Tuesday, May 28, 2013

Rubik's Juggling



How cool is that? A man juggles three Rubik's cubes while solving them!

Sunday, May 26, 2013

Flotsam and Jetsam

Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.

With everyone focused on the IRS scandal which keeps getting worse and worse - this would be a good time for Hillary Clinton to come clean on Benghazi. She can say that she was trying to protect the President and regrets her actions. She could say that she was confused about the expectations from this administration versus those of her husband. People would accept that...  The NCAA is looking worse and worse regarding U Miami and using Nevin Shapiro as their star witness... This may be a little thing but I'm really not a fan of parents telling kids "Don't you dare" as a warning. Don't you want your kids to dare? especially to dream?...  I think Adrian Beltre not wanting to be touched on his head and his teammates doing it anyway is funny. That's something a little brother would do to a big brother... With Elementary done for the season and the new season of Sherlock not showing in the US until September - I'm having some Sherlock Holmes withdrawal... Wow - this pinpointed map of unemployment is incredible. Look at how employment seems to end at the borders of California.

Saturday, May 25, 2013

Linky Links

Stuff I found interesting and thought I'd share.

- One of the many reasons to like Terry Francona (and good sport Don Orsillo)

- The Evan Gattis story keeps getting cooler and cooler

- Speaking of cool stories - it doesn't get much better than Chris Colabella's finally making it to the Big Show

- Heh Heh

- Searching for Dwight Howard. I've long held that Dwight Howard is the most over-rated player in the NBA. Whoever signs him will come to regret the decision.

Oral History of the 2003 WSOP

Excellent behind the scenes look at the game changing 2003 World Series of Poker. Three quick thoughts on the article:

1. Not a fan of people who complain that Chris Moneymaker got lucky. Every WSOP winner not named Stu Ungar was lucky. That's the way it is in poker. You have to win all the coin-flips and get a lucky two-outer to be champion.

2.Sad to hear that winning the WSOP and becoming a poker pro basically cost Moneymaker his marriage. That's tough.

3. This would have made a great 30 for 30 except ESPN already owns the rights and I'm guessing the poker folks probably wouldn't want to share with Bill Simmons 30 for 30 folks.

Thursday, May 23, 2013

Flotsam and Jetsam

Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.

Cliff Lee has a no-trade clause that lists 21 teams. If I'm an MLB GM - I'm calling the Phillies to see if I'm one of the 9 teams not on the list. I'm calling first thing... Heh heh - it's funny because its true... If you only had to pay for the cable channels you wanted or watched - how many people would still have MTV or MSNBC? Nobody forces you to buy cable but if you want cable then you are forced to buy channels you don't want. Doesn't seem right does it?... If I were in charge of the Big Ben clock in London - I'd have it strike 11 times at 10 o'clock every once in a while just to mess with the heads of some conspiracy theorists... Great headline!... In the tomato drink V8 - is one of the 8 ingredients ass? Sure tastes like ass to me... If Australians are from "down under" - does that mean Americans are from "up over"?... Remember when Democrats like Harry Truman insisted that the buck stopped with them and didn't blame some low level employees? Or the media? Or the previous administration?...

Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Derek Lowe

Derek Lowe was designated for assignment by the Texas Rangers and his big league career may be over. And what a unique career it has been. Lowe once led the league in saves - something Jonathan Papelbon never managed to do. Lowe had as many 20-win seasons as Mike Mussina - but whereas Mussina was nicknamed Moose - it was Lowe who really shouldered the load and who led his league in games started 4 times (Mussina managed the trick just twice).

The Red Sox do not win the 2004 World Series without Lowe's pitching heroics. But it is Curt Schilling and David Ortiz who still get all the kudos. For his part in the 2004 Championship - Lowe was shown the door and allowed to sign with the Dodgers as a free agent.

Don't get me wrong - I'm not saying Lowe and his career 4.03 ERA is a Hall of Famer. It is also hard to feel bad for a man who spent all or part of 17 seasons in "the show" while raking in more than $110 million in salary. It's just that Lowe seems a decent guy and has been so enigmatic that the passing of his big league career seemed worthy of note.

Thanks for 2004.

Wednesday, May 15, 2013

Flotsam and Jetsam

Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.

