Very touching tale of Pedro Martinez and his dying father.
Sometimes you forget that players are human and have many of the same troubles all the rest of us face.
Friday, August 10, 2012
Thursday, August 09, 2012
Flotsam and Jetsam
Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.
I'm a fan of Title IX and the payoff the American public is seeing from all the women's medals at the Olympics makes me very happy... Very cool story of how Mitt Romney became a Texas' couple's landlord... I've mentioned this before but Red Ryan has to go 7-9 this year to equal Herm Edwards' record in Herms first 4 seasons as Jets coach (35-25). I don't think Rex can do it... Incredible panoramic views from the Mars probe Opportunity - did I mention it was incredible?... The over / under for wins for the New York Jets is 8.5. Looks like the bookmakers aren't sure if Rex is any better than Herm too...
I'm a fan of Title IX and the payoff the American public is seeing from all the women's medals at the Olympics makes me very happy... Very cool story of how Mitt Romney became a Texas' couple's landlord... I've mentioned this before but Red Ryan has to go 7-9 this year to equal Herm Edwards' record in Herms first 4 seasons as Jets coach (35-25). I don't think Rex can do it... Incredible panoramic views from the Mars probe Opportunity - did I mention it was incredible?... The over / under for wins for the New York Jets is 8.5. Looks like the bookmakers aren't sure if Rex is any better than Herm too...
Paul Ryan as VP?
The Wall Street Journal touts Paul Ryan as the best choice for Mitt Romney's running mate.
As much as I like General Petraeus - I think they are correct. When it comes to the economy - Paul Ryan is a serious candidate. He's put together a budget and as much as the Democrats may not like it that's something that the Democrats have not managed to do for the entire term of the Obama Presidency.
How can President Obama slam Paul Ryan's budget when the one Obama sent to Congress was so unserious that it didn't get a single vote in the House or Senate. NOT A SINGLE VOTE!
Paul Ryan as VP would force the discussion to be about the economy. And more importantly about Obama's performance in the economy.
I'd be really happy with Paul Ryan as VP and General Petraeus as Secretary of State.
As much as I like General Petraeus - I think they are correct. When it comes to the economy - Paul Ryan is a serious candidate. He's put together a budget and as much as the Democrats may not like it that's something that the Democrats have not managed to do for the entire term of the Obama Presidency.
How can President Obama slam Paul Ryan's budget when the one Obama sent to Congress was so unserious that it didn't get a single vote in the House or Senate. NOT A SINGLE VOTE!
Paul Ryan as VP would force the discussion to be about the economy. And more importantly about Obama's performance in the economy.
I'd be really happy with Paul Ryan as VP and General Petraeus as Secretary of State.
General Petraeus
Interesting look at the possibility of Mitt Romney choosing General David Petraeus as his running mate. I've been touting Petreaus as the best choice for VP for over a year. One thing not mentioned is how Petraeus would destroy Joe Biden in any debates (as an aside - I think there will be only one VP debate this year as the Obama Campaign looks to minimize self-inflicted Biden damage).
The article also reminded me of this post from 5 years ago. Especially this quote:
The article also reminded me of this post from 5 years ago. Especially this quote:
"'No one wants to call [Petraeus] a liar on national TV,' noted one Democratic senator, who spoke on the condition on anonymity. 'The expectation is that the outside groups will do this for us.'"
Wednesday, August 08, 2012
A Chance Inspirational Meeting
A phenomenal blog post about a chance meeting in a Portland, Oregon coffee shop.
Russell Kirsch is the man! "Nothing is withheld from us what we have conceived to do."
Try to be like Russell and do things that have never been done!
Russell Kirsch is the man! "Nothing is withheld from us what we have conceived to do."
Try to be like Russell and do things that have never been done!
Haralabos Voulgaris
Bill Simmons' BS Report had a guest host today - Jay Caspian Kang who spoke with Haralabos Voulgaris. The subject was the men's Olympic team and NBA betting.
I Googled Voulgaris because I knew him from him playing on High Stakes Poker - I didn't know anything about him as a sports bettor. Turns out he's the Bill Belichick of NBA betting.
The story of his first big hit is a tremendous story. Be sure to click the above link to find out how he turned a job as a sky cap in Canada into $500,000 and a life in Las Vegas.
