Cogs' review of The Da Vinci Code is in (longtime CIT readers will know that The Great Gary Cogill of WFAA-TV is the best movie critic on the planet, at least for my money), and it's not good.
He calls it "addicted to mediocrity", "terribly talky", and "cinematically flat and not very interesting". Oh dear.
Of course, I thought the book was tremendously underwhelming, as did most critics. And yet, Dan Brown has sold nearly 50 million copies and cashed in on a huge movie deal. All of which probably means the movie will gross $300 million in domestic box office and another $500 million overseas.
And no one will care that it sucks.
Thursday, May 18, 2006
Spurs-Mavs - Oh so close
The Spurs held on to win Game 5 last night, 98-97. Like three of the first four games of this series, it could easily have gone either way, with Jason Terry and Dirk Nowitzki both missing game-winning shots in the last two and half seconds.
These two teams are so evenly matched no it's just ridiculous. I sincerely hope (and firmly believe) this is the beginning of a tremendous rivalry, one that really has never existed in pro sports within Texas. Both teams are still pretty young (the Mavs moreso than the Spurs) and should be at the top of the league for at least the next two or three years. We should have more of these titanic battles in the future. One hopes that next time it's in the Western Conf Finals, rather than the second round, but we shall see.
Neither team has much of anything to regret from last night. What is truly remarkable is how hot the Spurs, and especially Tim Duncan, were and how, despite that, the Mavs hung in throughout. A look at the halftime stats (the Spurs shot over 60% and Duncan didn't miss a shot) would have one believing the Spurs were dominating. Obviously, not so.
The thing which will spell doom for the Spurs in Game Six (big CIT prediction to follow) is the total lack of contribution offensively from anyone other than Duncan, Parker, Ginobili, and Finley. Bruce Bowen didn't score a point, although he made the play of the game with that block of Dirk's shot in the waning moments, and no one else contributed much. The Mavs, on the other hand, have guys stepping up all over the place.
The Mavs are, according to Avery, treating Game Six as if it were Game Seven. They better, because no Mavs fan in their right mind wants to see Game Seven in San Antonio. I think the Mavs do close the deal at the AAC on Friday night, but it should be another war. There's no way the Spurs roll over.
We will be by the channel here at the CIT compound, along with just about everyone in Dallas and San Antonio. Bring it on!
These two teams are so evenly matched no it's just ridiculous. I sincerely hope (and firmly believe) this is the beginning of a tremendous rivalry, one that really has never existed in pro sports within Texas. Both teams are still pretty young (the Mavs moreso than the Spurs) and should be at the top of the league for at least the next two or three years. We should have more of these titanic battles in the future. One hopes that next time it's in the Western Conf Finals, rather than the second round, but we shall see.
Neither team has much of anything to regret from last night. What is truly remarkable is how hot the Spurs, and especially Tim Duncan, were and how, despite that, the Mavs hung in throughout. A look at the halftime stats (the Spurs shot over 60% and Duncan didn't miss a shot) would have one believing the Spurs were dominating. Obviously, not so.
The thing which will spell doom for the Spurs in Game Six (big CIT prediction to follow) is the total lack of contribution offensively from anyone other than Duncan, Parker, Ginobili, and Finley. Bruce Bowen didn't score a point, although he made the play of the game with that block of Dirk's shot in the waning moments, and no one else contributed much. The Mavs, on the other hand, have guys stepping up all over the place.
The Mavs are, according to Avery, treating Game Six as if it were Game Seven. They better, because no Mavs fan in their right mind wants to see Game Seven in San Antonio. I think the Mavs do close the deal at the AAC on Friday night, but it should be another war. There's no way the Spurs roll over.
We will be by the channel here at the CIT compound, along with just about everyone in Dallas and San Antonio. Bring it on!
Wednesday, May 17, 2006
ExxonMobil supports hybrid cars
In what can only be interpreted as a shameless attempt at some very rare positive press, ExxonMobil subsidiary ExxonMobil Chemical is releasing some info on new battery technology for hybrid cars.
It's worth noting ExxonMobil has publicly scoffed at alternative fuels in the past, so an announcement like this is certainly newsworthy. However, how much pressure do you think ExxonMobil is under to develop this new technology? I would think the weekly status meeting on this project would include a lot of comments like this: "Don't you need to take a little more time to get that right?" or "There's really no hurry on that deliverable."
God, I hate the oil companies.
It's worth noting ExxonMobil has publicly scoffed at alternative fuels in the past, so an announcement like this is certainly newsworthy. However, how much pressure do you think ExxonMobil is under to develop this new technology? I would think the weekly status meeting on this project would include a lot of comments like this: "Don't you need to take a little more time to get that right?" or "There's really no hurry on that deliverable."
God, I hate the oil companies.
Tuesday, May 16, 2006
Sir Alan animatronic head
Oh, heck. One more.
Talk about the gift that keeps on giving - here's an animatronic head with the visage of Sir Alan Sugar on it. He points and spouts all sorts of abusive phrases at you.
Sir Alan Sugar, btw, is the Brit Donald Trump, star of their version of "The Apprentice" and all-around annoying sod. Just like our guy, except with better hair.
Talk about the gift that keeps on giving - here's an animatronic head with the visage of Sir Alan Sugar on it. He points and spouts all sorts of abusive phrases at you.
Sir Alan Sugar, btw, is the Brit Donald Trump, star of their version of "The Apprentice" and all-around annoying sod. Just like our guy, except with better hair.
Talk about public service
What a bloggy morning it's been.
Answering the prayers of homeowners everywhere, Jockey has used tech to wipe out the scourge of "builder's bum" (that's "plumber's crack" on this side of the pond).
Answering the prayers of homeowners everywhere, Jockey has used tech to wipe out the scourge of "builder's bum" (that's "plumber's crack" on this side of the pond).
Cook and eat without leaving your seat
For the Japanese steakhouse performance chef in all of us: Presenting the "Cook-N-Dine" table. The center heats to 430 degrees, while the outside remains room temp.
I may wait for my kids to get just a bit older before I spring for one of these babies.
I may wait for my kids to get just a bit older before I spring for one of these babies.
The history of booing
Too late for Michael Finley, but perhaps in time for Steve Nash, here's everything you ever wanted to know about the history of the sports "boo".
Early Holiday shopping
For the Star Wars geek on your list, here are Han Solo/Greedo bookends.
And, for the record, I had to look up the green guy's name.
And, for the record, I had to look up the green guy's name.
Beslan school hostage tragedy to be a movie
This makes me more than a bit queasy: Brian Grazer (Ron Howard's partner and the producing force behind Apollo 13 and a ton of other great movies) has optioned an Esquire magazine story called "The School", about the Beslan school hostage tragedy.
You remember this one: 30+ Chechan terrorists took over 1,100 hostages - young children and their parents - on the first day of school in the Caucus town of Beslan. Russian troops stormed the school (before or after the terrorists started setting off bombs - no one is sure on the timing) and over 300 hostages and most of the terrorists were killed.
This makes for an important book (or article), but I don't think we need to see this on the big screen. It's hard to imagine how it's going to be done "tastefully".
You remember this one: 30+ Chechan terrorists took over 1,100 hostages - young children and their parents - on the first day of school in the Caucus town of Beslan. Russian troops stormed the school (before or after the terrorists started setting off bombs - no one is sure on the timing) and over 300 hostages and most of the terrorists were killed.
This makes for an important book (or article), but I don't think we need to see this on the big screen. It's hard to imagine how it's going to be done "tastefully".
Mavs making a believer out of me
I have questioned the heart of the Dallas Mavericks, and in particular that of Dirk Nowitizki, in this space before. While the Mavs still have a long way to go to the ultimate goal, and haven't won anything yet, I do need to give some props to the team and the dude.
Last night's Game 4 against the Spurs represented the second game in a row where San Antonio threw everything but the kitchen sink at the Mavs. Both teams are full-tilt and it's resulting in exceptionally entertaining basketball. There have been so many stand-out performances and big moments on both sides that trying to list them all would be useless. I'd wind up rehashing the entire series.
Instead, let's talk about Dirky Dirk for a moment. Let's face it, he's been a soft European player for his entire career up until now. Sure, he's got TREMENDOUS talent, has put up huge numbers, and has been generally a great regular season player. However, he's not been tough enough for NBA Playoff basketball.
He's still got to sustain it before I'm ready to send him to the Hall of Fame, but, man, has he gutted up this year. He dominated Memphis, doing everything you could ask of a superstar and team leader. And he's taken it up several levels against San Antonio. The Spurs D (Finley last night) is still all over him, and it's not totally without effect, but Dirk has fought through it more often than not. He's making strong moves, grabbing the toughest of tough rebounds, passing, getting to the free-throw line, running the court, in short, everything. His badly rolled ankle seemed to be paining him - he was limping pretty badly during time outs - but he fought through that as well.
This is the sort of performance that separates the great regular season guys from the Hall of Famers.
The departures of Nash and Finley, though painful in both cases, have served to make the Mavericks better in many ways. The money saved on those guys has been turned into Jason Terry and Erick Dampier (and Diop and probably a couple of others). The holes left in the lineup have provided increased opportunities for Devin Harris and Marquis Daniels. All good, all paying off now.
However, I think the biggest plus of Nash and Finley moving on is the unquestioned role of Dirk as this team's go-to guy. There's no doubt who is The Man now. The really great news is that Dirk has embraced this role, and is adding to his legitimacy in it every game.
BTW, I predicted a split in Dallas and a tied series at this point. I'm really happy to be wrong. Can the Mavs close it out on Wed? Don't bet against it.
Monday, May 15, 2006
Spurs-Mavs quick hit
Major Mavs-Spurs post coming tomorrow, but I have to mention one thing right now: Has Tim Duncan ever actually COMMITTED a foul? God, I am sick of the wide-eyed, hands-up, whiny protest.
More later.
More later.
Friday, May 12, 2006
Oh no, another "I don't understand Muslims" rant
Uh-oh. Pull up a chair. It's another diatribe.
There was an article this morning in the DMN (their site has gone kablooey tonight - I'll link the article when I can get to it) regarding the economic Armageddon facing the Palestinian State upon completion of Israel's security wall. The same stuff is found elsewhere, even in the Arab press.
The Palestinian economy is almost completely dependent on Israel. Israelis employ a ton of Palestinian labor and buy huge quantities of Palestinian goods, but it goes further than that. Israel also controls the Palestinians water and energy supplies, most of their banking, and most of their foreign trade.
If we look back to those heady days of the early and mid 1990s, when Rabin and Arafat were winning Nobel Prizes and peace seemed to be almost within reach, the Palestinian economy experienced rebirth. Investment poured in from around the world, Israelis fell all over themselves to create broader and deeper economic ties, and the Palestinians found themselves employed, their goods selling, and their standard of living rising. Anything and everything seemed possible.
Now, a decade later, with the Intifada, the failure of Barak's olive leaf and Sharon's iron fist, the political disasters at Wye River and Camp David behind us, the Israelis have gone the unilateral route. They have built most of their wall (completion will occur in early 2007), they have brought in immigrants and guest workers to replace the Palestinians' labor, and are apparently prepared to live their lives behind their ramparts, separate from the Palestinians in every way.
This, to me, illustrates the entire East-West encounter in microcosm. Allow me to explain:
The Israelis have willed their country into existence and have thrived in a sea of enemies. The Palestinians have floundered under poor, corrupt leadership, surrounded by countries that profess to be allies and supporters.
The average Israeli is educated, has a say in how he/she is governed, serves the nation in the military for most of adulthood, and contributes to the economy. The average Palestinian has little education beyond rote memorization of the Quran, has only recently been able to vote and most recently voted out the crooks and voted in the murderers, is employed by the government in most cases, and produces very little.
Is this a fair and balanced view of the Israelis and Palestinians? No. If you've read anything on this blog, you know where my allegiance lies. But, even with that, how far from the truth is it?
In his recent letter to President Bush, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad went on and on about the "failure of democracy". I keep hearing this from the East (heck, we used to hear it from the Commies) and I don't understand it at all. Islam, at least the radical element, seems to believe in the benevolent dictator. Is this how they describe Arafat? How do radical Muslims reconcile Israel's successes on the battlefield, in industry, the arts, medicine, education, agriculture, etc against the Arab world's abject failures in these same areas? How do they defend their "education" system when it produces no peace, no wealth, no advances, and leaves the vast majority of the population in abject poverty?
Most Muslim societies in the 21st century are places where basic human needs are repressed, the authorities are in everyone's business everywhere, all the time, and where a once-great civilization of merchants, scientists, artists, and thinkers has been sliding backwards for 800 years. How do the radical Muslims reconcile their societies with the West, where people are free to worship, raise their children in relative safety, make decisions based on experience and education, provide for their families, and live in relative peace?
Wow, I got WAY off topic here. Must be the lovely bottle of icy chardonnay I opened at dinner.
There was an article this morning in the DMN (their site has gone kablooey tonight - I'll link the article when I can get to it) regarding the economic Armageddon facing the Palestinian State upon completion of Israel's security wall. The same stuff is found elsewhere, even in the Arab press.
The Palestinian economy is almost completely dependent on Israel. Israelis employ a ton of Palestinian labor and buy huge quantities of Palestinian goods, but it goes further than that. Israel also controls the Palestinians water and energy supplies, most of their banking, and most of their foreign trade.
If we look back to those heady days of the early and mid 1990s, when Rabin and Arafat were winning Nobel Prizes and peace seemed to be almost within reach, the Palestinian economy experienced rebirth. Investment poured in from around the world, Israelis fell all over themselves to create broader and deeper economic ties, and the Palestinians found themselves employed, their goods selling, and their standard of living rising. Anything and everything seemed possible.
Now, a decade later, with the Intifada, the failure of Barak's olive leaf and Sharon's iron fist, the political disasters at Wye River and Camp David behind us, the Israelis have gone the unilateral route. They have built most of their wall (completion will occur in early 2007), they have brought in immigrants and guest workers to replace the Palestinians' labor, and are apparently prepared to live their lives behind their ramparts, separate from the Palestinians in every way.
This, to me, illustrates the entire East-West encounter in microcosm. Allow me to explain:
The Israelis have willed their country into existence and have thrived in a sea of enemies. The Palestinians have floundered under poor, corrupt leadership, surrounded by countries that profess to be allies and supporters.
