Offerman, who demonstrates some unexpected range with his emotional availability in this one.

Alison Pill ("Newsroom") is remarkable in serving as a stoic facade as Katie, but the real star here is Sonoya Mizuno, the picture of understated emo as Lily Chan. Her character has a shifting world thrust upon her, and Mizuno's acting abilities are more than up to the task of capturing a host of complex challenges.

"Devs" is incredibly atmospheric for television, thanks to a musical score that lends heavy mood and essentially serves as a not-so-minor character. The show has been compared to "Black Mirror," but to me (as an admittedly casual viewer of only a handful of "Black Mirror" episodes), "Devs" is more well-rounded, propelled forward by Forest's personal quest and in-flux morality.

There are a number of plot pivots to deal with here, and at times the show borrows elements from "War Games" and other technothriller works. A midseason backstory episode sapped some of the momentum and pacing, but creator Alex Garland brings it back around for a beautiful -- albeit bumpy -- landing at the end of the eight-episode arc.

That's a long way of saying there is a lot happening here. We're given a lot to consider and mull over, beset by a temptation to ascribe symbolism and political statements. 

At its core, "Devs" is a meditation on grief. Granted, it's as much of a fun, thought-provoking ride as such a vehicle could be, but maybe don't try to overthink it.

The AI wouldn't want us to do that.

Limerick Friday #465: Saying Goodbye To The GOAT, Don Shula, Plus Even COVID-19 Can't Contain NC State Shit -- Day 54

My childhood sports b-roll
"The Don" and his jaw in control
Framed by a Miami palm
The picture of leadership and calm
On his way to another Super Bowl

Lego Star Wars to the rescue, I declare
Hours of entertainment so rare
Even when he likes goth
I'll always remember Hoth
And quarantine battles we had there

Hiding behind a screen, balking
Less communicative than Stephen Hawking
A head's up is enough
Instead of concealing stuff
Leadership can even mean talking

Another high schooler gone pro
For the second year in a row
Josh Hall the latest to turn his back
On the head-shaking, beleaguered Pack
Kevin Keatts has a bad-luck flow

With the Cheaters back on the rise
Dave Doeren needed a prize
Will Shipley's parents were State grads
Instead he dealt a kick in the 'nads
Filling Pack Nation with foreboding and sighs

Last time ...

Day 53, Quasi-Quarantine: Stunning Beauty And Staggering Effects Can't Buy A Heart For "Westworld"

The highly anticipated third season of "Westworld" had a lot of intriguing storylines to follow: the hosts escaping the digitally imposed perimeter of the park, an injection of free will into the AI infrastructure, the interaction of hosts with the larger human world ... hell, even the arrival of Aaron Paul in what appeared to be some sort of John Connor-like role.

A short eight episodes later, the plot was too convoluted to work out, it was difficult to determine which role each character was playing, and Paul had been reduced to a bystander for giant swaths of the season. Even the show's strongest character, Bernard (Jeffrey Wright), was sidelined for much of this run of episodes.

And yes, the sci-fi was overwhelming, Dolores (Evan Rachel Wood) and Maeve (Thandie Newton) were stunning to look at, and there was credibility baked into a society hyper-reliant on the facade that digital media had shrink-wrapped over everything. And Marshawn "Beast Mode" Lynch popping up every few episodes was an admitted joy.

But somewhere along the way, creators Lisa Joy and Jonathan Nolan fell in love with the special effects and the world-building and never stopped to consider whether the plot even made sense anymore. Sure, there were impassioned speeches about how the world is still worth saving and constant reminders that human acts of kindness and self-determination can change our course, but too often these felt like window dressing ... interludes between the next car crash or mangled body. Minus true passion and logic, these plot points lost impact.

Basically, the show has morphed into an entity like a relationship where memories of the glory days keep you coming back and thinking it must be worth it to find the point. So yes, I'm saying "Westworld" is like many of my ex-girlfriends: Beautiful to look at and fun to spend time with, but ultimately heartless and impossible to understand.

Day 52, Quasi-Quarantine: A Dog Puzzle Missing A (Grrr) Coupla Pieces

The third puzzle I've managed over quasi-quarantine was "Hot Dogs, A-Z," a fun little challenge. Like the Millennium Falcon and the beer puzzle, it came in at 1,000 pieces -- however, due to children, two pieces were lost, rendering it a 998-piece effort. The two missing pieces didn't bother me at all. Even when I was looking forever. With a flashlight. At all. I'm fine. It's fine. We're fine.

6.5/10, would protect puzzle pieces better during a quasi-quarantine again.

Day 51, Quasi-Quarantine: Dolphins Salvage Third-Day Draft Results With A Key Trade And A Value Pick

After a promising Day 1 and an iffy Day 2, Miami entered Day 3 with nine draft choices and ammunition to maneuver. The Dolphins turned those picks into six players, including a veteran speed back.

The 'Fins packaged both of its fourth rounders (Nos. 136 and 141) to move up to No. 111 to take Georgia guard Solomon Kindley. In the fifth round, they snared defensive ends Jason Strowbridge (UNC, No. 154) and Curtis Weaver (Boise State, No. 164), in addition to dealing No. 153 to San Francisco for tailback Matt Breida.

