Archive for December, 2025

For all the horrible things our friends on the left say about America being racist, sexist unequal etc etc etc let me make one important point.

This horrible America of which you speak is so great that given the choice between going back to their own countries at no cost to themselves with $3000 in their pockets (An amount higher than the average yearly income in 54 countries) or staying in the US and risking arrest and deportation the majority choose the former.


On twitter today saw a post about how difficult it was to program back in the punch card era compared to today when you can literally ask a AI to create code for you. The fellow marveled at the progress in just 50 years and he’s right about that but let me tell you want progress really is:

Being able to feed a family of four a hot meal with meat for less than an hour wages? THAT’s human progress that king and princes could only dream of.


It’s very easy to forget that Donald Trump has been back in office for less than a year. This is because of his insane work ethic and the breakneck speed that things have been

The amount of things he has managed to get done in these first 11 months is so vast that any other president in history would have considered it a grand set of accomplishments for a full term and quite a few presidents would have been lucky to accomplish as much over two terms. Any person with a even a slight grasp of US history could see this.

Yet lately my X feed has been bombarded by posts aren’t happening fast enough in the Trump administration from cracking down on fraud to arrests, particularly arrests. The post seem unrelenting

I’m thinking this is one of two things or possibly both.

It could be that people just have gotten so used to Trump getting things done fast they can’t grasp the idea that getting things done in Washington is the exception not the rule. It’s sort of how Patriots fans were spoiled by Tom Brady basically making a trip to the Super bowl every other year and acting like something was wrong when we didn’t

It could also be a PSI-op to anger Trump supporters to trick them into staying home in 2026 and try to drive his numbers down.

Frankly if it was my job to try to foment dissent within MAGA that’s how I’d try do it.

One must always remember that most pols aren’t saints. There are some who will do the right thing out of principle (although they might disagree on what the “right thing” is) but in the end most will only do the right thing if the incentive is greater than doing the wrong thing or nothing at all.

That’s reality


When I went to mass yesterday I passed by the cheapest gas station in town which is conveniently located next to my church.

Gas was $2.63 a gallon. That’s a full 16 cents less per gallon than it was two months ago.

Over the course of a year that’s enough saving for me and DaWife to pay 5 water bills or allow us to go out to eat 5 times.

If that’s not enough Friday when I went to work there were no temps in the building.

That it itself is not unusual for the day after Christmas, but what WAS unusual is that Friday was the first day this month when there were no temps in the building.

Last year the temps were gone by December 3rd and at no time during the Biden presidency where they here for more than a week.

The Trump boom is coming in fact it might be already here.


One of the things about importing people from a different culture who don’t want to become Americans is importing a different value system.

A great illustration of this was shown nearly 50 years ago on the TV show “Yes Minister” in an episode called: “The Moral Dimension”

A great explanation of how this works comes from this excellent post on X

Key Quote:

The weird thing about this to me was that whenever I turned down such an offering, it was treated as a grave insult. I was the one in the wrong, and not the fraudster trying to bribe me. They considered it rude that I was in their country and refused to accept how things got done. After all, why did I not want to help my tribe by helping their tribe?

Let me repeat: in these cultures, FRAUD IS NOT EVEN A CONCEPT. There is only what helps your tribe.

They people have no concept that stealing is wrong, unless you’re stealing from them. The stealing doesn’t shock these folks, what shocks them is that we weren’t already doing it on the scale that they are.

Until that changes things won’t change.

Two Bad Christmas Jokes, One Old One New

Posted: December 27, 2025 by datechguy in Uncategorized

Bad Christmas Joke #1

A church group decides to go to the Holy Land over Christmas and they tour all the sites from the upper room to the site of the crucifixion until they get to the place where the shepherds were tending the flocks when the Christ child was born.

They find it’s been turned into a bit of an open zoo with all kinds of animals. In one pen a guide points to a Lion like the one that killed the Man of God when he was tricked into disobeying him (1 Kings Chapt 13) and the party is shocked that in the same pen there is a Lamb walking about freely.

They are incredibly moved remembering the biblical passage about the lion lying down with the lamb and all and consider it a sign. As they are leaving the area the last person in the party notes that none of this seems to move the zookeeper there one bit so as they’re leaving he asks him:

“I guess the whole lion and lamb thing is old hat to you seeing it every day.”

The keeper answers: “Yeah, particularly since we put a new lamb in there every day.”


The New joke:

It’s the Feast of Stephen Boxing Day and Scrooge’s nephew Fred walks into a tavern full of Joy after seeing the change in his uncle and being made his partner when he sees Bob Crachett at a table alone seemingly sad and apparently drunk. He goes over to him and wishes him a Merry Christmas.

