Post Diwali Morning Regrets

Last night was Diwali and we live in Bridgewater.  About 50 of us Chindians gathered in the cul-de-sac. It was cold and a firepit was started. Even so, lots of the women folk came out in traditional sari dress. The Indian gals tried to get Mrs. Stroock to put one on but she said no. Damnit. We had a second drink. Wow. Diwali is the kind of night that separates the childhood fireworks dabblers from the fanatics. In a time honored New Jersey fireworks tradition, many times was said, 'Check this out, it's from Pennsylvania!' Kaboom!

This blog endorses Hot Air's analysis of the $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill. This bill was gonna pass one way or another. Haven't you people ever heard of a managed vote? And passing this bill makes it much harder for the Dem's to strongarm Manchin, Sinema and the rest. Zerohedge lists all the things in the bill that are crazy. But most of them aren't that crazy. Is the bill great? No. But it ain't bad either. 

NJ.com has a great piece on the political situation here in New Jersey. Basically it mirrors Virginia. Dem's too far left, unmotivated voter base, energized GOP. Here's a great point about outgoing Senate Majority Leader Steve Sweeney: 'Sweeney probably saved numerous Democratic legislative seats and maybe even the governor himself by protecting the party from going even further left on taxes, borrowing and spending these last four years.' Which is one of the reasons why we liked him. There's also some talk about Governor Murphy's 'branding'. Yes, he's running for president. 

We got a credit memo from Decision Games yesterday, which tells us they're publishing a piece we wrote about general Hunter Liggett; 2,400 words. We have vague memories of writing a short article about Hunter Liggett. We also have vague memories of having published a short article about Hunter Liggett. Did we already publish this piece somewhere else? Yes our publishing is so vast we have trouble keeping track. Military Heritage, Inforos, Strategy & Tactics, it all mergers together after a while, especially the Russian collusion. Writers aren't supposed to publish a piece in one magazine and then turn around and publish it in another. Of course magazines aren't supposed to stiff writers and put someone else's name on the wargame they designed. So screw Decision Games. Screw them with extreme prejudice.

Your pre-Diwali Chindian Warmup and 1st Amendment Post

Good autumnal morning, world of William Stroock dot blogspot dot com.

We had a great run on the treadmill yesterday. 

We followed this up with a fine afternoon in downtown Somerville with the girls. Here we spent a hundred bucks on fancy zen-rocks (we're not proud of our blasphemy) and enjoyed an hour at Yestercades. We played Punch Out and still can't get past Bald Bull. What the actual F? Oldest daughter found she has taste for pinball. 

Last night was Diwali and we live in Chindia. So there were some fireworks. Our block is holding a big Diwali party this weekend. We're enthused. It's like Chanukah (Diwali is literally a festival of lights) combined with the 4th of July. and the biggest Indian takeout all you can eat imaginable. The Bridgewater police department is totally chill with fireworks. But we've always been prepared to make a scene if they show up, 'This is a 1st Amendment issue, officer! You're violating these people's religious rights!...get your hands off me!'

On the political front, New Jersey truck driver Edward Durr has officially defeated state senate majority leader Steve Sweeney. We used to like Durr, but NJ.com reports, 'Hours after Edward Durr seemingly solidified his stunning election victory over state Senate President Stephen Sweeney, xenophobic and anti-Muslim social media messages have surfaced that were posted from his accounts.' Now we love him. As we posted at NJ.com's FB page, who gives a fuck?