Day 1,777, Quasi-Quarantine: NYC Dreams, Calculations Of Self-Worth Not Enough To Propel Highly Awaited "Entitlement"

 

“Matthew said, often, that most jobs were just sending email. The pay was good, and there were sometimes free martinis. What more could you want?”

As a follow-up to "Leave the World Behind," this book struggles to find its flow, ultimately leaving readers to wonder where the plot was left behind. Rumaan Alam goes all in on a narrator with no interiority, creating a surface-level perspective you're not sure you can trust.

“She would not allow that there was something unnatural in being her own first priority.”

“The thing that makes life interesting is that it ends. The thing that makes love worthwhile is that it’s all we’ve got.”

"Entitlement" is often confusing in what feels like an intentional way, relying on incidents that may or may not have happened and dialog that may or may not have been spoken. Alam has his moments, as Brooke casts about for meaning and worth, but the novel ultimately fades under its own weight and the one-dimensionality of its main characters.

“This is what is happening. This is what people are doing. There are men with this much money and it’s not that they control the world. They’ve defeated it. They’ve left it. They live somewhere above the rest of us and we spend our days not knowing this because if we did we would all lose our minds.”

Day 1,775, Quasi-Quarantine: Remote Scottish Island Provides Moody Backdrop For Unexpected Hope That Marks The Beautiful "Clear"

 

“I have the cliffs and the skerries and the birds. I have the white hill and the round hill and the peaked hill. I have the clear spring water and the rich good pasture that covers the tilted top of the island like a blanket. I have the old black cow and the sweet grass that grows between the rocks, I have my great chair and my sturdy house. I have my spinning wheel and I have the teapot and I have Pegi, and now, amazingly, I have John Ferguson too.”

A stark and beautiful exploration of solitude, repression, and religion, "Clear" is a masterpiece of understated intensity. Carys Davies channels inner emotion and turmoil with little to no reliance on dialogue, employing the Scottish isle as another character.

“In the old days, the minister had read to them from the Bible in a language they didn’t understand, and then shouted at them in a terrible approximation of their own tongue.”

The travails of John Ferguson, his wife, and island hermit Ivar are absorbing, ushered along by Davies's mastery of flow and rhythm. The cloistered atmosphere becomes nearly claustrophobic, as the emotional tension becomes nearly unbearable at times.

“He wanted urgently, suddenly, to know the answer, to be able to describe things as they were instead of only guessing at them.”

I will admit that I did find myself wondering why John never went back to the Barries house for supplies, food, or clues. Outside of that nit, this book was one of my top reads of the year, even though much of it took place while waiting at my son's soccer practice.

"Clear" uses few words to pack an emotional punch you'll feel for a long time after reading.

“It was as if all three were carrying inside themselves the delicate balance of what they were doing, and were afraid to disturb it in any way.”

Day 1,771, Quasi-Quarantine: "Loudermilk" Accurately Captures Writer Culture And Authenticity

“You have to have something that no one can take away from you, that you can do even if you are in prison. That’s what poetry is.”

Lucy Ives has created a hysterical tale that evokes David Foster Wallace in the competitive world of writing workshops. "Loudermilk" features memorable characters, rampant hijinks, smooth dialogue, and enough of the ridiculous to keep the pages turning.

“Not only is it too hot in this room, it also stinks of something all kinds of rank that Harry peevishly identifies as pizza farts plus Vagisil.”

Some readers may find themselves wishing for more insight into Loudermilk's motivations, and others may find Clare's narrative a bit unnerving, but much of the novel seems to revolve around intentional disorientation. Read through that lens and without the need to think too hard, "Loudermilk" is an absorbing, hilarious adventure.

“Writing cannot be taught, and here is the reason why: You write, not to address the world as it is, but to create the world all over again. Truly great writing does that.”

Day 1,769, Quasi-Quarantine: Incredible Lego Typewriter Struck The Right Holiday Chord

 

Having received the Lego Typewriter (#21327) as a Christmas present nearly a year beforehand, I finally got around to building this memorable set.

Checking in at 2,079 pieces, this build was intricate, enabling movable type and an authentic touch and feel. Derived from a fan idea, this set evoked a lot of nostalgia for my college days ... I could almost taste the Vivarin and mild panic of the night before a term paper was due.

All in all, this was a challenging build, with a few difficult-to-manipulate steps. But the end result was stunning, lending a welcome addition to the office decor.