Bob looks up with sad drunken eyes: “My wife kicked me out of the house.”

Fred is astonished? Bob what happened from what I understand my Uncle sent you a giant Christmas Turkey, doubled your salary and offered to help you with Tiny Tim and your family?”

“Yes” said Crachett his head bowed, “He even gave me the rest of the day off. I was so happy I left right away to go off and make Merry.”

Fred is confused: “Surely your good wife can’t hold that against you?”

“Oh Mr. Fred”, slurred Bob whose raised his head making his black eye visible, “You didn’t see the look on her face when she walked on us while I was making her.”

Uncontested waivers claims from weeks 1-5 of the 1999 Dynasty League

Week 1

TeamPlayer PosTeam on CardPlayerPosTeam on Card
St LouisAdam Ledesma1BTampa BayLivan HernandezPSan Francisco
Chicago (N)Pat MearsSSPittsburghGuillermo MotaPMontreal
MinnesotaA. J. BurnettPFloridaAl LevinePCalifornia
Kansas CityBrett BooneInfAtlantaPedro BorbonPLos Angeles
PittsburghJason IngerhousenPOaklandBernard GilkeyOFArizona
CincinnatiLance JohnsonCFChicago (N)Mike MadduxPLos Angeles
Los AngelesAdrian BrownOFPittsburgh
ClevelandBrian JohnsonPCincinnatiRick CroushorePSt. Louis
New York (A)Rafael BournigalSSSeattleMarquis GrissomOFMilwaukee

Week 2

TeamPlayer PosTeam on CardPlayerPosTeam on Card
St LouisBobby AyalaPChicago (n)Mike Lowell3bFlorida
Kansas City Tom Goodwin OFTexas Ben Molina c California
Pittsburgh Sandy Alomar Jr C Cleveland Ben Davis c San Diego
Chicago Lou PoteP California Javier Vasquez PMontreal
Minnesota John Fracatore P Toronto Gerald Williams OF Atlanta
New York (A)Byung-Hyun KimPArizonaDarren JacksonOFChicago (A)

Week 3

TeamPlayer PosTeam on CardPlayerPosTeam on Card
Pittsburgh Manny AlexanderSS/infChicago (N)Luis PoloniaOFDetroit
New York (A)Rico Brogna 1BPhiladelphiaRichie SexsonDHCleveland

Note Teams that are PC managed will move to the end of the round of the draft

Draft order before adjustments

  1. Tampa Bay (now 9th) (-8)
  2. Toronto (now 10th) (-8)
  3. Kansas City (Now 1st) (+2)
  4. New York Mets (now 2nd) (+2_
  5. Houston (now 11th) (-6)
  6. Minnesota (now 3rd) (+3)
  7. Baltimore (now 12th) (-5)
  8. St Louis (now 13th) (-5)
  9. Cincinnati (now 4th) (+5)
  10. NY Yankees (now 14th) (-4)
  11. San Diego (now 15th) (-4)
  12. Chicago (now 5th) (+7)
  13. Cleveland (now 6th) (+7)
  14. Pittsburgh (now 7th) (+7)
  15. Boston (now 16th) (-1)
  16. Los Angeles (now 8th) (+8)

Rounds 1 & 2

PickTeamPlayerPosTeam on CardTeamPlayerPosTeam on Card
1Kansas CityKevin MillwoodSPAtlantaKansas CityJohn Olerud1BToronto
2MetsBrett SaberhagenSPBostonMetsDerick LoweRPBoston
3MinnesotaEdgar Martinez1BSeattleMinnesotaMike SweeneycRoyals
4CincinnatiFreddy GarciaPSeattle
CincinnatiRobin Ventura3BMets
5CubsTim HudsonPOakCubsKen Caminiti3BHouston
6ClevelandJamie MoyerPSeaClevelandOmar DaalSPArizona
7PittsburghMike PiazzacMetsPittsburghUgueth UrbinaRPMontreal
8Los AngelesJim EdmondsCFAnglesLos AngelesDarren Erstad1bCalifornia
9Tampa BayJose Lima SPHoustonTampa BayGeoff JenkinslfMilwaukee
10TorontoMike SirotkaSPWhite SoxTorontoMike LieberthalcPhiladelphia
11HoustonJohnny DamonOFKansas CityHoustonDarren OliverLHSPPittsburgh
12BaltimoreChris SingletoncfWhite soxBaltimoreBrian BohanenLHSPColorado
13St LouisEric MiltonLHSPMinnesotaSt LouisJohn Jaha1bOakland
14YankeesJeff ZimmermanRHRPTexasYankeesReggie SandersOFSan Diego
15San DiegoDave BurbaRHSPClevelandSan DiegoPokey Reese2bCincinnati
16BostonB J. Shurhoffof BaltimoreBostonJeff SuppanPKansas City