The average Israeli is educated, has a say in how he/she is governed, serves the nation in the military for most of adulthood, and contributes to the economy. The average Palestinian has little education beyond rote memorization of the Quran, has only recently been able to vote and most recently voted out the crooks and voted in the murderers, is employed by the government in most cases, and produces very little.
Is this a fair and balanced view of the Israelis and Palestinians? No. If you've read anything on this blog, you know where my allegiance lies. But, even with that, how far from the truth is it?
In his recent letter to President Bush, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad went on and on about the "failure of democracy". I keep hearing this from the East (heck, we used to hear it from the Commies) and I don't understand it at all. Islam, at least the radical element, seems to believe in the benevolent dictator. Is this how they describe Arafat? How do radical Muslims reconcile Israel's successes on the battlefield, in industry, the arts, medicine, education, agriculture, etc against the Arab world's abject failures in these same areas? How do they defend their "education" system when it produces no peace, no wealth, no advances, and leaves the vast majority of the population in abject poverty?
Most Muslim societies in the 21st century are places where basic human needs are repressed, the authorities are in everyone's business everywhere, all the time, and where a once-great civilization of merchants, scientists, artists, and thinkers has been sliding backwards for 800 years. How do the radical Muslims reconcile their societies with the West, where people are free to worship, raise their children in relative safety, make decisions based on experience and education, provide for their families, and live in relative peace?
Wow, I got WAY off topic here. Must be the lovely bottle of icy chardonnay I opened at dinner.
Mavs-Spurs Game 3 - HUGE opportunity for the Mavs
Our pal Bob makes an interesting point in today's Sturmination: For the first time ever, the Spurs are not so sure they can beat the little Mavericks. If Dallas can crush 'em again in Game 3 (Saturday night at AAC in Dallas), that doubt may turn into something more profound.
Both Avery Johnson and Gregg Popovich have already thought about this, so expect an absolute war on Saturday night. Talk about must-see TV!
Both Avery Johnson and Gregg Popovich have already thought about this, so expect an absolute war on Saturday night. Talk about must-see TV!
Saudis say the problem ain't on the supply side
Saudi Ambassador to the US, Prince Turki al-Faisal, says in this USA Today interview there's an excess supply of oil in the world. He blames the skyrocketing price on political and security concerns, not on the old supply-and-demand thing.
No doubt, but I'd add one more to the list of culprits: Collusion. I'm no conspiracy-theorist, but Exxon and Shell are making WAY too much money right now for me to believe there isn't something unseemly going on.
No doubt, but I'd add one more to the list of culprits: Collusion. I'm no conspiracy-theorist, but Exxon and Shell are making WAY too much money right now for me to believe there isn't something unseemly going on.
Oil $80/barrel by day's end?
This can't be good news for the world oil market: Nigerian TV is reporting an oil pipeline exploded outside Lagos today, killing up to 200 people.
This is just the sort of news to cause a frenzy on the oil market. Oy vey.
This is just the sort of news to cause a frenzy on the oil market. Oy vey.
Thursday, May 11, 2006
"Jewishness" and it's importance to Israel
This may be a long, dry post, so I apologize in advance. We'll get back to sports and silliness straight away, but I've got a few thoughts buzzing around in my little melon which I want to liberate. And what else are blogs for, right?
I just finished Ariel Sharon's autobiography, which is a good, not great, account of the life of a man who became great. I'm glad I read it and recommend it to anyone who wants to know a bit more about the major events in Israel's modern history as well as what makes a real difference-maker tick.
It's not the book I want to discuss so much as Sharon's epilogue. The summation of his story does not deal with any particular event or set of personalities. Instead, it focuses on Sharon's view of what makes Israel special and absolutely vital to the survival of Judaism as a race and religion.
Before I go any further, I need to clarify how I'm going to write the following. Sharon finished his book in the mid-1980s, before he rose to Prime Minister and, of course, long before his catastrophic stroke earlier this year. Since Sharon wrote his epilogue in first-person present tense, I'm going to write my thoughts about him in third-person present tense. This seems fitting to me, even though he's clearly not in the present tense now, nor will he be ever again.
Onward.
Sharon thinks Israel has become a Western nation in almost every sense of the word. It's secular, successful, a place where industry, education, medicine, and technology thrive, and it's people have become interested in living their lives as individuals.
With this "Westernization", Sharon also sees a lessening of the fervor displayed by the early immigrants to Israel. The population has begun to question the legitimacy of Israel's borders. "Have we unjustly displaced others for our own gain?" has become a recurring question amongst young (and not so young) Israelis.
The idea of Israeli "Manifest Destiny", so apparent in the early history of the State of Israel, has faded a bit.
In addition, "Westernization" has brought about thoughts of "inclusion". Sharon, throughout his book, stresses his belief that Jews and Arabs can live side by side, and that Israeli Arabs should be citizens of Israel with all the rights and responsibilities thereby implied (they are not today - Israeli Arabs pay much lower taxes than Jews, and are exempt from military service, among other differences). However, Sharon expresses a strong belief that Israel must remain a "Jewish State", that, at its core, it must adhere to Jewish law, custom, and culture.
"Westernization", in other words, is not good news from Sharon's perspective.
What makes Israel unique, and critically important to the Jewish people, is it's foundation as a Jewish state.
No other nation-state on Earth, now or at any time in history, has existed as a small (very small) island in a sea of hundreds of millions of enemies. Israel was willed into existence despite the best efforts of just about every surrounding nation and survived (thrived) despite continued attempts to destroy it, both from outside (the Arab League) and within (Palestinian terrorism).
What has enabled this survival and success is the realization of it's people that it's this or nothing. Failure to succeed (for lack of a better term) will result in destruction and no second chances. If Israel were to falter, there would be no other possibility for a "Jewish Homeland". And destruction of Israel would quite possibly spell the end of Judaism around the world. Judaism survived the Diaspora in large part due to the incantation, repeated every year, for nearly 2,000 years, at the Passover Seder, "Next year in Jerusalem" - the hope/belief/expectation that Jews would return to their Home in the Holy Land. Without that hope, I suggest Judaism would wither and fade away.
When Sharon talks about "Israel's people", he's not only talking about those who reside within the borders of the state. He's referring to Jews everywhere. In this, I tend to agree. While not all Jews feel this way, I think most do feel a special connection to Israel. Jews in the West and elsewhere, both secular and religious, have supported Israel via political pressure, publicity, and cash since the early days of Zionism in the late 1800s. Israel would never have existed without this support.
So, when Sharon sees the "Jewishness" of Israel, the belief that Israel is the Promised Land, and the sense of obligation Jews everywhere feel towards its continued existence start to fade, he sees ominous things for the future of his/our State and Homeland.
There is quite a bit of irony to be found in Sharon's words, of course. Sharon will be remembered for his unilateral efforts to redraw Israel's borders and to cede control of Gaza and parts of the West Bank to the proposed Palestinian State. He will be further remembered as the guy who once said, "There is already a Palestinian State. It's called Jordan.", then proposing to create a new Palestinian State in parts of the West Bank. I think it shows what kind of a realist the guy is/was, and is very much to his credit. We'll see how history judges him, however.
As I've become older and (one hopes) a little wiser, my feelings of attachment and obligation to Israel have become stronger. I think it's for this reason that I admire Sharon so much, and why his words resonate so strongly with me.
I just finished Ariel Sharon's autobiography, which is a good, not great, account of the life of a man who became great. I'm glad I read it and recommend it to anyone who wants to know a bit more about the major events in Israel's modern history as well as what makes a real difference-maker tick.
It's not the book I want to discuss so much as Sharon's epilogue. The summation of his story does not deal with any particular event or set of personalities. Instead, it focuses on Sharon's view of what makes Israel special and absolutely vital to the survival of Judaism as a race and religion.
Before I go any further, I need to clarify how I'm going to write the following. Sharon finished his book in the mid-1980s, before he rose to Prime Minister and, of course, long before his catastrophic stroke earlier this year. Since Sharon wrote his epilogue in first-person present tense, I'm going to write my thoughts about him in third-person present tense. This seems fitting to me, even though he's clearly not in the present tense now, nor will he be ever again.
Onward.
Sharon thinks Israel has become a Western nation in almost every sense of the word. It's secular, successful, a place where industry, education, medicine, and technology thrive, and it's people have become interested in living their lives as individuals.
With this "Westernization", Sharon also sees a lessening of the fervor displayed by the early immigrants to Israel. The population has begun to question the legitimacy of Israel's borders. "Have we unjustly displaced others for our own gain?" has become a recurring question amongst young (and not so young) Israelis.
The idea of Israeli "Manifest Destiny", so apparent in the early history of the State of Israel, has faded a bit.
In addition, "Westernization" has brought about thoughts of "inclusion". Sharon, throughout his book, stresses his belief that Jews and Arabs can live side by side, and that Israeli Arabs should be citizens of Israel with all the rights and responsibilities thereby implied (they are not today - Israeli Arabs pay much lower taxes than Jews, and are exempt from military service, among other differences). However, Sharon expresses a strong belief that Israel must remain a "Jewish State", that, at its core, it must adhere to Jewish law, custom, and culture.
"Westernization", in other words, is not good news from Sharon's perspective.
What makes Israel unique, and critically important to the Jewish people, is it's foundation as a Jewish state.
No other nation-state on Earth, now or at any time in history, has existed as a small (very small) island in a sea of hundreds of millions of enemies. Israel was willed into existence despite the best efforts of just about every surrounding nation and survived (thrived) despite continued attempts to destroy it, both from outside (the Arab League) and within (Palestinian terrorism).
What has enabled this survival and success is the realization of it's people that it's this or nothing. Failure to succeed (for lack of a better term) will result in destruction and no second chances. If Israel were to falter, there would be no other possibility for a "Jewish Homeland". And destruction of Israel would quite possibly spell the end of Judaism around the world. Judaism survived the Diaspora in large part due to the incantation, repeated every year, for nearly 2,000 years, at the Passover Seder, "Next year in Jerusalem" - the hope/belief/expectation that Jews would return to their Home in the Holy Land. Without that hope, I suggest Judaism would wither and fade away.
When Sharon talks about "Israel's people", he's not only talking about those who reside within the borders of the state. He's referring to Jews everywhere. In this, I tend to agree. While not all Jews feel this way, I think most do feel a special connection to Israel. Jews in the West and elsewhere, both secular and religious, have supported Israel via political pressure, publicity, and cash since the early days of Zionism in the late 1800s. Israel would never have existed without this support.
So, when Sharon sees the "Jewishness" of Israel, the belief that Israel is the Promised Land, and the sense of obligation Jews everywhere feel towards its continued existence start to fade, he sees ominous things for the future of his/our State and Homeland.
There is quite a bit of irony to be found in Sharon's words, of course. Sharon will be remembered for his unilateral efforts to redraw Israel's borders and to cede control of Gaza and parts of the West Bank to the proposed Palestinian State. He will be further remembered as the guy who once said, "There is already a Palestinian State. It's called Jordan.", then proposing to create a new Palestinian State in parts of the West Bank. I think it shows what kind of a realist the guy is/was, and is very much to his credit. We'll see how history judges him, however.
As I've become older and (one hopes) a little wiser, my feelings of attachment and obligation to Israel have become stronger. I think it's for this reason that I admire Sharon so much, and why his words resonate so strongly with me.
Oh, whatEVER, dude
The latest from "The Mahmoud Comedy Hour" - Israel is a "tyrannical regime" which must be destroyed.
While we're on the subject, the full text of Ahmadinejad's "letter" to Bush was released yesterday. It's full of all sorts of ranting and raving about the "failure of democracy" and the West's "double standards", but strangely leaves out any substantive suggestions for resolving the current international imbroglio over Iran's "peaceful" nuclear program.
Talk about over-exposed. This knobber likes to see his mug on Page 1 more than Tom Cruise. Unfortunately, Tom Cruise is not actively pursuing nuclear weapons (at least not as far as we know), nor is he spouting off Hot Sports Opinions regarding Israel.
While we're on the subject, the full text of Ahmadinejad's "letter" to Bush was released yesterday. It's full of all sorts of ranting and raving about the "failure of democracy" and the West's "double standards", but strangely leaves out any substantive suggestions for resolving the current international imbroglio over Iran's "peaceful" nuclear program.
Talk about over-exposed. This knobber likes to see his mug on Page 1 more than Tom Cruise. Unfortunately, Tom Cruise is not actively pursuing nuclear weapons (at least not as far as we know), nor is he spouting off Hot Sports Opinions regarding Israel.
If you're feeling a bit, um, inferior
Here's the Cat Chopper, "the bike that only Caterpillar could inspire."
I guess it beats some of the cures I see in my email every day, but I still think you ought to be happy with what you've got.
I guess it beats some of the cures I see in my email every day, but I still think you ought to be happy with what you've got.
Authoritative site on The Redneck
Dave's Redneck Photos Page includes everything you might ever want to know about rednecks.
JLG, are you listening?
A sample: The Dyslexic Redneck Camper. Enjoy!
JLG, are you listening?
A sample: The Dyslexic Redneck Camper. Enjoy!
NOT a scandal from the NSA
The news hit the front pages of America today like news of the sinking of the Maine.
"NSA has massive database of Americans' phone calls" screams USA Today. "Congress Demands Phone Records Answers" according to AP.
It seems the National Security Agency has been monitoring patterns in domestic calling habits. Sounds dreadful, right? What an invasion of privacy, and all that sort of hoo-hah.
Well, not so fast.
The key passage in the USA Today story is the 2nd paragraph, quoted here:
The NSA program reaches into homes and businesses across the nation by amassing information about the calls of ordinary Americans — most of whom aren't suspected of any crime. This program does not involve the NSA listening to or recording conversations. But the spy agency is using the data to analyze calling patterns in an effort to detect terrorist activity, sources said in separate interviews.
This tells you all you need to know about what's going on.
No, the NSA is not listening to your phone calls.
No, the NSA is not making a detailed record of who you're calling or who calls you.
The NSA is looking for the normal pattern of domestic phone calls.
Folks, this is called "establishing a baseline".
The NSA will then look for significant deviations from this baseline and try to discern who amongst us is making credit card calls to a certain cave in Waziristan, asking to speak with Mr. Sama-Oay In-Ladin-Bay.