You've done it again, Lego. Damn you.

Day 1,768, Quasi-Quarantine: "Steal Like An Artist" Is Mostly A Lengthy Motivational Poster, But Manages To Stick

 

Long on inspiration, "Steal Like an Artist" is more a daily affirmation than a blueprint for creativity. Austin Kleon's whimsical, visual approach lends itself to an easy, quick read.

While some readers may be looking for more concrete and actionable guidance, those who embrace Kleon's message will find important pearls about impostor syndrome, time management, and a number of other topics.

"Steal Like an Artist" hits hardest when it nails the many reasons why we say we can't -- when the focus should always be on just seeing what happens when we try.

Limerick Friday #629: "Star Wars" Finds Balance In The Dramedy Force-- Day 1,767

"Skeleton Crew" was a delight

Livening up Tuesday night

It's "Goonies" in space

We all did embrace

I miss it already, all right

Sloppy and one-dimensional play

Crushing losses the order of the day

Injuries and missed shots every night

This is NC State's plight

The Final Four feels so far away

"Severance" back tonight

"Silo" is trying with might

It all seems must-see

Across Apple TV

Bringing great stories to light

A playoff fantasy team

Trying to hold together at the seam

Tricky to navigate

Difficult to speculate

Enter that Galfianakis math meme

Fantasies bordering the absurd

Thought you could quit with a word

But the curves didn't quit

A hold that doesn't diminish a bit

Powerless against the Jaybird

Last time ...

Day 1,766, Quasi-Quarantine: "Rules Of Civility" Mesmerizes As Coming-Of-Age Tale Set In 1930s NYC

 

“We launched ourselves into the evening like satellites and orbited the city two miles above the Earth, powered by failing foreign currencies and finely filtered spirits.”

Amor Towles's stunning debut novel (to be followed by instant classics like "A Gentleman in Moscow," "Lincoln Highway," and "Table for Two") beautiful renders a Manhattan poised between the end of the Depression and the start of the Second World War.

Katherine Kontent finds herself carried into new social stratospheres, juggling the demands of a career and struggling to find her romantic place in an unfamiliar caste.

“He looked like a man who had gained confidence through exposure to a hostile environment; like one who no longer owed anything to anyone.”

To keep the reader on their toes, the protagonist sleeps with at least three dudes in under a year, then, for good measure, had an intense lesbian encounter with an older woman who had pimped out her love -- all in the conservative year of 1938!

“One must be prepared to fight for one’s simple pleasures and to defend them against elegance and erudition and all manner of glamorous enticements.”

In important ways, the novel also works as a love letter to New York, despite its precarious situation: poised at the edge of a massive depression and unspeakable loss by so many. Towles's beautiful imagery and rhythmic pacing are perhaps never on better display than in his descriptions of the city.

“For however inhospitable the wind, from this vantage point Manhattan was simply so improbable, so wonderful, so obviously full of promise – that you wanted to approach it for the rest of your life without ever quite arriving.”

“--That’s the problem with being born in New York, the old newsman observed a little sadly. You’ve got no New York to run away to.”

“Most New Yorkers spent their lives somewhere between the fruit cart and the fifth floor. To see the city from a few hundred feet above the riffraff was pretty celestial. We gave the moment its due.”

"Rules of Civility" somehow demonstrates Towles at his fully formed best, wielding elegant prose in service of vivid characters, an unerring sense of time and setting, and a chronology that unceasingly builds. 

Beautifully wrapped by a stellar ending, the novel is both transporting and engrossing, capturing elements of melancholy, love, and carpe diem in equal measure.

“As a quick aside, let me observe that in moments of high emotion – whether they’re triggered by anger or envy, humiliation or resentment – if the next thing you’re going to say makes you feel better, it’s probably the wrong thing to say. This is one of the finer maxims that I’ve discovered in life. And you can have it, since it’s been of no use to me.”

Day 1,765, Quasi-Quarantine: The Scooters Make A Triumphant Return To Fantasy Football Land

 

My first experience in fantasy football in a few years was a reminder of how much I missed league play. Spending 20 years in an incredibly competitive 14-team league could be really demanding and intense, so joining a relegation league on one side of a 12-team slate was a welcome re-entry to the game.

