Welcome to Monday’s News on the March – The week that was in my digital world.
Curb Your Enthusiasm: Larry the Gentile
Video extract at Curb YourTube
Being a Curb and Seinfeld fan – as most of you will know – I occasionally slip scenes from these shows into my music posts whenever there’s even the slightest connection to the subject matter. It’s my thing. Anyhow, this scene from Curb popped up in my feed last week, and it made me chuckle and reminisce about the show – which, by the way, I haven’t watched in quite a while.
In this particular episode (Season 5, Episode 10, “The End”), Larry David – who is Jewish – mistakenly learns that he is actually a gentile. What follows is a series of scenes in which he takes on stereotypical Anglo-Protestant activities – things anyone familiar with Larry up to this point would never imagine him partaking in, even in his wildest dreams. Take, for example, a grease-covered Larry repairing a vehicle: no complaints, no snide small talk – just quietly and skillfully doing the job with a kind of understated Anglo-Protestant dignity.
There is another very funny scene here, comparable to the one above, in which Larry and his wife Cheryl pretend to be card-carrying Republicans in order to gain admittance to an exclusive country club. Larry’s savvy, nuanced comedic acting chops are on full display here.
Mark Twain Documentary to Fall Asleep To
Documentary at Mind Palace
Sometimes when I wake up – as I did last night at around 3 a.m. – and can’t fall back to sleep, I’ll put on an ad-free documentary to ease myself into a gentle slumber. It usually works, but not with this week’s featured documentary. No matter – I’d gone to bed early anyway.
As someone aptly remarked, the documentary was simply too good to fall asleep to. I’d read The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (1876) and its sequel Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (1884) as a youngster, and watched TV adaptations of them, but I was largely ignorant of the man behind the pages. Well, blow me down – like the great American author Ernest Hemingway, I found Mark Twain’s life just as captivating as his most celebrated work.
Video description:
‘Discover the complete life of Mark Twain with other name Samuel Langhorne Clemens, the iconic American author and humorist known for classic works like “Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” and “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer”. We explore Twain’s early years, literary career, personal struggles, and lasting impact on American literature and culture. Dive into the fascinating story of Samuel Clemens, his wit, social commentary, and influence on 19th-century writing and humor. Learn about Twain’s legacy as a master storyteller, satirist, and one of the greatest voices in literary history‘.
CB Bucknor missed 20 calls in one game, a breakdown
Well, we are well into the 2026 Major League Baseball season, and I’m quite the happy camper – especially since they’ve introduced the Automated Ball-Strike (ABS) Challenge System, something I argued for strongly in one of the first articles I wrote on my blog back in 2014, Baseball Romanticism and Perfecting the Strike Zone.
The ABS Challenge System allows players to challenge ball and strike calls made by home plate umpires using Hawk-Eye tracking technology. Each team starts with two challenges per game and retains a challenge if the call is overturned, but loses the ability to challenge after two unsuccessful attempts.
To say it has been a success would be an understatement. It has not only removed a great deal of human error from umpiring, but it has also added a whole new layer of entertainment and intrigue to the game. Spectators now cheer just as loudly for the result of a challenge as they might for a home run.
To demonstrate its effectiveness in a single game, I point you to this video: CB Bucknor missed 20 calls in one game, a breakdown
That’s all for now – until next time. Thanks, as always, for reading.
“The more I live, the more I learn. The more I learn, the more I realize, the less I know.”- Michel Legrand
Observation Blogger 
Happy Monday morning to you! I enjoyed this post. My sweety and I weren’t together for Seinfeld, but enjoyed many seasons of Curb Your Enthusiasm together. I had forgotten the episode from which the clip came from, and was waiting for Larry to be offensive or obnoxious in that way only he can. What a brilliant series! Both were terrific, though Larry certainly took it up a notch with ‘Curb.’ Priceless stuff.
