J. R. Tracy

Buy stock now - you’ll thank me later

Once TFG is gone the Federal government should hold a lottery for a chance to operate the wrecking ball when we raze the White House ballroom. We could eliminate the budget in one fell swoop.

It tastes like it should be good for you, but it isn’t

A friend asked if I wanted to try a strange foul-tasting Hungarian liqueur and I immediately knew what he was talking about. I could not be more excited. He hates it - it’s mine now. I discovered it 30 years ago and love the stuff.

Hear me out: Great British Bake Off crossover - Meth Week! You could have Bryan Cranston and A-Aron Paul as guest hosts. Imagine the chaos on the technical - adorable Cornish nan: “I’ve never worked with these ingredients!” Glasgow club kid: “Gonna crush this”

It is a socioeconomic juggernaut - step aside or die

NYC tourist tips for first timers:

- don’t eat the free gum you find on lamp posts and handrails

- that isn’t a real Rolex

- if you check your phone at the top of the stairs you will be beaten to death and no one will intervene; in fact, some onlookers may applaud

Soviet Motor Rifle troops seized a bridgehead across the River Leine

A-10s rain damnation on my divisional HQ and army artillery assets

I had a great afternoon playtesting Air&Armor's next module, BAOR, with designer Bruce Maxwell. My motor rifle division was across the Leine and making good time when roving A-10s discovered my artillery park and main HQ - that was pretty much ballgame! Fun session, I learned a lot

An American airborne battalion occupies the victory location of Auletta in the hills east of the beachhead

Panzergrenadiers fall back from the heights overlooking the coastal plain

The Hermann Göring Division stymies the Rangers north of Salerno

A mixed force defends Eboli from a British onslaught

Very close to wrapping up the 8-turn Salerno '43 scenario versus Danny. He's one VP shy of victory with one turn to go. He had it in hand thanks to a plucky paradrop but those GIs are now dispersed. It will come down to Eboli - the passes north of Salerno are secure and nothing else is within reach

lol obviously - the looks too

YouTube video by Willa Maxine 30 for 30

My lovely daughter Willa put together a thirty minute set for her 30th birthday - enjoy! youtu.be/k87J8ZL-kDo?...

If you're calling Kimmel's comments 'vile words' then you either don't actually know what he said or you have an emotional sensitivity that suggests you avoid anything spicier than Garfield.

Another murder-free visit to the grocery store! I’m getting better at this.

At the Char Bar in Kansas City - this is a menu alert I can appreciate!

Sign for the museum greeting vistors

Image of the 'field of legends', with statues of famous Negro Leagues ballplayers at each position in the field and at the plate (including an umpire!)

poster for a matchup between the Philadelphia Stars featuring Slim Jones and the Pittsburgh Crawfords behind the great Satchel Paige, 1934

me and my girl

We visited the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City Friday - great exhibits, worthwhile and informative for baseball fans and non-fans alike. As much a Civil Rights museum as a sports museum.

Indeed

A good rule and easy to remember!

29 July 2025 - Once More up the Brussels Road - Napoleon's Last Battles using the Stumptner Variations at DonCon | Fun City Gaming

Once more up the Brussels Road! Napoleon's Last Battles, using Markus Stumptner's combat system and order structure, at 2025's DonCon: boardgamegeek.com/blog/1319/bl...

These chickens were either adorable or terrifying - there is no middle ground

Possibly the same session, but Leeland Krueger just played it and found it a bit light. What are your thoughts?

NFL bans use of smelling salts, saying product can mask concussion symptoms The NFL is banning the use of

This is bullshit. It’s not football unless you’re occasionally dragged back to your senses by a jolt of ammonia stabbing you in the nose.

www.nfl.com/news/nfl-ban...

Thank you, brother

26 July 2025 - Operation Dynamo from GMT's France '40, at DonCon | Fun City Gaming

Back to Blighty! Operation Dynamo from GMT's France '40 (2nd Edition) versus Jeff Coyle, at DonCon - boardgamegeek.com/blog/1319/bl...

25 July 2025 - Air & Armor: Würzburg at DonCon | Fun City Gaming

Here is an AAR of our Air & Armor: Würzburg session at DonCon last week, playing the medium-sized Counterattack scenario: boardgamegeek.com/blog/1319/bl...

A map depicting the defenses of Constantinople, 1453

I listened to Episode 332 of The History of Byzantium today - the end of a long, fun, and informative ride. Mehmed is at the gates and it's game over. Great podcast, with the depth and breadth the topic fully deserves. Highly recommended. thehistoryofbyzantium.com

The Crusaders are motivated by a fragment of the True Cross

The seductive allure of my exposed heavy foot (hey now) drew George into a toe-to-toe slugfest on his first card, miring him in a situation custom-fit to Crusader advantages. I reckon this one will play a lot differently as we master the nuances of the Crusader expansion 7/7

The opposing lines of infantry are only two hexes apart

In most situations the Crusader player is struggling to engage, but here you start right on top of each other. Any Inspired Special Action card brings the Crusaders into immediate contact with bone-crunching power. The Fatimids might best be served by an early retreat 6/7

Unlike other ranged units, crossbows hit on sword rolls, doubling their killing power

However, I had been saving Line Command for this moment. My knights overran one unit and reduced another to a single step, which a medium crossbow unit dispatched with a sword hit for my final banner 5/7

A Fatimid heavy cavalry unit rides straight into an ambush by Baldwin's knight cavalry

With a 4-2 banner lead I played Order Heavy Troops, sadly *after* George slaughtered my foot men-at-arms. I managed to kill another unit and whittled down two more. George replied with Order Light Troops, a great Fatimid card, killing one unit and peppering several others 4/7

Fatimid cavalry drive back the Crusader infantry

George responded with Forward, and I didn't have a good reply. He followed up with a Leadership play and turned it into Foot Onslaught. George finished off my heavy foot, but Baldwin greeted his heavies with Ambush!, annihilating the unit and setting their commander to flight 3/7