I can't place my finger on it, but I'm mildly disgruntled with the ovation given to Roger Clemens today at Fenway in what may be his last appearance at the park. I'm not one of the many irrational Clemens haters, though part of me is convinced he purposely tanked the end of his Sox career to get out of Boston (though he may very well have been reacting to the writing on the wall).
Maybe it's just the result of another loss down the stretch to the Yanks. Whatever.
In a completely unrelated note, it's looking like tough times in Pullman. Washington State lost to Idaho yesterday. I could go on at length here about BU's loss to Idaho in the 1993 NCAA 1AA playoffs, but I won't. It's enough that on the same day I wrote at length about BU football my brother gave all four of my nephews Boston College hats. Bastard.
31 August 2003
30 August 2003
A couple of points relative to the previous post.
First, BU could clearly have done all the things they did to support womens' athletics and improve facilities while maintaining a football team of some sort. As I noted previously, you can take all the reasons I gave, probably come up with some of your own, and find a trustee or administrator who would offer it if asked to explain things.
Second, I think the thing that still gets me irked about this whole thing is the circular logic relative to the lack of fan support. You can probably guess how hard the administration worked to improve the team's viability, and how many of them showed up to games. Throw in some of the marketing geniuses who couldn't promote grass skirts to hula dancers, and you begin to see how it works. It's easy to can a team when you've helped create the situation you've used to justify the canning.
I would be remiss to not note the one group that's apparently out there fighting for the return of football to BU. BTUFF, Boston Terriers United for Football, formed not long after the announcement to fight for the team. If you spend some time poking around their website, you can get an idea of how much sucess they've had (consider that the PDF newsletter was originally written in 1999 - was PDF even around then?).
BTUFF's main accomplishment, to me at least, was the hiring of a plane to fly over commencement every year with a banner related to bringing football back. Having not been to commencement recently, I don't know if they still do that.
You see an old and tattered BTUFF sweatshirt at hockey games now and again, but that's about it. It's safe to say that the group hasn't captured the hearts and minds of BU Nation. Whether it's a genuine lack of interest in the team or the socialist newspaper approach of the newsletter is hard to say. Publishing the high salaries of the oppressors isn't going to get the proles to wave the red flags and man the barricades, especially for football.
I hope they'll renew their initiative with the new president, but in a less strident way. It's a good time to talk about the positive benefits of a football team, not screech about the pay levels of the past. Especially if/when Goldin cleans house.
First, BU could clearly have done all the things they did to support womens' athletics and improve facilities while maintaining a football team of some sort. As I noted previously, you can take all the reasons I gave, probably come up with some of your own, and find a trustee or administrator who would offer it if asked to explain things.
Second, I think the thing that still gets me irked about this whole thing is the circular logic relative to the lack of fan support. You can probably guess how hard the administration worked to improve the team's viability, and how many of them showed up to games. Throw in some of the marketing geniuses who couldn't promote grass skirts to hula dancers, and you begin to see how it works. It's easy to can a team when you've helped create the situation you've used to justify the canning.
I would be remiss to not note the one group that's apparently out there fighting for the return of football to BU. BTUFF, Boston Terriers United for Football, formed not long after the announcement to fight for the team. If you spend some time poking around their website, you can get an idea of how much sucess they've had (consider that the PDF newsletter was originally written in 1999 - was PDF even around then?).
BTUFF's main accomplishment, to me at least, was the hiring of a plane to fly over commencement every year with a banner related to bringing football back. Having not been to commencement recently, I don't know if they still do that.
You see an old and tattered BTUFF sweatshirt at hockey games now and again, but that's about it. It's safe to say that the group hasn't captured the hearts and minds of BU Nation. Whether it's a genuine lack of interest in the team or the socialist newspaper approach of the newsletter is hard to say. Publishing the high salaries of the oppressors isn't going to get the proles to wave the red flags and man the barricades, especially for football.
I hope they'll renew their initiative with the new president, but in a less strident way. It's a good time to talk about the positive benefits of a football team, not screech about the pay levels of the past. Especially if/when Goldin cleans house.
While I've not gotten to watch too much college football today (I've got Colorado-Colorado St. going, with some check-ins on USC-Auburn and Ohio St.-Washington), among the scores that stood out (not sure which I like better - Cal 34, Southern Miss. 2 or what is currently Kansas State 34, Troy St. 5) was this one:
UConn 34, Indiana 10
The shock is not that Indiana lost. They are rarely good. It's more that UConn throttled them, took their nouveau D1 act to the Hoosiers. Not a bad way to open your new home, either.
What was really striking, though, was that while 2003 marks a new beginning for the UConn program, it simply marks the sixth football season to start without a BU program. For those of you who missed it (and, sad to say, many of you who read this regularly didn't), Boston University, my alma mater, dropped its football program at the end of the 1997 season. At the time, BU and UConn played in the same conference.
So why did BU drop their program? There are many reasons. The team lost millions every year. Low attendance. The threat of a Title IX lawsuit. Poor on-field performance. The traditional reverence for the hockey team. It all played a part.
John Silber was interested in canning the team when he got to BU in '73, and to be honest I'm surprised it took over 30 years for him to get the job done. It apparently takes a long time to pack a board of trustees.
Will a new president make a difference? Goldin is forging change among the upper administration, but if it's the same group of trustees what are the odds they'll relent? He's also got a reputation as a cost-cutter, which makes putting a money loser back in the budget seem very unlikely.
Which all means that I get to sit at home writing about this while fans in Storrs toast their victory. It's not even that I want BU to compete at that level. I'd be very happy with any team, be it in the Atlantic 10, the MAAC, Northeast, or independent. Non-scholarship would be fine, too. Anything so I can go to Nickerson Field 4 to 6 times a year, see friends, celebrate victory and lament losses.
Is that too much to ask?
UConn 34, Indiana 10
The shock is not that Indiana lost. They are rarely good. It's more that UConn throttled them, took their nouveau D1 act to the Hoosiers. Not a bad way to open your new home, either.
What was really striking, though, was that while 2003 marks a new beginning for the UConn program, it simply marks the sixth football season to start without a BU program. For those of you who missed it (and, sad to say, many of you who read this regularly didn't), Boston University, my alma mater, dropped its football program at the end of the 1997 season. At the time, BU and UConn played in the same conference.
So why did BU drop their program? There are many reasons. The team lost millions every year. Low attendance. The threat of a Title IX lawsuit. Poor on-field performance. The traditional reverence for the hockey team. It all played a part.
John Silber was interested in canning the team when he got to BU in '73, and to be honest I'm surprised it took over 30 years for him to get the job done. It apparently takes a long time to pack a board of trustees.
Will a new president make a difference? Goldin is forging change among the upper administration, but if it's the same group of trustees what are the odds they'll relent? He's also got a reputation as a cost-cutter, which makes putting a money loser back in the budget seem very unlikely.
Which all means that I get to sit at home writing about this while fans in Storrs toast their victory. It's not even that I want BU to compete at that level. I'd be very happy with any team, be it in the Atlantic 10, the MAAC, Northeast, or independent. Non-scholarship would be fine, too. Anything so I can go to Nickerson Field 4 to 6 times a year, see friends, celebrate victory and lament losses.