I Googled Voulgaris because I knew him from him playing on High Stakes Poker - I didn't know anything about him as a sports bettor. Turns out he's the Bill Belichick of NBA betting.
The story of his first big hit is a tremendous story. Be sure to click the above link to find out how he turned a job as a sky cap in Canada into $500,000 and a life in Las Vegas.
Word Viruses
I had a friend who was a bit of a hick and as a subtle dig at him I would greet him by saying "Howdy!" every time I happened to see him. The joke ended up on me as now I almost always greet any stranger by saying "Howdy!" It's like I have no control over it.
I had a boss who was Canadian and he was the first person I recall saying the phrase "Thanks so much." At first blush I thought it was a very pleasing and considerate phrase. Then the more I thought about it the more I had an issue with the phrase. "Thanks so much. Thanks how much? Thanks this much?"
Thing is - even though I now have an issue with the phrase - I still use it reflexively. It's like I have no control over it.
I had a boss who was Canadian and he was the first person I recall saying the phrase "Thanks so much." At first blush I thought it was a very pleasing and considerate phrase. Then the more I thought about it the more I had an issue with the phrase. "Thanks so much. Thanks how much? Thanks this much?"
Thing is - even though I now have an issue with the phrase - I still use it reflexively. It's like I have no control over it.
Monday, August 06, 2012
Linky Links
Stuff I found interesting and thought I'd share.
Tig Notaro may have had one of the most compelling comedy sets in history. She got people to laugh (and cry) at cancer - her cancer. Not sure about laughing at her cancer but I admit she did get me to laugh at her little titties.
The 86 Rules of Boozing. If you are going to drink - please follow the rules!
This commercial is strange and disturbing. I keep thinking it was written by Gary Larsen and directed by David Lynch.
How MIT students beat the Mass Lottery for over $8 million. The students did nothing wrong. If the math used by the Lottery Commission was bad - that's there fault. Cash Windfall was a stupid game to begin with.
Tig Notaro may have had one of the most compelling comedy sets in history. She got people to laugh (and cry) at cancer - her cancer. Not sure about laughing at her cancer but I admit she did get me to laugh at her little titties.
The 86 Rules of Boozing. If you are going to drink - please follow the rules!
This commercial is strange and disturbing. I keep thinking it was written by Gary Larsen and directed by David Lynch.
How MIT students beat the Mass Lottery for over $8 million. The students did nothing wrong. If the math used by the Lottery Commission was bad - that's there fault. Cash Windfall was a stupid game to begin with.
Saturday, August 04, 2012
Player Comparison
Here's a mind blowing player comparison:
Player A .331 BA/ .556 SLG/ .967 OPS/ 103 R/ 25 HR/ 105 RBI
Player B .347 BA/ .603 SLG/ 1.012 OPS/ 84 R/ 19 HR/ 57 RBI
Player A is Freddy Lynn from 1975 - the year he won both the AL ROY and MVP awards. Player B is Mike Trout from this season. With two months left in the season - Trout is on track to blow away Lynn's numbers (in everything but RBI). What's really mind blowing is that Trout is three years younger than what Lynn was in 1975.
Incredible.
Player A .331 BA/ .556 SLG/ .967 OPS/ 103 R/ 25 HR/ 105 RBI
Player B .347 BA/ .603 SLG/ 1.012 OPS/ 84 R/ 19 HR/ 57 RBI
Player A is Freddy Lynn from 1975 - the year he won both the AL ROY and MVP awards. Player B is Mike Trout from this season. With two months left in the season - Trout is on track to blow away Lynn's numbers (in everything but RBI). What's really mind blowing is that Trout is three years younger than what Lynn was in 1975.
Incredible.
Flotsam and Jetsam
Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.
The Olympics stopped having motor boating as an official event back in 1908. That's too bad because I think that's one activity I could excel at! I think if they brought back motor boating that the TV ratings would be huge... Heh heh - these photos do seem to indicate that Harry Reid is a pederast... Would anyone be surprised if the Red Sox went on a 10-game Morgan Magic style winning streak the day Bobby Valentine is fired? Too bad I think they are committed to him for the season as a way of hanging Larry Lucchino out to dry... I agree with Big Stupid Tommy - this photo of Prince Charles is hysterical... I wonder if Bobby Valentine's feud with Buster Olney will keep Bobby V from making a return to ESPN once he is fired from the Red Sox. My guess is he winds up with a sports show for some NYC station... Wait - what? Not that kind of motor boating? Never mind.