This is called, I believe, "signals intelligence" and it's been employed in one form or another since the first military telegram was sent in the 1800s.
There is nothing nefarious or Orwellian going on here.
The question for you, the average American, is this: Do you want your government to protect you from terrorism or not?
If this answer is "yes", then this is one of the ways they're going to do it.
If the answer is "no", well, that's fine too.
Just don't come bitching when something REALLY BAD happens on clear fall day in New York.
UPDATE: Nice to see the American public views this for what it is: A not-very-intrusive method of smoking out those who would use our infrastructure against us.
"NSA has massive database of Americans' phone calls" screams USA Today. "Congress Demands Phone Records Answers" according to AP.
It seems the National Security Agency has been monitoring patterns in domestic calling habits. Sounds dreadful, right? What an invasion of privacy, and all that sort of hoo-hah.
Well, not so fast.
The key passage in the USA Today story is the 2nd paragraph, quoted here:
The NSA program reaches into homes and businesses across the nation by amassing information about the calls of ordinary Americans — most of whom aren't suspected of any crime. This program does not involve the NSA listening to or recording conversations. But the spy agency is using the data to analyze calling patterns in an effort to detect terrorist activity, sources said in separate interviews.
This tells you all you need to know about what's going on.
No, the NSA is not listening to your phone calls.
No, the NSA is not making a detailed record of who you're calling or who calls you.
The NSA is looking for the normal pattern of domestic phone calls.
Folks, this is called "establishing a baseline".
The NSA will then look for significant deviations from this baseline and try to discern who amongst us is making credit card calls to a certain cave in Waziristan, asking to speak with Mr. Sama-Oay In-Ladin-Bay.
This is called, I believe, "signals intelligence" and it's been employed in one form or another since the first military telegram was sent in the 1800s.
There is nothing nefarious or Orwellian going on here.
The question for you, the average American, is this: Do you want your government to protect you from terrorism or not?
If this answer is "yes", then this is one of the ways they're going to do it.
If the answer is "no", well, that's fine too.
Just don't come bitching when something REALLY BAD happens on clear fall day in New York.
UPDATE: Nice to see the American public views this for what it is: A not-very-intrusive method of smoking out those who would use our infrastructure against us.
Wednesday, May 10, 2006
Little Mavericks play big
A few words must be said out our little Dallas Mavericks following their 113-91 thrashing of the Spurs last night.
Before we get to accolades, let's tap the brakes a bit. Its one game, and the Spurs are not going to roll over and play dead from here on. We're going to wake up after Game 4 and find this thing tied 2 games apiece, and a Game 7 is a distinct possibility here. Even if the Mavs manage to dispose of San Antonio, which I predict to happen btw, Phoenix looms in the Conf Finals, and that will be no picnic either.
With all that said, there are lots of things to be happy about from last night:
1. Devin Harris showed a tremendous amount. Good God, that guy is fast. With him and Jason Terry in the backcourt, the Mavs couldn't help but run. As has been pointed out everywhere, the tempo was right where it needs to be for the Mavs to beat the Spurs. Games in the 80s favor the Spurs and their superior defense and half-court game. If the Mavs can push it into the 90s or 100s, the Spurs just don't have enough offense to keep up.
2. Josh Howard put together a complete game. He's another HUGE talent, but has been known to fade down the stretch (see Game 1 for examples). Not last night. He started aggressive and stayed that way throughout. When he's as on as he was last night, the automatic double-team of Dirk suddenly seems like not such a great idea. He's proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that he can do it, now he needs to do it consistently.
3. How great is it to have Jerry Stackhouse coming off the bench? He's a starter on 90% of the teams in the league, but has accepted his role here. I absolutely love that guy.
4. Avery Johnson seems unable to do anything wrong. He took the rap for just about everything in Game 1, and what a HUGE departure that is from the previous regime around here, where no one was responsible for anything. He made some bold moves in Game 2, most notably dropping Devin Harris into the starting five in place of Adrian Griffin, and everything worked.
I need to say something about this move in particular. Dave Tippett of Your Dallas Stars made a similar move in Game 2 of the dreadful series against Colorado, and was roundly criticized for it. In large part, this was the result of the basic rule of sports - moves that work are genius, moves that fail are brain-dead. But it was more than that. Tippett's move reeked of desperation. His team got killed in Game 1 and looked terrible doing it. Johnson's team was in Game 1 until the very last possession. Maybe more importantly, Johnson never came across as desperate. He appeared in control and talked like he had a plan from the final horn in Game 1 up until tip-off in Game 2.
The series now moves to Dallas, and there's every reason to believe the Spurs will shake off last night's game immediately. I expect a split in the two games in Dallas. But I really believe the Mavs will take this series. The prediction here is Mavs in six.
Before we get to accolades, let's tap the brakes a bit. Its one game, and the Spurs are not going to roll over and play dead from here on. We're going to wake up after Game 4 and find this thing tied 2 games apiece, and a Game 7 is a distinct possibility here. Even if the Mavs manage to dispose of San Antonio, which I predict to happen btw, Phoenix looms in the Conf Finals, and that will be no picnic either.
With all that said, there are lots of things to be happy about from last night:
1. Devin Harris showed a tremendous amount. Good God, that guy is fast. With him and Jason Terry in the backcourt, the Mavs couldn't help but run. As has been pointed out everywhere, the tempo was right where it needs to be for the Mavs to beat the Spurs. Games in the 80s favor the Spurs and their superior defense and half-court game. If the Mavs can push it into the 90s or 100s, the Spurs just don't have enough offense to keep up.
2. Josh Howard put together a complete game. He's another HUGE talent, but has been known to fade down the stretch (see Game 1 for examples). Not last night. He started aggressive and stayed that way throughout. When he's as on as he was last night, the automatic double-team of Dirk suddenly seems like not such a great idea. He's proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that he can do it, now he needs to do it consistently.
3. How great is it to have Jerry Stackhouse coming off the bench? He's a starter on 90% of the teams in the league, but has accepted his role here. I absolutely love that guy.
4. Avery Johnson seems unable to do anything wrong. He took the rap for just about everything in Game 1, and what a HUGE departure that is from the previous regime around here, where no one was responsible for anything. He made some bold moves in Game 2, most notably dropping Devin Harris into the starting five in place of Adrian Griffin, and everything worked.
I need to say something about this move in particular. Dave Tippett of Your Dallas Stars made a similar move in Game 2 of the dreadful series against Colorado, and was roundly criticized for it. In large part, this was the result of the basic rule of sports - moves that work are genius, moves that fail are brain-dead. But it was more than that. Tippett's move reeked of desperation. His team got killed in Game 1 and looked terrible doing it. Johnson's team was in Game 1 until the very last possession. Maybe more importantly, Johnson never came across as desperate. He appeared in control and talked like he had a plan from the final horn in Game 1 up until tip-off in Game 2.
The series now moves to Dallas, and there's every reason to believe the Spurs will shake off last night's game immediately. I expect a split in the two games in Dallas. But I really believe the Mavs will take this series. The prediction here is Mavs in six.
Monday, May 08, 2006
Adding insult to injury
I probably would have tried to walk it off, rather than let these two clowns carry me.
Iran's Leader Writes to President Bush
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has written a letter to President Bush offering "solutions" for solving the current standoff between Iran and most of the world over Iran's nuclear program.
The fact that it was written in purple crayon and illustrated with stick-figure drawings probably detracted from it's contents, however.
The fact that it was written in purple crayon and illustrated with stick-figure drawings probably detracted from it's contents, however.
Wednesday, May 03, 2006
Next-gen DVD format - Still too early to call
From Microsoft Watch today: There's still no telling which format (Blu-Ray or HD-DVD) is going to win the hearts and minds of the general public.
Keep saying your prayers for Blu-Ray, clearly the superior format from a technical perspective. HD-DVD, while technically inferior, will be cheaper and generally available sooner.
Keep saying your prayers for Blu-Ray, clearly the superior format from a technical perspective. HD-DVD, while technically inferior, will be cheaper and generally available sooner.
Lost gets crazier
Just got thru this week's installment of "Lost" and my head is spinning.
This was the best episode I can remember. From Ana Lucia's semi-rape of Sawyer to Henry bsing Locke about "coming for him" to the story of how Ana Lucia wound up in Australia to Michael's most serious whack-out, I have NO IDEA what is going on. Every scene, every line of dialog built on the story, whatever it is.
It seems clear that Michael was captured by the Friendly Fisherman and his Otherly cohorts and somehow brainwashed. Where does this end up?
Oh, and don't forget the "ad" for the Hanso Foundation stuck in the middle of a commercial break. No doubt Keith will have something on that in the next couple of days.
Lost remains at the top of the must-TiVo list because of mind-blowing episodes like this. I can't wait for next Wed!
This was the best episode I can remember. From Ana Lucia's semi-rape of Sawyer to Henry bsing Locke about "coming for him" to the story of how Ana Lucia wound up in Australia to Michael's most serious whack-out, I have NO IDEA what is going on. Every scene, every line of dialog built on the story, whatever it is.
It seems clear that Michael was captured by the Friendly Fisherman and his Otherly cohorts and somehow brainwashed. Where does this end up?
Oh, and don't forget the "ad" for the Hanso Foundation stuck in the middle of a commercial break. No doubt Keith will have something on that in the next couple of days.
Lost remains at the top of the must-TiVo list because of mind-blowing episodes like this. I can't wait for next Wed!
Tuesday, May 02, 2006
Reason #2,147 why the Internet needs editors
Here's a dude who has nothing better to do than build a huge shrine to the Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man. Yep, the one from Ghostbusters.
I'm telling you, there should be some sort of licensing process before you're allowed to post something on the Internet.
Of course, I blogged it. So, what does that say about me? Yep. I thought so.
I'm telling you, there should be some sort of licensing process before you're allowed to post something on the Internet.
Of course, I blogged it. So, what does that say about me? Yep. I thought so.
Vista delayed again?
According to Gartner, Microsoft will delay the next version of Windows from January 2007 to April-June 2007. Microsoft denies this.
I have no insight into this news. I can tell you that a great deal of emphasis is being applied by Microsoft to do Vista as right as possible. On the flip side, delays are always frowned upon by the Softies.
On the whole, my impression is Microsoft is more adverse to bad press due to bugs than they are to bad press due to delays, so this would not surprise me.
I have no insight into this news. I can tell you that a great deal of emphasis is being applied by Microsoft to do Vista as right as possible. On the flip side, delays are always frowned upon by the Softies.
On the whole, my impression is Microsoft is more adverse to bad press due to bugs than they are to bad press due to delays, so this would not surprise me.
If US strikes Iran, Iran will strike... Israel
Not that this is any sort of surprise, but Iranian Revolutionary Guards Read Admiral Mohammad-Ebrahim Dehqani is quoted as saying, "We have announced that whenever America does something evil, the first place that we target will be Israel."
The war of words between Iran and Israel has been going full-bore for some time now, with Iran nut-job President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad throwing most of the rocks, but Israeli PM Ehud Olmert tossing a few himself.
Now the Iranians are promising a first strike on Israel in the event of some vaguely defined US action. Not that we didn't expect anything different.
The Israelis have lived with this sort of nonsense since 1949, but this is the first time the other guys have been so far along the road to nukes of their own. You get the feeling this is going to end very badly.
BTW, I have NO idea what the solution is. Any rational suggestions will be considered as we attempt to formulate this blog's official position.
The war of words between Iran and Israel has been going full-bore for some time now, with Iran nut-job President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad throwing most of the rocks, but Israeli PM Ehud Olmert tossing a few himself.
Now the Iranians are promising a first strike on Israel in the event of some vaguely defined US action. Not that we didn't expect anything different.
The Israelis have lived with this sort of nonsense since 1949, but this is the first time the other guys have been so far along the road to nukes of their own. You get the feeling this is going to end very badly.
BTW, I have NO idea what the solution is. Any rational suggestions will be considered as we attempt to formulate this blog's official position.
Monday, May 01, 2006
Sportsy Monday
What a sport-erific weekend it was: The Mavs continue to impress, Dirk most of all; the Stars provide as much counter-point as one could ever want; the annual crapshoot known as the NFL Draft provided hours (and hours and hours) of TV and radio fun, and the Rangers finish April in first place. It was the kind of weekend that lends itself to more than a bit of scattershooting:
Mavs withstand Memphis' best shot
The little Mavericks went up three games to none against Memphis on Saturday afternoon with an 94-89 OT win. You got the feeling that the Grizzlies (still giggling over that monniker) sort of shot their wad (yech) in this one, leading for most of the game. Dirk put an emphatic "I don't think so, buddy" to that with a cold-blooded 3-pointer with 15 seconds left, forcing overtime. The Mavs cleaned Memphis' clock in the OT period, leaving no doubt about who is the better team.
I have doubted Dirk's grit in this space before, and my foot is still hovering over the brake pedal - it's Memphis, not Phoenix or SA - but let's enjoy the journey here. You have to beat Memphis to get to the Spurs (or the Kings??), and Dirk has dominated this series. He's done everything you could ask from a superstar so far. Time will tell if he can do it against stiffer competition, but let's remember that Houston was no great shakes last year, and they made him look bad.
We have to give props to one Erick Dampier as well. Big Damp (yech again) is doing exactly what he was brought here to do: pulling down tough rebounds, keeping balls alive, and hustling his rather prodigious rear off. Again, it's Memphis, but, again, you have to go through Memphis to get further into this thing.
Tonight is Game 4, and Memphis has their backs to the wall. Anything is possible, and it's must-see TV tonight. All I'll say now is this: Three games in and you have to really look for things to complain about.
Your Dallas Stars - oy vey
As if to emphasize how well the Mavs are doing, we have Your Dallas Stars and their shocking flameout in 5 games. So much went wrong in this series that I'm struggling to boil it down.
You have to start between the ears of the guy between the pipes, don't you? Turco is now 0-3 in first round playoff series. While he didn't ever look really terrible, he never looked very good. There weren't any truly soft goals, but he didn't come up with the Big Save either. Jose Theodore, a guy who carries some party-sized question marks in his bag, was clearly the better goal tender. And this after Turco had a great regular season and came into the playoffs healthy and successful.