Is that too much to ask?
Apparently, since a video clip of Kevin Millar lip-synching "Born in the USA" debuted last week at Fenway, the Sox have won six of their last seven games. Perhaps the only person who needed to cowboy up was Millar himself?
Speaking of which, the Sox were on the Sunday night ESPN game not long after Millar's "cowboy up" comment, and neither Jon Miller nor Joe Morgan knew what he was talking about. Millar claims it's a Texas expression. My experience with Texas is limited to my dad's formative years, and he never used the term. Perhaps it's the Lone Star State version of steamed hams.
My only comment on the VMA kissing thing is that I can't understand the hoopla. Didn't we figure out some time ago that Madonna will kiss, rub, grind, hump, mount, grope, lubricate, lick, insert, rotate, suck, and/or tie up anyone to get attention? The Britney thing is an angle, but given the story that Boggie linked to a while back regarding Britney's fascination with lesbian porn I can't say I'm surprised with Britney's involvement, either. Remember, she told us herself that she's not that innocent.
Speaking of which, the Sox were on the Sunday night ESPN game not long after Millar's "cowboy up" comment, and neither Jon Miller nor Joe Morgan knew what he was talking about. Millar claims it's a Texas expression. My experience with Texas is limited to my dad's formative years, and he never used the term. Perhaps it's the Lone Star State version of steamed hams.
My only comment on the VMA kissing thing is that I can't understand the hoopla. Didn't we figure out some time ago that Madonna will kiss, rub, grind, hump, mount, grope, lubricate, lick, insert, rotate, suck, and/or tie up anyone to get attention? The Britney thing is an angle, but given the story that Boggie linked to a while back regarding Britney's fascination with lesbian porn I can't say I'm surprised with Britney's involvement, either. Remember, she told us herself that she's not that innocent.
28 August 2003
Another sign that training is taking its toll: we actually started a week from today, not yesterday as I said in that entry. I'm surprised I was only off by one day, to be honest.
And even though I was able to correct that mistake, I am still having trouble keeping straight what day it is. I've alternately thought that today was Wednesday or Friday (as well as actually knowing what day it is). You'd think I could tell the day by what training session I'm doing, but not so. I know the order of the sessions, but it's like I'm having them on Day 1, Day 2, and Day 3 rather than days with actual names.
I will say that during this week I've gained tremendous respect for those people in my field who are older and have families. I'm not that old (in the grand scheme of things) and am just starting on the family road, and I feel like I'm behind where I used to be when I was young and single. I did have a couple of years where training was over while there was still some sunlight, so it could just be trouble re-adjusting to the longer schedule.
And even though I was able to correct that mistake, I am still having trouble keeping straight what day it is. I've alternately thought that today was Wednesday or Friday (as well as actually knowing what day it is). You'd think I could tell the day by what training session I'm doing, but not so. I know the order of the sessions, but it's like I'm having them on Day 1, Day 2, and Day 3 rather than days with actual names.
I will say that during this week I've gained tremendous respect for those people in my field who are older and have families. I'm not that old (in the grand scheme of things) and am just starting on the family road, and I feel like I'm behind where I used to be when I was young and single. I did have a couple of years where training was over while there was still some sunlight, so it could just be trouble re-adjusting to the longer schedule.
27 August 2003
As some of you know, we're currently in the middle of RA training at Babson, which accounts for why I've been keeping things short or missing a day. With a new boss, this year's training is significantly different as the new boss is doing what she's used to doing. We're going later than usual, which is taxing, but the evening stuff is generally not that bad. Lots of game-related stuff, which keeps it light. However, if you ever try to adapt Jeopardy! for training purposes with, say, about 38 business undergrad students, be sure that the rules are really, really clear.
It makes me worry for my Family Feud-inspired alcohol education game that's coming Friday (though I wound up writing rules right after the Jeopardy! incident, where every other rule is related to the game being an educational experience and not something that should engender yelling).
Otherwise, it's RA training. We're about a week in (actually, if my computer's clock is accurate, we're a week, 2 hours and 6 minutes in), so it's just getting to the point where everyone is tired and ready for the big move-in day. That's Sunday here at Babson. Let's keep our fingers crossed for weather like last year - moderate temps, overcast, light but steady rain. It makes people keep their mind on their business and cuts down on the lollygagging.
The other thing with RA training is that it kind of cuts you off from the world, so even though there are all sorts of interesting things going on out there, I don't have much to say. I am happy that the Sox swept the Mariners. I am not so happy that they gave up 12 runs to the Jays last night, though I didn't see the carnage, just the end.
Oh, and I got a digital camera! I wound up getting the Canon PowerShot A70, which was a decent comprimise between the one I wanted (the Canon PowerShot S45) and how much debt I wanted to accrue. My first picture: a shot of the beach at Hampton Beach, where we took the RAs for a day away yesterday. I've taken about 20 pictures, and the batteries already need replacing. I suppose I shouldn't have expected much from the set included in the box.
It makes me worry for my Family Feud-inspired alcohol education game that's coming Friday (though I wound up writing rules right after the Jeopardy! incident, where every other rule is related to the game being an educational experience and not something that should engender yelling).
Otherwise, it's RA training. We're about a week in (actually, if my computer's clock is accurate, we're a week, 2 hours and 6 minutes in), so it's just getting to the point where everyone is tired and ready for the big move-in day. That's Sunday here at Babson. Let's keep our fingers crossed for weather like last year - moderate temps, overcast, light but steady rain. It makes people keep their mind on their business and cuts down on the lollygagging.
The other thing with RA training is that it kind of cuts you off from the world, so even though there are all sorts of interesting things going on out there, I don't have much to say. I am happy that the Sox swept the Mariners. I am not so happy that they gave up 12 runs to the Jays last night, though I didn't see the carnage, just the end.
Oh, and I got a digital camera! I wound up getting the Canon PowerShot A70, which was a decent comprimise between the one I wanted (the Canon PowerShot S45) and how much debt I wanted to accrue. My first picture: a shot of the beach at Hampton Beach, where we took the RAs for a day away yesterday. I've taken about 20 pictures, and the batteries already need replacing. I suppose I shouldn't have expected much from the set included in the box.
26 August 2003
A quick hit regarding one of the Blogalicious family of affiliated bloggers. Scott Monty and his wife Mindi have welcomed a new member to their family unit.
William Scott Monty III (here on out known as Will) came into the world this morning after putting his mom through quite the labor experience. I'll save the rest for the proud papa to recount. Not sure when he'll get back to it; you may just want to pop over and send a hearty congrats.
William Scott Monty III (here on out known as Will) came into the world this morning after putting his mom through quite the labor experience. I'll save the rest for the proud papa to recount. Not sure when he'll get back to it; you may just want to pop over and send a hearty congrats.
25 August 2003
As you may have read, indie/outsider music sensation Wesley Willis passed away recently. If you get your news from Yahoo, you found out about his death on August 21 today. Not sure why it took them four days to let us know about this.
In any case, one hopes that Willis is in a better place, wuppin' Batman's ass.
In any case, one hopes that Willis is in a better place, wuppin' Batman's ass.