I don't care how awesome the Internet becomes - Zombo.com will still be the best site ever... Have you seen those pictures of Richard Branson dressing up as a stewardess because he lost a bet? Just saying but the Most Interesting Man in the World would never do something like that.... Interesting - 10 hotel secrets from behind the front desk... I have Albert Pujols in one of my fantasy baseball leagues so I don't have to be reminded that Lyle Overbay has more HR (6-5) and more RBI (23-21)... Franks Sinatra has been dead for 15 years now - here's 15 things you may not have known about him... This is genius - comedian Kurt Braunolher paid to have this written in the sky above Los Angeles... Now would be a really good time for President Obama to raise or lower the sea levels just to distract people from all these scandals...

Tuesday, May 14, 2013

Linky Links

Stuff I found interesting and thought I'd share.

- Nice profile of Rockies manager Walt Weiss. Hard not to like the guy.

- Senator challenges NFL's tax-exempt status. Of course a shortcut would be to just tell the IRS that the NFL was affiliated with the Tea Party.

- Col. Chris Hadfield singing Space Oddity is awesome. Part of me is bothered by the idea that NASA now is best known for singing astronauts and not for the sort of great goals and accomplishments that made them famous in the past. We don't even have a space shuttle any more.

- Watch this excerpt from a commencement speech by David Foster Wallace. Watch it once a week for the rest of your life to remind yourself "this is water".

- 11 Patron Saints of food, wine and those who cook or serve

- Interesting look at how our Solar System isn't "normal".

Monday, May 13, 2013

Flotsam and Jetsam

Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.

Two very interesting pairings this past weekend. You had the Mariano Rivera and Joba Chamberlain story and then Tiger Woods vs Sergio Garcia story-line at TPC Sawgrass. In both cases the younger player came off as bit of an ass... "Give us just the audio feed from Erin Andrews" said no TV producer ever... I read the subtext to this Dan Shaughnessy rebuttle by Red Sox part-owner Tom Werner as "I gave your daughter a job in Hollywood you ungrateful jerk"... God bless the Richard family. I cannot image the pain and grief they must shoulder every day... I still say that Tim Tebow would be a useful back-up to the Patriots. Tom Brady likes those one-yard goal-line plunges too much. He's getting older and there's no reason to risk him in those situations when you could have a guy like Tebow... Part of me thinks the Westboro Baptist Church is just some real elaborate hoax being pulled off by an not-dead Andy Kaufman... Playing off the success of ChristianMingle.com - I'd like to start a site ChristianDivorce.com. Jesus want you to separate!...

Sunday, May 12, 2013

The Great Gatsby

I have read F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby a few times. The first time was for an English class. The next two times because Ernest Hemingway spoke so highly of the book I was sure I was missing something. Each time reading the book felt like a chore to be finished.

I agree completely with this review of the book The Great Gatsby - it just doesn't do anything for me.

For books about the same period in time - give me John Steinbeck's Cannery Row or Hemingway's A Moveable Feast (even though this book wasn't actually published till 1964 - three years after Hemingway's suicide).

I have no desire whatsoever to see the movie.

Ghosts

I've decided that I'm not going to believe in ghosts. Why? Well the reason is pretty simple.

Every kid is taught that ghosts say "boo!" Who decided this? It's become unanimous. According to our culture and accepted norms - ghosts say "boo". But why would your spirit in death be saying something you never said in life? When was the last time you said "boo"? Were you impersonating a ghost?

The only explanation is that nobody has ever spoken with a ghost. And that must be because they don't exist. Logic.

As an aside - I think it would be funny if someone re-cut the movie Ghost so that Patrick Swayze's dialog after he dies is replaced by someone just repeating "boo!" over and over.

Friday, May 10, 2013

The Herpes of Sports Reporting

Recently Green Day frontman Billy Joe Armstrong call Korean singer Psy the "herpes of music" "once you think he's gone he comes back." Armstrong took some heat for the comment but generally people thought it was amusing and agreed with him.

