Linky Links

Stuff I found interesting or amusing and thought I'd share.

- Neil Gaiman's Trigger Warning

- Penguins perform O'Canada prior to last night's game vs Flyers. I hope the San Francisco Giants make the same gesture of support.

- Wow - Rudy Giuliani really doesn't like Charlie Crist

- Founder of the Weather Channel - Climate change is nothing but a lie. The climate is changing but for reasons we neither understand nor control. We should be studying these reasons and not asking people to wear sack-cloth and ashes.

- Impact of vaccines in US

- "The Hot Zone" and the mythos of Ebola

Avengers: Age of Ultron

Very excited for this movie.

Linky Links

Stuff I found interesting or amusing and thought I'd share.

- 23-year old makes $500,000 a year on Twitter (sometimes I hate my life)

- Scary - what we give away when we log onto a public network. Makes me want to never use a network I don't know ever again.

- Heh heh - the 4 stages of Obama's crisis management

- Heh heh - the first woman on the moon

Flotsam and Jetsam

Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.

The CDC (Center for Disease Control) since it is funded by Federal tax dollars really should be called the American Center for Disease Control. Yes I am advocating for a name change to ACDC... I agree that Keith Foulke does not get the credit he deserves for the Red Sox 2004 post season success... My Wu-Tang Clan name is Chris... ACDC - Dirty Diseases Done Dirt Cheap... The US is $40 trillion richer than China. $40 trillion!!... If I ever met Gwyneth Paltrow - I would tell her how much I loved her on Friends just to try and tick her off...  I've said this before but I'd love to see the Larry O'Brien NBA Championship Trophy be renamed as the Red Auerbach NBA Championship Trophy... Have to agree that the Vikings look like the real winners in the latest Percy Harvin trade... If you are interested I like Cal getting 7 points at home today vs UCLA... ACDC - For those About to Fight Ebola (We Salute You)...

Linky Links

Stuff I found interesting or amusing and thought I'd share.

- Praise be unto He

- What it's like to carry your Nobel Prize through airport security

- Heh heh - Damaged goods should be called "Bads"

- Awesome drum battle - US Marines vs Republic of Korea

- There were plenty of chemical weapons in Iraq

- Bill Gates has a really good idea for tax reform

A Modest Proposal

Here's an idea that's been floating around my head for some time and I'm not even sure if I'm advocating it - I'm just throwing it out there for consideration: maybe the Boston Red Sox should move Dustin Pedroia to shortstop.

Wait - wait! It's not a crazy idea. Pedroia was a shortstop in college so the position wouldn't be new to him and let's be honest defensively he'd be better than Xander Bogaerts. In this scenario Bogaerts would be moved to third base. Offensively Pedroia, even with his diminished power, would be in the top half of shortstops in MLB.

This scenario allows Mookie Betts to take over at second base. Boston could really use Betts as a lead-off man but with the Red Sox' full outfield would make it difficult to get him at bats on a regular basis. Who in the outfield is going to sit to make room for Betts? Yoenis Cespedes? Rusney Castillo? Shane Victorino (if healthy)? Daniel Nava? Allen Craig? This doesn't even mention Gold Glove caliber centerfielder Jackie Bradley Jr.

This scenario would give the Red Sox an infield of Mike Napoli, Betts, Pedroia and Bogaerts. That's pretty solid. Of course some off season trades may clarify where everyone will play next year but I just wanted to throw this idea out there.

Global Warming

The Economist has an interesting look at the policies and programs that have had the biggest impact on curbing CO2 emissions.  What strikes me is the first and third most successful programs - you never really hear "Greens" talking about them. Could that be because the Montreal Protocol never would have become a reality without Ronald Reagan? It could be argued that Reagan ended acid rain but what self-respecting tree-hugger would argue that?

The third most successful thing identified to curb CO2 is nuclear power. You almost never hear "Greens" arguing for nuclear power even though one nuclear power plant probably has the same impact as all the Prius' being driven in the country.

It's almost like they'd prefer to see the Earth burn than ever give credit to something Republicans stand for.

Flotsam and Jetsam

Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.

Tough to pick a team to root for between the four remaining MLB teams but kind of leaning towards the Orioles just because of the great job Dan Duquette has done. It should be remembered that he only got the job because other candidates deemed it too radioactive... Pool and beer help you live longer! Later today I'm going to work on extending my life expectancy!...  Would love to see an episode of Louie where Louis CK goes for a picnic in the park with his kids and runs into the missing Russian from The Sopranos...  39-years ago tonight SNL first took to the air. The original thought was to have Albert Brooks as the permanent host... For proper elocution a person must have consistent vowel movements... This website is awesome! I will buy all my Christmas gifts there!... Block Me Amedaeus would be a great name for a fantasy football team...  Fantastic article on the one of a kind Bob Ryan... Always remember that the word "listen" contains the same letters as the word "silent". To truly listen you should be silent... Big as a hat! Great joke from Big Stupid Tommy... The Obama Drone artist seems like a great guy...