Rounds 3 & 4

PickTeamPlayerPosTeam on CardTeamPlayerPosTeam on Card
1Kansas CityJose CansecoLF Tampa BayKansas CityJason VaritekcBoston
2MetsKevin Young1BPittsburghMetsPaul AbbotRPSeattle
3MinnesotaRoy HalladayPTorontoMinnesotaJose Offerman2BRedsox
4CincinnatiTodd JonesRPDetroitCincinnatiChad CurtisCFYankees
5CubsF.P. SantangeloCFSan FranciscoCubsAlex OchoaofMilwaukee
6ClevelandDustin HermansonSPMontrealClevelandDamon EasleyInfDetroit
7PittsburghMike JacksonRPClevelandPittsburghMike RemlingerSPAtlanta
8Los AngelesRichard HildagoOF HoustonLos AngelesTravis Fryman3BCleveland
9Tampa BayKenny RogersSPNY MetsTampa BayRey SanchezSSKansas City
10TorontoWilson AlverezSPTampa BayTorontoSean Casey1BCincinnati
11HoustonAdrian Beltre 3BLos AngelesHoustonIsmael ValdesSPLos Angeles
12BaltimoreRoyce Clayton SSTexasBaltimoreRolando ArrojoSPTampa Bay
13St LouisJamey WrightSPColoradoSt LouisMiguel TejadaSSOakland
14YankeesJerry DiportoRPColoradoYankeesPhil Nevinin/ofSan Diego
15San DiegoAlex FernandezRPFloridaSan DiegoBrian JordanRFAtlanta
16BostonSterling HitchcockLHPSan DiegoBostonJeremy BurnetzRFMilwaukee

Rounds 5 & 6

PickTeamPlayerPosTeam on CardTeamPlayerPosTeam on Card
1Kansas CityRey OrdonezSSMetsKansas CityFernando Vina2BMilwaukee
2MetsScott HattenburgCRedsoxMetsBruce AvenofFlordia
3MinnesotaGil HerediaPOaklandMinnesotaHarold BainesDHCleveland
4CincinnatiPat RappPBostonCincinnatiTony Clark1BDetroit
5CubsJavy LopezcAtlantaCubsMark LorettaInfMilwaukee
6ClevelandScott SullivanPCincinnatiClevelandTerry SteinbeckcMinnesota
7PittsburghRay Durham2bWhite SoxPittsburghEdger RenteriaSSSt. Louis
8Los AngelesDavid Segui1BTorontoLos AngelesBilly KochRPToronto
9Tampa BayJames BaldwinS/RWhite SoxTampa BayCal Ripkin3bBaltimore
10TorontoDoug JonesRPOaklandTorontoSteve Woodards/rMilwaukee
11HoustonGreg VaughnofCincinnatiHoustonFrancisco CordovaSPPittsburgh
12BaltimoreTroy Glaus3BCaliforniaBaltimoreBrooke FordicecWhite Sox
13St LouisDenny NeglePCincinnatiSt LouisPat HentgenSPToronto
14YankeesRuss OrtizSPSan FranciscoYankeesAndy PettitteLHPYankees
15San DiegoSean LoweRPWhite SoxSan DiegoHideo NomoSPMilwaukee
16BostonDave NilssoncMilwaukeeBostonRondell WhiteCFMontreal

Rounds 7 & 8

PickTeamPlayerPosTeam on CardTeamPlayerPosTeam on Card
1Kansas CityDavid WellsLHPTorontoKansas CityMike RedmondcFlorida
2MetsMasatako YoshidaPNY MetsMetsMike ThurmondSPMontreal
3MinnesotaTurk WendellRPNY MetsMinnesotaKevin McGlinchyPAtlanta
4CincinnatiRon VillnoeLHSPCincinnatiCincinnatiAntonio AlfonsecaRPFlorida
5CubsJavier ValentincMinnesotaCubsHideki IrabuPNYY
6ClevelandBob WellsRPMinnesotaClevelandJeff ShawPLos Angeles
7PittsburghSteve SchrenkPPhiladelphiaPittsburghAllen EmbreePSan Francisco
8Los AngelesDave VeresRPColoradoLos AngelesDaryl KylePColorado
9Tampa BayRon Belliard2bMilwaukeeTampa BayMIke Venafro LHRPtex
10TorontoMike TroumblyRPMinnesotaTorontoMIke MagnenteLHRPCalifornia
11HoustonDavid LeeRPColoradoHoustonDave MiceliRPSan Diego
12BaltimoreChris CarpenterSPTorontoBaltimoreRyan RupeSP Tampa Bay
13St LouisJose PaniaguaPseattleSt LouisTim CrabtreeRPTexas
14YankeesTerry Shumpertif/ofColoradoYankeesEiner DiazcCleveland
15San DiegoAaron Boone3BCincinnatiSan DiegoScott KarlLHSPMilwaukee
16BostonDeivi CruzSSDetriotBostonEric Chavez3BOakland