It got me thinking about who I would consider the "herpes of sports reporting". Here's my list:

1. Dan Shaughnessy - nobody makes me turn a radio or TV channel faster than Shagnasty. He faded into the woodwork somewhat after the Red Sox ruined his "Curse of the Bambino" cottage industry but recently he made himself as public as a cold sore on a wedding day with his basically accusing David Ortiz of using steroids. It should be recalled that before Ortiz even had a plate appearance for the Red Sox - Shaughnessy called him a "pile of you know what". I think the Curly Haired Boyfriend just has it out for people of color.

2. Skip Bayless - why is he famous? Why does ESPN stick with this douche? Does anyone like him? All serious questions.

3. Mike Lupica - get over yourself little man. You couldn't hold Dick Schaap's jock.

4. Stephen A Smith - aka Screaming A Smith. As annoying as this guy can be I do have to admit that at least occasionally he makes valid points.

5. Ron Borges - we get it. You hate Bill Belichick, don't find plagiarism to be a sin and are not afraid to fight men in wheelchairs. Probably a Boston thing but this guy is a dickhead.

Missing the list - Jay Marriotti who has proved himself to be more of a chlamydia in the word of sports transmitted diseases.

Wednesday, May 08, 2013

Slavery

What happened to those three girls in Cleveland is monstrous. I would call it unbelievable except for the fact it really happened. These three girls had their freedom taken away and were basically slaves for a decade.

One thing I think all Americans can agree on is that slavery is wrong and in this day and age - it is inexcusable. Yet our country continues to do business with other nations where slavery is perfectly acceptable. Why isn't there more outrage about this?

Even when one of these nations brings their practice of slavery to our very capital - it barely makes a blip on the news. Honestly - how many of you were even aware of that story?

Read this article on slavery - then wrap your mind around this quote from the article, "When I want a sex slave, I go to the market and pick whichever female I desire and buy her." Now think back to how outraged you felt about those three girls in Cleveland. If those nations who allow slavery were hunting whales instead - there would be all sorts of outrage and demonstrations. Where is the outrage?

Tuesday, May 07, 2013

Monday, May 06, 2013

Flotsam and Jetsam

Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.

I don't think it will come to this but excellent point - if Tim Tebow doesn't get any any NFL QB opportunities he could spark a bidding war for his college football TV services... "Wouldn't the world be a cleaner place if we gave blind people brooms instead of canes?" - Nick Thune... Why do people say "I shit myself" or "I almost shit myself"? Who else are you going to shit?... Speaking of shit - you know you've wondered about this - why does your crap sometimes float and sometimes sink?...  Old Irish saying, "Many a time a man's mouth has broken his nose"... Wow I feel old - Bree Seanna Wall who played little Sophia on Deadwood is now 18-years old... I don't like the phrase "immoral fornicator". Have you ever heard anyone who would say that also say "moral fornicator"?... Chick-fil-A should sign Jason Collins as an endorser. Certain people's heads would explode... I am really surprised that this doesn't happen more in baseball... Is it really necessary at this point for people who advertise lunch or dinner buffets to add the words "all you can eat"?...

Saturday, May 04, 2013

Best Albums of the 70's?

I have a question mark in the title because I really don't agree with this list of the best albums of the 1970's. And I know the list is 9-years old but it is new to me.

During the 70's I was a kid. But aren't kids the most impressionable? I have to admit that I don't recognize half of the albums on the list. Maybe that's my ignorance but to have a list like this and not have something from Bruce Springsteen when he was at his peak tells me that maybe I'm not the ignorant one. No Bon Scott AC/DC? Highway to Hell is better than 90 percent of the albums on the list.

At number 1 on the list is Low from David Bowie. As I mentioned - I was an impressionable kid in the 70's but this album didn't make an impression on me. The only song I recognize is Sound and Vision - which is an OK song but it is no London Calling.

You can listen to the entire album Low here.

Friday, May 03, 2013

Linky Links

Stuff I found interesting and thought I'd share.

- Interesting analysis of the Kentucky Derby field. So Java's War? I'm leaning towards the Pletcher / / Valezquez combo on Verrazano.

- In case you missed it - Netflix lost close to 2,000 titles this past Wednesday.

- Holy crap! What a hit in the Lingerie Football League!

- Time crystals? The scientist will never admit it but I bet he originally got the idea for this theory from the Sleestacks on Land of the Lost