-Big Pharma will eventually have it's tobacco tipping point but they have their claws in us right now. Terrifying stuff. At least nicotine is, in relation to opioids, easier to kick and not as destructive to your life. Mainly it doesn't make you want to shoot up really strong heroine. Bad stuff, man.
-Speaking of tobacco, it's amazing that Europeans smoke as much as they do. They can say all they want about us guzzling cheeseburgers and cokes. Those fools smoke heaters like they have no tomorrow and the cigarette packages have the most revolting graphics you've ever seen. It's really something.
-I like Jackson/Fox better than Ball/Fultz. Ts. I'd be loving that 3/4 pick range.
-Sounds like our dudes are having a nice U19 event with Knox really looking good. Wodie to have some real footage and nuggets this time of year.
-UL stuff is just unbelievable. After squirming their way out of seemingly every situation imaginable for 10-15 years nice to see it finally coming back. Systematic issue dating way back for the Pitino era at UL and it starts with the coach being out in public drinking and womanizing. Truth. He is absolutely responsible and not second hand. No coincidence both his scandals are related. Forcing 16-18 kids to bang a whore. For f*cksake. Grow a conscious. Hate to think what I would do if it was my school, but I can honestly say supporting my coach wouldn't be it. That's unimaginable. Harsh penalty by the NCAA but absolutely deserved.
-Just got back from an amazing eurotrip.
*Venice - Very neat place, way overrun with tourist, but when you wondered away from San Marco it was really nice. Art there is great.
*Split - Not a big fan. Selling really bad knock off stuff in a flea market setting in the corridor of a 1st century castle is pretty miserable. People had a really hard life so I'll give them a pass.
*Dubrovnik - pretty busy, a little touristy, but overall a beautiful place. Very cool kayak tour around the city, Lockrum and a cave beach.
*Kotor - the area was just breathtaking scenery, something out of a book, massive mountains right on the Adriatic. Quaint. Hiked up to a Castle on the side of a mountain.
*Sicily, fell in love with the place as you would expect with family from there. Decided it would be a good idea to cycle to the top of Mt Etna, active volcano, it was not a good idea. Well it was actually awesome but it was hard as f*ck. 6000' on about 30km in 95 degree and humid as balls is not something I'm used to. Very cool experience but crazy challenging. I will be back to that place sooner than later.
*Amalfi/Positano - Same with Sicily. Unreal views but need some more time there.
*Rome was at the end of a long tour that typically sets up disappointment and it took about 24 hours for me to actually get it but the final meal there was overlooking the city from a rooftop as the sun set in the distance and I was hooked. Like Paris, I'll spend a lot more time there. The history is just unbelievable. Also, the Catholic Church, shew. Kind of a bittersweet bewilderment at the amount of power/history/greed/awesome/holy mix they have in Vatican City. Not sure if I should be proud or ashamed. It's something worth seeing, regardless of the meaning. Colosseum nighttime tour was one of the highlights. Humidity was the lowlight.
-Was ready to be back about 5 days from the end. I just get worn out at 6-7 days no matter what. Great experience though. Always great when you join up with a few couples on those trips and end up partying with them the whole time.