Powered by a draft-day steal (Baker Mayfield in the ninth round), a shrewd trade (picking up Sam Darnold for Tony Pollard), and a straight-up freak (Ja'Marr Chase), the Scooters won the championship. I used the cash prize to upgrade my vinyl system 👌

Continuing the season, I accepted an invitation to join a playoff fantasy football league, which is a new challenge for me. We used a spreadsheet draft (thanks, Microsoft Teams) to build a roster out of playoff teams, with the approach being that you only accrue points cumulatively from players who are still active throughout the postseason.

So we'll see how that goes, as I acquired a co-GM in my son. No matter what happens, this has been a really fun and entertaining re-introduction to fantasy football, bringing back some cool memories (and yes, a little cursing of bad luck) along the way.

Go Scooters! 🏆

Day 1,764, Quasi-Quarantine: "Among The Thugs" Stunningly Depicts Football Hooliganism

“What principle governed the British sporting event? It appeared that, in exchange for a few pounds, you received one hour and forty-five minutes characterized by the greatest possible exposure to the worst possible weather, the greatest number of people in the smallest possible space, and the greatest number of obstacles – unreliable transportation, no parking, an intensely dangerous crush at the only exit, a repellent polio pond to pee into, last minute changes of the starting time – to keep you from ever attending a match again.

“And yet, here they all were, having their Saturday.”

"Among the Thugs" progressed from a little hilarious to sort of scary to a lot sad, and Bill Buford's experience with football "supporters" in England seemed to mirror those stages.

“This was a mouth through which a great deal of life had passed at, it would appear, an uncompromising speed.”

“This bored, empty, decadent generation consists of nothing more than what it appears to be. It is a lad culture without mystery, so deadened that it uses violence to wake itself up. It pricks itself so that it has feeling, burns its flesh so that it has smell.”

Buford struggles to articulate the disenfranchisement that propels and informs the mob mentality required to lose control in so many different fashions.

“What social mutation had resulted in these bored ugly boys of the Union Jack believing they are entitled to inflict this pain, this fright?” 

Evocative of Hunter S. Thompson's "gonzo journalism," the author finds himself in the middle of the action and part of the story as he's involved in attacks, melees, brawls, and crimes. Though Buford occasionally gets perhaps a little too existential, the story was utterly captivating.

“In the vernacular of the supporters, it had now ‘gone off.’ With that first violent exchange, some kind of threshold had been crossed, some notional boundary: on one side of that boundary had been a sense of limits, an ordinary understanding – even among this lot – of what you didn’t do; we were now someplace where there would be few limits, where the sense that there were things you didn’t do had ceased to exist. It became very violent.”

By the end of the book, he is frustrated, angry, and more than a little bored with the "little shits" he encounters as part of the hooligan lad culture. Attacked by Sardinian police as part of a match march, Buford finally comes to terms with his addiction to the mob mentality and is able to end his eight-year obsession with it as this stunning -- and brave -- book ends.

“It was, I see now on reflection, not unlike alcohol or tobacco: disgusting, at first; pleasurable, with effort; addictive, over time. And perhaps, in the end, a little self-destroying.”

Day 1,763, Quasi-Quarantine: The "12 Days Of IPA" Closes With Recognizable But Smooth Reveals

 

The first, second, and third weeks detailed the roller-coaster ride of the "12 Days of IPA" advent-calendar experience, and the final week kept to that theme, with the following reveals:

Lagunitas Brewing Beast of Both Worlds IPA

Dogfish Head 60-Minute IPA

Cycle Brewing Crank IPA

Beer aficianados will certainly recognize Lagunitas and Dogfish Head, the breweries based in northern California and Delaware, respectively. 

Beast of Both Worlds is a limited-release "bi-coastal IPA" that combines west and east coast hops in an enjoyable 8% ABV banger, while the 60-Minute IPA builds off the classic 90-Minute IPA at a drinkable 6% ABV.

Cycle Brewing is another Florida-based brewery, and the Crank IPA is an ultra-fruity 7-percenter that has a pale, hazy color and a reliance on citra hops. This was a really nice pour.

Overall, I was slightly disappointed at the lack of geographical diversity and the reliance on mainstream-ish breweries, but there were enough newcomers mixed in to make the effort worthwhile.

Here's to 2025, folks ... cheers.

