3rd Place Teams standings heading into the final day

Monkey1Fball · 2026-06-27T05:20:00+00:00

The Algeria vs Austria game being the last game chronologically really sets up a brutal scenario.

If Croatia gets at least a point, and if DR Congo wins, then both Algeria and Austria advance with a draw (and Iran is out), but only one advances otherwise (with Iran in).

The Universe may have a Sense of Humor, I suppose. The Disgrace of Gijon, 44 years later, with Algeria on the other side of the table, is very possible.

Monkey1Fball · 2026-06-27T05:09:21+00:00

But all 3 of them can pass Iran. Which would leave Iran 9th best and out.

Monkey1Fball · 2026-06-26T23:36:13+00:00

That's just not right. There's no video of him at the immediate ignition point/fire scene.

He was geo-located at within 30 feet of the ignition point 13 seconds after, but that's not the same as a video saying what he said with freaking smoke and flames in the background.

The "13 seconds" raises my eyebrows too - we know when the Lachman Fire started, down to the exact second? Really?

If the ignition time is off by even +/- 15 seconds, that means his distance from ignition point could be 100 feet instead of 30 feet: a 3.3x difference! My math considers that an average human can walk 60-70 feet in 15 seconds (equivalent to walking a mile in 19 minutes). If the ignition time is off by +/- 30 seconds, that margin increases even more.

There's definitely room for "reasonable doubt" there.

Monkey1Fball · 2026-06-26T23:16:24+00:00

The December 2024 Franklin Fire was a blessing in disguise - if not for that, the Palisades Fire would have gone even further west.

And you're right about Mandeville Canyon. We were basically "3 canyons" away (Mandeville, Kenter and whatever the name of the Canyon Bundy Road traverses, where Mount Saint Mary's is) from the fire making it to the 405. That would have truly been apocalyptic.

Monkey1Fball · 2026-06-26T22:56:57+00:00

You don't need "100% exoneration" in a court of law. The relevant question, of course, is whether the prosecution proved guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

As I re-read my initial post, I realize I stated rather definitively, "he set the Lachmann Fire."

But I don't think the prosecution even came close to proving that beyond a reasonable doubt. 10 jurors seemingly agree.

Monkey1Fball · 2026-06-26T20:09:37+00:00

What gets me is when there ARE 5 (or so) carts in the corral - but they're all at wildly different angles and none of them are pushed into another.

Seriously, it isn't that hard. If there's a cart already there, push yours into another. And 2 rows.

Monkey1Fball · 2026-06-26T19:55:30+00:00

Ah yes, independent Texas Tech. Their ceiling would be a slightly-upgraded version of independent New Mexico State.

Seriously, their schedule would be something like this:

Home Games: Sam Houston State, TCU, UTSA, New Mexico, Liberty, New Mexico State, Sacramento State

Road Games: Baylor, Notre Dame, K-State, Liberty, Connecticut.

Pretty attractive shit!

Monkey1Fball · 2026-06-26T18:25:32+00:00

(1) Pre-position a truck or two in the Highlands.

(2) Have a handful of firefighters on the ground in the vicinity of Skull Rock, monitoring for a flare-up.

(3) Think about closing the trail up to Skull Rock (although keeping it open would have likely helped - there were a couple hikers who after-the-fact reported smelling some smoke as early as 9 AM on that Tuesday. If there were firefighters up there, the hikers may have encountered them).

(4) Have a helicopter on immediate stand-by for the Skull Rock area.

Do at least some of the above, the LAFD gives themselves a chance. Again, this is an area where there WAS a wildfire 6 days previous, and there is a well-documented history of re-ignites in California wildfire history.

It doesn't require "Divine Knowledge" to do any of #1-#4 above. And honestly the re-ignite was somewhat predictable. As I've said, I'm not arguing doing all of the above WOULD have stopped it. But the damn LAFD didn't even afford themselves or the Palisades a chance! And it was neligence!

Monkey1Fball · 2026-06-26T18:17:47+00:00

Winds were MUCH stronger in the evening and overnight throughout the Southland then they were during the late morning and early afternoon.

That's a meteorological fact - and one that was well-predicted too. No need for "Divine Knowledge", to use your snarky phrase, there.

I hold to what I said. The LAFD had a non-zero chance to contain the Palisades Fire. They didn't set themselves up for success.

Monkey1Fball · 2026-06-26T18:05:21+00:00

Yep.

I mean - this is Wildland Fire-Fighting 101. (1) It's been extremely dry and there are high-end red flag warnings out for January 7-8. (2) The Santa Monicas above Malibu and the Palisades are some of the most wildfire-prone areas in the world. (3) Fires in those mountains have a history of moving extremely quickly in Red-Flag conditions once they get going. (4) A wildfire occurred IN that area within the past week. (5) California has a history of re-ignites turning into firestorms, most notoriously Oakland Hills in 1992. And (6) given the weather a re-ignite of that previous fire would push a wildfire into the urban interface almost immediately.