Listening to a doc is an interesting way to get back to sleep. When working in a very busy public servant role, I often woke at 2 or 3 am, then would remain awake pondering the many contentious files I was carrying. Something like this could have served me well…. Now retired, I no longer fret if I wake up; I’ll just get up and watch some pro cycling to change the mind rhythms, knowing that I don’t have a set time to get going in the morning, 99% of the time.
I’m not into baseball like one of my sons is, so I will have to ask him about his thoughts on this fascinating use of technology!
I just love the moment in the Gentile video when his mother (who, incidentally, looks about the same age as Larry! lol) does the sign of the cross and he responds, “What have you got there?” Very funny — and just so Larry. And in the country club golf scene, it’s something as subtle as him taking off his glasses that really lands. His accent while playing a Republican is priceless. Wonderful that you enjoyed the show with your “sweety.”
It sounds like you had your work cut out for you with such a demanding job. I used to ask my mother what she would do when she woke in the wee hours, and she told me she’d eat something light, put on some TV, and then head back to bed shortly after. Watching pro cycling in your retirement seems to be doing the trick for you. Pogacar, I see, is getting fined for running a red light — one day I hope I can pronounce his name correctly.
I only really got into baseball after moving to Colombia, but I think the brilliant film Field of Dreams laid the groundwork for that later interest in the sport. I’m so happy about the implementation of this technology, since about 15% of calls made by umpires were incorrect before ABS came in. I hope your son also finds it a more than welcome change in what was fast becoming an archaic system of arbitration.
So many priceless scenes….
Oh, I haven’t been following the spring scene on the pro circuit. Interesting. Pogacar is an incredible athlete, quietly ruthless. I sometimes just watch a bit of Netflix’s ’Tour de France’ and love how the Team Jumbo – Lease-a-Bike manager calls out over the radio to motivate his rival Jonas Vingegaard saying, “Come on Jonas, you’ve got ‘poe-GAH-chah’ (as he pronounces it) on the ropes!” The show is good at highlighting the strategy the teams use. For a while I had a subscription to the live stuff but found it hard to keep up with it all.
I can see how Field of Dreams would lay down a foundation. I’ll be sure to chat with the lad about ABS.
Although I’d consider myself a bit of a ‘sports nut’, I’m afraid I’ve never really been able to get into cycling. I’ve followed a little of the Tour de France over the past few years and also enjoyed watching documentaries about Lance Armstrong’s downfall and its aftermath.
Until the final few kilometres of a race, I tend to find it all a bit dry. It probably doesn’t help that I’ve never really been a cyclist.
Tell me if I’m wrong, but it seems that with cycling — like F1—fans often have some insider knowledge and/or a team to barrack for. Like your reference to the Team Jumbo manager and his pronunciation of “Pogačar,” which I assume is correct? lol
Steve, I hope this message finds you well.
I am well, yes, thanks, Matt and hope you are, too.
Dry, yes. I would likewise not watch the whole five or six hours of a race, but it does interest me in a way most team sports do not. The Netflix series is good for instant gratification with just giving the highlights.
I think you’re right about the F1 comparison. Most people watching seem to know a fair amount about the big teams and the contenders. It’s big business.
And I think – based on others’ pronunciation- that the Jumbo boss has it right. He’s just so great in his delivery and it’s hilarious watching them all when their rider wins… the whole car, usually with three in it, erupts in hugs, fist-bumps and bouncing about as if they’re parked.
Ah yes, ESPN here have the highlights as well for ‘instant gratification’ lol
That’s good I was in the ballpark (bad analogy) on the F1 and cycling attraction for many. Phew lol
Big business alright. I liked the F1 movie with Pitt (apt surname dun’t ya tink?).
Colombian sports pages really follows just two sports – Soccer (World Football) and Cycling. Lots of cycling enthusiasts here and Cycling is a very popular past time activity. The city boasts a plethora of dedicated cycling paths. I imagine it’s the same where you are Steve?
As they commonly say here – Pogačar is a ‘Crack’. ‘Crack’ is common descriptor in Spanish too.