Limerick Friday #628: Yellowjackets, Dolphins, And Overblown Lambs, Oh My-- Day 1,760

"Yellowjackets" had me hooked quick

A good balance of relatable and sick

Clever timeline meld

Good writing to see how they jelled

This is a show that could stick

Another lost season

Mediocrity beyond reason

But Grier remains

And Ross stains

Committing franchise treason

Season 2 came off a little poor

But "Yellowjackets" will never bore

A little neurotic

And a lot chaotic

This was not the season I hoped for

Tyreek can't play in the cold

Half the passes, he can't hold

"Cheetah," they call his loser ass

Not for his speed on the grass

But for how quick he does fold

Delusions on repeat

UNC shotguns its feet

To seem, rather than to be

Is the Tar Hole mentality

A fitting spot for Belicheat

Last time ...

Day 1,759, Quasi-Quarantine: The Holidays Mean A Puzzling Time In More Ways Than One

 

The 500-piece "Toy Workshop" from Galison was not too stressful and had some delightful images. Measuring 20 x 20 and created by Michael Storrings, this puzzle had just enough difficulty to allow for everyone to make a contribution while still making it challenging.

8.1 out of 10, would piece together while listening to Christmas music again

Day 1,757, Quasi-Quarantine: "Good Girl, Bad Blood" Is Back, With A Shift In Country And Secrets

Teen-crime aficianado Pippa Fitz-Amobi is back in the sequel to "A Good Girl's Guide to Murder," with the events of the first book propelling her into a renowned true-crime podcaster. Fortunately, living in the unluckiest and coincidental small town ever is a boon to Pip, as the disappearance of her best friend's brother gives her ripe material for new episodes and another calling toward detective work.

My edition of the book randomly moved the events from England to the United States, which was slightly jarring. But Holly Jackson's customary pacing travels well and is in full effect, as Pip, Ravi Singh, and Connor Reynolds explore their town's dark secrets and slew of shady characters. 

Suspension of disbelief is certainly required on occasion, but "Good Girl, Bad Blood" is full of fun twists and turns if you allow yourself to indulge.

Day 1,753, Quasi-Quarantine: In Surprising Twist, Scam Advent Calendar Wraps Up In Non-Terrible Fashion

 

As we know from weeks one, two, three, and four of the scam National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation advent calendar, bemused ridiculousness has been the dominant theme.

I'm happy to report that the final week of the calendar was perhaps the most coherent, revealing the following:

Day 21: Pool

Day 22: Rusty

Day 23: Moose mug

Day 24: Uncle Lewis

For the first time this month, I found these reveals to be immediately identifiable, which feels like a win.

Despite the mild uptick at the end, I still found myself missing the Star Wars Lego advent calendar. Instead of overthinking things next holiday season, I think I'll go back to the ol' standby.

Holy shit. Happy New Year. Where's the Tylenol? 

Day 1,739, Quasi-Quarantine: Coming Down The Home Stretch, A Vague Plan Takes Shape Amidst The Ill-Formed Chaos

 

On the off chance that weeks one, two, and three did not convince you of the hysterically janky nature of the scam National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation advent calendar, I trust week four will get you over the finish line.

Day 16: Another RV part

Day 17: Yet another RV part

Day 18: Aunt Bethany (like 88.5% sure)

Day 19: Nothing. Literally empty

Day 20: Another piece of Blair Witch-style branch (like on Day 13)

As we search frantically for bright spots, I will admit that an almost-coherent plan is taking shape in some quadrants. 

The RV parts clearly fit together to make a larger RV, albeit misshapen. And the pieces of string/wood could potentially serve as reins to fit together the various pieces of the holiday decoration that Clark kicked around the frontyard in a fit of anger.

Obviously the empty day is a slight downer, but I kind of just want this to be over at this point.

After all ... "Do you really think it matters, Eddie?"

Day 1,739, Quasi-Quarantine: A Slow Decline Into Predictability For The Beer Advent Calendar

 

After a solidly eclectic first week of the "12 Days of IPA," I was pretty hoptimistic (sorry) about how the rest of the advent calendar played out. Then the second week revealed a distinct southeastern bent, challenging those high hopes.

Welp, the third week took it a step further, making it not only predictable geographically be veering hard into mainstream brews:

• Florida Avenue Brewing Company's Luminescence
• Victory Brewing Company's Juicy Monkey Hazy
• Cigar City Brewing's Jai Alai

Two more Florida breweries and a highly recognizable Pennsylvania outfit (Victory). Plus, I mean, Jai Alai is one of the foundational brews available at fucking Disney World.