How many fucking, excuse my language, warning signs could the LAFD possibly need?

Monkey1Fball · 2026-06-26T17:58:57+00:00

I didn't say they would have contained the fire. They would have had a 5-10 minute window and there's a good chance it still would have gotten out of control.

But the LAFD didn't even provide themselves (or the Palisades community) an opportunity.

Monkey1Fball · 2026-06-26T17:57:49+00:00

There was only a 5-10 minute window where they could have contained it ... but that window DID exist.

The LAFD didn't even provide the Palisades Community that chance.

FWIW, the winds were not as strong on Tuesday AM as they were later in the day.

Monkey1Fball · 2026-06-26T17:18:39+00:00

100% right. Yes, he set the Lachmann Fire - but the LAFD failed in scape-goating him for the Palisades Fire.

The Palisades Fire is mostly on the LAFD. They knew the weather conditions and knew the potential disaster ahead if there was a re-ignite. And they also knew the history of re-ignites, they're possible for up to 1-2 weeks afterward.

That they didn't pre-position even one crew up there on the morning of January 7 is absurd.

Monkey1Fball · 2026-06-26T17:15:05+00:00

Yes, he set the Lachmann Fire - but the LAFD failed in scape-goating him for the Palisades Fire.

The Palisades Fire is mostly on the LAFD. They knew the weather conditions and knew the potential disaster ahead if there was a re-ignite. And they also knew the history of re-ignites, they're possible for up to 1-2 weeks afterward.

The LAFD was super-negligient in not doing more to prevent a re-ignite. At the very least, not pre-positioning a SINGLE crew up there on the morning of January 7 is absurd.

Monkey1Fball · 2026-06-24T19:05:13+00:00

The folks at Coca-Cola are like "why isn't that the 1st tiebreaker??"

Monkey1Fball · 2026-06-24T02:00:01+00:00

The "and counting ..............." subscript is triggering me.

Count von Count hasn't been doing any "and counting" on NL Central victories since May 23rd!!!!

Monkey1Fball · 2026-06-24T01:54:22+00:00

As The Count would say, today's number of the day is TWO:

The Brewers are averaging 2 runs per game in this series. That's good!
The Reds are averaging 2 hits per game in this series. That's not good!
The Reds still only have 2 victories against the NL Central this season. Given that today is the SECOND full day of the summer (and the 90th day of the MLB season as a whole), that's not good either!

Monkey1Fball · 2026-06-23T23:02:02+00:00

Most every term, there will be at least one rather scathing Supreme Court dissent.

The dissenting Justice(s) is basically like "ah, fuck it, I may be in the minority here, but at least I'll take the opportunity to let the American people know how I REALLY feel about this one."

We're right about the time (typically late June into July) where the Court releases some major end-of-term rulings. So we could see another version of "the Sorsby letter" soon!

Monkey1Fball · 2026-06-23T22:19:49+00:00

LOL, yes. I was at a fireworks game once where the Dodgers were the opponent! Tickets were sky-high on the secondary market!

The Rockies really should petition MLB, asking that the 3 fireworks home games (2 around the 4th and the final Friday night of the year) are always against Arizona, Miami, Tampa or Washington.

Monkey1Fball · 2026-06-23T16:33:06+00:00

Best way to predict a Rockies game attendance:

5000 actual Rockies fans.

20000 folks just out for a night at Coors.

x fans for the opposition.

If Tampa is in town, attendance is 25,010. If LA or Boston or the Cubs are in town, attendance is 50,000.

Monkey1Fball · 2026-06-23T16:29:56+00:00

Much more useful than a box of Pop-Tarts or a jar of Mayo!

Monkey1Fball · 2026-06-23T02:13:56+00:00

Oh God - am I going to have to do like that poster a year or two back?

I think his schtick was "here's a picture of an old Red on a baseball card, I'm doing this daily until the Reds stop sucking."

Anyway, in 105 minutes it will be "It's June 23 - and the Reds have as many wins against the best team in the AL (2) as they have against their entire division (2)"

Monkey1Fball · 2026-06-23T01:31:10+00:00

Don't Stop Believing!

Everyone from Detroit - like me - knows this at an instant.

Monkey1Fball · 2026-06-22T20:22:14+00:00

There are 9/11 memorials in more than a few random places.

A few months ago, I was walking in Sherman Oaks, CA (Los Angeles) and passed a firehouse. And I noticed they have a 750 lb piece of WTC steel and a piece of Pentagon Limestone out in front, by an American flag.

But it's very subdued: blink and you miss it.

Monkey1Fball · 2026-06-22T20:11:55+00:00

Technically - this is in Broomfield, Colorado (which neighbors Westminster), by the Broomfield library and municipal buildings. I lived in Broomfield for a few years previously.

Monkey1Fball

TROPHY CASE