While the story I read today about US troops using confiscated AK-47s as personal weapons in Iraq had more to do with the way some troops are outfitted and fighting outside of their normal parameters (such as tankers having to fight guerilla actions outside of their heavily armored rides using a couple of rifles and pistols), it did remind me of earlier problem with the M16.
While I'm hardly knowledgeable enough to weigh in on the AK v. M16 debate, I do have to say that the utilitarian (and sturdy) nature of the AK is impressive.
While I'm hardly knowledgeable enough to weigh in on the AK v. M16 debate, I do have to say that the utilitarian (and sturdy) nature of the AK is impressive.
Final LLWS Update: Saugus lost the third place game to the team from the Netherlands Antilles. Hensley Meulens would be proud.
Both JQ and Dwight talk about some important pre-season injuries in the NFL (and I join Dwight's fraught watch on the Eagles, which is especially concerning given that my fantasy team's success will fairly well mirror that team's actual success).
JQ marvels at the gall of charging full-price to mostly watch guys you last saw at the Kelly Tire Blue-Grey Game, but seems more at peace with doing so that I would be.
I tend to think the exhibition season is too long. The CFL gives each team 2 games, which should be fine for the NFL as well. Given the off-season conditioning and the in-camp scrimmages against other teams, how many practice games to teams really need to get into playing shape? I know, it's about the money, but do you think that the injuries to Vick and Pennington are really going to help the bottom line?
I know that fewer games would also cut into the NFL's drive to become the One Great American Sport. Then again, without those young stars, Tag and the boys won't be able to make their takeover complete (then again again, if they're still available as players on the latest version of Madden, many football fans [or "fans"] won't care if they're playing in real life).
(CFL aside: the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, four years removed from winning the Grey Cup, are 0-10. Please send your condolences to Mike Burger at...)
Both JQ and Dwight talk about some important pre-season injuries in the NFL (and I join Dwight's fraught watch on the Eagles, which is especially concerning given that my fantasy team's success will fairly well mirror that team's actual success).
JQ marvels at the gall of charging full-price to mostly watch guys you last saw at the Kelly Tire Blue-Grey Game, but seems more at peace with doing so that I would be.
I tend to think the exhibition season is too long. The CFL gives each team 2 games, which should be fine for the NFL as well. Given the off-season conditioning and the in-camp scrimmages against other teams, how many practice games to teams really need to get into playing shape? I know, it's about the money, but do you think that the injuries to Vick and Pennington are really going to help the bottom line?
I know that fewer games would also cut into the NFL's drive to become the One Great American Sport. Then again, without those young stars, Tag and the boys won't be able to make their takeover complete (then again again, if they're still available as players on the latest version of Madden, many football fans [or "fans"] won't care if they're playing in real life).
(CFL aside: the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, four years removed from winning the Grey Cup, are 0-10. Please send your condolences to Mike Burger at...)
24 August 2003
Well, the Saugus kids didn't fare so well in the rematch with Boynton Beach, Florida, losing something like 9-2. They couldn't get much started by way of offense, and a couple of late home runs by the Floridians put it out of reach. Still, a nice run for the locals. The Florida team will face the team from Japan for all the marbles this evening.
On a different level of baseball, I got an interesting email from the North Shore Spirit, a Northeast League team that plays in Lynn. They've made the post-season by winning the first half of the season, and as part of touting this they included this verbal bon-bon:
"The entire North Shore Spirit organization is getting ready for the first-ever
Spirit playoffs at the New Fraser Field. Remember to mark your calendars for
September 3rd and 4th at 7p.m. At least you can count on one team in
Massachusetts to be in the playoffs this season!"
Considering they probably couldn't beat the Sarasota Red Sox, never mind actual major league competition, they may want to tone the rhetoric down a notch.
On a different level of baseball, I got an interesting email from the North Shore Spirit, a Northeast League team that plays in Lynn. They've made the post-season by winning the first half of the season, and as part of touting this they included this verbal bon-bon:
"The entire North Shore Spirit organization is getting ready for the first-ever
Spirit playoffs at the New Fraser Field. Remember to mark your calendars for
September 3rd and 4th at 7p.m. At least you can count on one team in
Massachusetts to be in the playoffs this season!"
Considering they probably couldn't beat the Sarasota Red Sox, never mind actual major league competition, they may want to tone the rhetoric down a notch.
23 August 2003
Between RA training and a network problem here, I didn't know if I'd get on this weekend at all. Now that I have, time to address serious business.
ESPN Pigskin Pick 'Em
Group Name: Dan Klecko Fan Club
Password: kraft
While I didn't have the sort of Dan Klecko experience that led me to draft him for fantasy football purposes, it was nice to see him have some good pre-season work. He also fills the bill for our pre-season Patriots crush, that time when a player, probably someone who won't start much, catches our attention and spurs our imagination.
Rohan Davie got a taste of that when he joined the club, and Michael Bishop made his mark as well, but the best case of it was in 1990 when Michael Proctor (the Murray State QB, not the Alabama kicker) had a whale of a camp but didn't quite catch on, getting cut. Which left us with the likes of Tommy Hodson (who was "considered to have a bright future," ha ha) and Marc Wilson. Things got worse with the Year of the Five Quarterbacks before Drew Bledsoe showed up and helped straighten things out.
Proctor wound up in the WLAF's Montreal Machine, spent some time in Cleveland's camp, made the Steelers practice squad in 1992, signed with the Saskatchewan Rough Riders in '93, Arena's Charlotte Rage from '94 to '96, and then just kind of disappears (not unlike the Rage themselves).
More than you wanted to know about Proctor, I'm sure, but I'm in a football frame of mind.
ESPN Pigskin Pick 'Em
Group Name: Dan Klecko Fan Club
Password: kraft
While I didn't have the sort of Dan Klecko experience that led me to draft him for fantasy football purposes, it was nice to see him have some good pre-season work. He also fills the bill for our pre-season Patriots crush, that time when a player, probably someone who won't start much, catches our attention and spurs our imagination.
Rohan Davie got a taste of that when he joined the club, and Michael Bishop made his mark as well, but the best case of it was in 1990 when Michael Proctor (the Murray State QB, not the Alabama kicker) had a whale of a camp but didn't quite catch on, getting cut. Which left us with the likes of Tommy Hodson (who was "considered to have a bright future," ha ha) and Marc Wilson. Things got worse with the Year of the Five Quarterbacks before Drew Bledsoe showed up and helped straighten things out.
Proctor wound up in the WLAF's Montreal Machine, spent some time in Cleveland's camp, made the Steelers practice squad in 1992, signed with the Saskatchewan Rough Riders in '93, Arena's Charlotte Rage from '94 to '96, and then just kind of disappears (not unlike the Rage themselves).
More than you wanted to know about Proctor, I'm sure, but I'm in a football frame of mind.
21 August 2003
I only caught the last inning or so of tonight's LLWS game between Saugus and Richmond, Texas, but it was pretty much a full game's worth of baseball.
Saugus took a 10-4 lead into the sixth, but gave up six runs for the tie. Richmond took a 13-10 lead, powered by a 2 run homer. Most of those 9 runs came with two outs.