I have yet to see the movie but look forward to it.
We do have a lot of good bike paths here but the network is full of gaps and less affluent areas of the city have been ignored. We just spent a year and a half fighting hard, and unsuccessfully, for a path on a very dangerous stretch of a road that is key link in commuter routes, where a cyclist was killed almost two years ago. Progress, but slow as we’re a car-centric town.
I hadn’t heard that term used for Pogačar but is seems it would be apt.
Cycling has to be one of the most dangerous pursuits, yeah? Even in competitive cycling – I read a few days ago about a young rider who left the road during a championship race and was effectively left for dead deep in the forest, not being found for more than an hour.
That’s unfortunate about the fate of the cyclist and the path being divided where you are. The cycle paths here are so popular I would hazard a guess that more people commute on them (many on scooters) than by car.
Oh wow, I thought for sure you’d seen the movie. There’s one scene where Pitt is talking on a balcony, and it’s one of my favourite acting moments of his. I feel compelled to share it below (4 minutes). He kills it:
Yeah, it can be dangerous, so I am hypervigilant about all the traffic around me plus the road flaws, and do my best to stay off high-traffic routes. Most of my riding is on quiet streets or separated paths. I tried out a riding club and did a two-abreast paceline with 20 riders which was exhilarating but doing 45 kph a foot away from the person front of you doesn’t leave much room for error, so I didn’t join. The pros, now THAT is dangerous… they are in bunchs doing 50-60, and 100+ on descents wearing a thin layer of lycra. Yoiks!
Paris has done it up right, making it more doable for commuters and the increase there has been staggering, I believe.
Yeah, the movie is right up my alley, but we don’t seem to watch as many movies as TV series. You know, a two-hour movie is quite a commitment so we’ll watch two, one-hour shows instead. Kidding… we’ll get to it soon I’m sure. Pitt (yeah, good name) is a fine actor, thanks for sharing the scene, Matt. He’s right in the role.
Sorry, I somehow didn’t see this message until just now.
I remember riding to school along a very busy road and having some really close calls — especially with the big semis passing and nearly blowing me off my bike. I also once went mountain biking with a small group when I was in the Navy, and we absolutely scorched along these tight, undulating trails. I had little experience with that kind of speed trail riding and was reckless trying to keep up with this established group. I often wonder how I came back in one piece.
I’m glad you’re able to enjoy your riding now on more tranquil paths. As you alluded to, there’s such a small margin for error — if just one person slips up, so many can end up falling like dominoes. And those into high-speed adrenaline racing, as you said — yes… yoiks. But come to think of it, as a young’un, like many feeling invincible, I got up to some pretty crazy stuff. Not now, lol.
Have a great day Steve and I hope you enjoyed your afternoon, yesterday with your Grandson. Cheers.
No worries, Matt, comments can get pretty busy on top of putting up new content!
Yes, it’s true I think we are more aware of risk-taking as we grow older. I certainly took more chances back in the day, and luckily made it out fine.
Yesterday was a lot of fun with the grandson, thanks. He was enjoying playing in puddles like little lads like to. Thank goodness for rubber boots.
Have a great day!
Yes, we got away unscathed…Phew.
Playing in puddles reminds me of watching ‘Peppa the Pig’ with my kids when they were littlies. They were drawn to puddles with or without gumboots which always made it interesting. Glad you had lots of fun. Cheers Steve.
Yes, thank goodness unwise choices didn’t land badly, like they do for many.
Ha, we LOVE Peppa Pig! The young lad enjoys watching a bit of that or Curious George after lunch, and will snack on fruit to no end while doing so. Peppa is quite brilliant in that the episodes are obviously made with adults in mind, dropping pop culture and societal norms references here and there in an amusing and catchy way.
And in fact while we were out, my dear one told the lad he seems to like muddy puddles just as much as Peppa and George and their friends! We bought him new boots last week as he’d grown out of last year’s and his winter ones, non-waterproof as they are, were hopelessly soaked from a previous day’s adventures. Good times. Cheers, Matt.