On a positive note, the Luminescence was tropically hazy and smooth, and granted, there have been only a couple of stinkers thus far.

I guess I was hoping for some deeper cuts in this calendar. But hey, it's beer, right?

Holiday cheers, y'all.

Day 1,739, Quasi-Quarantine: Dolphins-Texans Game 14 Review

 

With the season hanging in the balance, Miami played its worst offensive game of the year and appeared to be completely unprepared for Houston's defensive scheme. Coach Mike McDaniel's crew dramatically lost the turnover battle (4-1), were flagged 11 times, and did not use tempo to counter or throw off a stifling Texans "D."

In what was essentially a season-ending defeat, the 'Fins fell to 1-11 in the last dozen games against teams with winner records. Will this finally end up costing general manager Chris Grier his job? What can McDaniel do in the remaining games to prove that he is more than a coordinator?

On to the the-offseason-is-going-to-be-interesting recap ...

Offense

• The Dolphins were completely pantsed by Houston coach DeMeco Ryan and his defense; there is simply no other way to put it. Miami's pop-gun offense hit rock bottom, averaging just 3.6 yards per play and 4.0 yards per pass, managing just 18 first downs and 224 total yards. The 'Fins converted just four of 13 third-down tries, though they got first downs on both fourth-down attempts and scored a touchdown on one of two red-zone visits. Somehow, the visitors dominated time of possession (33:24 to 26:36) despite averaging just 2.7 yards per carry on 19 rushes. On a day when the Dolphin defense showed up large, this unit completely screwed the pooch.
• Tua Tagovailoa burnished his completion percentage with a 29 of 40 showing, but if the passes are all for three yards, does it really matter? He threw for just 196 yards and a touchdown, and he destroyed momentum repeatedly with three interceptions and a lost fumble. Tua took three sacks and seemed confused and rattled for most of the game, resulting in an offense-low 30.8 grade from Pro Football Focus.
• At running back, De'Von Achane was arguably over-used again, racking up 19 touches. In 45 snaps, he carried 12 times for 41 yards and caught all seven targets for 35 yards, though he did fumble once and also made a solo tackle, picking up a 62.4 mark from PFF. Raheem Mostert rushed six times for just eight yards and reeled in all three targets for 13 yards in 26 snaps (67.0 grade from PFF). Rookie Jaylen Wright carried once for three yards in three snaps, and fullback Alec Ingold recorded no touches in his 16 snaps (42.1 PFF mark). The rotation at running back remains confusing and inefficient, though the state of the offensive line is certainly contributing to the inability to move the ball on the ground.
• Tyreek Hill had a pretty dismal game (54.6 PFF grade), catching just two of seven targets for 36 yards in 63 snaps, while being called for a hold and making two solo tackles. He had both sloppy route-running and was out-fought for the game-deciding interception, with some accounts having him accountable for two of the three picks (every interception was on a pass targeted to Hill). With Odell Beckham mercifully cut during the week, Malik Washington got 40 snaps and reeled in five of six targets for 52 yards, earning a 67.4 mark from PFF. Jaylen Waddle was targeted twice without a catch in 26 snaps before leaving with a leg injury (50.5 mark from PFF), and River Cracraft contributed a six-yard catch and a facemask penalty in his 22 snaps (45.8 FF grade). Grant DuBose returned to the rotation for 11 plays (55.8 PFF mark), but lost a yard on his only catch before being sent to the hospital on a huge hit on a bad ball by Tua that drew a personal foul. Overall, the wideouts seemed to have little burst and bad spacing on a day that the unit overall seemed to shrink from the physicality of the Houston secondary. More alarmingly, Hill has seemed to regress significantly this season from both a physical and focus standpoint, and considering he'll turn 31 shortly after the season is over, one has to wonder what value he'll have on a team facing a potential rebuild.
• Jonnu Smith led the team in targets with 11 from his tight end spot, and he pulled in nine for 48 yards and a touchdown in 45 snaps. good for an offense-leading 71.4 PFF grade. Julian Hill was not targeted in 27 snaps, and Durham Smythe contributed an eight-yard catch and a solo tackle in his 16 snaps. Smith has had a tremendous season, but disappointingly, his work underneath has not resulted in more downfield opportunities for the wide receivers.
• Up front, Miami was down to its fourth and fifth tackles in Patrick Paul (right, 52.5 PFF mark) and Jackson Carman (left). The duo held up reasonably well on the edges, though Carman had holding and unnecessary roughness penalties and was forced to make a solo tackle to end up with a 42.2 grade from PFF. The 'Fins were largely dominated on the interior, with left guard Robert Jones (42.7 PFF mark), center Aaron Brewer, and right guard Liam Eichenberg all being whistled for holding penalties, with Eichenberg throwing in a false start to boot to contribute to a dismal 32.2 showing from PFF. Brewer recovered an Achane fumble at one point, but overall, the Dolphins were overwhelmed in the trenches -- a familiar story as this season has progressed.