Dave Tippett clearly hit the panic button in Game 2, making wholesale changes in lines which had produced 112 points in the regular season. To me, the first period of Game 2, which saw the Stars go down 3-0, a deficit that even the most furious comeback I've ever seen could not overcome, is where the Stars lost the series.
Big names up and down the roster came up short, with Bill Guerin heading the list. Oh sure, he finally showed up in Games 4 and 5, but it was too little too late. I think we've probably seen the last of Guerin in a Stars uniform, which saddens me. His arrival a few years ago was the biggest thing to happen since Brett Hull signed. Guerin, unfortunately, ends his Stars career as a disappointment.
The options this off-season are not wonderful. We're married to Turco for several years to come. Tippett probably deserves to go just for his panic-attack in Game 2. Guerin is almost certainly gone, as is Jason Arnott (who has taken some real heat in the local and national press - were they watching the same games I was?). Changes clearly need to be made down on Warren Parkway.
NFL Draft - wait and see
This weekend's NFL Draft held many surprises, the biggest of which was the order in which Vince Young and Matt Leinart were taken.
If I haven't made it clear before now, let me state for the record that I am a HUGE Vince Young fan. I am wearing my National Championship T shirt as I write this, and my post on the Rose Bowl is one that I am very proud of. But, I have significant doubts about Vince's ability to excel at the next level. Those doubts are compounded by reports that the Titans may dump Steve McNair sooner rather than later. Vince is a TREMENDOUS athlete, but I don't know...
Leinart, on the other hand, was an absolute GIFT at #10 for Arizona. The Cardinals have a history of screwing up everything they touch, but Edgerrin James and Matt Leinart in the same off season, added to the two outstanding receivers they already have, should do wonders for season ticket sales in the new palace in Glendale.
There's really only two things I want to say about this past weekend:
1. I think Kevin Blackistone went a little overboard in his column on Sunday (which I can't find online) regarding the "rift" between Jerry and Parcells, but I do wonder where the heck the Pear-Shaped Football Genius was all weekend.
2. KTCK's draft coverage is the best on the planet. Let's face it, the draft is about as exciting as the Greater Greensboro Open. But Hitzges, Sturm, Rhyner, Spagnola, and co. made it as entertaining as humanly possible. My kids were into it while we were in the car on Saturday, and that says something.
Rangers do more than survive April
After everything that went wrong during the first month of the season (and, boy, just about everything did go wrong at one time or another), the Rangers wake up on May 1 in first place in the AL West.
This is partially due to the wheels reattaching themselves here in the past two weeks. It's also partially due to the fact that everyone in the AL West is off to a crap start.
Regardless, things are better than we ever could have imagined after that first, dreadful week of the season. The new closer seems (after one appearance) to be a lot better than the old closer, the starting pitching is a strength (huh?), and the offense has come around.
One assumes the Angels and As are not going to continue as they've started and they will get their respective acts together. However, Ranger fans can point to the scoreboard, for the moment, with some pride.
Mavs withstand Memphis' best shot
The little Mavericks went up three games to none against Memphis on Saturday afternoon with an 94-89 OT win. You got the feeling that the Grizzlies (still giggling over that monniker) sort of shot their wad (yech) in this one, leading for most of the game. Dirk put an emphatic "I don't think so, buddy" to that with a cold-blooded 3-pointer with 15 seconds left, forcing overtime. The Mavs cleaned Memphis' clock in the OT period, leaving no doubt about who is the better team.
I have doubted Dirk's grit in this space before, and my foot is still hovering over the brake pedal - it's Memphis, not Phoenix or SA - but let's enjoy the journey here. You have to beat Memphis to get to the Spurs (or the Kings??), and Dirk has dominated this series. He's done everything you could ask from a superstar so far. Time will tell if he can do it against stiffer competition, but let's remember that Houston was no great shakes last year, and they made him look bad.
We have to give props to one Erick Dampier as well. Big Damp (yech again) is doing exactly what he was brought here to do: pulling down tough rebounds, keeping balls alive, and hustling his rather prodigious rear off. Again, it's Memphis, but, again, you have to go through Memphis to get further into this thing.
Tonight is Game 4, and Memphis has their backs to the wall. Anything is possible, and it's must-see TV tonight. All I'll say now is this: Three games in and you have to really look for things to complain about.
Your Dallas Stars - oy vey
As if to emphasize how well the Mavs are doing, we have Your Dallas Stars and their shocking flameout in 5 games. So much went wrong in this series that I'm struggling to boil it down.
You have to start between the ears of the guy between the pipes, don't you? Turco is now 0-3 in first round playoff series. While he didn't ever look really terrible, he never looked very good. There weren't any truly soft goals, but he didn't come up with the Big Save either. Jose Theodore, a guy who carries some party-sized question marks in his bag, was clearly the better goal tender. And this after Turco had a great regular season and came into the playoffs healthy and successful.
Dave Tippett clearly hit the panic button in Game 2, making wholesale changes in lines which had produced 112 points in the regular season. To me, the first period of Game 2, which saw the Stars go down 3-0, a deficit that even the most furious comeback I've ever seen could not overcome, is where the Stars lost the series.
Big names up and down the roster came up short, with Bill Guerin heading the list. Oh sure, he finally showed up in Games 4 and 5, but it was too little too late. I think we've probably seen the last of Guerin in a Stars uniform, which saddens me. His arrival a few years ago was the biggest thing to happen since Brett Hull signed. Guerin, unfortunately, ends his Stars career as a disappointment.
The options this off-season are not wonderful. We're married to Turco for several years to come. Tippett probably deserves to go just for his panic-attack in Game 2. Guerin is almost certainly gone, as is Jason Arnott (who has taken some real heat in the local and national press - were they watching the same games I was?). Changes clearly need to be made down on Warren Parkway.
NFL Draft - wait and see
This weekend's NFL Draft held many surprises, the biggest of which was the order in which Vince Young and Matt Leinart were taken.
If I haven't made it clear before now, let me state for the record that I am a HUGE Vince Young fan. I am wearing my National Championship T shirt as I write this, and my post on the Rose Bowl is one that I am very proud of. But, I have significant doubts about Vince's ability to excel at the next level. Those doubts are compounded by reports that the Titans may dump Steve McNair sooner rather than later. Vince is a TREMENDOUS athlete, but I don't know...
Leinart, on the other hand, was an absolute GIFT at #10 for Arizona. The Cardinals have a history of screwing up everything they touch, but Edgerrin James and Matt Leinart in the same off season, added to the two outstanding receivers they already have, should do wonders for season ticket sales in the new palace in Glendale.
There's really only two things I want to say about this past weekend:
1. I think Kevin Blackistone went a little overboard in his column on Sunday (which I can't find online) regarding the "rift" between Jerry and Parcells, but I do wonder where the heck the Pear-Shaped Football Genius was all weekend.
2. KTCK's draft coverage is the best on the planet. Let's face it, the draft is about as exciting as the Greater Greensboro Open. But Hitzges, Sturm, Rhyner, Spagnola, and co. made it as entertaining as humanly possible. My kids were into it while we were in the car on Saturday, and that says something.
Rangers do more than survive April
After everything that went wrong during the first month of the season (and, boy, just about everything did go wrong at one time or another), the Rangers wake up on May 1 in first place in the AL West.
This is partially due to the wheels reattaching themselves here in the past two weeks. It's also partially due to the fact that everyone in the AL West is off to a crap start.
Regardless, things are better than we ever could have imagined after that first, dreadful week of the season. The new closer seems (after one appearance) to be a lot better than the old closer, the starting pitching is a strength (huh?), and the offense has come around.
One assumes the Angels and As are not going to continue as they've started and they will get their respective acts together. However, Ranger fans can point to the scoreboard, for the moment, with some pride.
Friday, April 28, 2006
Atlantic tropical weather starting early
Ah yes, it's that time of year again.
According to StormTrack, the first tropical depression of the Atlantic "season" has formed near Cuba. It's not big or well organized, but it is more than a month before the true "tropical weather season" officially starts on June 1.
Just in case you were wondering, here's the list of hurricane names for this year:
Alberto
Beryl
Chris
Debby
Ernesto
Florence
Gordon
Helene
Isaac
Joyce
Kirk
Leslie
Michael
Nadine
Oscar
Patty
Rafael
Sandy
Tony
Valerie
William
According to StormTrack, the first tropical depression of the Atlantic "season" has formed near Cuba. It's not big or well organized, but it is more than a month before the true "tropical weather season" officially starts on June 1.
Just in case you were wondering, here's the list of hurricane names for this year:
Alberto
Beryl
Chris
Debby
Ernesto
Florence
Gordon
Helene
Isaac
Joyce
Kirk
Leslie
Michael
Nadine
Oscar
Patty
Rafael
Sandy
Tony
Valerie
William
No party for Bonds
Commish Bud Selig announced yesterday there will be no official commemoration when Barry Bonds ties and passes Babe Ruth for #2 on the all-time home run list.
"Hank Aaron broke Babe Ruth's record," Selig said. "We don't celebrate anybody the second or third time in."
Explained that way, it certainly sounds logical, right?
However, I firmly believe Bonds' current public image has everything to do with Selig's announcement. If Bonds still weighed 180 pounds and had not been splashed across the front page for the past 4 years in connection w/ illegal performance-enhancing drugs, I think there would be one heck of a fiesta for dinger 715.
It also strikes me that Selig would actually announce something like this. Perhaps he was asked about it, but you do have to consider just how embarrassed MLB is by this entire situation.
The homer record is the most hallowed in sports. Bonds' pursuit SHOULD be a cause for huge anticipation and celebration. I am really pissed and disappointed that both Bonds and baseball have forced us into this predicament, and have robbed us of what should have been the biggest sports story of the summer.
"Hank Aaron broke Babe Ruth's record," Selig said. "We don't celebrate anybody the second or third time in."
Explained that way, it certainly sounds logical, right?
However, I firmly believe Bonds' current public image has everything to do with Selig's announcement. If Bonds still weighed 180 pounds and had not been splashed across the front page for the past 4 years in connection w/ illegal performance-enhancing drugs, I think there would be one heck of a fiesta for dinger 715.
It also strikes me that Selig would actually announce something like this. Perhaps he was asked about it, but you do have to consider just how embarrassed MLB is by this entire situation.
The homer record is the most hallowed in sports. Bonds' pursuit SHOULD be a cause for huge anticipation and celebration. I am really pissed and disappointed that both Bonds and baseball have forced us into this predicament, and have robbed us of what should have been the biggest sports story of the summer.
Wednesday, April 26, 2006
In Flight Aboard a B-17 Flying Fortress
Drop what you're doing right now and go check out this Flickr photoset. It is a series posted by a dude who recently took a ride in a fully restored B-17G Flying Fortress, one of only 17 still flying in the US.
If you're a semi-reformed WWII junkie like me, this is must-view stuff.
If you're a semi-reformed WWII junkie like me, this is must-view stuff.
Potty humor
Blog-jacked from Brad Feld - Bathroom art!
This one is enough to set my 5-year-old's potty training back four and a half years.
This one is enough to set my 5-year-old's potty training back four and a half years.
Iran - I LOVE those guys!
I've spent way too much time bashing Iran. It occurred to me this morning that I really need to change my tune and express my heartfelt thanks to my Persian pals.
Between the religious zealots trying to turn back the clock to the mid-12th century and President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad spouting off insane anti-Semitic rhetoric every time I turn around, the Iranians have made my job as a blogger so much easier. Really, since these nut-jobs started spinning off the planet last fall, I've been able to spend much more time with my family and pursuing other activities, rather than combing the Internet for material.
So, big thanks to all our friends in the Islamic Republic. You guys are great. Please keep up the truly outstanding work. I appreciate all of your efforts.
Blog you soon!
What is wrong w/ Francisco Cordero?
The Rangers pulled another one out in the bottom of the 9th last night, beating the Swingin' As 6-5 on some late heroics by the heart of the batting order. Closer Francisco "Coco" Cordero made these heroics necessary by coughing up a 2-run lead in the top of the 9th.
Cordero has been AWFUL lately, blowing four of his last seven save opportunities. Two years ago, Cordero was one of the best closers in the game. However, since then, what was once an automatic win is now anything but.
Some have been suggesting for a while that he's hurt, and one hopes that's it. The alternative (he's washed up) is not a good one.
Ranger fans have been spoiled over the past 7 years or so. Ever since John Wetteland was lured away from the Yankees to tame the out-of-control closer situation (remember his predecessor: Mike "Thank You Sir, May I Have Another" Henneman?), the 9th inning has been minimal drama. Both Wetteland and Cordero had a history of making things a little more exciting than they should be, but both came through far more often than not.
No more. It's no longer drama, it's a friggin' Greek tragedy. Every night.
Too many other things are going right for this team (shocking, but true) for them to get dragged down by a had-it closer. The obvious solution seems to be moving setup man Akinori Otsuka to closer, but that's not the sort of move one makes lightly. Besides, this bullpen is clearly constructed to facilitate Otsuka mowin' 'em down in the eighth, then handing the ball to Cordero for a quick ninth.
It's not working as planned.
Buck is going to stick w/ Cordero for a while. That's his history, and, frankly, I don't disagree with it. Yet. However, the situation clearly has to change in some way. We'll see.
Cordero has been AWFUL lately, blowing four of his last seven save opportunities. Two years ago, Cordero was one of the best closers in the game. However, since then, what was once an automatic win is now anything but.
Some have been suggesting for a while that he's hurt, and one hopes that's it. The alternative (he's washed up) is not a good one.
Ranger fans have been spoiled over the past 7 years or so. Ever since John Wetteland was lured away from the Yankees to tame the out-of-control closer situation (remember his predecessor: Mike "Thank You Sir, May I Have Another" Henneman?), the 9th inning has been minimal drama. Both Wetteland and Cordero had a history of making things a little more exciting than they should be, but both came through far more often than not.
No more. It's no longer drama, it's a friggin' Greek tragedy. Every night.
Too many other things are going right for this team (shocking, but true) for them to get dragged down by a had-it closer. The obvious solution seems to be moving setup man Akinori Otsuka to closer, but that's not the sort of move one makes lightly. Besides, this bullpen is clearly constructed to facilitate Otsuka mowin' 'em down in the eighth, then handing the ball to Cordero for a quick ninth.
It's not working as planned.