Wow, I never thought this would come up in the blogging space—getting down and dirty on Peppa. Well, I brought it up (slaps head!), hehe.
I used to use Peppa Pig – the show – as a way to help my English students ease into comprehension. It was fun – they even called me “Peppa (insert surname),” which I thought was pretty cute.
I agree, the show has a knack for blending young sensibilities with more adult ones in the way you described. Yes indeed – good times, Steve.
Ha! Yeah it’s funny what can come up in discussions that branch out into other media and experiences. I can see how a program like that would help with comprehension as regular everyday happenings become teachable moments, infused with humour, which makes them easier and more fun to absorb.
The English spoken in that Britannica-style format works a treat – it’s so clear, beautifully delivered, and, as you say, lots of humour and supported by simple, well-chosen visuals.
Mark Twain lived in Buffalo for a while. The house he lived in was on Delaware Avenue & it burned down ~ like everything else in this town ~ in 1963. http://blog.buffalostories.com/torn-down-tuesday-mark-twains-residence-472-delaware/
This town is filled with the ghosts of buildings that burned down & were torn down.
Mark Twain is one of my favorite authors. His “Diary of Adam & Eve” is hilarious ~ it takes place in Niagara Falls & if you know anything about the Falls ~ since it’s in my back yard, of course I do ~ it’s a great takeoff on the commercialism of Niagara Falls ~ even in Twain’s day, that beautiful place was cursed by the tourism industry.
Ken Burns did a good documentary on him. If you haven’t seen it, it’s worth seeking out & seeing.
Well, you’re certainly all over Mark Twain history in Buffalo — fascinating article. I loved the sign tacked to the front door: “Mark Twain lives here, his father-in-law pays the rent.” Haha. Too bad the house was replaced with a parking lot. Sounds like a Joni Mitchell song ;-P
Yes, Diary of Adam & Eve does sound like a beauty. I imagine it’d be staple reading for Buffalo residents and Niagara Falls tourists. My closest brush with Niagara Falls was watching Superman save that kid — only to get caught out later by Lois Lane. Haha.
Thanks for the heads-up on the doco, Polly. Cheers.
A few months after the Blizzard of 77 ~ it was only April ~ we had an exchange student from Germany staying with us for the Easter holiday. She was actually staying with another family but they went to Disney World for Easter week & didn’t take her ~ can you imagine? My German teacher asked our class if anyone would be able to house her for a week & my family would always welcome anyone ~ what was one more plate on the table?
Anyway, my father took the family & this girl to Niagara Falls. In April, there was still a LOT of snow on the ground from the blizzard. But in the falls, there was a giant pile of snow INSIDE THE GORGE itself ~ it was an incredible sight. I didn’t have a camera in those days so I don’t have a picture of it. But I remember what it looked like.
I go up to Niagara Falls at least once a year. It’s about 20 minutes away from my house but over an hour on the bus. I lived in the city of Niagara Falls for a short period of time in 2007, walking distance from the falls.
Ok, this is gonna be good. lol
They didn’t take her to Disney world?! You got to be kidding. That is unreal. Your German teacher reached out, nice.
Lots of snow even the gorge – my Gawd! Nice of your father to take her in.
Oh wow Niagara Falls is so close. I remember watching people jettison down that baby and sometimes to their own peril. If I must say, that would be the way to do it lol and I didn’t say that.
Even all these later, I can’t believe that rich family didn’t take her to Disney World. Can you imagine what she thought? What she said to her family & friends back home? It’s almost 50 years later & I still can’t believe those people were so selfish.
That girl would have carried that with her, her entire life. It’s so cruel – like the U2 song hehe
Btw, I deleted the other messages where I got too specific with family details. Thanks for reading them and sorry if I put you out.
Cheers.
You didn’t put me out at all. I totally understand.
You’re a good egg. Ta Polly.