Flotsam and Jetsam

Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.

Bill Lear, founder of Lear Jet Corporation named his daughter Shanda. Yup Shanda Lear... Julio Lugo is in the midst of a mighty slump but this is a bit over the top. It also steals my thunder because I was going to do a spoof promotion by the Red Sox where official card carrying members of Red Sox Nation (yes the Red Sox actually sell membership cards) get chosen to pinch hit for Julio Lugo with proceeds going to the Jimmy Fund. It is an idea that I could actually see the Red Sox marketing people toss around. (Hat tip to Che MRhe for the link)... The silent one in Penn and Teller changed his name from Raymond Joseph Teller to just Teller... Very well done article on pro poker player Vinnie Vinh and the demons he's fighting. Makes for very interesting reading even if you are not a fan of poker... Penn Jillette from Penn and Teller named his daughter Moxie CrimeFighter Jillette. While it is an amusing name - I hope the girl sues her father for cruelty when she gets older... On this day in 1978 Willie McCovey became the 12th member of the 500 HR club. Babe Ruth was the first member back in 1929. So it took 49 years to get to 12 members but since 1978 the club has added 9 more members and within a year three more players should reach 500 HR (Alex Rodriguez, Manny Ramirez and Jim Thome). So it took about 50 years to go from to 12 members and then just another 30 to go from 12 to 24 members.... I always joked with my wife that we should name one of our kids Next. That way when they grow up and someone asks, "Who's next?" - they could answer, "I am"... Exactly 10-years ago today - the first Harry Potter book was published. It's feels like its taken 10-years just to get the seventh book published.