Finished reading: The Martian by Andy Weir 📚

Finished reading: No Better Time by Molly Knight Raskin 📚 I was given this book when it first came out. It’s taken me this long to get around to reading it but I figured the 25th anniversary sneaking up on me was a sign. Good read despite a few technical errors that don’t affect the core story.

September is Childhood Cancer Awareness month and despite being late, I’ve joined with Relay to raise money for St Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Please donate what you can to this life saving organization. Every penny makes a difference.

Finished reading: Artemis: A Novel by Andy Weir 📚

Playing around with a connector for crosspoint-reader-sync and micro.blog bookshelves. Make sure that any books I’m reading in crosspoint (or anything else I point at this KOsync compatible server) show up in my reading bookshelf and get moved to Finished Reading when I’m done. 📚

Finished reading: Rise of the Empire : Star Wars : Featuring the Novels Star Wars : Tarkin, Star Wars by John Jackson Miller, James Luceno 📚 I paid no attention to the fact that this book is in fact 2 novels and 3 short stories. Enjoyed the longer than anticipated read nonetheless.

Fun fact - the Old Mate has changed hands in the championship final only three times final: 2023, 2024 and 2025. Will Legion join the Free Jacks in this exclusive club? #mlr2026

The Old Mate makes it to the playoffs once again. It has missed the playoffs only once (not including the aborted 2020 season) - in 2021 when New England Free Jacks took it from Rugby ATL in the final regular season match and the Free Jacks failed to make the post season.

It has changed hands in the first round of the playoffs in 2018 (Seattle taking it from San Diego), 2019 (Seattle taking it from Toronto), 2022 (New York taking it from Rugby ATL) and 2024 (Seattle once again taking it from San Diego).

Will OGDC have what it takes to lift it from Chicago in 2026?

The Old Mate remains with Chicago who seem to be getting very comfortable with it. However, this week the broadcast cut before the fan celebration again. As a demonstration of rugby culture, can we make sure this gets on broadcast every week? Ideally with fans from both teams sharing a drink! #mlr2026

Watching the Free Jacks from Foxboro MA! #mlr2026

Can you beat this open and honest discussion about some key MLR topics including RRS and state of the business? youtu.be/Is1kGeB01… #mlr2026

Old Mate remains with Chicago, and now travels with them to California, hoping to tie up their longest previous reign of 5 defenses (2025 week 3->week 9). California is aiming to take it back from Chicago after losing it to them in week 3 of this season! #mlr2026

The Old Mate stays with Chicago. Anthem will travel to make their 5th ever challenge and their 1st for 2026. This will be Chicago’s 4th straight defense - their record is 6. #mlr2026

Less than 36 hours to get your picks in: rangerpicks.rugby/week6

Old Mate stays with Chicago. OGDC will travel to Chicago to challenge for it. Old Glory have only won the lineal title one time, way back in week 2 of 2024 when they took it from New England. 2 unsuccessful challenges since then - the most recent against Chicago in week 5 of 2025. #mlr2026

Left family vacation early, drove 280 miles, 5 hours and 5 states to get to the @nefreejacks match! Huzzah! #LetsRide #mlr2026

Old Mate will now travel to Seattle with Chicago. Seattle have won it 7 times, with 8 failed challenges. The last time Seattle challenged Chicago for it, they won 28-22 in week 10 of 2025. They most recently lost it to New England in week 16 of that season after taking it back from Houston the prior week.

Ranger Picks Calendars are updated after Chicago Hounds announced some schedule changes for the upcoming Sunday Night Rugby.

The Old Mate stays with Chicago. I did manage to get a picture with it though.

🔥 OLD MATE CHAOS REPORT 🔥

How wild has the Major League Rugby Old Mate Challenge Cup really been?

Since the beginning of the league, runs of consecutive successful challenges have happened:

🥄 14 times — One-and-done chaos ⚔️ 6 times — Back-to-back takeovers 🔥 5 times — Three straight weeks of madness 👑 1 time — FOUR straight successful challenges

And that legendary 4-match streak?

📜 It happened in the very first weeks of MLR history.

The cup started life with absolute anarchy before anyone could hold onto it.

#OldMate #MLR2026

The Old Mate travels to Nashville this weekend! Can Chicago hold it or will New England force it to change hands for the 3rd time this season in only week 4?

#mlr2026 #rugby

Not without some hiccups but Sunday Night Rugby on ESPN was awesome. Technical difficulties handled with some seasoned announcers coming off the bench. #mlr2026 usmlr

And the Hounds take the Old Mate from California Legion on Legion’s first ever defense. This cup likes to move around! #mlr2026 #rugby

Just a quick refresher on the Supporters Challenge Cup (Old Mate) - the cup has to be WON to be claimed. A draw means the current holder retains it. Chicago missed out in round 3 of 2024 by tying with OGDC. h/t MLRStats #MLR2026

This post has a limited audience. Possibly only me. I created a TRMNL plugin for tracking the Old Mate. Get it here: trmnl.com/recipes/2…