Gheorghasbord: Good for the Gander

This post started as a comparative analysis of Geese and Goose. The bands, not the birds. It was inspired, really. And then like so many of my inspirations, it sorta petered out and took a nap. But now it returns, like the salmon to Capistrano, part of a widely-ranging selection of things that my brain found interesting this week.

The New York Times calls Goose a "jam band with indie-rock undertones". See what you think:

The same NYT writer asks us to "think of Geese as an indie-rock band with jammy elements". Sure, man. Here they are recently on Saturday Night Live. I think I like them better than their fellow-feathered act.

Turning to things sporting, Thursday marks both the eve of the 2026 Olympics and the opening match of the 2026 Six Nations. Holders France host 2023 and 2024 champs Ireland at the Stade de France in a gigantic match, both in terms of the quality of the teams and the impact on the outcome of the event. The French are the consensus favorite to repeat as champions (8/11 on Betfair), while the recently-banged-up Irish (6-1) are third-favorite behind England (5/2). Scotland comes in at 12-1, while Wales (55-1) and Italy (125-1) will once again drag at the back.

Thursday's opener will air live on Peacock from 3:10 ET. The NBC streaming option will carry all of the tournament action.

And finally, sticking with athletic competition, check out this spill veteran skiing star Lindsey Vonn took a few days ago in Crans-Montana, Switzerland:

Vonn, who returned to competition in 2025 after several years away in retirement, has been the best women's downhill racer on the world circuit by some measure. Since the beginning of December, she's finished no worse than third, and won twice in five races. 

She suffered a complete rupture of the ACL in her left knee during the crash at Crans-Montana, ending her dream of a return to the Olympic podium...wait...I'm being told that...she's still going to race in Milan-Cortina? With a brace on her COMPLETELY RUPTURED ACL?!?

Well I'll be goddamned.