But, as this game proved, no lead was safe. Saugus did the unlikely, putting together a series of hits and walks that, when crowned with a slow roller down the third base line that the Richmond third baseman couldn't get to first in time, resulted in a 14-13 Saugus win.
Saugus will now get a rematch with Boynton Beach, Florida on Saturday. Should be interesting, as I think both teams will get to use their top pitchers. Game time is 7:30 pm EDT on your ABC affilliate.
Saugus took a 10-4 lead into the sixth, but gave up six runs for the tie. Richmond took a 13-10 lead, powered by a 2 run homer. Most of those 9 runs came with two outs.
But, as this game proved, no lead was safe. Saugus did the unlikely, putting together a series of hits and walks that, when crowned with a slow roller down the third base line that the Richmond third baseman couldn't get to first in time, resulted in a 14-13 Saugus win.
Saugus will now get a rematch with Boynton Beach, Florida on Saturday. Should be interesting, as I think both teams will get to use their top pitchers. Game time is 7:30 pm EDT on your ABC affilliate.
Moving on to a fall sport, I've set up a group for the 2003 College Pick 'Em at ESPN.com
Group Name: Witty Group Name
password: bcs
Group Name: Witty Group Name
password: bcs
Kevin Millar became the latest in the string of new arrivals to Boston who plead for support when the team enters one of its late-season swoons.
To quote the Globe story:
"I want to see somebody cowboy up and stand behind this team one time and quit worrying about all the negative stuff and talking about last year's team and 10 years ago and 1986," he said. "I don't know any better, man. I'm here to win and have fun. [The past] makes zero sense to me."
A couple of things come to mind:
1. Cowboy up? What the hell does that mean?
2. I appreciate his can-do attitude, but perhaps he should consider that the past makes more than zero sense to people who've lived through the collapses he's discounted. Millar's statement that it's a "new team" forgets the six or seven previous decades of interesting ends of seasons.
(I will note here that I know we've got it pretty good with the Sox. I look at this as more of an internal matter than trying to get, say, Tigers fans to have pity. I think we all know it could be much, much worse.)
Part of the problem (probably most of the problem) is that Millar based his comments on remarks made by local media and the people who call in to sports radio. Perhaps not the most stable or unbiased group of people to identify as the representatives of Red Sox Nation.
Millar, for his part, did go 2 for 6 last night, leaving 4 stranded out of the 17 left on base overall.
I will say that the performance of in-year acquisitions (most notably Jeff Suppan's return to his previous Sox form) will surely bring the Theo doubters out.
For positive baseball talk, let's all think happy thoughts about the Saugus Little Leaguers, who will take on Richmond, Texas tonight for the right to face Boynton Beach, Florida for the US berth in the finals. Saugus beat the Floridians in pool play, but they did not have to face Michael Broad, their ace who one-hit the Arizona team that muscled its way through the other US pool. My guess is that he'll be ready to go on Saturday.
To quote the Globe story:
"I want to see somebody cowboy up and stand behind this team one time and quit worrying about all the negative stuff and talking about last year's team and 10 years ago and 1986," he said. "I don't know any better, man. I'm here to win and have fun. [The past] makes zero sense to me."
A couple of things come to mind:
1. Cowboy up? What the hell does that mean?
2. I appreciate his can-do attitude, but perhaps he should consider that the past makes more than zero sense to people who've lived through the collapses he's discounted. Millar's statement that it's a "new team" forgets the six or seven previous decades of interesting ends of seasons.
(I will note here that I know we've got it pretty good with the Sox. I look at this as more of an internal matter than trying to get, say, Tigers fans to have pity. I think we all know it could be much, much worse.)
Part of the problem (probably most of the problem) is that Millar based his comments on remarks made by local media and the people who call in to sports radio. Perhaps not the most stable or unbiased group of people to identify as the representatives of Red Sox Nation.
Millar, for his part, did go 2 for 6 last night, leaving 4 stranded out of the 17 left on base overall.
I will say that the performance of in-year acquisitions (most notably Jeff Suppan's return to his previous Sox form) will surely bring the Theo doubters out.
For positive baseball talk, let's all think happy thoughts about the Saugus Little Leaguers, who will take on Richmond, Texas tonight for the right to face Boynton Beach, Florida for the US berth in the finals. Saugus beat the Floridians in pool play, but they did not have to face Michael Broad, their ace who one-hit the Arizona team that muscled its way through the other US pool. My guess is that he'll be ready to go on Saturday.
19 August 2003
Bridezilla aspects aside, I just have to say there is nothing more classy than a bride all tatted up for her wedding day.
(I should note that this post is dripping in sarcasm, just in case certain people think that visible tattoos would enchace my wedding day. They would NOT.)
(I should note that this post is dripping in sarcasm, just in case certain people think that visible tattoos would enchace my wedding day. They would NOT.)
LLWS Update After posting 3 runs in the top of the first inning, Saugus held on to best Boynton Beach, Florida 4-3 in the final game of their pool play. Saugus thus wins the pool and will play the second place team from the other US pool next (the winner of today's game between Richmond, Texas and Wilmington, Delaware).
I can happily report that the team from Guam pushed three runs across the plate in their game against Mexico. Unfortunately for the Guamanians, the Mexican team scored 10.
Fantasy Football Update Both the Bruce and Jon Couture have given relatively detailed breakdowns of their respective teams in the league that I run. I will spare you the same, other than to say that I think this is the third or fourth year in a row that Corey Dillon is a featured back on my team. Let the fraught watch commence, though I should be more concerned that I also managed to draft a back who may be on the way out (Antowain Smith, though Kevin Faulk is no prize, either) and one who may be on the way to prison (Michael Pittman, who is involved in a case of aggravated assault).
I have bought heavily into the Philadelphia Eagles passing game, owning Donovan McNabb, James Thrash, and Todd Pinkston.
Not much to say about the others, really.
In fauna news there's a fox hanging around campus, looks like a juvenile who's been separated from its parents. It's fairly small and kind of emaciated, probably from not being fully up to speed on hunting down food. This led to some discussion about what exactly foxes eat. There being no WhatBadgersEat.com for foxes, I had to do some digging, but discovered that they do favor small mammals, eggs, fruit, and birds. We've got plenty of squirrels for the fox, though I fear for the bunny friend who Sarah and I see occasionally by where we park.
That's about it for now. I really should get back to the parts of RA training that I'm responsible for, but I've got a major league case of apathy I'm working through. We'll see how it goes.
I can happily report that the team from Guam pushed three runs across the plate in their game against Mexico. Unfortunately for the Guamanians, the Mexican team scored 10.
Fantasy Football Update Both the Bruce and Jon Couture have given relatively detailed breakdowns of their respective teams in the league that I run. I will spare you the same, other than to say that I think this is the third or fourth year in a row that Corey Dillon is a featured back on my team. Let the fraught watch commence, though I should be more concerned that I also managed to draft a back who may be on the way out (Antowain Smith, though Kevin Faulk is no prize, either) and one who may be on the way to prison (Michael Pittman, who is involved in a case of aggravated assault).
I have bought heavily into the Philadelphia Eagles passing game, owning Donovan McNabb, James Thrash, and Todd Pinkston.
Not much to say about the others, really.