The Olympics stopped having motor boating as an official event back in 1908. That's too bad because I think that's one activity I could excel at! I think if they brought back motor boating that the TV ratings would be huge... Heh heh - these photos do seem to indicate that Harry Reid is a pederast... Would anyone be surprised if the Red Sox went on a 10-game Morgan Magic style winning streak the day Bobby Valentine is fired? Too bad I think they are committed to him for the season as a way of hanging Larry Lucchino out to dry... I agree with Big Stupid Tommy - this photo of Prince Charles is hysterical... I wonder if Bobby Valentine's feud with Buster Olney will keep Bobby V from making a return to ESPN once he is fired from the Red Sox. My guess is he winds up with a sports show for some NYC station... Wait - what? Not that kind of motor boating? Never mind.
Friday, August 03, 2012
Linky Links
Stuff I found interesting and thought I'd share.
Did Jerry Seinfeld copy the UK web series Carpool? I think he independently had the same concept but I also think it would be nice if Jerry had Robert Llewellyn on one of the next episodes. Win-win. Also worth the time to watch the video of Patrick Stewart who seems like a genuinely nice guy.
Heh heh - Barack's birthday cards
Why do divers go hot tubbing after a dive?
Interesting - Apple had to sell a million iPads in 2010 just to cover the cost of advertising
How do smartphone touchscreens work?
Did Jerry Seinfeld copy the UK web series Carpool? I think he independently had the same concept but I also think it would be nice if Jerry had Robert Llewellyn on one of the next episodes. Win-win. Also worth the time to watch the video of Patrick Stewart who seems like a genuinely nice guy.
Heh heh - Barack's birthday cards
Why do divers go hot tubbing after a dive?
Interesting - Apple had to sell a million iPads in 2010 just to cover the cost of advertising
How do smartphone touchscreens work?
Harry Reid is Grima Wormtoungue
Harry Reid has made news once again for his perfidy. The man has no shame. Making unfounded accusations about Mitt Romney's taxes and even bringing Mitt's father into the slander would be a low water mark for most people but for Reid it seems to be par for the course.
Lost in some of his more recent slanders is the fact that these slanders by Reid have been going on for years. Remember 5-years ago Reid called Generals Pace and Petraeus incompetent? The man will say anything.
Pure craven scum.
Lost in some of his more recent slanders is the fact that these slanders by Reid have been going on for years. Remember 5-years ago Reid called Generals Pace and Petraeus incompetent? The man will say anything.
Pure craven scum.
Red Sox Should Claim Cliff Lee
I agree with Jeff Passan that Cliff Lee is worth being claimed off of waivers. I just think the team to claim him should be the Red Sox.
Passan is right that Lee's performance has been much better than his record and that compared to what will be available via free agency the next two years - he's worth taking a shot. The Red Sox can easily afford him with Kevin Youkilis and Dice-K coming off the books next year - they should claim him. If the Sox are lucky the Phillies will just let him go to get out from his contract. If not maybe they would take Daniel Bard who still has an A-type arm but who is really in need of a change of scenery. Getting Bard back with Papelbon may be just what the doctor ordered.
Passan is right that Lee's performance has been much better than his record and that compared to what will be available via free agency the next two years - he's worth taking a shot. The Red Sox can easily afford him with Kevin Youkilis and Dice-K coming off the books next year - they should claim him. If the Sox are lucky the Phillies will just let him go to get out from his contract. If not maybe they would take Daniel Bard who still has an A-type arm but who is really in need of a change of scenery. Getting Bard back with Papelbon may be just what the doctor ordered.
What's the Capital of Israel?
Donald Rumsfeld made an interesting point - Israel says that Jerusalem is their capital it is simply hubris and an insult to the sovereignty of Israel for other nations to say otherwise. If Americans insisted that Toronto or Montreal was the capital of Canada - my guess is that Canadians would think that the US was ignorant and arrogant for saying that. And the Canadians would be right. In essence how is the question of Israel's capital any different?
I predict that before long President Obama will unequivocally say that Jerusalem is the capital of Israel but by then the damage will be done. People will question how sincere he is in his support of Israel if he has to be forced to name Jerusalem as the capital. I hope when that day comes someone thinks to ask him if he recognizes Ottawa as capital of Canada.