Defense

• All credit to defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver and his crew here -- they turned in a tremendous performance. Miami limited the Texans to just 12 first downs and 181 total yards, allowing just 3.5 yards per pass and 3.6 yards per play. The Dolphins did not allow Houston to establish a running game (77 yards, 3.9 yards per carry) and stopped the home team on five of 13 third downs, though Houston was successful on its lone fourth-down attempt. The 'Fins did allow touchdowns on two of three red-zone trips, but managed four sacks and even forced a turnover (it was a gift on an unexpected snap, but it counts). This side of the ball did more than enough to win, harassing quarterback C.J. Stroud and controlling the game. Weaver went with a tighter rotation of playing time, which seemed to be pay huge dividends.
• On the defensive interior, Zach Sieler followed up his AFC Defensive Player of the Week effort with two tackles, a solo, 1.5 sacks, a stop for loss, and two quarterback hits in 45 snaps (78.1 PFF grade). Calais Campbell recorded four tackles, three solos, and a stop for loss in 31 snaps (78.0 mark from PFF), while Benito Jones (an encroachment in 26 snaps, part of a team-worst 29.1 PFF grade) and Da'Shawn Hand (19 snaps, 60.1 mark from PFF) were solid despite a lack of statistics. Someone named Matt Dickerson also got four snaps.
• Chop Robinson led the way from the edge with two tackles, one solo, 1.5 sacks, one stop for loss, and four quarterback hits in 28 snaps, earning a 79.3 mark from PFF. Emmanuel Ogbah managed three tackles and two solos in 41 snaps (48.8 mark from PFF), while Quinton Bell added three tackles and two solos in his 19 snaps. Mo Kamara got two snaps in reserve. Miami needs more from the edge -- especially with so many injuries, the latest being Tyus Bower headed to IR -- but this was a gutsy effort from this level of the defense.
• At inside linebacker, Jordyn Brooks played well (78.8 grade from PFF), racking up eight tackles, six solos, a stop for loss, and a fumble recovery. Anthony Walker also played all 50 snaps, collecting seven tackles, four solos, and a sack (51.3 PFF mark). No reserves saw action in this one.
• Kyle Fuller and Jalen Ramsey both played all 50 snaps at cornerback, with Fuller notching five tackles, four solos, and a stop for loss (60.7 grade from PFF) and Ramsey adding two tackles and a solo (64.5 PFF mark). Kader Kohou registered four tackles, two solos, a stop for loss, and a pass breakup in 27 snaps to pick up a team-best 93.7 PFF grade. No other cornerback had a snap from scrimmage.
• At safety, Jevon Holland and Jordan Poyer played all 50 snaps, with Holland making three tackles and two solos and Poyer having a solo tackle. Elijah Campbell got eight snaps from scrimmage in reserve.

Special teams

• Jason Sanders hit two field goals, including a 55-yarder, but missed his only extra point for the second week in a row.
• Jake Bailey punted three times for a 60.3-yard average, placing one inside the 20-yard line.
• Washington averaged 24.3 yards on three kickoff returns and added 24 yards on a pair of punt returns. Miami did allow a 23-yard punt return by Tank Dell, but Houston did not return any kickoffs.
• Duke Riley and Siran Neal played 21 snaps in the kicking game to lead defensive players, while Julian Hill paced offensive players with 15 snaps in the third phase. Channing Tindall and Patrick McMorris made solo tackles, though Tindall was whistled for holding and Elijah Campbell was called for unnecessary roughness.