Buck is going to stick w/ Cordero for a while. That's his history, and, frankly, I don't disagree with it. Yet. However, the situation clearly has to change in some way. We'll see.
Tuesday, April 25, 2006
The Mark Cuban Show
The Mavericks' own Mark Cuban, he of the Frakensteinian haircut, questionable rhythm, and billions of dollars, will be hosting his own weekly talk show on Sirius satellite radio.
Cuban has an opinion on everything, and is one of the best-informed guys around regarding digital copyrights and rights management, so it's a good bet that his show will be an excellent source of info. He's also nuts, which means it will be either really entertaining or really uncomfortable (which is the same thing as far as I'm concerned).
Cuban has an opinion on everything, and is one of the best-informed guys around regarding digital copyrights and rights management, so it's a good bet that his show will be an excellent source of info. He's also nuts, which means it will be either really entertaining or really uncomfortable (which is the same thing as far as I'm concerned).
Hamas making friends throughout the region
This counts as an "oops" - Jordan has arrested Hamas members and charged them with plotting terrorist attacks within the country.
Unless I'm missing something important, this would appear to be an act of war by the elected government of an entity (the Palestinian Authority) against a neighboring nation-state.
Careful, boys. Your benefactor (Iran) may be the big kid on the block, but Jordan is right next door.
Unless I'm missing something important, this would appear to be an act of war by the elected government of an entity (the Palestinian Authority) against a neighboring nation-state.
Careful, boys. Your benefactor (Iran) may be the big kid on the block, but Jordan is right next door.
Things looking grim for Your Dallas Stars
Since Sturm has bailed on his obligation (Dentist? Whatever, Bob!), I will attempt to fill the void regarding Avs 5 Stars 4.
Oh, this is very bad news indeed.
I must be honest - I didn't tune in to Ralphie and Razor until the first intermission. It's difficult to describe the shock and dismay I felt when I saw the 3-0 score after the first period.
The second period was awesome. The Stars took it to Colorado from the drop of the puck and pummeled them. Four goals later, it's Stars in the lead and all is right in the universe.
Then here comes the third period and overtime. Arnott (the most consistent guy in green thru the first two games) NEARLY won the damn thing. If his heart-stopping shot had gone in rather than hit the post, we'd be talking about a close, but needed, win.
Instead, defensive lapses, questionable goaltending, lack of energy, and a general appearance of disinterest cost the Stars another game. They now head off to Colorado, down 2 games to none, and in complete disarray.
Marty Turco is now one of the highest-paid goaltenders in the NHL, and he plays like it pretty much every regular season. However, this is a guy who has yet to get out of the first round of the playoffs. Talk was (here and elsewhere) this is the year. It may still be, but we've seen no signs of it yet. Turco's already got the tag of "Big-Game Choker". If he doesn't stage an immediate and complete turnaround, he may as well sew that onto the back of his sweater.
Bill Guerin is turning out to be the biggest bust in recent Stars history. Here's a guy who came in with all kinds of hype and an enormous contract. What, exactly, has he done since then? He's one of the most likeable guys on the team, but let's face it: He's got a BAG.
Modano summoned some energy during period two, and looked like the Mikey Mo of old. It didn't last long. What's his story? He had a great comeback season, shut up a lot of his critics, but he's choking as badly as anyone on the team.
Tippett, the most consistent coach in the NHL, apparently panicked after the no-show his team pulled in Game 1 and completely shuffled his offensive lines. Is this the reason the Stars got KILLED in the first period? I'll give him this: He didn't back off, and the team turned in an All-World performance in period 2. But it's hard to argue with the hole dug in the first.
I'll give props to the Finns (with the exception of Janne Niinimaa - why was HE playing?) and Jason Arnott. These guys showed some jump and some want-to throughout. Arnott took NO crap off anyone last night and I loved it.
Well, Game 3 is an absolute MUST-win. Tippett will start Turco, but I wonder if this is the right way to go. Does the team have faith in Turco anymore? Does a change to Hedberg shake up the team enough to force some change? I have no idea, and I doubt Tippett would make the switch regardless. However, I have to believe Turco is on the shortest of short leashes.
This is NOT what we had in mind while the regular season crawled to an end.
Oh, this is very bad news indeed.
I must be honest - I didn't tune in to Ralphie and Razor until the first intermission. It's difficult to describe the shock and dismay I felt when I saw the 3-0 score after the first period.
The second period was awesome. The Stars took it to Colorado from the drop of the puck and pummeled them. Four goals later, it's Stars in the lead and all is right in the universe.
Then here comes the third period and overtime. Arnott (the most consistent guy in green thru the first two games) NEARLY won the damn thing. If his heart-stopping shot had gone in rather than hit the post, we'd be talking about a close, but needed, win.
Instead, defensive lapses, questionable goaltending, lack of energy, and a general appearance of disinterest cost the Stars another game. They now head off to Colorado, down 2 games to none, and in complete disarray.
Marty Turco is now one of the highest-paid goaltenders in the NHL, and he plays like it pretty much every regular season. However, this is a guy who has yet to get out of the first round of the playoffs. Talk was (here and elsewhere) this is the year. It may still be, but we've seen no signs of it yet. Turco's already got the tag of "Big-Game Choker". If he doesn't stage an immediate and complete turnaround, he may as well sew that onto the back of his sweater.
Bill Guerin is turning out to be the biggest bust in recent Stars history. Here's a guy who came in with all kinds of hype and an enormous contract. What, exactly, has he done since then? He's one of the most likeable guys on the team, but let's face it: He's got a BAG.
Modano summoned some energy during period two, and looked like the Mikey Mo of old. It didn't last long. What's his story? He had a great comeback season, shut up a lot of his critics, but he's choking as badly as anyone on the team.
Tippett, the most consistent coach in the NHL, apparently panicked after the no-show his team pulled in Game 1 and completely shuffled his offensive lines. Is this the reason the Stars got KILLED in the first period? I'll give him this: He didn't back off, and the team turned in an All-World performance in period 2. But it's hard to argue with the hole dug in the first.
I'll give props to the Finns (with the exception of Janne Niinimaa - why was HE playing?) and Jason Arnott. These guys showed some jump and some want-to throughout. Arnott took NO crap off anyone last night and I loved it.
Well, Game 3 is an absolute MUST-win. Tippett will start Turco, but I wonder if this is the right way to go. Does the team have faith in Turco anymore? Does a change to Hedberg shake up the team enough to force some change? I have no idea, and I doubt Tippett would make the switch regardless. However, I have to believe Turco is on the shortest of short leashes.
This is NOT what we had in mind while the regular season crawled to an end.
Unexplained "booms" in the skies over US
Boing Boing had this yesterday, and I almost blogged it. A few updates to the original post made it show up in RSS this morning, which I'm taking as a sign of...something.
Anyway, there have been reports from across the South, as well as SoCal, of window-rattling booms of unknown origin. Thunder and supersonic aircraft have been ruled out, as have explosives. Its not caused by earthquakes or meteors. In short, no one knows what the hell is going on.
Someone will come up with an explanation, and it will probably wind up being something really boring. But, for the moment, this is a pretty good mystery.
Anyway, there have been reports from across the South, as well as SoCal, of window-rattling booms of unknown origin. Thunder and supersonic aircraft have been ruled out, as have explosives. Its not caused by earthquakes or meteors. In short, no one knows what the hell is going on.
Someone will come up with an explanation, and it will probably wind up being something really boring. But, for the moment, this is a pretty good mystery.
Iranian money is scared of Mahmoud too
With all the insane actions and even more insane rhetoric from Iran lately, it's easy to forget that the country is subject to the same principles of economics as everyone else. Once you remember, it's not such a surprise to find there is some very shaky economic news coming out of the friendly Islamic Republic.
What does this really mean? I have no idea. Iran has plenty of dough from oil, and more support from the international community than one would hope, so the news reflected here probably doesn't mean much, if anything, in the short term. However, at some point, you would think that Iran will need some political and economic stability.
Unless, of course, God really is on their side. In which case He will provide.
What does this really mean? I have no idea. Iran has plenty of dough from oil, and more support from the international community than one would hope, so the news reflected here probably doesn't mean much, if anything, in the short term. However, at some point, you would think that Iran will need some political and economic stability.
Unless, of course, God really is on their side. In which case He will provide.
Monday, April 24, 2006
Ahmadinejad keeps up the comedy
Today's episode of The Mahmoud Hour: Israel is a "fake regime" that cannot continue to exist.
Hey, at least he seemed to acknowledge the Holocaust:
Hey, at least he seemed to acknowledge the Holocaust:
"Some 60 years have passed since the end of World War II. Why should the people of Germany and Palestine pay now for a war in which the current generation was not involved?" Ahmadinejad said at a news conference.
Dallas sports - mostly up, some down
The news on the Dallas sports scene is better than expected in some ways, and concerning in others. A quick rundown:
Mavs dominate
The little Mavericks got off to a dominating start against the Memphis Grizzlies (when was the last time anyone saw a grizzly bear in Memphis, or anywhere in Tennessee for that matter?) last night.
Erick Dampier showed what a difference he can make when he’s interested.
In reality, this was not the Mavericks’ best game, but they fought for it all the way through. To me, this is more encouraging than a standout Dirk or Stackhouse performance would have been.
It’s only Game 1 of the first round, and it’s only Memphis, but it was a great start.
Has any coach ever gotten more out of his team in his first full year than Avery Johnson?
Stars wet the bed
On the other side of the coin, we have Your Dallas Stars, who looked to be asleep on Saturday night against Colorado. Poor play, way too many penalties, and way way too many turnovers led to a drubbing in every sense of the word.
Turco played well enough to win, but got nothing from his teammates, with the exception of Jason Arnott and whoever he was on the ice with. Until the rest of the offense realizes the playoffs have started, I vote for double-shifting Arnott and leaving wakeup calls for Modano and Guerin (esp Guerin, who’s been hitting the snooze button since Oct).
Rangers are above .500
The whole fam got to spend a wonderful Sunday at the Temple in Arlington yesterday, in a luxury box right behind home plate no less, thanks to our friends E and J. The kids had a great time running around with their friends and eating themselves silly, Robynne got to catch up with some of the girls, and I got to see John Koronka pitch a beauty.
Koronka has turned out to be the biggest pleasant Ranger surprise in a long time. The last-minute acquisition, whom I though was bound for Frisco or OK City, has, instead, turned in three very good to outstanding performances, crowned by yesterday’s eight-inning effort. A soft-tossing lefty, Koronka read thru Kenny Rogers’ pamphlet Successful Left-Handed Pitching at the Launching Pad in Arlington and clearly took good notes. He changed speeds, kept the ball down, and worked the corners. The Devil Rays (and what a crap team they have, btw) scattered a few hits and some runs, but never mounted any sort of charge.
Ranger bats, on the other hand, were plenty busy. The kids are huge fireworks fans, and they got to see lots of them as the Rangers belted homer after homer. The bottom of the third was particularly exciting, as Tex, Nevin, and Mench all clobbered long balls. Devil Rays’ manager Joe Maddon (who?) left poor Casey Fossum (who?) out there throughout the onslaught, determined to get four innings out of him, come hell or high water. He got both.
After a TERRIBLE start, the Rangers are righting the ship. Sweeping Tampa Bay in April is not anything to get overly excited about any more than getting drilled in the first week of the season was, but it a step in the right direction.
Mavs dominate
The little Mavericks got off to a dominating start against the Memphis Grizzlies (when was the last time anyone saw a grizzly bear in Memphis, or anywhere in Tennessee for that matter?) last night.
Erick Dampier showed what a difference he can make when he’s interested.
In reality, this was not the Mavericks’ best game, but they fought for it all the way through. To me, this is more encouraging than a standout Dirk or Stackhouse performance would have been.
It’s only Game 1 of the first round, and it’s only Memphis, but it was a great start.
Has any coach ever gotten more out of his team in his first full year than Avery Johnson?
Stars wet the bed
On the other side of the coin, we have Your Dallas Stars, who looked to be asleep on Saturday night against Colorado. Poor play, way too many penalties, and way way too many turnovers led to a drubbing in every sense of the word.
Turco played well enough to win, but got nothing from his teammates, with the exception of Jason Arnott and whoever he was on the ice with. Until the rest of the offense realizes the playoffs have started, I vote for double-shifting Arnott and leaving wakeup calls for Modano and Guerin (esp Guerin, who’s been hitting the snooze button since Oct).
Rangers are above .500
The whole fam got to spend a wonderful Sunday at the Temple in Arlington yesterday, in a luxury box right behind home plate no less, thanks to our friends E and J. The kids had a great time running around with their friends and eating themselves silly, Robynne got to catch up with some of the girls, and I got to see John Koronka pitch a beauty.
Koronka has turned out to be the biggest pleasant Ranger surprise in a long time. The last-minute acquisition, whom I though was bound for Frisco or OK City, has, instead, turned in three very good to outstanding performances, crowned by yesterday’s eight-inning effort. A soft-tossing lefty, Koronka read thru Kenny Rogers’ pamphlet Successful Left-Handed Pitching at the Launching Pad in Arlington and clearly took good notes. He changed speeds, kept the ball down, and worked the corners. The Devil Rays (and what a crap team they have, btw) scattered a few hits and some runs, but never mounted any sort of charge.
Ranger bats, on the other hand, were plenty busy. The kids are huge fireworks fans, and they got to see lots of them as the Rangers belted homer after homer. The bottom of the third was particularly exciting, as Tex, Nevin, and Mench all clobbered long balls. Devil Rays’ manager Joe Maddon (who?) left poor Casey Fossum (who?) out there throughout the onslaught, determined to get four innings out of him, come hell or high water. He got both.
After a TERRIBLE start, the Rangers are righting the ship. Sweeping Tampa Bay in April is not anything to get overly excited about any more than getting drilled in the first week of the season was, but it a step in the right direction.
Chernobyl: 20 years ago this month.
This week marks the 20th anniversary of the Chernobyl disaster. In case you didn't know (or had forgotten, which I had), "disaster" in no way describes the nightmare which resulted from this fiasco. The radiation released in the event (I don't know what else to call it) was over a 100 times more than that released by the atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. There are huge portions of the Ukraine and Belarus which will be unihabitable for hundreds of years.