In fauna news there's a fox hanging around campus, looks like a juvenile who's been separated from its parents. It's fairly small and kind of emaciated, probably from not being fully up to speed on hunting down food. This led to some discussion about what exactly foxes eat. There being no WhatBadgersEat.com for foxes, I had to do some digging, but discovered that they do favor small mammals, eggs, fruit, and birds. We've got plenty of squirrels for the fox, though I fear for the bunny friend who Sarah and I see occasionally by where we park.
That's about it for now. I really should get back to the parts of RA training that I'm responsible for, but I've got a major league case of apathy I'm working through. We'll see how it goes.
18 August 2003
On the little league front, the boys from Saugus punched their ticket for the next round by defeating Richland, Washington 2-1. It was a pretty exciting game, given that, had the breaks gone their way, Saugus could have scored 6 or 7 runs. However, the most important breaks went their way in the perilous bottom of the sixth, the inning where they gave up their run and had opposing baserunners on second and third.
The Saugusians will round out pool play against Boynton Beach, Florida today. This will determine who wins the group, as both teams are undefeated.
A related shout-out to the team from Guam, who will round out pool play against the team from Mexico today. Guam has been shut out twice, so here's hoping they can break the streak.
I was also a little confused about the meaning of "Transatlantic" for the region that Dhahran, Saudi Arabia qualified from, until I saw some of the other locations and saw that they all have some sort of military connection (I suppose Saudi can have oil connections as well).
In unrelated sports news, our fantasy football draft last night was held captive by technology for most of the evening, as the unreliability of Yahoo Chat and a wonky DSL connection led to some delays, though the large percentage of live drafters helped keep things moving. I got to draft 11th out of 12, which when added to the computer problems and working proxies for two other owners, resulted in what feels like a very sub-par draft. Oh well.
The Saugusians will round out pool play against Boynton Beach, Florida today. This will determine who wins the group, as both teams are undefeated.
A related shout-out to the team from Guam, who will round out pool play against the team from Mexico today. Guam has been shut out twice, so here's hoping they can break the streak.
I was also a little confused about the meaning of "Transatlantic" for the region that Dhahran, Saudi Arabia qualified from, until I saw some of the other locations and saw that they all have some sort of military connection (I suppose Saudi can have oil connections as well).
In unrelated sports news, our fantasy football draft last night was held captive by technology for most of the evening, as the unreliability of Yahoo Chat and a wonky DSL connection led to some delays, though the large percentage of live drafters helped keep things moving. I got to draft 11th out of 12, which when added to the computer problems and working proxies for two other owners, resulted in what feels like a very sub-par draft. Oh well.
17 August 2003
Yesterday was one of the big fun pre-wedding days, as Sarah had her bridal shower. I am happy to report that she was taken completely by surprise, her bedrock faith in that it woulnd't happen until her aunt got here from Britain blocking out the various and sundry inconsistencies that would have gotten her to figure it out.
Interestingly, most of the presents were kitchen-themed. Considering that I do the bulk of the cooking, it's like she got the party and I got the presents. I also got some late birthday gifts, so it was doubly fun for me, especially as I was able to stay in the apartment and watch baseball while the thing was going on.
For those of you who are readers and were in the know, thanks for not spilling the beans! I know Sarah was working over some of her co-workers pretty hard.
Interestingly, most of the presents were kitchen-themed. Considering that I do the bulk of the cooking, it's like she got the party and I got the presents. I also got some late birthday gifts, so it was doubly fun for me, especially as I was able to stay in the apartment and watch baseball while the thing was going on.
For those of you who are readers and were in the know, thanks for not spilling the beans! I know Sarah was working over some of her co-workers pretty hard.
16 August 2003
I was just looking at a story about a poll for the California recall, and while the tight race between Cruz Bustamente and Ahnud isn't that surprising, what did stand out was the 5 percent of respondents who said they didn't back any candidate.
There are, what, 135 names on the ballot? And five percent of Californians can't find one of them to support? What do they do when there are only a single-digit number of candidate? Stay home, I suppose.
There are, what, 135 names on the ballot? And five percent of Californians can't find one of them to support? What do they do when there are only a single-digit number of candidate? Stay home, I suppose.
So while the Sox appear to be having their typical August swoon, there is one good baseball story coming out of the Boston area at present.
A team from Saugus, a town known far and wide for such roadside attractions as the 30 foot cactus outside of the Hilltop Steak House and the orange dinosaur gracing its miniature golf course, is currently 1-0 in pool play at the Little League World Series. They bested a team from Tallmadge, Ohio 2-1 yesterday, and will take on Richland, Washington on Sunday. Go team!
A team from Saugus, a town known far and wide for such roadside attractions as the 30 foot cactus outside of the Hilltop Steak House and the orange dinosaur gracing its miniature golf course, is currently 1-0 in pool play at the Little League World Series. They bested a team from Tallmadge, Ohio 2-1 yesterday, and will take on Richland, Washington on Sunday. Go team!
15 August 2003
I've developed a love-hate relationship with getting my hair cut. I love the time where I don't have to worry about it, and hate having to go.
I'm not sure why this is. Could it be that I'm angry with the inverse relationship between the price and the amount of hair I have left to cut? Is it that the barber chairs seem to be getting incrementally smaller? Or perhaps it's the growing insistance by the person doing the cutting to introduce some sort of "product" into my hair that, in an earlier time, was used to dope the canvas that covered airplaine fuselages?
There are moments when I think it's due to the increasingly impersonal relationship I have with barbers. During my formative years, my mother (who went to hairdressing school, though by the time I knew her she'd left the trade) would cut my hair. Round about junior high I was transitioned to the local barber shop, where I would have my hair cut for well nigh the next decade by a chummy group of locals. I eventually moved on to a barber shop on the BU campus, where the barbers change more frequently.
The counter-argument here is that I really don't care for chatter. I've never cottoned to the "some weather we're having" school of customer interaction. Even at home, where topics were more familiar and there was an actual relationship between me and the barber, I tended towards a parsimony of words.
It could be my general disdain for grooming. OK, that doesn't sound right. What I mean to say is that I'm not the sort of person who luxuriates in a hot bath or packs mud onto my face. I take a quick shower, shave every other day, use the appropriate anti-stink products, and that's about it.
I also seem skittish about the whole payment thing, as I feel a little awkward handing the barber a wad of bills. I'd be much happier if it was handled like a restaurant, with a little portfolio for the bill. Heck, I don't even think my current place takes credit cards.
Changing barber shops was something I tried some time ago, but found that I was subjected to even more chatter and even more pushing of "product" than at my relatively old-school establishment.
Something tells me I won't be happy until I can shave myself bald or lose that last shed of self-respect and scour eBay for a Flowbee.
I'm not sure why this is. Could it be that I'm angry with the inverse relationship between the price and the amount of hair I have left to cut? Is it that the barber chairs seem to be getting incrementally smaller? Or perhaps it's the growing insistance by the person doing the cutting to introduce some sort of "product" into my hair that, in an earlier time, was used to dope the canvas that covered airplaine fuselages?