With its final two picks, Miami landed LSU longsnapper Blake Ferguson (No. 185, don't ask) and Navy gadget player Malcolm Perry (No. 246).

The pluses: Kindley is a behemoth (6-3, 337 pounds) with surprising agility and a mean streak, making him a candidate to shore up the interior of Miami's offensive line. Strowbridge (6-4, 275) is a good fit for the 'Fins multiple-front defense, a versatile athlete with undeveloped potential, and analyst Dane Brugler had him with a grade in the 3rd/4th round as the No. 12 defensive lineman in the draft. 

Perry (5-9, 186) is shifty and dangerous in space with "elite intangibles" according to analyst Dane Brugler, the kind of weapon that offensive coordinators love to play with. Ferguson (6-3, 229) was the top longsnapper on Brugler's board, which has to be good, right? Right?

But Miami's third-day draft effort will ride on Weaver and Breida. Weaver was tabbed as Brugler's No. 7 pass-rusher in the draft, with a grade in the 2nd/3rd round. Not only does the 6-2, 265-pounder represent great value where the 'Fins got him, but he fills a position of monumental need -- pure pass-rusher with a relentless motor. 

I predicted Miami would grab an early-career speed back from another team late in the draft, and the Dolphins accomplished that with the speedy Breida (5-11, 195), the 25-year-old out of Georgia Southern with 2,463 total yards and 10 touchdowns over the past three seasons. He'll be a great complement to Jordan Howard in the 'Fins backfield.

The negatives: Packaging a pair of fourth-rounders to move up 25 spots in the round for Kindley was a lot to give up for Brugler's No. 17 guard with a seventh-round grade. Kindley has had injury and weight issues, displays a lack of balance and short arms, and left school early despite inconsistent technique.

Weaver was a no-brainer pick where he went, though maturity concerns and questions about how he'll transition against better competition as a mediocre athlete dropped him in the draft.

It's hard to argue too much with any sixth-round pick, but taking a long snapper in the sixth round had literally never done before and appeared to be evidence that the Dolphins simply had too many picks. You can't convince me that a team with as many holes as Miami didn't have actual position players left on their board who could challenge the depth chart at spots of need.

The bottom line: The trade for Breida and the selection of Weaver may have salvaged not only Day 3 for the 'Fins, but Miami's entire draft. Breida immediately changes the complexion of the running game, while Weaver could impact right away as a situational pass-rusher.

Overall, the haul was littered with developmental prospects, meaning that -- as mentioned -- the Dolphins are betting hard on their own coaching staff and training program. There were more than a few head-scratching picks, but Miami double- and tripled-up at positions of need along both lines of scrimmage. 

I feel like the 'Fins consistently passed up more refined and proven players throughout the draft, but as usual, time will tell. Unfortunately for general manager Chris Grier, time has usually told the story of poor evaluation and worse vision for a player's fit within the team's scheme. Let's hope that changes with dedication to a new braintrust in Miami.

Day 50: Quasi-Quarantine: May The Fourth Be With Your A-Wing Starfighter

One of my birthday presents was the Resistant A-Wing Starfighter Lego set. This sleek vehicle was featured in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, and the set was another clever little build.

The A-Wing has a nifty cockpit section, retractable landing gears, and wing-tip cannons, but the spring-loaded shooters are the highlight of this starfighter. The configuration includes a square button that is built in as the activator for the shooter, which we haven't encountered on any other sets.

This 269-piece set also included two very unique minifigures. Snap Wexley (played in the movie by Greg Grunberg, a classic "oh, that guy" actor perhaps best known as being Matt Parkman in "Heroes" and a childhood friend of J.J. Abrams) is the pilot, and his minifigure has a stubble and an artsy battle helmet. Lieutenant Connix (perhaps best known for her irresistible Princess-Leia-on-Endor-ish hairstyle) is the other minifigure, and the actress who portrayed her, Billy Lourd, is Carrie Fisher's daughter.

Seemingly minutes after completing the build, Wexley had already taken a dive off the second floor into the hedges below, necessitating a rescue. The ensuing Rebel rescue mission to extricate him from Planet Bush was what passes for highlight-of-the-day-type-shite these days.

The A-Wing is a suitable set to profile on this May the Fourth, and -- along with the AT-ST walker and the Y-Wing -- will figure in many Lego battles today and beyond ...

Limerick Friday #464: It's May, Have We Told You How Much We Rock Lately? -- Day 47

Let's gather round, kids

And toast what some of us dids

Did you kill it or slay?

Did you rock or crush today?

Let us tell us how great us is

A one-man content band

Spreading copy over the land

Morale did plummet

'Cuz of virtual Summit

Shit's over, now beer my hand

She's 16 now

But, I mean ... how?

A birthday in the yard

Love in a crafty card

Quasi-quarantine can't stop the wow

A torrent on the scene

Rained so much 'twas obscene

It felt like piling on

I mean, really, c'mon

Not cool, COVID-19

White terrorism does lurk

Leadership gone berserk

Rotten from the top

Ignorance doesn't stop

Will Darwinism finally work?

Last time ...