Linky Links

Stuff I found interesting or amusing and thought I'd share.

- I would so love to have a flying car

- Love the fact that Paul Pierce seems to be pulling a Three Stooges move on Joakim Noah

- How to "Gird Your Loins"

- How something appears is always a matter of perspective.

- Why it's impossible to hold back a yawn

Tale of the Tape - Rex Ryan vs Herm Edwards

So Rex Ryan bristles when being compared to Herm Edwards reign as HFC of the NYJ? Sometimes the truth hurts.

As pointed out - Edwards went 39-41 as Jets head coach but went to 3 playoffs. Ryan is currently 43-42 as Jets coach but only has 2 playoff appearances. The Jets might not win one game between now and their week 11 bye. If that happens - the bye week might be when the team finally announces the firing of Rex Ryan.

Consider this - Herm Edwards regular season winning percentage as Jets coach was .487. Right now Rex Ryan's winning percentage as head coach is .506 but if loses his next 3 games that falls to .489 and if he loses his next 4 that falls to .483 - worse than Herm Edwards. The next 4 Jets games are against the Broncos, Patriots, Bills, and Chiefs.

Maybe Rex Ryan is so bristly is because he's done the math?

Flotsam and Jetsam

Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.

The Patriots cheerleaders wearing Devon Still's jersey last night was a classy and touching move on the part of the franchise. Robert Kraft is also donating $25,000 to the Cincinnati Children's Medical Center in Leah Still's name. Well done Kraft family... The unanswered question from all of those Rob Lowe DirectTV commercials is the question of whether it was cable TV Rob Lowe or DirectTV Rob Lowe who filmed himself having sex with an underage girl... How many rednecks have "sticking my penis into a Golden Coral chocolate fountain" on their bucket lists? Asking for a friend... I can't believe Bill Belichick never said "On to Buffalo" in last nights post game press conference... There are kids in New England who will be turning one this Fall who have never had a Red Sox World Championship in their lifetime... I think in real life you would have to feed a Ticket Oak newborn infants on the eve of a full moon in order for the magic to work...

Linky Links

Stuff I found interesting or amusing and thought I'd share.

- Ebola Explained - a very good primer on the virus and what you should and should not worry about

- Your drinking habits compared to the rest of the country. This is one list where I'm happy not to be in the top 10 percent.

- I wrote this about Wade Boggs almost 10-years ago. I still stand behind every word. There's a reason the Red Sox never retired his number.

- One dog year does not equal seven human ones

- The Nat Geo photo contest always has amazing shots

The Devil's Wheel

This is strangely mesmerizing.

Flotsam and Jetsam

Miscellaneous thoughts and observation.

It's been three days since the Patriots were destroyed on Monday Night. I think I'm mostly over the loss... Every time I find a fruit fly floating dead in the head of my draft beer at a bar, I think "That's the way he wanted to die"... Farrah Fawcett... Olive Oil Dysentery would be a good name for a band or a fantasy football team... Holy shit!.... "With Great Pumpkin comes great responsibility" - Linus... Two girls one brat... Most Patriots are consoling themselves with the fact that it is now less than a week before the Bruins open their NHL season... Heh heh - scientists sneak Bob Dylan lyrics and references into scientific papers and articles as part of a long standing bet... So many fond memories of Saturday morning cartoons growing up but no more - tradition of Saturday morning cartoons is now over... I hope the people in the Bay area treated Joe Montana better when his career was winding down than the Boston sports radio callers are treating Tom Brady. Oh wait... You cannot lose weight by wearing caffeinated underpants....  Just a reminder - according to ABC News Barack Obama's parents were a Black man from Kenya and a white man from Kansas...

Leonard Cohen and U2 - Tower of Song

This song should get more attention.

Linky Links

Stuff I thought was interesting or amusing and thought I'd share.

- Red Sox pitcher Joe Kelly's wife is a keeper

- Philosophy explained (with donuts)

- They're big, they're hairy, and they're in your house

- Wow - perhaps as much as half of the Earth's water is older than the Sun

- Cool - Lionfish derbies used to help save coral reefs

Robin Yount

Today marks the final game in the career of Derek Jeter. Like many, I'm not saying that Jeter wasn't a great player, a first ballot Hall of Fame player, but I am saying that this victory tour seems a bit much. For comparison sake - who can recall the send-off final season of Robin Yount - who was every bit as good (some would argue better) than Jeter.