Momentum plays

• On its first play of the game, Miami lost three yards on a pass, setting the tone for the entire afternoon. Tua found Washington for eight yards to convert a 3rd & 7, but the quarterback took a sack on 3rd & 9 to end the possession.
• A pair of 15-yard passes got Houston moving before Kohou forced a fumble that the 'Fins were unable to recover. Miami held on 3rd & 2, leading to a 44-yard field goal to put the Texans ahead by three.
• The Dolphins went three-and-out despite facing a 1st & 5, but despite a 23-yard punt return by the home team, the defense forced a three-and-out of its own on the strength of a third-down sack by Sieler.
• Tua hit Smith for 10 yards, then Achane ran three straight times for 15 yards. A 13-yard pass to Achane was nullified by offsetting penalties, but Mostert ran for a first down. A third-down hold on Jones was followed by another lost-yardage completion to Achane, who got seven touches on the drive. Sanders drilled a 55-yard field goal to tie the score at three after a 12-play drive.
• Miami got another three-and-out to get the ball back quickly, but Tua was sacked and fumbled on 3rd & 4, and the Texans recovered on Miami's 28-yard line.
• Houston hit a 15-yard pass on its first play, then paid off the turnover with a six-yard touchdown on a 3rd & 3 play that saw Poyer wandering around aimlessly in the end zone as his man caught the easy score to go up 10-3.
• Washington took a short pass 20 yards to jumpstart the next Miami possession, then Achane ran for a first down on a play that saw Waddle leave after getting rolled up on. A low-block penalty on the Texans got the 'Fins another first down, but a hold on Tyreek Hill erased a nice run by Achane. On 3rd & 10, Achane caught yet another pass for minimal yardage, then fumbled for good measure, though Brewer pounced on the loose ball. Sanders connected from 36 yards away at the two-minute warning to trim the margin to 10-6.
• Three plays later, Stroud wasn't looking as the ball was snapped, and after a lengthy scrum, Brooks emerged with the fumble, setting up the Dolphins at Houston's 49-yard line.
• The teams traded holding penalties, then Tua threw a bad interception on a 2nd & 6 play that appeared to feature a wrong route by Hill. To compound matters, the pick was returned 68 yards, all the way to Miami's five-yard line with 13 second left in the half.
• The 'Fins defense responded with a sack and a forced incompletion, so the Texans could only settle for a short field goal to extend the advantage to 13-6 at halftime.
• With the first possession of the second half, the home team converted a 3rd & 3 before being forced to punt on 4th & 2. However, Houston ran a fake that covered 35 yards, though McMorris appeared to have forced a fumble that he recovered. Not only was the call reversed, but an unnecessary roughness penalty on Elijah Campbell set up the Texans from Miami's four-yard line. Two plays later, Stroud found Nico Collins for another six-yard touchdown to make it 20-6 -- a seemingly insurmountable lead.
• Miami countered impressively, with Washington catching a 14-yard pass before DuBose was catastrophically injured on a poorly thrown ball by Tua that ended up in a dangerous unnecessary roughness penalty that led to DuBose being carted off after a long stoppage. Tua then found Achane for 10, but the 'Fins faced a 3rd & 16 three plays later after a hold on Carman. Tua found Hill for 21 yards, but after a facemask on Cracraft and an offsides on Houston, Miami had a 4th & 2 from the Texans's seven-yard line. Tua held onto the ball, allowing Smith to broke up in the far corner of the end zone, and the tight end held on for a touchdown on a play that also saw Houston commit an illegal contact penalty. However, Sanders pulled the extra point left, keeping the score at 20-12.
• The Dolphins forced a quick three-and-out after a third-down sack by Robinson, then quickly moved into Houston territory with an initial first down and a 15-yard strike to Hill. A nine-yard pass to Smith converted a 4th & 4, setting up Miami at the Texans's 25-yard line. On a 3rd & 5 play, Tua fired for Hill inside the 10-yard line on the right sideline, but Derek Stingley picked off the pass and returned it 10 yards to kill a 13-play Miami drive.
• A Stroud scramble earned a first down on 3rd & 1, then two passes helped the home team turn a 2nd & 15 into another first. The Dolphin "D" held at that point, forcing a punt.
• The ensuing Miami drive went like so: false start, sack, incompletion with a declined holding penalty, six-yard pass, punt on 4th & 19.
• The 'Fins defense made another heroic stop, with Sieler and Robinson combining for a third-down sack. The Houston punt gave the visitors possession with 1:56 remaining from its own 23-yard line.
• On the very first play, Tua went deep down the right sideline for Hill, but the ball was slightly underthrown and the wideout allowed Stingley to rip it out of his hands for yet another interception. The Texans ended the contest after three Stroud kneeldowns.