There are moments when I think it's due to the increasingly impersonal relationship I have with barbers. During my formative years, my mother (who went to hairdressing school, though by the time I knew her she'd left the trade) would cut my hair. Round about junior high I was transitioned to the local barber shop, where I would have my hair cut for well nigh the next decade by a chummy group of locals. I eventually moved on to a barber shop on the BU campus, where the barbers change more frequently.
The counter-argument here is that I really don't care for chatter. I've never cottoned to the "some weather we're having" school of customer interaction. Even at home, where topics were more familiar and there was an actual relationship between me and the barber, I tended towards a parsimony of words.
It could be my general disdain for grooming. OK, that doesn't sound right. What I mean to say is that I'm not the sort of person who luxuriates in a hot bath or packs mud onto my face. I take a quick shower, shave every other day, use the appropriate anti-stink products, and that's about it.
I also seem skittish about the whole payment thing, as I feel a little awkward handing the barber a wad of bills. I'd be much happier if it was handled like a restaurant, with a little portfolio for the bill. Heck, I don't even think my current place takes credit cards.
Changing barber shops was something I tried some time ago, but found that I was subjected to even more chatter and even more pushing of "product" than at my relatively old-school establishment.
Something tells me I won't be happy until I can shave myself bald or lose that last shed of self-respect and scour eBay for a Flowbee.
14 August 2003
The sports movie thing has already generated more email that most of the things that I ask you folks to write in about, which is kind of neat. Two people (the Bruce and Greg) made their case for Searching for Bobby Fisher, which were generally well done but don't change my mind any about chess as a sport.
Greg was also smart enough to point out that if I was rejecting The Deadliest Season for being made for TV, I need to reject Brian's Song as well. This pained me, given that I'd forgotten it was a TV movie to begin with. I am tempted to give it special dispensation.
Greg also inquired about the status of The Hustler, which is about pool, which is a pretty marginal sport if it even is one.
Can you tell Greg is the movie person among the people I know?
Given the discussion of what may or may not be a sport, I'm prompted to do something.
ANNOUNCING THE TOP 50 COMPETITION MOVIES LIST
The goal: to compile a list of the top 50 movies all-time where some form of competition is integral to the plot of the movie, if not the entire purpose of the movie.
It's a fine line, to be sure, and like pornography you'll likely know what movies fit here by seeing them. For example, just because Ralph Macchio gets into a guitar duel in Crossroads doesn't make it a competition movie.
Anyway, send your nominees to me via my mail link. I'll compile a list and put something together for your edification, though probably not soon, what with RA training and the start of school coming.
Greg was also smart enough to point out that if I was rejecting The Deadliest Season for being made for TV, I need to reject Brian's Song as well. This pained me, given that I'd forgotten it was a TV movie to begin with. I am tempted to give it special dispensation.
Greg also inquired about the status of The Hustler, which is about pool, which is a pretty marginal sport if it even is one.
Can you tell Greg is the movie person among the people I know?
Given the discussion of what may or may not be a sport, I'm prompted to do something.
ANNOUNCING THE TOP 50 COMPETITION MOVIES LIST
The goal: to compile a list of the top 50 movies all-time where some form of competition is integral to the plot of the movie, if not the entire purpose of the movie.
It's a fine line, to be sure, and like pornography you'll likely know what movies fit here by seeing them. For example, just because Ralph Macchio gets into a guitar duel in Crossroads doesn't make it a competition movie.
Anyway, send your nominees to me via my mail link. I'll compile a list and put something together for your edification, though probably not soon, what with RA training and the start of school coming.
Sticking with Sports Illustrated, I got the issue with the story on Ted Williams' remains in the mail today. Thankfully, the worst the pictures get is the "neuro-can" that is apparently the current home of the Splinter's head. Given the descriptions, I was fearing something more graphic.
This issue also interests me given its cover story of Bill Parcells and what it'll take for him to turn the Dallas Cowboys around. It's not the story as much as the quote on the cover from Jerry Jones:
"I had no idea I was hiring someone so intimately involved in every single thing..."
He knew he was hiring Bill Parcells, right? You don't think he got the Tuna confused with Pete Carroll, did he?
This issue also interests me given its cover story of Bill Parcells and what it'll take for him to turn the Dallas Cowboys around. It's not the story as much as the quote on the cover from Jerry Jones:
"I had no idea I was hiring someone so intimately involved in every single thing..."
He knew he was hiring Bill Parcells, right? You don't think he got the Tuna confused with Pete Carroll, did he?
I was working on a longish deconstruction of Sports Illustrated's 50 greatest sports movie list, noting the unusual lack of comment from some of my fellow bloggers, when it hit me why there was little comment.
What I was writing wasn't very interesting.
The main problem was that in most cases, the argument would be about order rather than place on the list, especially in the top 15-20 movies. I don't agree that Bull Durham is the greatest sports movie of all time, but I don't think I'd leave it off entirely, either.
In any case, I am taking five movies off the list and replacing them with five that I think should have been on it.
GONE: Searching for Bobby Fisher
WHY?: Chess is not a sport.
IN: Fear Strikes Out
WHY?: It sticks with the father and son theme, but in a much darker way. Jimmy Piersall, whose story is the basis of the movie, was driven by his father to become a major leaguer, with the stress and pressure eventually leading to a breakdown during one season. Tony Perkins plays the adult Piersall, while Karl Malden plays his abusive father.
GONE: Fists of Fury
WHY?: If simply having martial arts in a film makes it a sports movie, wouldn't The Matrix be eligible?
IN: Enter the Dragon
WHY?: It at least uses a competition as a backdrop to the plot. It's Lee's last film but his first Hollywood-backed movie, and the bigger budget allows for better production and a better class of martial artists to compliment Lee. It also has early appearances by Jackie Chan and Sammo Hung, a nice little bonus.
GONE: Any Given Sunday
WHY?: It sucks. Oliver Stone's fever dream about pro football is obvious and loud, and most of the characters fill some sort of archetype (grizzled veteran, cocky newcomer, stern coach).
IN: Black Sunday
WHY?: If you want life-and-death drama mixed with pro football, you can't do any better than mixing terrorism, the Super Bowl, and a blimp.
GONE: The Deadliest Season
WHY?: It's made for TV.
IN: Idol of the Crowds
WHY?: OK, after Slap Shot it's hard to find really good hockey movies (and no, the Mighty Ducks movies do not count). This one has, to me, one of the more entertaining story lines: a guy signs up to play pro hockey to make money to enlarge his chicken farm. Seriously. Gangsters try to get him to throw a game, he refuses, etc. The hockey player is portrayed by a young John Wayne. I have to imagine that it's better than it sounds.
GONE: Best in Show
WHY?: Dog shows aren't sport. Dog shows, like debutante balls and country club membership, are competitions in grooming and genetics. Not sport.
IN: Major League
WHY?: Best in Show was at 50, a spot where I'd probably put a movie whose rougher edges are smoothed out by cult following and quotability. Major League fits the bill quite well. And hey, it gave Cleveland a winner back when it looked like they'd never have one.
What I was writing wasn't very interesting.
The main problem was that in most cases, the argument would be about order rather than place on the list, especially in the top 15-20 movies. I don't agree that Bull Durham is the greatest sports movie of all time, but I don't think I'd leave it off entirely, either.
In any case, I am taking five movies off the list and replacing them with five that I think should have been on it.