Boing Boing provides some interesting links which address both the event itself and its long-term consequences. The picture on the Boing Boing page ("An aerial view of the fourth reactor of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant after its explosion.") is only terrifying when you consider just how much radiation continues to emanate from the wreckage 20 years later. Think Vladimir Repik of Reuters (the attribution on the photo) is still with us today?
My memory of Chernobyl is fuzzy at best, which is partly due to 1986 being my third year of college, but more due to the Soviet government's official policy of denying the obvious: "What shiny explosion and glowing forest are you talking about? Firemen cooked like microwave burritos? This is some sort of imperialist plot."
Boing Boing provides some interesting links which address both the event itself and its long-term consequences. The picture on the Boing Boing page ("An aerial view of the fourth reactor of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant after its explosion.") is only terrifying when you consider just how much radiation continues to emanate from the wreckage 20 years later. Think Vladimir Repik of Reuters (the attribution on the photo) is still with us today?
My memory of Chernobyl is fuzzy at best, which is partly due to 1986 being my third year of college, but more due to the Soviet government's official policy of denying the obvious: "What shiny explosion and glowing forest are you talking about? Firemen cooked like microwave burritos? This is some sort of imperialist plot."
Friday, April 21, 2006
Zimbabwe invites white farmers to return
Can't let this slip by without making note: Zimbabwe has invited thousands of white farmers, all of whom were forced off their land by the government's "fast-track" land reform in 2000, to apply for leases on that same land.
Obviously, the land reform has been an abysmal failure, which has crippled the economy and caused massive food crises in Zimbabwe. You'll probably never hear President-for-Life Mugabe admit that it was a mistake, but what more proof do you want besides this completely unexpected U-turn?
Obviously, the land reform has been an abysmal failure, which has crippled the economy and caused massive food crises in Zimbabwe. You'll probably never hear President-for-Life Mugabe admit that it was a mistake, but what more proof do you want besides this completely unexpected U-turn?
Oil prices - Iran has it's big laugh now
My favorite nut-job, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, is enjoying the current surge in crude oil prices.
"The increase in oil price and growth of oil income is very good and we hope that the oil prices reach their real levels," he says. No indication of what he thinks "real levels" are, but you get the gist.
These smug bastards. Laugh now, you clowns. You'll be back to farming dirt within 100 years and nobody will care what you have to say.
"The increase in oil price and growth of oil income is very good and we hope that the oil prices reach their real levels," he says. No indication of what he thinks "real levels" are, but you get the gist.
These smug bastards. Laugh now, you clowns. You'll be back to farming dirt within 100 years and nobody will care what you have to say.
Thursday, April 20, 2006
Too long without an "I-hate-the-Cowboys" post
I was strolling down memory lane and ran across this genius Sturm post (aren't they all?) from Nov 9, 2005. Just think back for a moment, and remember what we all thought of Terrell Owens when this was going on.
Now he's got a star on his helmet.
Have fun with that, Cowboys sheep (er, I mean "fans").
Personally, I'm looking forward to the inevitable implosion. Look for me afterwards. I'll be the guy in the back of the room saying, "I told you so."
Now he's got a star on his helmet.
Have fun with that, Cowboys sheep (er, I mean "fans").
Personally, I'm looking forward to the inevitable implosion. Look for me afterwards. I'll be the guy in the back of the room saying, "I told you so."
Burma - Newsweek says, "C'mon. It's not so bad."
From Newsweek's International Edition this week: The other side of the story from Burma. Joe Cochrane spends a bit of time in Rangoon and tells us that all is not so grim in the Golden Land.
I haven't been there myself, so I can't argue the point on my own. However, there are enough really grim stories coming out of Burma, especially from the countryside, that I really wonder what Cochrane's agenda is.
Read the Newsweek article, then read about Doctors Without Borders' experience in Burma, what ASEAN has to say about their neighbor and member, Amnesty International's opinion of the junta's actions against it's own citizens, and comments from Canadian Friends of Burma which could be interpreted as a direct refutation of Cochrane's piece, and let me know what you think.
I haven't been there myself, so I can't argue the point on my own. However, there are enough really grim stories coming out of Burma, especially from the countryside, that I really wonder what Cochrane's agenda is.
Read the Newsweek article, then read about Doctors Without Borders' experience in Burma, what ASEAN has to say about their neighbor and member, Amnesty International's opinion of the junta's actions against it's own citizens, and comments from Canadian Friends of Burma which could be interpreted as a direct refutation of Cochrane's piece, and let me know what you think.
Hamas gives terrorists the keys to the castle
More fantastic news from the humanitarians from Hamas: They want terrorists to work with, not against, the Palestinian police. Just to show how well-meaning they are, they've put a character named Jamal Abu Samhadana in charge of Palestinian police and security forces. Samhadana has been on the receiving end of a few targeted assassination attempts by the Israelis.
Just for the record, I have no problem w/ Israel's targeted killings. Shin Bet and the Mossad seem to have a pretty good handle on who the baddies are and where they can be found. While there has been too much "collateral damage" from these strikes, it certainly appears that the Israelis are going after the right people.
Regardless, this latest move from Hamas is akin to turning over the US Drug Enforcement Agency to John Belushi or giving the secret handshake from the New York Stock Exchange to Jeff Skilling. In all cases, the result is a near-guarantee that the abuses will only get worse.
How I long for the days leading up to the Yom Kippur War, when Israel's biggest threats came from other countries, instead of a bunch of lunatics who already have a free pass to the entire country, and the sickness of mind to think blowing themselves and a bunch of civilians up will actually help furthur their goals.
Just for the record, I have no problem w/ Israel's targeted killings. Shin Bet and the Mossad seem to have a pretty good handle on who the baddies are and where they can be found. While there has been too much "collateral damage" from these strikes, it certainly appears that the Israelis are going after the right people.
Regardless, this latest move from Hamas is akin to turning over the US Drug Enforcement Agency to John Belushi or giving the secret handshake from the New York Stock Exchange to Jeff Skilling. In all cases, the result is a near-guarantee that the abuses will only get worse.
How I long for the days leading up to the Yom Kippur War, when Israel's biggest threats came from other countries, instead of a bunch of lunatics who already have a free pass to the entire country, and the sickness of mind to think blowing themselves and a bunch of civilians up will actually help furthur their goals.
Wednesday, April 19, 2006
Fond memories of Shawn Bradley
Just in case you missed The Mantis (aka Shawn Bradley), here's a compilation of about 50 different guys taking it to the rack right over Big Goofy Shawn.
Note how many of them are significantly shorter than he is. Bradley has a foot or more on most of these guys.
What was Mark Cuban thinking in those days?
Note how many of them are significantly shorter than he is. Bradley has a foot or more on most of these guys.
What was Mark Cuban thinking in those days?
SF Big Wheel race
Easter Sunday saw the annual BYOBW (Bring Your Own Big Wheel) race (caution: annoying song starts as soon as you hit the page - turn down your speakers if you don't want to bother the dude in the next cubicle) down Lombard St. in SF.
In case you didn't know, Lombard St is the famous "World's Crookedest Street", so incredibly steep it's one of the very few places on Earth where you'll find switchbacks on an urban street.
So, if you're in SF next Easter and your medical insurance is paid up, get one of the old-fashioned plastic-wheel Big Wheels (no rubber wheels allowed) and go try to break some bones with the big boys.
In case you didn't know, Lombard St is the famous "World's Crookedest Street", so incredibly steep it's one of the very few places on Earth where you'll find switchbacks on an urban street.
So, if you're in SF next Easter and your medical insurance is paid up, get one of the old-fashioned plastic-wheel Big Wheels (no rubber wheels allowed) and go try to break some bones with the big boys.
Traffic rules in India
Here's another YouTube classic - strangely mesmerizing video of a complex, unregulated (no stop signs or traffic signals) intersection somewhere in India.
There are two things I find amazing here:
1. No one dies. Not even a fender bender.
2. Traffic continues to move.
An intersection like this in the US would result in a daily toll of 200 accidents of all descriptions, 15 vehicular fatalities of various sorts, 50 road-rage-induced firearms violations, and a traffic jam requiring at least an hour and a half to negotiate.
There are two things I find amazing here:
1. No one dies. Not even a fender bender.
2. Traffic continues to move.
An intersection like this in the US would result in a daily toll of 200 accidents of all descriptions, 15 vehicular fatalities of various sorts, 50 road-rage-induced firearms violations, and a traffic jam requiring at least an hour and a half to negotiate.
Lost - How the DHARMA Initiative Works
All hail Geeding and his never-ending fountain of "Lost" tidbits. Here's an exhaustive "How Stuff Works" article on the DHARMA Initiative.
No "Lost" this week, dammit. Instead, ABC is showing two hours of "Alias". I'm all for watching Jennifer Garner do just about anything, but I'd still rather have my weekly visit to Mystery Island.
No "Lost" this week, dammit. Instead, ABC is showing two hours of "Alias". I'm all for watching Jennifer Garner do just about anything, but I'd still rather have my weekly visit to Mystery Island.
Tuesday, April 18, 2006
Always like to see Glenn Reynolds agreeing with me
From Instapundit the other day (sorry, I'm way behind): Glenn has some links related to the Alberta oil shale fields as well as an interesting about-face on nuclear power by a founder of Greenpeace.
Sounds familiar. And absolutely right, for many reasons.
Sounds familiar. And absolutely right, for many reasons.
It's playoff time in Big D
Dallas, the ultimate winner's town (the only way to sell season tickets around here is to win a championship - just ask the Stars), is about to get a double-sports-treat. Both the Stars and the Mavs are playoff bound and both, rather incredibly, have legit shots at their respective league championships. There are not many towns in America where this happens - my college home of Boston won championships in the two biggest American sports not so long ago, but I really can't think of another time when it's happened. I'm sure it has, but it's rare enough to be noteworthy.
And note it, we shall.
First, the little Mavericks: I've said several times before, and I'll say it again. San Antonio and Detroit are clearly the class of their respective conferences. But the gap between them and their competition is not what it has been in years past. The Mavs in particular match up very well with both, and far better than they ever have before.
The Mavs are a team with a legitimate MVP candidate in Dirk, two superstars-in-training (Josh Howard and Devin Harris), guys who are deadly from the perimeter (Jason Terry), guys with an inside game (Stackhouse), and a center rotation that actually works (Diop and Dampier). Their bench is long, their coaching staff is solid, and no young head coach has seized his team's attention and made a fundamental improvement in it's approach to the game like Avery Johnson.
For those of us who suffered through the 1990s, when the Mavs were the worst joke in professional sports, it's still difficult to believe that our little Mavericks are really and truly contenders for the title. Sports observers much smarter than me have been saying it for a while, and I'll add my feeble voice to the din: They are.
The pressure this year sits squarely on the Teutonic shoulders of Herr Nowitzki. Dirk got thrown off his game during the playoffs last year. Both Houston and Phoenix beat him up and frustrated him, and he disappeared just when the Mavs needed him most. If he pulls a similar stunt this year, it will be a short run. However, it's important to remember that Dirk was in the midst of a pretty good playoff stretch two years ago in the Western Conference Finals against the Spurs when he got hurt. In addition, and maybe more importantly, Dirk has done just about everything right all year. The only remaining challenge for him is his post-season performance. I've seen enough out of him this season to be very optimistic. If Dirk continues his All-World play from the regular season, the Mavs will be playing well into June.
Now, the Stars: In a hockey season when no one has made a whole bunch of noise, the Stars have emerged as one of the top three teams in the league. Steady play from a whole slew of guys has been the recipe, with no one, with the possible exception of shoot-out whiz Jussi Jokinen, having a truly break-out year. Newly-very-rich Marty Turco has been very good throughout, and, at time, dominating. The pieces are in place, and there's no reason why the Stars should not contend for the Western Conference title and the Stanley Cup.
As with the Mavs, all of the pressure is on one guy. In this case, it's Turco. Similar to Dirk, Turco has, fairly or unfairly, earned a reputation as a great regular-season player who can't turn it up in the playoffs. Physically, he's proven himself to be, beyond a doubt, one of the most talented goaltenders in the NHL. Mentally, there's some question about his make-up. That may not be fair, but it is what it is.
Regardless, Turco has a solid team in front of him, a tournament full of other teams who have not proven themselves to be any better than the Stars, and holds his own, and his team's, fate in his hands.
Playoff hockey and playoff basketball, with a legitimate chance for our local teams to go far: I'd be more jacked up if the Rangers were in the baseball post-season, but this is as good as it gets otherwise. The TV and the TiVo will be busy for the next few weeks.
And note it, we shall.
First, the little Mavericks: I've said several times before, and I'll say it again. San Antonio and Detroit are clearly the class of their respective conferences. But the gap between them and their competition is not what it has been in years past. The Mavs in particular match up very well with both, and far better than they ever have before.
The Mavs are a team with a legitimate MVP candidate in Dirk, two superstars-in-training (Josh Howard and Devin Harris), guys who are deadly from the perimeter (Jason Terry), guys with an inside game (Stackhouse), and a center rotation that actually works (Diop and Dampier). Their bench is long, their coaching staff is solid, and no young head coach has seized his team's attention and made a fundamental improvement in it's approach to the game like Avery Johnson.
For those of us who suffered through the 1990s, when the Mavs were the worst joke in professional sports, it's still difficult to believe that our little Mavericks are really and truly contenders for the title. Sports observers much smarter than me have been saying it for a while, and I'll add my feeble voice to the din: They are.
The pressure this year sits squarely on the Teutonic shoulders of Herr Nowitzki. Dirk got thrown off his game during the playoffs last year. Both Houston and Phoenix beat him up and frustrated him, and he disappeared just when the Mavs needed him most. If he pulls a similar stunt this year, it will be a short run. However, it's important to remember that Dirk was in the midst of a pretty good playoff stretch two years ago in the Western Conference Finals against the Spurs when he got hurt. In addition, and maybe more importantly, Dirk has done just about everything right all year. The only remaining challenge for him is his post-season performance. I've seen enough out of him this season to be very optimistic. If Dirk continues his All-World play from the regular season, the Mavs will be playing well into June.