2024 Schedule

Miami 20, Jacksonville 17 (1-0)

Buffalo 31, Miami 10 (1-1)

Seattle 24, Miami 3 (1-2)

Tennessee 31, Miami 12 (1-3)

Miami 15, New England 10 (2-3)

Indianapolis 16, Miami 10 (2-4)

Arizona 28, Miami 27 (2-5)

Buffalo 30, Miami 27 (2-6)

Miami 23, Los Angeles Rams 15 (3-6)

Miami 34, Las Vegas 19 (4-6)

Miami 34, New England 15 (5-6)

Green Bay 30, Miami 17 (5-7)

Miami 32, New York Jets 26 (6-7)

Houston 20, Miami 12 (6-8)

Day 1,737, Quasi-Quarantine: "Yellowface" Delves Into Culture, Identity, And Race Politics Through Surface-Level Characters

“Only I don’t know what it is I want to say anymore. I don’t know if I ever did. And I’m terrified that the only thing I’ll ever be remembered for, and the only method by which I can produce good work, is slipping on someone else’s skin.”

Powered by an unreliable and unlikeable narrator, "Yellowface" delves into themes of plagiarism, cultural identity, loneliness, and the horrors of social media. R.F. Kuang's story is at its best when it navigates the perils and hypocrisies of the publishing world, exposing dirty industry secrets.

“We have one of those skin-deep friendships where you manage to spend a lot of time together without really getting to know the other person.”

I have also read Kuang's "Babel," and I was a little surprised at some of the repetition in phrasing and overall laziness that seemed to drag this book down.

“I looked like I was trying to hold in a sneeze, or like I had to take a shit but was too afraid to tell anyone.”

The main character, Juniper Song, bends over backwards to justify plagiarism, which a reader may end up hoping is unironically just part of the book's bent. She also ends up denigrating the secondary character, Athena, in order to make her own sins more palatable.

The novel struggles with seeming shortcuts in certain storylines and an unwillingness to explore the external life of Juniper, which renders her one-dimensional and robs the narrative of depth. "Yellowface" chooses an intriguing and important premise, but may elide too much in a rush to bring the story full circle.

“I’d somehow absorbed all the directness and verve of Athena’s writing. I felt, as Kanye put it, harder, better, faster, and stronger. I felt like the kind of person who now listened to Kanye.”

Day 1,736, Quasi-Quarantine: OK, This Migrated Into Something Disturbing

 

While weeks one and two were certainly ... confusing? ... this week in the National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation scam advent calendar landed firmly in the "What in the absolute fuck is happening here?" category.

Here's what was unveiled:

Day 11: Another Clark (like 82% sure)

Day 12: Ellen (with zero hotness or even hints of gender)

Day 13: Like ... a piece of fucking Blair Witch-style branch? Quasi-string to hold together reindeers?

Day 14: I mean ... potentially a "shitter was full" bucket of some type. I got nuthin'

Day 15: A second goddam reindeer with shoulder injuries

This week contained some legit, next-level "zero idea what this is" energy. Which is probably a suboptimal quality in an advent calendar.

We're coming down the stretch here, folks. I shudder to think what else may lay in store ...

Day 1,735, Quasi-Quarantine: Have Yourself A Very IPA Christmas

 

The first week of "12 Days of IPAs" revealed a nice mix of geography and taste, especially as a respite from the scam "Christmas Vacation" advent calendar.

Unfortunately, the second week did not maintain that diversity, revealing these brews: 

• Funky Buddha Brewery's Hop Gun
• Terrapin Beer's Depth Perception
• Motorworks Brewing's Pulp Friction

Two of these offerings are from Florida, and the other is from Georgia. The two Florida beers also featured grapefruit, which made this week a bit more challenging for me as decidedly not a grapefruit fan.

However, the Hop Gun did not overwhelm with the grapefruit and was highly drinkable, while the Pulp Friction was a bit milder. The Depth Perception was an imperial and hit hard at 9.1%, but tasted a tad flat and tart.

The first two week had a definite eastern flavor, so I'm hopeful that subsequent offerings go west, young can.

Cheers times deux.