GONE: Searching for Bobby Fisher
WHY?: Chess is not a sport.
IN: Fear Strikes Out
WHY?: It sticks with the father and son theme, but in a much darker way. Jimmy Piersall, whose story is the basis of the movie, was driven by his father to become a major leaguer, with the stress and pressure eventually leading to a breakdown during one season. Tony Perkins plays the adult Piersall, while Karl Malden plays his abusive father.
GONE: Fists of Fury
WHY?: If simply having martial arts in a film makes it a sports movie, wouldn't The Matrix be eligible?
IN: Enter the Dragon
WHY?: It at least uses a competition as a backdrop to the plot. It's Lee's last film but his first Hollywood-backed movie, and the bigger budget allows for better production and a better class of martial artists to compliment Lee. It also has early appearances by Jackie Chan and Sammo Hung, a nice little bonus.
GONE: Any Given Sunday
WHY?: It sucks. Oliver Stone's fever dream about pro football is obvious and loud, and most of the characters fill some sort of archetype (grizzled veteran, cocky newcomer, stern coach).
IN: Black Sunday
WHY?: If you want life-and-death drama mixed with pro football, you can't do any better than mixing terrorism, the Super Bowl, and a blimp.
GONE: The Deadliest Season
WHY?: It's made for TV.
IN: Idol of the Crowds
WHY?: OK, after Slap Shot it's hard to find really good hockey movies (and no, the Mighty Ducks movies do not count). This one has, to me, one of the more entertaining story lines: a guy signs up to play pro hockey to make money to enlarge his chicken farm. Seriously. Gangsters try to get him to throw a game, he refuses, etc. The hockey player is portrayed by a young John Wayne. I have to imagine that it's better than it sounds.
GONE: Best in Show
WHY?: Dog shows aren't sport. Dog shows, like debutante balls and country club membership, are competitions in grooming and genetics. Not sport.
IN: Major League
WHY?: Best in Show was at 50, a spot where I'd probably put a movie whose rougher edges are smoothed out by cult following and quotability. Major League fits the bill quite well. And hey, it gave Cleveland a winner back when it looked like they'd never have one.
13 August 2003
Finally got around to seeing most of an episode of Queer Eye for the Straight Guy last night, and I will say that I was generally entertained. I would never submit myself to the treatment that last night's subject went through. It will be a cold day in hell before I let someone, using the show's term, "manscape" whatever hair exists on my torso.
Most of the other stuff done to the guy would be fine (I'd have to pass on learning how to eat a lobster), and I'd love to have somone come in and get the apartment into shape.
I'd be interested to see how NBC gets the show down to a half hour, but given that Tuesday at 10 doesn't offer much else that I'd normally watch, I don't suppose I'll have to find out.
In a related Bravo note, I was pleased to see them add The West Wing to their lineup, though revisiting the first season means having to work around Moira Kelly and her character. I don't look forward to the reprise of Ainsley Haines, either, but Emily Proctor doesn't rub the raw nerve that Kelly does. I was clearly subjected to The Cutting Edge one too many times.
Most of the other stuff done to the guy would be fine (I'd have to pass on learning how to eat a lobster), and I'd love to have somone come in and get the apartment into shape.
I'd be interested to see how NBC gets the show down to a half hour, but given that Tuesday at 10 doesn't offer much else that I'd normally watch, I don't suppose I'll have to find out.
In a related Bravo note, I was pleased to see them add The West Wing to their lineup, though revisiting the first season means having to work around Moira Kelly and her character. I don't look forward to the reprise of Ainsley Haines, either, but Emily Proctor doesn't rub the raw nerve that Kelly does. I was clearly subjected to The Cutting Edge one too many times.
While checking out the news that Iraq is pumping oil to Turkey again, I was able to read this fascinating story in the Denver Post about how Montana Power basically willed itself out of existance in five years.
I have feelings towards deregulation that are akin to those I described regarding pharmaceutical companies, a vague uneasy feeling that I have trouble quantifying. In this case thought I feel that I have a little more direction, as utilities have always struck me as the sort of thing the government should be keeping an eye on (if not both eyes).
Not that it always helps. I have a feeling my hometown's approach to water has screwed folks for decades, given that a town of under 6000 has more than one sewage treatment plant. While it may verify what I've felt- that many of the folks in my hometown are indeed full of crap - it also suggests someone was keeping an eye on things while their brain was on holiday.
I have feelings towards deregulation that are akin to those I described regarding pharmaceutical companies, a vague uneasy feeling that I have trouble quantifying. In this case thought I feel that I have a little more direction, as utilities have always struck me as the sort of thing the government should be keeping an eye on (if not both eyes).
Not that it always helps. I have a feeling my hometown's approach to water has screwed folks for decades, given that a town of under 6000 has more than one sewage treatment plant. While it may verify what I've felt- that many of the folks in my hometown are indeed full of crap - it also suggests someone was keeping an eye on things while their brain was on holiday.
12 August 2003
I really don't have much to say today, other than I'm enjoying looking to see what sites have referred people here. Most of them are expected, while one - CEO Express - is surprising. If you got here from there, drop me a line and let me know how it is you come to be here from there.
I was going to complain about our string of humid, rainy days, but then I keep reading about the European heat wave and figure I've got less standing to gripe than they do. Any time you live in a place when it records its highest temperature in the history of keeping such figures, as London did on Sunday when they broached 100 degrees for the first time, you get bumped to the front of the line.
There isn't much more I can say about the passing of Herb Brooks that you won't find elsewhere, other than to note that if you've not seen this documentary on the Miracle on Ice you should do so post-haste (do not confuse it with the made for TV Miracle on Ice, where Brooks is played by Karl Malden).
(Something I didn't know before looking at the IMDB info for those films: Mike Eruzione was the host on the first pilot of the video game game show Starcade.)
(Another something I didn't know: Brooks got an electrician's credit for the movie Dummy, a pre-Oscar vehicle for Adrien Brody. At least the IMDB gives him the credit. I have to think it was another Herb Brooks, but part of me is holding out for it to actually be him.)
I was going to complain about our string of humid, rainy days, but then I keep reading about the European heat wave and figure I've got less standing to gripe than they do. Any time you live in a place when it records its highest temperature in the history of keeping such figures, as London did on Sunday when they broached 100 degrees for the first time, you get bumped to the front of the line.
There isn't much more I can say about the passing of Herb Brooks that you won't find elsewhere, other than to note that if you've not seen this documentary on the Miracle on Ice you should do so post-haste (do not confuse it with the made for TV Miracle on Ice, where Brooks is played by Karl Malden).
(Something I didn't know before looking at the IMDB info for those films: Mike Eruzione was the host on the first pilot of the video game game show Starcade.)
(Another something I didn't know: Brooks got an electrician's credit for the movie Dummy, a pre-Oscar vehicle for Adrien Brody. At least the IMDB gives him the credit. I have to think it was another Herb Brooks, but part of me is holding out for it to actually be him.)
11 August 2003
Something I'd meant to comment on when it happened was the end of the line for the original VW Beetle. The last one rolled off of the assembly line in Mexico a couple of weeks ago, ending sixty-some odd years of production for the original model.