Now, the Stars: In a hockey season when no one has made a whole bunch of noise, the Stars have emerged as one of the top three teams in the league. Steady play from a whole slew of guys has been the recipe, with no one, with the possible exception of shoot-out whiz Jussi Jokinen, having a truly break-out year. Newly-very-rich Marty Turco has been very good throughout, and, at time, dominating. The pieces are in place, and there's no reason why the Stars should not contend for the Western Conference title and the Stanley Cup.
As with the Mavs, all of the pressure is on one guy. In this case, it's Turco. Similar to Dirk, Turco has, fairly or unfairly, earned a reputation as a great regular-season player who can't turn it up in the playoffs. Physically, he's proven himself to be, beyond a doubt, one of the most talented goaltenders in the NHL. Mentally, there's some question about his make-up. That may not be fair, but it is what it is.
Regardless, Turco has a solid team in front of him, a tournament full of other teams who have not proven themselves to be any better than the Stars, and holds his own, and his team's, fate in his hands.
Playoff hockey and playoff basketball, with a legitimate chance for our local teams to go far: I'd be more jacked up if the Rangers were in the baseball post-season, but this is as good as it gets otherwise. The TV and the TiVo will be busy for the next few weeks.
Plagiarizing a baseball blog???
In one of the stranger events I've run across in my adventures in the blogosphere, Beth from Cursed to First has busted a plagiarist who was lifting entire posts from Beth's blog, along with some other Red Sox-oriented blogs.
All I have to say on the subject is "WTF?" All of the fun of having a blog is, to me, wrapped up in having a forum to drop my own Hot Sports Opinions on an unsuspecting world (or, at least, the 7 people who actually read this thing). Why on Earth would someone want to impersonate a blogger? That's like pretending you're a human.
Well, justice has prevailed, and Beth (who has been known to drop her own Hot Sports Opinions, which we've quoted here before) has outed her would-be evil twin. Bravo, Beth!
I just wish someone thought enough of my work to rip me off.
All I have to say on the subject is "WTF?" All of the fun of having a blog is, to me, wrapped up in having a forum to drop my own Hot Sports Opinions on an unsuspecting world (or, at least, the 7 people who actually read this thing). Why on Earth would someone want to impersonate a blogger? That's like pretending you're a human.
Well, justice has prevailed, and Beth (who has been known to drop her own Hot Sports Opinions, which we've quoted here before) has outed her would-be evil twin. Bravo, Beth!
I just wish someone thought enough of my work to rip me off.
Wednesday, April 12, 2006
Now THIS is a funny blog
Just ask yourself: How glad am I that blogs didn't exist when I went to college?
My answer: Pretty damn glad.
My answer: Pretty damn glad.
Finally, math I can understand
From the Sydney Sunday Times, via Boing Boing:
Here's a mathematical equation that I will be committing to memory:
(S+C) x (B+F)/T = V
It is the formula that describes the perfect female posterior. A quick definition of terms:
S is the overall shape or droopiness of the bottom,
C represents how spherical the buttocks are,
B measures muscular wobble or bounce,
F records the firmness,
Here's a mathematical equation that I will be committing to memory:
(S+C) x (B+F)/T = V
It is the formula that describes the perfect female posterior. A quick definition of terms:
S is the overall shape or droopiness of the bottom,
C represents how spherical the buttocks are,
B measures muscular wobble or bounce,
F records the firmness,
T measures the skin texture and presence of cellulite, and
V is the hip to waist ratio, or symmetry of the bottom.
This is pure genius. And, yes, it does describe my wife - I have the measurements to prove it.
I love practical uses of math. I just wish my algebra classes had concentrated on this sort of thing. It would have made the subject much more relevant to me.
V is the hip to waist ratio, or symmetry of the bottom.
This is pure genius. And, yes, it does describe my wife - I have the measurements to prove it.
I love practical uses of math. I just wish my algebra classes had concentrated on this sort of thing. It would have made the subject much more relevant to me.
Zimbabwe on the verge of big trouble?
From Reuters today: An analysis piece on the current situation in Zimbabwe. The news ain't good.
Growing up Jewish in Dallas, I had lots of friends from southern Africa - for whatever reason (similar climate, growing city w/ lots of opportunity, an even sillier local accent than their own?), many South African and Rhodesian Jews relocated to Dallas in the late 70s and through the 80s. Today, quite a few of my kids' schoolmates are 2nd or 3rd generation southern African immigrants, and many of their parents (our contemporaries) retain the distinctive accent and drive for success that characterized the first wave.
So, with that background, I do keep an eye out for news from southern Africa, and have written about the region several times here. While South Africa has had it's share of problems since majority-rule, the overall trend has been mostly positive. Not so in Zimbabwe.
Back when it was called Rhodesia and it was ruled by minority whites, this south-eastern African country was the breadbasket of the continent. Easily able to feed itself and it's neighbors, it was one of the leading exporters of food in the world. Further blessed by abundant natural resources (nothing like the treasure-house next door in South Africa, but better than most countries), Rhodesia was among the most prosperous countries in Africa and, indeed, the entire world.
The news seemed good in 1980 when, in a largely bloodless transition, the country moved to majority rule and changed it's name to Zimbabwe. The business and agricultural environment remained robust and prosperous, and it seemed like the success story would continue.
The wheels have been slow, but steady, in coming off since then. Robert Mugabe, President since 1980, has become more and more radical as time has gone by, foisting ever-more destructive economic and agricultural policies on the country. His disastrous land-reform methods (revocation of whites' right to own land and making most farmland available to any black who could grab it and hold it) were the most visible, but only average in terms of damage caused to the economy.
So, now here we are, in April of 2006 and the economic news from Zimbabwe is beyond bad - it's nearly incomprehensible. The inflation rate has topped 900%, unemployment is over 70%, an entire generation has never held a job, and the country is on the brink of... what?
Well, we'll find out in the next few weeks. Opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai has proposed mass demonstrations in the next few weeks (no dates have been announced yet, just the intent). While the government is outwardly blowing this off, internal, unnamed sources are saying they're worried.
They should be.
Robert Mugabe deserves the Nicolae Ceausescu treatment more than any world leader not in Burma. And he appears likely to get it.
Stay tuned to this one.
Growing up Jewish in Dallas, I had lots of friends from southern Africa - for whatever reason (similar climate, growing city w/ lots of opportunity, an even sillier local accent than their own?), many South African and Rhodesian Jews relocated to Dallas in the late 70s and through the 80s. Today, quite a few of my kids' schoolmates are 2nd or 3rd generation southern African immigrants, and many of their parents (our contemporaries) retain the distinctive accent and drive for success that characterized the first wave.
So, with that background, I do keep an eye out for news from southern Africa, and have written about the region several times here. While South Africa has had it's share of problems since majority-rule, the overall trend has been mostly positive. Not so in Zimbabwe.
Back when it was called Rhodesia and it was ruled by minority whites, this south-eastern African country was the breadbasket of the continent. Easily able to feed itself and it's neighbors, it was one of the leading exporters of food in the world. Further blessed by abundant natural resources (nothing like the treasure-house next door in South Africa, but better than most countries), Rhodesia was among the most prosperous countries in Africa and, indeed, the entire world.
The news seemed good in 1980 when, in a largely bloodless transition, the country moved to majority rule and changed it's name to Zimbabwe. The business and agricultural environment remained robust and prosperous, and it seemed like the success story would continue.
The wheels have been slow, but steady, in coming off since then. Robert Mugabe, President since 1980, has become more and more radical as time has gone by, foisting ever-more destructive economic and agricultural policies on the country. His disastrous land-reform methods (revocation of whites' right to own land and making most farmland available to any black who could grab it and hold it) were the most visible, but only average in terms of damage caused to the economy.
So, now here we are, in April of 2006 and the economic news from Zimbabwe is beyond bad - it's nearly incomprehensible. The inflation rate has topped 900%, unemployment is over 70%, an entire generation has never held a job, and the country is on the brink of... what?
Well, we'll find out in the next few weeks. Opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai has proposed mass demonstrations in the next few weeks (no dates have been announced yet, just the intent). While the government is outwardly blowing this off, internal, unnamed sources are saying they're worried.
They should be.
Robert Mugabe deserves the Nicolae Ceausescu treatment more than any world leader not in Burma. And he appears likely to get it.
Stay tuned to this one.
Monday, April 10, 2006
Thank God, a decent game for the Rangers
Vicente Padilla got win #2 for both himself and the team yesterday, as the Rangers FINALLY beat the mighty Tigers (huh?) 5-3 in the final game of the season's first homestand.
Brad Wilkerson, who has been swinging (and missing) at everything, delivered one of the VERY few clutch hits produced so far by this team, a two-run double in the sixth. Kenny Rogers (jerk) hung a curve ball and Wilkerson, who's shoulder is still a BIG question mark, smote it but good.
And as for Big Dumb Kenny Rogers, he had nothing to say to the Texas media, shooing them away from his locker but speaking at length to the Tigers' beat reporters. I don't miss that miserable SOB one bit. Even if Kevin Milwood turns out to be the second coming of Chan Ho Park (God forbid), I still won't miss Kenny friggin' Rogers.
It's been as bad a start as one could imagine for the Rangers, but at least the homestand ends on a positive. The Rangers now hit the road, making their first swing through the AL West. Let's see if they can make any hay on this trip, or at least get a few clutch base hits.
Brad Wilkerson, who has been swinging (and missing) at everything, delivered one of the VERY few clutch hits produced so far by this team, a two-run double in the sixth. Kenny Rogers (jerk) hung a curve ball and Wilkerson, who's shoulder is still a BIG question mark, smote it but good.
And as for Big Dumb Kenny Rogers, he had nothing to say to the Texas media, shooing them away from his locker but speaking at length to the Tigers' beat reporters. I don't miss that miserable SOB one bit. Even if Kevin Milwood turns out to be the second coming of Chan Ho Park (God forbid), I still won't miss Kenny friggin' Rogers.
It's been as bad a start as one could imagine for the Rangers, but at least the homestand ends on a positive. The Rangers now hit the road, making their first swing through the AL West. Let's see if they can make any hay on this trip, or at least get a few clutch base hits.
Indonesian Playboy - all publicity is good publicity
Playboy magazine has started publishing a new Indonesian version. This is only surprising when you stop to consider that Indonesia is the world's most-populous Muslim nation.
Tame by Western standards, the magazine is causing the expected furor throughout Indonesia. Since principles like "freedom of the press" and "let the market decide" are completely alien to many in the Muslim world, the Jakarta streets are full of threats, calls for the banning of the magazine, and, no doubt, cries of "Death to America".
And, as for the folk at Playboy - even if the Indonesian edition turns into a failed bit, they've got a few mentions on the news services and a bit of blog-pub (the best kind to have), so they're happy.
Tame by Western standards, the magazine is causing the expected furor throughout Indonesia. Since principles like "freedom of the press" and "let the market decide" are completely alien to many in the Muslim world, the Jakarta streets are full of threats, calls for the banning of the magazine, and, no doubt, cries of "Death to America".
And, as for the folk at Playboy - even if the Indonesian edition turns into a failed bit, they've got a few mentions on the news services and a bit of blog-pub (the best kind to have), so they're happy.
Big surprise: France caves
Staying entirely in-character, the French government has caved in to trade union and student protestors regarding the controversial CPE Employment Contract Law.
Is anyone really surprised by this? The French sense of entitlement is truly a force of nature.
Where does it end for this once-proud, now-third-tier-and-sliding-fast country? A mild attempt to spark the economy and get the nation's youth on payrolls and off the streets has been blocked so completely and so violently that nothing like it will ever be proposed again. What can the government possibly do now, besides continuing to grow the welfare state?
If I were a planner for AQ or any other radical movement that thrives among a disaffected, already-conditioned-to-street-protest-and-violence, near-hopeless population, I'd be pulling up stakes from tired dumps like Somalia and heading for the jihad-ready streets of Paris, baby. Get ready for terms like "Marseilles mullahs", "Liberation Army of Lorraine", "Flanders Fedayeen", and other catchy team names, not to mention a whole new definition of "French Roast". Go git 'em, boys.
Is anyone really surprised by this? The French sense of entitlement is truly a force of nature.
Where does it end for this once-proud, now-third-tier-and-sliding-fast country? A mild attempt to spark the economy and get the nation's youth on payrolls and off the streets has been blocked so completely and so violently that nothing like it will ever be proposed again. What can the government possibly do now, besides continuing to grow the welfare state?
If I were a planner for AQ or any other radical movement that thrives among a disaffected, already-conditioned-to-street-protest-and-violence, near-hopeless population, I'd be pulling up stakes from tired dumps like Somalia and heading for the jihad-ready streets of Paris, baby. Get ready for terms like "Marseilles mullahs", "Liberation Army of Lorraine", "Flanders Fedayeen", and other catchy team names, not to mention a whole new definition of "French Roast". Go git 'em, boys.
Saturday, April 08, 2006
First swim through the rotation - initial reaction is "Uh-oh"
While it's far too early to draw any real conclusions about your 2006 Texas Rangers, the first five games of the season have left me feeling decidedly queasy. While there were a few encouraging signs, the negatives far outweighed the positives and I'm beginning to wonder (again) why this team full of sluggers can't buy a hit with runners in scoring position.
Pitching has been about what we figured. While Milwood got clobbered in his first game as the Rangers' ace, it's not too difficult to remain optimistic about him. Vicente Padilla looked great in his first Rangers' start, and Kam Lowe looked even better. RA Dickey has already been sent down after getting his ass handed to him the other day (a major-league-record-tying SIX home runs allowed), but many of us thought he should have started the season there anyway. Koronka looked OK in his first start, but one suspects the 4 and 5 spots in the rotation will be in flux most of the year, or at least until Eaton gets back.
Defense has been good enough through five games. No glaring problems, nor should there be. Ian Kinsler (Jewish?) got his first error to go along with his first hit and home run, but he should be an upgrade over Soriano. Everyone else is an average or better defensive player. We should expect solid, if unspectacular, defense from this team and, so far, that's what's been delivered.
It's the hitting that has me a bit freaked out at the minute. No one is pounding it, and the team can't buy a clutch hit. I keep hearing, "This team has too much talent. The hitting will come." Haven't we heard this same thing for about 3 years now? WHY can't this team move runners? If they don't homer, they've got nothing. I have been mystified by this for some time and remain so. I am further mystified by the fact that no one really seems to call them out on it.
