El Zen

Haven’t checked, but could it be median household income?

Norwegian league to start mid-June, behind closed doors. We seem to have things under control, so it should be safe enough, but not being allowed to go to games will be strange (but understandable, of course). I never miss a home game (literally missed maybe five over the past decade) and now I’ll probably the first couple of months of a season.

Norway is about to return to a degree og normalcy. Schools are open for all age groups from monday, meaning I’m back at work tomorrow, and the football will be back (albeit without fans) in June. Fingers crossed!

I liked it.

Running every other day, lots of push-ups, some kettlebell work. I really, really miss the gym. Can’t really replicate barbell and rack work at home and I feel like I’m losing muscle mass.

It’s the worst. Herniating a spinal disc mid-squat. Yikes!

Agreed. I think After Life is excellent, and well written, but the therapist is completely pointless and unfunny.

I think, and correct me if I’m misremembering, research like the world values survey shows that the US scores relatively low on individualism. Low, as in much further down the list than its public political discourse and rhetoric might suggest. I think, and again I think this is supported by research, that what is presented as individualism and «don’t step on my lawn» is a symptom of a deep lack of institutional trust, rather than true individualist values. The great paradox here is that Norway, bastion of social democracy and the expansive welfare state, ranks at the very top when it comes to individualist values. This seems to support, contrary to right wing American political marketing, the notion that an economic and social safety net that provides real economic independence is very much a facilitator for freedom. I realise I have simplified a very complex argument here, but I believe my overall point is valid. Americans aren’t really particularily individualistic, they just really don’t trust their country’s institutions, and I think that’s particularily true for those protesting the lock downs.

Jehova’s Witnesses.

I got an unsolicited text from the JW today. Pissed me off so much I couldn’t help replying to tell them how much it pissed me off.

Norwegian league was due to start up in a couple of weeks. Instead, clubs are already having to lay off staff (players included) due to liquidity issues following the inevitable income loss they are now facing. Hardly any Norwegian clubs have any meaningful cash reserves and most rely heavily on gate receipts. You just have to hope no players are poached by other clubs while this is going on.

He’s also apparently in remarkably good shape, according to his doctors, so I’m not sure I’ll take their word for it.

There really, really shouldn’t. Nonchalant in the extreme.

Going ahead with games seems needlessly cavalier, and I’m struggling to see a scenario where it will be possible to complete the season anyway.

Baffling. Should be a no-brainer precaution, if nothing else.

So, yeah, schools in Norway are closed and we’ll move to home-based digital lessons. My students were obviously not too devastated, but f... me this is getting real.

Absolutely he could do it. We’d never be able to replace Jack like for like, but we’d have enough money to build a genuinely balanced squad capable of playing the kind of football we want and of winning promotion. Of course he could do it.

Just pointing out the obvious flaw in saying we won’t be promoted with Smith. We already have.

Yeah, it would never happen. Except for the one time in one attempts.

I think we should keep Deano regardless, really, for the long term benefit of the club. If we go down, I have confidence in his ability to get us back up, hopefully with a more balanced squad, better prepared for another go.

I don’t think for a second they don’t care. They’ll be hurting after this. The problem is far more likely to be a lack of belief, a sense of doom and a total absence of courage. They need to grow a pair and step up, but it’s not because they don’t care.

I’ve remained cautiously optimistic up to now. This «performance» has me thinking we’re going down. Utterly depressing. Pathetic. No courage, no belief, no hint of pride. The players are probably hurting, but they’ll find little sympathy from me right now. This just isn’t good enough.

Yep. Should have Drinky and whatshisname on instead.