Rounds 9 & 10

PickTeamPlayerPosTeam on CardTeamPlayerPosTeam on Card
1Kansas CityDante BitchetteOFColoradoKansas CitySteve KlinePMontreal
2MetsBobby ChouinardPArizonaMetsBrian AndersonPArizona
3MinnesotaJohn Flaherty cTampa BayMinnesotaJohn FrancoRPNY Mets
4CincinnatiTerry MulhollandSPAtlantaSt LouisEric MiltonLHSPMinnesota
5CubsRoger CedenocfMetsCincinnatiDoug GlanvilleCFPhiladelphia
6ClevelandBill HasslmanCDetroitCubsEric Young2bLos Angels
7PittsburghJeff Conine1bBaltimoreClevelandCliff FloydOFFlorida
8Los AngelesBruce ChenPAtlantaPittsburghT. J. MatthewsPOakland
9Tampa BayKelly Stinnett CArizonaLos AngelesWoody WilliamsPSan Diego
10TorontoJeffrey HammondsOFTorontoTampa BayRick AnkielPSt Louis
11HoustonBrian BoehringerPSan DiegoTorontoJose Hernandezinf/ofAtlanta
12BaltimoreSteve MontgomeryPPhiladelphiaHoustonPaul Korneko1BWhite Sox
13St LouisRamiero MendosaPNYYBaltimoreRich GarcisRPRedsox
14YankeesScott EricksonPBaltimoreYankeesTino Martinez1byankees
15San DiegoMark PetkovsekPCaliforniaSan DiegoJorge PosadacYankees
16BostonBrian MoehlerSPDetroitBostonCharles NagySPCleveland

Rounds 11 & 12

PickTeamPlayerPosTeam on CardTeamPlayerPosTeam on Card
1MetsBrady AndersonCFOriolesMetsDarryl HamiltonCFMets
2MinnesotaBill Mueler3BSan FranciscoMinnesotaPaul ShueyPCleveland
3St LouisChris WidgercMontrealSt LouisRon GantofPhiladelphia
4CincinnatiHenry BlancocColoradoCincinnatiOnan MasaokaLHPLos Angeles
5CubsQulio Veras2bSan DiegoCubsDonnie WallPSan Diego
6ClevelandWill Clark 1bBaltimoreClevelandKevin StockerSSTampa Bay
7PittsburghTodd Zeile3bTexasPittsburghDave MartinezOFTampa Bay
8Los AngelesAnthony TelfordRPMontrealLos AngelesRick ReedSP Mets
9Tampa BayJose Vidroinf/ofMontrealTampa BayWarren Morris2bPittsburgh
10TorontoMark McLemore2bTexasTorontoGramme LloydPToronto
11HoustonAllen WatsonLHRPYankeesHoustonAlberto CastellocSt Louis
12BaltimoreRick WhiterpTampa BayBaltimoreTony EusebiocHouston
13YankeesCurtis LeskanicRPColoradoYankeesKent MercerLHSPBoston
14San DiegoShannon StewartcfTorontoSan DiegoSteve AveryLHSPCincinnati
15BostonJim ParqueSPWhite SoxBostonSidney PonsonSPBaltimore

Rounds 13 & 14

PickTeamPlayerPosTeam on CardTeamPlayerPosTeam on Card
1MetsEric GagnePLos AngelesMetsRuss SpringerPAtlanta
2MinnesotaJoe NathanPSan FranciscoMinnesotaDamian MillercArizona
3St LouisTravis Lee1bArizonaSt LouisMatt StairsofOakland
4CincinnatiDoug MirabelicSan FranciscoCincinnatiPaul O’NeillofYankees
5CubsPaul QuantrillPTorontoCubsRudy SeanezPAtlanta
6ClevelandArmando Rios OFSan FranciscoClevelandSteve ParisPCincinnati
7PittsburghTroy O’LearyOFBostonPittsburghTony Womackinf/ofAtlanta
8Los AngelesMatt Lawtonof MinnesotaLos AngelesDenny HockingofMinnesota
9Tampa BayTori HuntercfMinnesotaTampa BayRich AurillassSan Francisco
10TorontoMike McFarlinecOaklandTorontoDave BergInfFlorida
11HoustonTony Philipsinf/ofOaklandHoustonMIke Stanley1BBoston
12BaltimoreDarren LewiscfBostonBaltimoreTony GraffinoinfTampa Bay
13YankeesDennys ReyesPCincinnatiYankeesBenito SantiagocCubs
14San DiegoMike MunozLHRPTexasSan DiegoDavid Bell2bSeattle
15BostonJose CabreraRPHoustonBostonJuan EncarnccionOFDetroit

