Thoughts on: The Book of Boba Fett

 Finished Disney+'s "The Book of Boba Fett".  

Thoughts and spoilers below:

...

And now... 2022!

Welcome to 2022, everyone!  Nothing snarky- just well wishes to everyone.  The past two years have been traumatic (though I suppose every year has it's ups and downs), and the universe could use a nice, calm year to regroup.

No predictions this year... I barely have an idea what I'll be doing in 2022, let alone guess what others will be doing.

With the new year is a chance to renew my 'Project 190'- my weight loss goal.  I started at about 240+, went down to 206, then bounced back up.  I'm now at 219.4 this morning.  I know what is needed- in game terms, how to respec my eating habits to increase my weight loss DPS- and now I will do so.

Be well, my friends.

Goodbye 2021

2021 Ends tonight... the sooner, the better.

There have been good things that happened in 2021- people that I have met, times that I have hung out with my friends.  We are renovating my house, which has caused us to move in with my parents for four months- and that worked out incredibly well for all of us.  

But my initial thoughts about 2021 are the people I have lost.  My grandmother passed away in her 90s.  One of my oldest friends from high school passed away from cancer at 50.  Every year has good and bad points- but this one seems to sting harder than most.

In the world, two events stick out.  The vaccines worked brilliantly, and turned COVID from a plague that threatened the world to a manageable problem.  Even though the virus mutates (I now several people who are positive now), it is much less severe than we could have possibly imagined in the summer of 2020.  The world has changed because of COVID- but the changes are much less dystopic.

The second event was January 6th.  I have always felt that, despite the differences between the citizens of America, when the chips were down, they would stick together.  January 6th should have been a wake up call that things were too far gone in terms of rhetoric and the Culture Wars.  Instead, it has become one more cudgel to be used.  I fear that January 6th won't be seen as a warning, but as a sign of the future.

And, after a forty year pause, inflation has come roaring back.  Good times.  I feel like we're in a sequel to the 1970s, but the soundtrack is much worse...

I am an optimistic, and believe the future trends upwards.  But even upward trends have down years.  2021 was a down year.  Here's to 2022 being better for us all.

NBA 2021-2022 Predictions

Eastern Conference:

1.       Milwaukee

2.       Brooklyn     

3.       Boston

4.       Philadelphia

5.       Atlanta

6.       New York

7.       Charlotte

8.       Miami

9.       Chicago

10.     Washington

11.     Indiana

12     Cleveland

13.     Toronto

14.     Detroit

15.     Orlando

Playoffs:

·         Charlotte over Miami; Chicago over Washington; Chiacgo over Miami

·         Milwaukee over Chicago, Brooklyn over Charlotte, Boston over New York, Atlanta over Philadelphia

·         Milwaukee over Atlanta, Brooklyn over Boston

·         Brooklyn over Milwaukee

Western Conference:

1.       Denver

2.       Utah

3.       LA Lakers

4.       Phoenix

5.       Golden State

6.       Dallas

7.       Portland

8.       Memphis

9.       New Orleans

10.     Sacramento

11.     LA Clippers

12.     San Antonio

13.     Minnesota

14.     Houston

15.     Oklahoma City

Playoffs:

·         Memphis over Portland, New Orleans over Sacramento, New Orleans over Portland

·         Denver over New Orleans, Utah over Memphis, Dallas over Lakers, Phoenix over Golden State

·         Denver over Phoenix, Dallas over Utah

·         Denver over Dallas

More notes:

·         I wasn't a Brooklyn fan, and really don't enjoy watching Harden or Kyrie- but lord is Durant good.  After losing on a fluke to a great team, despite having two injured stars, I think Durant is on a mission this year 

·         I'd love my Cleveland Cavaliers to play well- but it's such a weird team.  They have talent, but no definition.  I think this is a playoff or bust year for both Altman and Bickerstaff- but the East is deep, and unless the young players really step up well, I don't think they make it.  

·         MVP?  The general preseason consensus is Luka Doncic.  If Dallas plays well, he will win

·         ROY?  Jalen Green- though I think this might be a great class with several all-stars in the suture

·         Finals?  I think Denver is deeper, Jokic is great, and they might have Jamal Murray back... but Brooklyn has Durant, has Harden, and I think come crunch time Kyrie will rejoin the team.  Brooklyn is on a mission, and they win 4-1

Taste Test: Basil Hayden

Selection:  Basil Hayden

Price:  ~$45

Proof:   80 Proof (40% ABV)

Thoughts:   Tried this in Indiana.  It's a Rye- and the Rye is overwhelming.  I'm not really tasting anything else.  Adding a lemon helps a bit- but if a bourbon isn't good to drink without fruit, it's not a great bourbon.

Conclusion:   Not something I'd recommend.  Too powerful of a rye taste to get anything else.  

NFL Predictions: 2021-22

I'm never right about these but why let that stop me?

 NFC

East:

Washington 11-6

Dallas 10-7

Philadelphia 6-11

NY Giants 4-13

North:
Minnesota 10-7
Green Bay 9-8
Detroit 5-12

Chicago 3-14

South:
Tampa Bay 12-5

Atlanta 11-6 (Wild Card)
New Orleans 10-7
Carolina 5-12

West:
Los Angeles Rams 12-5
San Francisco 11-6 (Wild Card)

Seattle 11-6 (Wild Card)

Arizona 6-11 


Playoffs:
San Francisco over Minnesota

Seattle over Washington

Los Angeles Rams over Atlanta

Tampa Bay over San Francisco

Los Angeles Rams over Seattle

Tampa Bay over Los Angeles Rams



AFC

East:
Buffalo 13-4

New England 12-5 (Wild Card)
Miami 6-11
NY Jets 5-12

North:

Cleveland 12-5

Baltimore 11-6 (Wild Card)

Pittsburgh 9-8

Cincinnati 5-12

South:
Tennessee 11-6

Indianapolis 9-8

Jacksonville 6-11
Houston 2-15

West:
Kansas City 12-5 
Los Angeles Chargers 11-6  (Wild Card)
Denver 7-10
Las Vegas 5-12

Playoffs:
Cleveland over Los Angeles Chargers

New England over Tennessee
Kansas City over Baltimore

Buffalo over New England
Cleveland over Kansas City

Buffalo over Cleveland



Super Bowl: Buffalo 33, Tampa Bay 24

Taste Test: Coppercraft Rye Whiskey

Selection:  Coppercraft Rye Whiskey

Price:  ~$40

Proof:   90 Proof (45% ABV)

Thoughts:   I'm going in blind on this drink, basing it off a recommendation from the Bourbon Junkies.  This was one of their suggestions for people who like Blanton's Bourbon.  Blanton's is exceptionally difficult to find, especially in Ohio.  In a perfect world, I'd compare Coppercraft to Blanton's- but I don't have any to compare it to.

Onto the tasting:  It's definitely a Rye Whiskey, and it has an earthy taste.  There's a bit of a vanilla or caramel taste to the drink.  It doesn't have a long or sharp bite (90 is on the lower end for alcohol content).

Conclusion:   Not bad, not one of my favorites.  It's a decent placeholder if you're looking for a Rye drink