Singles and Doubles Vol 12
Cheaper By the Dozen
1st INNING
I read it cost close to $20 million for the Criminal-in-Chief to go to the Super Bowl. And it cost around $5 million for his joyride to the Daytona 500. (Insert your favorite expletive here.) Did Co-President Elon Musk approve these exorbitant expenditures? How in bloody hell can this be justified? Government workers are losing their jobs while Musk’s assistant is out joyriding on Air Force One. Where is the Department of Government Efficiency when you need it? These strokes to the Criminal’s big, fat ego cost the taxpayers millions of dollars, proving this administration does not give a flying fuck about reducing government waste.
Doesn’t the convicted felon have anything better to do with his time? Some folks might say that even Presidents deserve some R&R. I would agree, except what does he ever do besides play golf, watch TV, and constantly present his bloated orange ass for kissing? And have phone sex with his hero and puppet master, Vladimir Putin?
By the way, when DOGE starts looking for waste, inefficiency, and fraud in all of the sweetheart deals Co-President Musk has with the US government, is when I’ll start believing the DOGE is a real thing and not a bullshit scam to accumulate power and enrich themselves.
2nd INNING
One of my favorite baseball players from when I was a young man has finally made it into Baseball’s Hall of Fame - Dave Parker. He made his major league debut in 1973 for the Pittsburgh Pirates and he was what baseball people call a “five-tool player”. He could hit, hit for power, run, throw, and field. Dave Parker could do it all. He became a two time batting champion, a two time World Series winner, a seven time All-Star, an All-Star game MVP, a three time Gold Glove winner, and the 1978 National League MVP. He was acclaimed as the best player in baseball.
Then, right in the midst of his prime, Dave Parker fell victim to injuries and cocaine. The Pirates let him leave in free agency. Dave never reclaimed his title as the best player in baseball, but he was able to resurrect his career in his mid 30s and he had some really productive years with the Reds, Athletics, and Brewers.
Dave did not make the Hall of Fame in the usual way, by vote of the BBWAA, the Baseball Writers Association of America. He got in through a special committee that has gone by different names over the years. The committee reviews players and contributors to the game who, for one reason or another, have fallen through the cracks.
Dave Parker’s career has been undervalued by the modern analytics that are treated as gospel nowadays. But, Dave Parker passed the eye test, meaning that anyone who saw him play with their own eyes, knew they were watching a Hall of Fame player. I’m so glad he finally got in.
3rd INNING
Recently, my wife and I went back to my old Pennsylvania stomping grounds for my niece’s wedding. It was a very beautiful event and it was a good opportunity to visit with everyone again.
A couple of days after the wedding, many of us gathered for a family dinner at a restaurant called Pub 76, which was located next to the local firehouse. Quoting from the Pub 76 website:
Pub 76 is owned and operated by the Volunteer Fire Department. We opened our doors in 2023 with a mission to serve up delicious American cuisine and support our community. Our menu features all of your favorite comfort foods, from burgers and fries to steaks and seafood. We also have a full bar with a wide selection of beers, wines, and cocktails.
We’re proud to be a part of the community, and your support and patronage provides a direct benefit to your local fire department.
This seems like an innovative way to raise funds for a small town volunteer fire department. My brother-in-law and my nephew are heavily involved in making this venture a success. It is very cool that they are so committed to their community. They told me the place was in the black last year, which is quite an accomplishment for any restaurant these days, especially in a small town. And, guess what? The food was pretty darn good, too.
4th INNING
I have written before about hair.
https://thestormbynorm.substack.com/p/its-just-hair
For the last 15 years or so, I’ve worn my hair kind of long and shaggy. I like it this way, however, what usually happens is, I’ll see a picture of myself and think all that hair looks like a gigantic bird’s nest or hair helmet. That’s how I know it is time for it to be shortened and thinned out.
My wife suggested a couple of months ago that I should get my hair trimmed. I did not ignore her, but I did not act upon her suggestion, either. If I had, it would not look like the unkempt mess it is now. I don’t know why I have to let it reach this point before I get a haircut. We all have our quirks, I guess.
5th INNING
Could The Storm. By Norm be considered a form of social media? If so, it is my first and only. I have never had a Facebook account. Or a Twitter or X or whatever it is. Never had an Instagram or a TikTok or a Bluesky or a Wrinkledoodle or a Palomine or a ToeJam or a FuzzBox. (Okay, I made some of those up.)