Thursday, August 02, 2012
Flotsam and Jetsam
Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.
Since Kevin Youkilis was traded every MLB team has been involved in a trade except the Padres, Nationals and Mets. San Diego signed an extension with Huston Street and surprisingly was not a seller, the Nationals got back Jason Werth from the DL which is like adding the best available bat meanwhile the Mets have pretty much done nothing... MLB team Facebook pages get hacked. Tasteless yet amusing... Interesting - according to Peter Gammons if Craig Brelow throws to Ryan Lavarnway - it will be the first Yale battery since the 19th century... Wow - the hubris. Soyndra official referred to the Obama Administration as "Bank of Washington." All that taxpayer money down the drain... The plot thickens. According to Rob Bradford - Will Middlebrooks has not made two errors in one game this season - never mind two in one inning. So what was Bobby Valentine talking about? If that big detail isn't true - then what else was fabricated?... Cool - 24 vintage pictures of Abraham Lincoln... Adolph Hitler's sister-in-law was named Bridget - Bridget Hitler. That just sounds funny. Like it should be the name of an Irish punk band... According to MoneySupermarket - it would cost $282 million to be Batman...
Since Kevin Youkilis was traded every MLB team has been involved in a trade except the Padres, Nationals and Mets. San Diego signed an extension with Huston Street and surprisingly was not a seller, the Nationals got back Jason Werth from the DL which is like adding the best available bat meanwhile the Mets have pretty much done nothing... MLB team Facebook pages get hacked. Tasteless yet amusing... Interesting - according to Peter Gammons if Craig Brelow throws to Ryan Lavarnway - it will be the first Yale battery since the 19th century... Wow - the hubris. Soyndra official referred to the Obama Administration as "Bank of Washington." All that taxpayer money down the drain... The plot thickens. According to Rob Bradford - Will Middlebrooks has not made two errors in one game this season - never mind two in one inning. So what was Bobby Valentine talking about? If that big detail isn't true - then what else was fabricated?... Cool - 24 vintage pictures of Abraham Lincoln... Adolph Hitler's sister-in-law was named Bridget - Bridget Hitler. That just sounds funny. Like it should be the name of an Irish punk band... According to MoneySupermarket - it would cost $282 million to be Batman...
Doctor Who - Season 7
I just finished re-watching Doctor Who's 6th season and I must say that I think that season in whole may be the best of the lot. It took me a while to warm to Matt Smith but damn - season 7 looks great!
The Red Sox Mess
People are looking to pin the blame for the Red Sox organization being a mess. Does the blame lie with players like Josh Beckett who is viewed as over-paid, under-productive and out of shape? Is it Bobby Valentine whose managerial moves at times are questionable at best and whose personality really rubs many the wrong way? Is it first year GM Ben Cherington who hasn't made enough moves to right the ship? Is it ownership who seem too distracted by new shiny things like Liverpool soccer (LFC) to see the forest through the trees? For anyone paying attention the answer is clear - all of the above!
I get into details after the break. Be sure to read it all because I really buried the lede.
I get into details after the break. Be sure to read it all because I really buried the lede.
Wednesday, August 01, 2012
Ebola in Uganda
Never mind Stephen King - the scariest book I ever read was The Hot Zone: A Terrifying True Story
by Richard Preston. The book tells the true story of an Ebola outbreak. For weeks after reading the book I had dreams about "crashing and bleeding out".
Now 14 people have died so far in a new outbreak of Ebola in Uganda.
Scary stuff.
by Richard Preston. The book tells the true story of an Ebola outbreak. For weeks after reading the book I had dreams about "crashing and bleeding out".
Now 14 people have died so far in a new outbreak of Ebola in Uganda.
Scary stuff.
A Status Update of Poker in the US
I'm a sucker for a good poker article and Jay Caspian Kang wrote a very good one for Grantland.
The article combines the status of Poker Stars taking over the assets and debt of Full-Tilt Poker with the story of the One-Drop Million Dollar Buy-in. Good read for any poker geeks out there.
The article combines the status of Poker Stars taking over the assets and debt of Full-Tilt Poker with the story of the One-Drop Million Dollar Buy-in. Good read for any poker geeks out there.
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