Like I said - it's way too early to draw long-term conclusions, and it's certainly not time to panic. But it sure is time to start asking some questions.
Pitching has been about what we figured. While Milwood got clobbered in his first game as the Rangers' ace, it's not too difficult to remain optimistic about him. Vicente Padilla looked great in his first Rangers' start, and Kam Lowe looked even better. RA Dickey has already been sent down after getting his ass handed to him the other day (a major-league-record-tying SIX home runs allowed), but many of us thought he should have started the season there anyway. Koronka looked OK in his first start, but one suspects the 4 and 5 spots in the rotation will be in flux most of the year, or at least until Eaton gets back.
Defense has been good enough through five games. No glaring problems, nor should there be. Ian Kinsler (Jewish?) got his first error to go along with his first hit and home run, but he should be an upgrade over Soriano. Everyone else is an average or better defensive player. We should expect solid, if unspectacular, defense from this team and, so far, that's what's been delivered.
It's the hitting that has me a bit freaked out at the minute. No one is pounding it, and the team can't buy a clutch hit. I keep hearing, "This team has too much talent. The hitting will come." Haven't we heard this same thing for about 3 years now? WHY can't this team move runners? If they don't homer, they've got nothing. I have been mystified by this for some time and remain so. I am further mystified by the fact that no one really seems to call them out on it.
Like I said - it's way too early to draw long-term conclusions, and it's certainly not time to panic. But it sure is time to start asking some questions.
Thursday, April 06, 2006
Atomic Age nostalgia
Billing itself as a repository of "All Things Atomic" from "The Golden Age of Homeland Security", Conelrad is wacky stroll down late-1940s through mid-1960s nuclear-threat Memory Lane.
The combination of scare tactics and false reassurance is a study in the duality of man, esp when under the threat of nuclear annihilation. Good times.
If you're old enough to remember those halcyon days of looming destruction, or if you're like me and have only read about them, this site is worth a check-out. It's a chilling, yet sort of comforting, contrast to the Homeland Security scare tactics and false reassurances of today.
The combination of scare tactics and false reassurance is a study in the duality of man, esp when under the threat of nuclear annihilation. Good times.
If you're old enough to remember those halcyon days of looming destruction, or if you're like me and have only read about them, this site is worth a check-out. It's a chilling, yet sort of comforting, contrast to the Homeland Security scare tactics and false reassurances of today.
Wednesday, April 05, 2006
French students and unions are apparently now the government
In a truly unbelievable move, French labor unions and students have told PM Dominique de Villepin and President Jacques Chirac they must repeal the controversial First Job Contract law by April 15. They made no mention of consequences if the demand is not met.
I am stunned by this move. Who do these guys think they are? Surely they know they have forced a showdown with de Villepin. Apparently, the unions think they have enough momentum and support behind them to blatantly challenge the power of the elected government like this.
The really sad part is de Villepin (who's career is over, regardless) will probably cave. One hopes not, as the repercussions for democratically elected governments in general, and for France in particular, could be disastrous. An elected government must represent, and answer to, the people, but this is silly. This is nothing more than extortion. It is absolutely the antithesis of the way a democratic government is supposed to work and is, as the Founding Fathers would say, "tyranny of the majority" in the worst sense.
The equally sad part is this law, or something like it, is desperately needed in France. The French unemployment rate is the highest in Western Europe, and it won't get any better until hiring an employee no longer means the business has to keep paying that employee for life, regardless of his/her performance.
I am stunned by this move. Who do these guys think they are? Surely they know they have forced a showdown with de Villepin. Apparently, the unions think they have enough momentum and support behind them to blatantly challenge the power of the elected government like this.
The really sad part is de Villepin (who's career is over, regardless) will probably cave. One hopes not, as the repercussions for democratically elected governments in general, and for France in particular, could be disastrous. An elected government must represent, and answer to, the people, but this is silly. This is nothing more than extortion. It is absolutely the antithesis of the way a democratic government is supposed to work and is, as the Founding Fathers would say, "tyranny of the majority" in the worst sense.
The equally sad part is this law, or something like it, is desperately needed in France. The French unemployment rate is the highest in Western Europe, and it won't get any better until hiring an employee no longer means the business has to keep paying that employee for life, regardless of his/her performance.
Finding your way around - getting easier, but still a ways to go
Ran across this on Boing Boing today (BTW - if you're not reading Boing Boing every day, what is wrong with you? It is simply the greatest blog in the history of ever.): Loki is a new, location-based Internet search and navigation service, currently in beta.
Loki uses within-range Wi-Fi networks and a database to figure out your current location for you. So, your directions start you out correctly, even if you have no idea where you are.
This is, of course, pure genius. The limitations are still fairly significant - you have to use your laptop (Windows XP only, at the moment) instead of a mobile device, there have to be some hotspots in the vicinity, and the database has to be ultra up-to-date - but this is a great idea.
Where it needs to go, of course, is onto a mobile device (my much-anticipated 30 gb, flash-memory, music-store-agnostic, 3G, Windows Mobile PDA/phone/mp3 player, natch), it needs to keep track of where I am, and it needs to be able to read directions to me out loud, so I don't have to squint at the screen while driving. I'm OK with it delivering location-based advertising, as long as I can mute the sound for that (while leaving the sound up for my directions).
This is in contrast to my current state of affairs: While touring my parents' new, under-construction house in Frisco the other day, I attempted to find directions to the local Romano's Macaroni Grill. It took me five minutes of drill-down on my silly little Cingular WAP phone, and the best I could do was a Yellow Pages lookup of the phone number for the restaurant. Not too impressive.
Loki uses within-range Wi-Fi networks and a database to figure out your current location for you. So, your directions start you out correctly, even if you have no idea where you are.
This is, of course, pure genius. The limitations are still fairly significant - you have to use your laptop (Windows XP only, at the moment) instead of a mobile device, there have to be some hotspots in the vicinity, and the database has to be ultra up-to-date - but this is a great idea.
Where it needs to go, of course, is onto a mobile device (my much-anticipated 30 gb, flash-memory, music-store-agnostic, 3G, Windows Mobile PDA/phone/mp3 player, natch), it needs to keep track of where I am, and it needs to be able to read directions to me out loud, so I don't have to squint at the screen while driving. I'm OK with it delivering location-based advertising, as long as I can mute the sound for that (while leaving the sound up for my directions).
This is in contrast to my current state of affairs: While touring my parents' new, under-construction house in Frisco the other day, I attempted to find directions to the local Romano's Macaroni Grill. It took me five minutes of drill-down on my silly little Cingular WAP phone, and the best I could do was a Yellow Pages lookup of the phone number for the restaurant. Not too impressive.
Ariel Sharon has another surgery
Ariel Sharon (he's still got the Prime Minister title, which sounds more like a cruel joke as time passes) had surgery today to replace part of his skull, which was removed following his massive stroke back in early Jan.
This is terribly sad, and I wonder how much longer it will continue. At this point, there's very little chance that Sharon will recover even a little bit. Why are they still carving him up?
I'm already working on my tribute to Sharon, to be published when he passes. A controversial figure for most of his adult life, he wound up being in the top 5 (arguably in the top 3) most influential Israelis ever. He is missed right now, and will be missed for years to come.
This is terribly sad, and I wonder how much longer it will continue. At this point, there's very little chance that Sharon will recover even a little bit. Why are they still carving him up?
I'm already working on my tribute to Sharon, to be published when he passes. A controversial figure for most of his adult life, he wound up being in the top 5 (arguably in the top 3) most influential Israelis ever. He is missed right now, and will be missed for years to come.
Tuesday, April 04, 2006
Real lawn furniture
I don't know if this is cool or stupid (the line so fine sometimes, isn't it?), but here, from Gizmodo, is the grass armchair.
It's a corrugated cardboard frame that you place on your lawn, pack with soil, and sprinkle grass seed on. Before you know it, you have an immovable chair that is part of your yard.
I do know this: You will drive the person responsible for cutting the grass completely insane with a few of these!
It's a corrugated cardboard frame that you place on your lawn, pack with soil, and sprinkle grass seed on. Before you know it, you have an immovable chair that is part of your yard.
I do know this: You will drive the person responsible for cutting the grass completely insane with a few of these!
The hi-tech way to keep your coffee warm
From our pals at Gizmodo:
Probably not as effective as the little hotplate you've been using to keep your coffee cup warm for the past 10 years, but undoubtedly geekier (and, therefore, sexier), here's a USB cup warmer.
Just wrap the sleeve around your cup, plug it into the USB port on your laptop, and presto! You've got a forever-warm cup of coffee.
I sorta wonder about tethering a cup of scalding hot liquid to your $1,000 laptop via a 50 cm electrical cord, but you'll be the coolest kid in your cube farm.
Probably not as effective as the little hotplate you've been using to keep your coffee cup warm for the past 10 years, but undoubtedly geekier (and, therefore, sexier), here's a USB cup warmer.
Just wrap the sleeve around your cup, plug it into the USB port on your laptop, and presto! You've got a forever-warm cup of coffee.
I sorta wonder about tethering a cup of scalding hot liquid to your $1,000 laptop via a 50 cm electrical cord, but you'll be the coolest kid in your cube farm.
Monday, April 03, 2006
Opening Day - Let's try to be realistic
The Rangers open the regular season against Boston today at 2:00 at The Temple. It's a PERFECT day in old DFW - not a cloud in the sky, temp around 70 or so, not much wind (but probably about Force 8 out from the plate), couldn't be better for the start of what MIGHT be a fun baseball season.One must remember that last year's opening day (which I was lucky enough to attend, in a box no less) was equally glorious. And we all remember how last year worked out. I don't even remember who the Rangers played. I do, however, remember the flyover by the B-52. You don't forget a flyover by a B-52. How does something that huge fly? But I digress...
I'm going to record some thoughts for posterity. We'll look back later in the season and see if any of this matters at all.
First, the opening day line-up, which looks like this:
LF - Brad Wilkerson
SS - Michael Young
1B - Mark Texeira
DH - Phil Nevin
3B - Hank Blalock
RF - Kevin Mench
CF - Laynce Nix
C - Rod Barajas
2B - Ian Kinsler
The addition of Wilkerson ought to be a plus - the guy can work pitchers and get on base.
Young and Tex are solid, with Tex finally starting to find the groove late in spring training, after a disappointing WBC.
Nevin is what, 85 years old? If he can drive his Lark out to the on-deck circle, he should be solid enough.
Blalock will start fast, as always. Check back in Aug for a true assessment of his season.
Mench and his giant melon will be good enough. I have no big hopes for him, but he'll deliver an adequate performance for a #6.
Nix should be in the minors, recovering from his two (!) shoulder surgeries. This is troubling. I have to believe the plan WAS for Dellucci to carry some of the load here, but the pitching problems (more in a moment) forced Jon Daniels' hand. We're going to have to hold our breath on Mr. Nix.
Barajas is what he is. Solid behind the plate and solid, if unspectacular, with the bat.
Kinsler has emerged as hoped. He'll be better in the field than Soriano was (faint praise if ever I've heard it), but there will be a drop-off in offense from 2B. There should be enough from elsewhere to make up for it, but it does bear watching. I still think the subtraction of Soriano's bat will be one of the biggest negatives from the off-season.
Now, the pitching, which is what it all comes down to. The rotation shapes up like this:
Kevin Millwood
Vicente Padilla
Kam Lowe
RA Dickey
John Koronka
Millwood should be the ace we've been looking for since the dawn of history. With some real run support, which he never got in Cleveland, he ought to produce. Anything short will be a surprise. This is an upgrade over Kenny Rogers without question, and cameramen on the Ranger beat are breathing a sigh of relief.
Padilla gave me a warm fuzzy as the #3. We will have to see how he does as #2. He's taking Chris Young's spot, and it's too early to tell if that's a step up.
Kam Lowe should be a #4.
RA Dickey should be in the minors working on the knuckler. If he can master it (and it looks like he will), he can be a solid rotation guy for the Rangers for years to come. The Launching Pad is a lousy place to work out the kinks, however. I hope the Rangers can afford to be patient with him.
Koronka should be in the minors as well.
The Adam Eaton injury has well and truly screwed the Rangers' plans for the rotation. I give Jon Daniels full marks for revamping his pitching staff not once, but twice this off season. Unfortunately, the Rangers are in the same division as the Angels and As, neither of whom have anything like the heartburn the Rangers do in their starting pitching.
The bullpen probably hangs on one guy: Joaquin Benoit. If he can be a competent middle guy, the bullpen sets up nicely with Otsuka handing off to Cordero.
All told, I think we are looking at an upgrade from last year's fiasco. Eaton (hopefully) coming back in July should be a boost just when the team needs it. But, the headline says "realistic", and when you look at the AL West realistically, it's hard to see how the Rangers finish higher than third.
Well, today is the one day of the season when everyone is tied and every team has a chance. So, let's play ball!
Sunday, April 02, 2006
More "Lost" goodies
Geeding, the master of all things "Lost", has provided a couple of mind-blowers from the show. All avowed Losties should drop what they're doing and check these babies out:
1. From Entertainment Weekly, a vidcap and some analysis of the looney black-light map Locke saw on the inside of the blast door in the episode entitled "Lockdown".
2. From thetailsection.com (a fan site, I think), a video which sure looks like another Dharma Initiative training video, ala the "Swan Station" film Desmond bequeathed to Locke early in Season 2. This one has not made it onto the air yet.
Have I mentioned recently that I LOVE THIS SHOW?
By the way, go check out the new and improved Bag of Nothing, and leave a little love for Geeding. The man gets up at a ridiculously early hour every morning, just to provide his public with top-notch entertainment. His stuff should be on your daily reading list. It sure is on mine.
1. From Entertainment Weekly, a vidcap and some analysis of the looney black-light map Locke saw on the inside of the blast door in the episode entitled "Lockdown".
2. From thetailsection.com (a fan site, I think), a video which sure looks like another Dharma Initiative training video, ala the "Swan Station" film Desmond bequeathed to Locke early in Season 2. This one has not made it onto the air yet.
Have I mentioned recently that I LOVE THIS SHOW?
By the way, go check out the new and improved Bag of Nothing, and leave a little love for Geeding. The man gets up at a ridiculously early hour every morning, just to provide his public with top-notch entertainment. His stuff should be on your daily reading list. It sure is on mine.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)