Yount played much of his career as a shortstop but then moved to play centerfield because that's what the team needed. I can't imagine Jeter doing either - being athletic enough for center or putting the team first and changing position. Yount won two AL MVP Awards meaning the baseball writers twice felt he was the most valuable player in the entire league. Jeter never won an MVP.

Yount finished ahead of Jeter in the following categories; games played, doubles, triples, and RBI. Obviously that means Jeter was ahead of Yount in most of the other categories not named but also consider that Yount had almost 500 fewer strikeouts than Jeter and 70 fewer grounded into double plays. How close they were at the plate can be summed up in the fact that both finished their career with an OPS+ of 115 (OPS+ is a stat used to compare players from different eras).

Bill James created a stat called WAR (Wins Above Replacement) to try to quantify just how valuable a player was. Robin Yount finished with a career WAR of 77 (69th best of all-time) while Derek Jeter has 71.7 (which is 88th best all-time). WAR argues that Yount was the more valuable player. Maybe Jeter should give half his send-off gifts to Robin Yount because Yount was the better player yet didn't get a victory tour like Jeter is concluding tonight.

Bill Simmons - A Modest Proposal

Here's a modest proposal for what Bill Simmons should do during his forced 3-week vacation from all things ESPN - he should go full Rainbow Head Guy (well not full, full Rainbow Head Guy since that would entail doing Angel dust and taking a hotel maid hostage). What I'm suggesting is that Simmons use the 3-weeks and his Platinum Visa card to go to as many televised sporting events as possible. Wear the Rainbow Head Guy wig to make it impossible to miss him in any crowd. Get the announcers to say, "Hey is that Bill Simmons?" How great would that be as a not so subtle middle finger to his suspension?  Go to a Saturday college football game, Derek Jeter's final game at Fenway Sunday, Monday Night Pats vs Chiefs, etc, etc. He could bring Cousin Sal with him and have a blast! He could wear a "Fire Goodell" T-shirt instead of John 3:16 - how great would that be?

ESPN couldn't even say anything! All Simmons would have to say is, "Hey I'm on vacation!"

So let it be written - so let it be done.

Top 5 - Thoughts on Bill Simmons Being Suspended by ESPN

So Bill Simmons was suspended for 3 weeks by ESPN for calling Roger Goodell a liar. Here's 5 thoughts on the situation.

1. OK we get it - the Simmons suspension was longer than the 2 weeks the NFL first gave Ray Rice. Proving just how ridiculous this whole scenario has become. However, I thought if Simmons was to be deservedly suspended by ESPN for something NFL related it would have been for his lousy picks against the spread.
2. I'm not a conspiracy guy who thinks the NFL is behind this suspension. This is not good for the NFL. In fact it drags the issue out for at least another month (the 3 weeks Simmons is suspended and the week he gets back). The NFL wants this issue behind it - not dragged out (no pun intended).
3. Part of me feels sorry for ESPN. Simmons comes off as a bit of a petulant spoiled child testing the boundaries of how much the parent will take. The swearing on his podcast has become more frequent much like a child seeing how much he can get away with and now the "I dare someone to say something to me about this!" Petulant child whose punishment is to get paid for 3 weeks and not have to work. Really hard for me to work up any sympathy for Simmons on this.
4. We will know how serious this is if Cousin Sal doesn't do his NFL picks on SportsCenter. If the situation is a joke - Sal does them. If not then either ESPN says "OK Simmons we can't punish you so we'll punish your friends" or Sal thinks the punishment is so unfair he quits the ESPN segment in protest.
5. Roger Goodell is a liar. When will he be on the BS Report to air this all out? That's the ratings win that might be the endgame of this whole situation.

Flotsam and Jetsam

Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.

At least in the Clinton Administration when we bombed another country it was preceded by a sex scandal... It is the reaction of the "adults" that make this really funny... It has been 73-years since that magical 1941 season when Ted Williams finished with a .406 batting average becoming perhaps the last man in history to ever reach .400 for a season. It should be recalled that Williams didn't even win the MVP that season with voters instead preferring Joe DiMaggio and his 56-game hitting streak... Worms on TV - the opposite of HypnoFrog?... Just a reminder - 5-years ago Bill Simmons gave up on the Patriots. They have gone 72-19 in the regular season since he pronounced their run was over including 3 AFC Conference Finals games and 1 Super Bowl appearance... BoJack Horseman is a pretty funny show. If you haven't watched it yet you should give it a try... In the 2007 NFL draft there were 11 QB's taken - all of them sucked...