hypotemuse

Labour have alienated the voters they had on the left, and failed to win over any of the voters they have courted on the right. Now their core appeal is all but gone and ever growing numbers of voters have exit options on the left, right and in the centre.

Welcome to the Valley of Electoral Death.

'Art is political'
'Art is a force for change'
'Art is what makes us human'

Wait..no, not that politics, not that change, not those humans!

Wenders(2024):"The Berlinale has traditionally always been most political of the major festivals,it doesn’t stay out of things now,& it won’t in the future..I like the Berlinale bc it always speaks up & says something”(Süddeutsche Zeitung)

Wenders on Palestine:"we have to stay out of politics" 🙃 1/

that age entails & that their affluence affords them (as well as a few things going their way). Futile comparing unique journeys of distinct biological specimens but ~38yo RF making that ~5hr Wimbledon final would have undergone a similar process (as did an injury-plagued Rafa).

believed it (esp vs Sinner), but given Mensik/Musetti withdrawals credited the energy mgt balance, this does underscore the innate quality (& yes genes, where phaps ND surpasses all) the big3 can tap into even in their late 30s w/*clinical* micro-management of energy/injury 2/

Said last yr after ND's consuming win over Alcaraz, that subject to all the *heavy* caveats of age, injury, energy mgt., that he's likely still capable of overcoming Sincaraz in a 'one on one' (itself a somewhat artificial construct)
This isn't to toot my horn as I only half 1/

Gosh ppl seem v sure what Iga did/didn't do in off season,what Wim is/should be advising; this on top of occasional segues into how Iga is neurodivergent which they've somehow twigged via cultural osmosis despite no disclosed medical info. Unearthly, polymath lvls of insight 👁️

the order of priorities and enshittification is baked-in to a content model ppl barely question anymore.

Something unsavoury in how tennis steamrolls privacy concerns for 'moments' (that Gauff tried to keep out of sight), whilst banning fans/players from sharing clips that often do more to promote engagement.

Copyright def matters but if we're honest 1/

Yeah teams sometimes proffer offline advice at times like this. Just beyond tone deaf.

I mean, rly.... Shelton would perhaps do well to rethink the RA Ra Merica stuff for a bit.

knack for opportunistic redirects. Lot of that can't be taught: players like her almost have to work against those credible instincts to improve(hence why they often don't).
But you can see why she gave Swiatek trouble: not many players out there can get her off balance or pin her back way AK did.

She's not at top of anyone's predictions, but rly enjoy watching Kalinskaya play. Would benefit from being more creative, but is such a gifted returner, the preference to impose w/ that existing A-game perhaps understandable. Innate ball striking born of natural timing, taking it on the rise, & a 1/

I don't think it even occurs to them. The rot is simply too deep.

As this has been a tennis focused accnt, let’s also ask if Wimbledon consider kidnapping a foreign head of state, & violation of sovereignty as “unprecedented military aggression” (its 2022 wording)? Any US player bans, or flag-censoring of what is by all accounts a rogue state?

Marco Rubio is reportedly saying Maduro will stand trial in US courts.

Which means it’s now the US administration’s position that US courts can hold foreign presidents, but not the US president, accountable for crimes.

The Rybakina serve has been devastating. But I'm even more impressed with the grounded and intentional nature of her returning, even under pressure. That balanced, rhythmic play born of confidence has made such a difference.

A Israeli soldier who was attached to the GHF "relief" operation, and was ordered to shoot at the crowd:

"The officers would shout at me: take them down, take them down. I shot 50-60 bullets per day, I stopped counting the kills. I have no idea how many people I killed, lots. Children".

Haaretz.

True. Just seeing it have such a vivid impact against his high octane rival on the biggest of stages gives one whiplash. Scary if he wields it with consistency.

Shouldn't be surprised I suppose, and he obv brought it in other spheres too, but I didn't forsee the Carlos serve emerging as such a main character today. Huh.

she spoke of w/the lights phaps touches on something deeper. Even elsewhere she doesn't imv get free pts she could. Height doesn't always=big serves (her deliveries~103-106mph) - but being somewhat sub-optimal here seems less about speed/mechanics than a measure of how confidence-driven she is.

Blinding Lights: Amanda Anisimova rues missed opportunities, serve woes after US Open final | Tennis.com The American was broken five times by Aryna Sabalenka, and said the closed roof on Arthur Ashe Stadium made it impossible to see her serve.

Remain invested in Anisimova's game(her ball striking will hopefully enthrall indoors at WTA finals),& altho the nerves & many errors req work,it'd be a mistake to ignore headway already made in bouncing back from Wimb double bagel. That said,the ball toss struggles 1/
www.tennis.com/news/article...

Iga's ability to get players off balance, and then press home the advantage is top drawer. She needs it with the firepower Anisimova is bringing.

I'm going to need Amanda to further up the thunderous ante on her BH. Early signs are promising.

1/14 games Amanda. We have lift off 👍🏼👍🏼

state w/the work going on on her serve/fh, but this (together w/Osaka's aggression) phaps also accentuating more organic concerns. Said this once b4, athleticism doesn't always confer instinctive movement, timing, positioning (irresp of any FH issues), & these are likely to remain works in progress.

Osaka v evidently more mentally grounded than she's been past months (big contrast w/ her reactions to losing at RG/Wimbledon); that confidence saw her hitting recognisably freely, but more notably w/a patient, controlled aggression (a few hints of fragility remain). Gauff seems in a transitional 1/

Hard to describe how utterly cataclysmic Petra winning a title at every level (Slam, 1000, 500, 250, as well as the WTA finals, & the 1st of 6 Fed Cups) during her 2011 season was. One of my most vivid memories of past 20 or so yrs, that's endured for a reason.

Henman sounding off re her "positivity" "even the way Emma walked out on court" is putting me in mind of Murray's 2012 final when the suggestion was Lendl wearing a red shirt on the practice court with Murray is "sending out a message ahead of the final". 🖍️