Rounds 15 & 16

PickTeamPlayerPosTeam on CardTeamPlayerPosTeam on Card
1MetsJ.T. Snow1bSan FranciscoMetsDennis CookPMets
2St LouisC J NitkowskiPDetroitSt LouisMiguel Cairo2BTampa Bay
3CincinnatiWade Boggs3bTampa BayCincinnatiTim WakefieldPBoston
4CubsJohn WasdinPBostonCubsTim BogarssHouston
5ClevelandDean Palmer3bDetroitClevelandAlex AriasinfPhilladelphia
6PittsburghPreston WilsonCFFloridaPittsburghJoe McEwinginf/ofSt Louis
7Los AngelesNefti PerezssColoradoLos AngelesArthur RhodesPBaltimore
8Tampa BayRamon HernandezcOaklandTampa BayEurbiel Durazo1bArizona
9TorontoGabe KaplerCFDetroit
10HoustonLee Stephens1bTexas
10BaltimoreMike DuvallLHRPTampa BayBaltimoreMarvin BernardcfSan Francisco
11YankeesGerald WilliamsofAtlantaYankeesDelino Deshields2bBaltimore
12San DiegoMike Benjamin2bPittsburghSan DiegoYorkis PerezLHRPPhiladelphia
13BostonHeathcliff SlocumRPSt LouisBostonAlvin MormanLHRPKansas City

Rounds 17 & 18

PickTeamPlayerPosTeam on CardTeamPlayerPosTeam on Card
1MetsRamon MartinezPBoston
2St LouisEddie GuardadoPMinnesotaSt LouisRyan DempsterPFlorida
3CincinnatiPedro AstacioPColoradoCincinnatiDamien JacksoninfSan Diego
4CubsEric Owensif/ofSan DiegoCubsKevin TapaniPCubs
5ClevelandBrandon LooperPFloridaClevelandKevin Millar1bFlorida
6PittsburghGlennAllen HillOFCubsPittsburghJorge FabegascAtlanta
7Los AngelesGabe WhitePCincinnatiLos AngelesDarren DierfortPLos Angeles
8BaltimoreTodd PrattcMetsBaltimoreJason ChristensonPPittsburgh
9San DiegoRubin RiveraCFSan DiegoSan DiegoTim SpehrcKansas City
11BostonMark JohnsonCWhite SoxBostonRich AmaralutlBaltimore

Rounds 19 & 20

PickTeamPlayerPosTeam on CardTeamPlayerPosTeam on Card
1St LouisAlex GonzalezSSTorontoSt LouisVlad NunezPFlorida
2CincinnatiRickey RinconLHRPClevelandCincinnatiJose ViscianoInfLos Angeles
3CubsSteve TrachselPCubsCubsMichael BarrettcMontreal
4ClevelandScott AldredPPhiladelphiaClevelandOlmedo Sanez3BOakland
5Los AngelesChad KreutercKansas CityLos AngelesMIke MathenycToronto
6BaltimoreKevin Orie3bFloridaBaltimoreRamon E MartinezinfSan Francisco

Rounds 21 & 22

PickTeamPlayerPosTeam on CardPickTeamPlayerPosTeam on Card
1CubsRaul MondesiRFLos Angeles
2ClevelandGarrett StephensonPCleveland1ClevelandBubba TrammelofTampa Bay
3Los AngelesJuan AcevedoPSt. Louis2Los AngelesLuis Alicea2bTexas

Rounds 23 & 24

PickTeamPlayerPosTeam on CardPick TeamPlayerPosTeam on Card
1ClevelandFelix RodriguezPSan Francisco
2Los AngelesJoe GiradicYankees1Los AngelesBrant BrownofPittsburgh

Rounds 25 & 26

PickTeamPlayerPosTeam on CardTeamPlayerPosTeam on Card
1Los AngelesRyan Kelso1bAtlantaLos AngelesJarrod WashburnPCalifornia

Round 27

PickTeamPlayerPosTeam on Card
1Los AngelesBrian L HunterCFSeattle