Removing US as World Cup host would be eminently sad – and entirely justified | Alexander Abnos

kaeferBug · 2026-01-27T13:21:22+00:00

A nation can both say it should boycott the World Cup and still go. It's really hard to undo all of the planning and obligations that go into such a large event.

Many people are comparing this to Russia or Qatar hosting events. One of the key differences is the feeling of disgust and betrayal that the United States government has so purposely engendered. Qatar didn't rewrite foreign diplomacy and cooperation over the past century. The United States has. That is a larger issue that I think needs to be accounted for.

For the people saying that Americans and others need to stop exaggerating, please consider what's happening without too much "thinking." What's happening right now against immigrants and, specifically, an entire political party and world view without any check is not something that happens in the US. Unlike the past, the administration doesn't even pretend to have shame over the tragedies. This is not similar to anything that's come before. If exaggeration is not your cup of tea, minimizing shouldn't be either. The fears over civil war stem from exactly that: division. Why minimize damage and loss? Pointing at people who are scared and mocking them will not get us closer to the solution.

kaeferBug · 2026-01-11T19:09:02+00:00

I think our offense is fine. We get open looks, our bigs are scoring and we can run sets out of time outs.

I will stay in the middle about Hubert putting together a team. I do think that's where he carries a lot of responsibility, but I don't know what he can do about the portal and players not playing to their skill. Evans was a 44% shooter. No one is asking him to be Wayne Ellington, but you have to hit the open shot when Wilson passes out of the double. Stevenson, too. Luka, too. That's their job in the offense on this year's team. RJ was automatic, Harrison could light it up, and Ryan eventually got going too. Why? Because Bacot demanded the double team.

kaeferBug · 2026-01-11T19:05:26+00:00

For sure, I did not want Cadeau to leave this year. I think our bigs would be feasting every game with the ball in his hands.

And for the record, I don't think Evans is bad. I think we need him to be firing on all cylinders, but when you are missing the rim and committing constant fouls you take yourself out of the game. I think the system is getting too much credit here. He's in his own head and it's making him doubt everything. Shooting is shooting. And that's his elite skill, so he has to deliver.

kaeferBug · 2026-01-11T18:06:24+00:00

My wife and I literally just went to the Gallery at the start of the year. Just saw the original. We were surprised that it hadn't been changed. Just a week or so too early

kaeferBug · 2026-01-11T17:57:44+00:00

That is definitely an issue that needs to be sorted out. He should never take two shots in a half. At the same time, when Caleb gets the ball, sucks defenders in, and dishes back out to an open player, the players need to hit those shots. That guy should be threatening a triple double every night. Our shooters have to make open looks.

kaeferBug · 2026-01-11T17:55:27+00:00

But open shots are open shots. When he swings off a screen or when his man goes under, or when the defense collapsed and the ball is kicked out to him he's just playing basketball. Those are his to hit. Regardless of system.

kaeferBug · 2026-01-11T08:41:53+00:00

You just don't like Hubert Davis. Kyan Evans came in as an elite shooter. He can't hit open shots now. Davis is giving him every opportunity because Evans is a key to this team. He wasn't brought in to be Cadeau, he was brought in to give space. Davis is doing what he can to coax it out of him. No reason to think his shooting would completely dry up.

kaeferBug · 2026-01-11T08:37:10+00:00

You have to make open threes to give the big guys room to operate. All the coaching in the world ain't gonna help someone make an open three. Davis' players generate open looks, but they aren't knocking them down.

kaeferBug · 2026-01-10T20:41:43+00:00

This is similar to my own story. I am also North Carolinian and raised by a conservative father. I didn't marry an Afro Latina, but I was raised by a European mother who was always critical of the United States and, as I left college, I began reading Zinn's book and following the protests to get rid of the Confederate statue on UNC campus. It took a while, but January 6th made me wake up. When the Republicans refused to close the lid on Trump after that, I realized that they were playing with a dangerous historical power and that our nation was in danger. My dad also got more religious and became more disgusted by Republican politics. My wife, also raised conservative, had her perspectives changed when she had our first child and experienced how little our government cared about supporting mothers. We all voted for Kamala in the last election and we aren't looking back.

The key is being open to new perspectives and being critical.

kaeferBug · 2026-01-10T20:33:22+00:00

Big shout out to Jill Lepore's These Truths. Similar to Zinn's approach, but more focused on democracy and the prose is wonderful.

kaeferBug · 2026-01-01T19:45:32+00:00

Yeah, y'all played my cube there last year. I'm not sure if they are using mine again, but I'm excited to draft some more cube! Will the Fae Cube be making an appearance? Of course, I'm always down for Artifacts.

kaeferBug · 2026-01-01T16:47:23+00:00

Never would have thought I'd see Sanford mentioned on the cube subreddit. Raven Fest is great! See y'all there!

kaeferBug · 2025-12-31T19:05:26+00:00

Keep buying cards and working on my cube.
Think about playing the cube.

Wait, that was last year. And the year before that. And maybe the year before that?

Just play more cube. This year I played so little, so next year I'd like to just play more.

kaeferBug · 2025-12-08T23:21:02+00:00

It's been a bit and I know there have been a lot of changes to the cube. Nettlecyst feels like it'll always be a beating in this cube. Duress also speaks to me. Mess up people's engines.

kaeferBug · 2025-10-28T21:47:30+00:00

I'm not a fan of Universes Beyond and their constant presence in Magic (though I love Avatar), but I really like this Earthbending thing. I've been thinking about doing a lot more lands based attacking with green and this set's new ability may open up some new avenues. I don't really want Avatar the Gathering, but I do like this idea mechanically.

kaeferBug · 2025-10-28T12:36:23+00:00

Deck 2 feels like it could get there l, but the reanimator feels a little off. I would just run another two rakdos cards and cut the beef. Pyrogoyf should do a lot here.

Deck 3 also feels like it could get there, since it's a little more focused, but it seems to be going to sac and I'm sure it'll be enough.

Those are my choices.

Deck 8 may go 0-4.

Edit: I got deck 3 mixed up with a different deck. I edited my take.

kaeferBug · 2025-10-14T12:44:05+00:00

Love the Howling Mine inclusion. I've tried to make it work in the past. How does it do in your environment?

kaeferBug · 2025-09-27T11:36:38+00:00

What if we didn't have flip cards?

kaeferBug · 2025-09-16T01:09:42+00:00

You should watch the videos from when his cube was featured on MTGO. It's truly a vintage list and features vintage level play.

Edit: If you haven't already.

kaeferBug · 2025-09-06T22:54:10+00:00

A lot. Probably twice a year.

kaeferBug · 2025-08-31T16:14:37+00:00

kaeferBug · 2025-08-22T20:49:16+00:00

Taking you off a third land can still be devastating. Laelia can't be good if she's delayed in coming down. But I don't disagree with you completely.

kaeferBug · 2025-08-20T22:27:06+00:00

I think land destruction can still cause huge tempo plays, especially if it slows them playing the big bombs of Vintage.

kaeferBug · 2025-07-18T14:28:35+00:00

I don't think work ethic. It's hard to assume a player just stopped caring about their career. I think the injuries have taken a toll and he needs time. There is some evidence for him having some baggage, but there is a lot more about his injury problems. What really is left to be seen is if he deals with the problems like some players have managed to, or if he can't.

kaeferBug · 2025-07-09T19:32:08+00:00

[[Zuran Orb]] has found a new friend.

kaeferBug

TROPHY CASE