I’m just not very social, I guess. I have read that a key to growing one’s Substack is to promote it on social media. But I do not want to spend my time doing social media stuff. I want to write the best essays I can and make comments on the few others I read, and that’s all I want to do. So, I’ll always be a small-timer on Substack. But, I’m all right with that.
6th INNING
On our recent visit to Pennsylvania, there was something that really annoyed me, besides the bitter January cold and the thick blanket of snow covering the entire region. There were still dozens of campaign signs in yards all around the area. And, except for one, they were all for the only candidate in the most recent Presidential election who was a convicted felon. It was sickening.
I know when I go back there I’m going deepinthehearta MAGAville. I spent the first 21 years of my life there, and whenever I visit, for a couple of days I feel like an alien from another planet, like I’m in a place where I don’t belong. I have never forgotten that I have roots there, though.
I hated seeing those goddamn signs. I’m sure the MAGA morons with the yard signs have kept them to annoy whatever few liberals are left in that part of the world. I bet they would all be happy to know that in my case, they succeeded.
7th INNING
Song of the Week: SWLABR, by Cream, from their 1967 album Disraeli Gears. SWLABR is an initialism of She Was Like A Bearded Rainbow. Some people think the lyrics sound a bit like drug-fueled nonsense, but, Pete Brown, the lyricist, has claimed he wasn’t on acid when he wrote it. He said the song was about a guy who was defacing pictures of a girlfriend who had dumped him, comparing it to drawing a mustache on the Mona Lisa. Uh, okay, Pete, if you say so.
Anyway, the music produced on this song is fantastic. For two and a half minutes, Eric Clapton, Jack Bruce, and Ginger Baker kick ass on this short sample of psychedelia. I wish it was three times longer.
8th INNING
At last check, I have subscribers in 31 states, meaning I still need 19 to have all 50. (Thank you, Mr Math.) So far, I have been shut out in the following states: Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Utah, South Dakota, Wyoming, Nebraska, Indiana, West Virginia, Delaware, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Arkansas.
Now, I realize there are a lot of red states in that group and perhaps given my liberal point of view, the pool of potential subscribers might be quite limited. However, even in the reddest of the red states, there must be a few folks who would enjoy my stuff.
So, if you readers out there in Substackland know anyone in the aforementioned states, I would be extremely grateful if you could put in a good word for The Storm. By Norm. Thank you in advance.
9th INNING
How about a picture of the most handsome boy in the whole wide world? (No, not me. I appreciate the thought, though.) Look who it is - It’s Chester!
To my five-tool subscribers, thank you for your support.
And, don’t be afraid to scroll to the bottom and hit that Like button! (But, only if you really mean it.)
Something to say about Singles and Doubles Vol 12? Well, then . . .
Hi Norm,
I agree with you about Trump and his appearances at the Superbowl and Indy 500. Why are the tax payers paying millions of dollars for this?
And don't get me started on DOGE. The fact that Elon Musk, a billionaire, has now cut off aid to starving people and medical aid in other countries says it all. And why has he provided no written proof off all this waste and fraud. Not to mention the $400 million contract he just got from the government for his dumpster cyber trucks. Some Trump supporters said Musk is going to take the money they found and send us all $8000 checks. Why are people so stupid?
I'm sure you're the envy of most men your age with all that hair. I can see why you don't want to cut it off. It's like a lion cutting off his mane.
I haven't lived in the North East, but I recently took a trip there. I mentioned it in one of my stories about my dogs and a Trump supporter. It was very clear to me that I was in MAGA land and I needed to watch my back. I was very happy to leave and get back home.
I'm happy for Dave Parker. Paul Daugherty has also written some nice info on this man's athletic abilities over the many years, also wondering why he didn't get into the Hall sooner.
I think you should use your hair to do an ad for a hair growth distributor....or at least, share with me what your secret is to such a nice long and full head of hair. And hurry, as I am not getting any younger.
Loved the DT's photos.
I, too, despise Social Media. I, too, only use substack and even that gets hit once in a while with people seeking people. Why do they think I am running a dating site? If they ask where I'm from, I just tell them to read my substack and they would know. Don't tell me you're subscribed, but you don't read it. WTHeck.