I have a particular fondness for the original Beetle given my mom's prediliction for them. She drove one for years. Well, not just one, as she went through a number of them, but for years it was her car of choice.
Many of my earliest memories of going places with my mother are in a Beetle. I can remember fighting with my sister Cathy on a fairly regular basis about who got to ride in the well, the depression behind the back seat meant more for storage than people. This was back in the day when you didn't need to put all auto passengers under the age of 18 in five-point restraint (not to mention back when I was small enough to actually fit in such a space, which takes some imagining nowadays).
I can also remember times when we had a convertible bug, and the ease of both putting the top down and the times when we'd have to hurry to get it back up if we got caught in rain. We didn't have many of these, but when we did it was a lot of fun, though probably not for my mom when she'd be driving it to work on all those winter nights.
My sister Maureen still has an original bug, a light blue one with white convertible top that she's been dragging around with her for years, unwilling to part with it but also not quite in a position to have it restored.
Given the happy family history with the bug, you can imagine that I'm a little dubious about the new Beetles. I imagine there's a British person about my age having similar misgivings about the new Minis. In both cases, you've got cars intended for the masses reborn for the hip and trendy with disposable income.
I've never been in a new Beetle, so I suppose I shouldn't dismiss them out of hand, but I find it hard to cotton to a car that comes with a bud vase. The real Beetle wouldn't have had such frippery.
I have a particular fondness for the original Beetle given my mom's prediliction for them. She drove one for years. Well, not just one, as she went through a number of them, but for years it was her car of choice.
Many of my earliest memories of going places with my mother are in a Beetle. I can remember fighting with my sister Cathy on a fairly regular basis about who got to ride in the well, the depression behind the back seat meant more for storage than people. This was back in the day when you didn't need to put all auto passengers under the age of 18 in five-point restraint (not to mention back when I was small enough to actually fit in such a space, which takes some imagining nowadays).
I can also remember times when we had a convertible bug, and the ease of both putting the top down and the times when we'd have to hurry to get it back up if we got caught in rain. We didn't have many of these, but when we did it was a lot of fun, though probably not for my mom when she'd be driving it to work on all those winter nights.
My sister Maureen still has an original bug, a light blue one with white convertible top that she's been dragging around with her for years, unwilling to part with it but also not quite in a position to have it restored.
Given the happy family history with the bug, you can imagine that I'm a little dubious about the new Beetles. I imagine there's a British person about my age having similar misgivings about the new Minis. In both cases, you've got cars intended for the masses reborn for the hip and trendy with disposable income.
I've never been in a new Beetle, so I suppose I shouldn't dismiss them out of hand, but I find it hard to cotton to a car that comes with a bud vase. The real Beetle wouldn't have had such frippery.
10 August 2003
After Friday's darkish post, I figured I'd follow up with the fun of the birthday weekend, as I know it'll calm those of you worried about my mental state (which, judging from all the frantic calls and emails, would be none of you).
Friday saw us go up to Portland for the tilt between the AA Sea Dogs and and Binghamton Mets. And let me say right now, Mets fans, that the team of the future is going to look an awful lot like the team of the present. The Sea Dogs posted a 7-0 win at lovely Hadlock Field.
It was pretty much like any other minor league game otherwise, though one promotion was classic Maine. Two guys with lacrosse sticks lobbed plastic lobsters at two women carrying a lobster trap, who had to catch 10 of them to win a prize. If there was ever a time I needed a digital camera, it was then.
We spent the night at the Eastland Park Hotel, which had a shabby gentility to it. The lobby was very nice, and they still have an elevator wth an operator on it, a nice touch. But there were places where repairs were made and not completed (such as the wooden panel screwed into the wall near the ice machine), and some of the furniture is problematic (the beds were too soft, and our TV stand was a collapsable half-table that looked like it came from an employee's garage).
In any case, we then went up to Sarah's parents house for the rest of the weekend. Not much to note there, other than for your TRASHy types who, if attending the regional at BU, may take home some of the goodies picked up at the annual American Legion Post 157 yard sale. There's one prize which, I swear to God, must have been banned by international convention. Or should be if it hasn't been.
I also came up with two new laws I'll be passing once I'm in charge:
1. If you are not in the stadium when the first pitch is thrown, you're not getting in until the 6th inning.
2. All RV drivers will be required to have a map of the US states on its back demarcating the states its owners have driven to. It gives the rest of us something to look at when passing.
Friday saw us go up to Portland for the tilt between the AA Sea Dogs and and Binghamton Mets. And let me say right now, Mets fans, that the team of the future is going to look an awful lot like the team of the present. The Sea Dogs posted a 7-0 win at lovely Hadlock Field.
It was pretty much like any other minor league game otherwise, though one promotion was classic Maine. Two guys with lacrosse sticks lobbed plastic lobsters at two women carrying a lobster trap, who had to catch 10 of them to win a prize. If there was ever a time I needed a digital camera, it was then.
We spent the night at the Eastland Park Hotel, which had a shabby gentility to it. The lobby was very nice, and they still have an elevator wth an operator on it, a nice touch. But there were places where repairs were made and not completed (such as the wooden panel screwed into the wall near the ice machine), and some of the furniture is problematic (the beds were too soft, and our TV stand was a collapsable half-table that looked like it came from an employee's garage).
In any case, we then went up to Sarah's parents house for the rest of the weekend. Not much to note there, other than for your TRASHy types who, if attending the regional at BU, may take home some of the goodies picked up at the annual American Legion Post 157 yard sale. There's one prize which, I swear to God, must have been banned by international convention. Or should be if it hasn't been.
I also came up with two new laws I'll be passing once I'm in charge:
1. If you are not in the stadium when the first pitch is thrown, you're not getting in until the 6th inning.
2. All RV drivers will be required to have a map of the US states on its back demarcating the states its owners have driven to. It gives the rest of us something to look at when passing.
08 August 2003
As some of you may know, today is my birthday. I wasn't sure how to best address this here, so I went back to the archives to see what I did last year. Turns out my 2002 birthday post mostly described the Fox offering 30 Seconds to Fame, but also included a little bit about people born on my birthday and events that happened on my birthday.
But today I turn 34, moving from my lower 30s squarely into the mid-30s. My right foot hurts and I have an irritated throat (thought I was getting a cold, now I wonder if it's related to the fumes we've had at work the last couple of days as they've resurfaced the stage in the theater that's connected to our campus center). And it's another in a string of dark, humid, rainy days.
I was going to be overly-dramatic and list all the famous people I could find who died on August 8, but it's not much of a list, depending on how much of a fan you are (or were) of Louise Brooks and Richard Deacon. Checking out the IMDB, it also appears that Alan Napier, who played Alfred on the TV version of Batman, died on August 8. I always liked Alfred, he helped even out the camp. Kind of like how lemon juice helps to even out sauces.
Oh, add Shirley Jackson to the roll call, too.
On a brighter note, August 8 was the wedding day for Julie Tenuta and Emo Phillips. They've since divorced, but can you imagine that wedding? Other notables married on August 8 include Ty Cobb (his first), Roman Pulanski (his third), and W. C. Fields for his first and only, which is heartening. You'd think all the drinking and cards would have irritiated his wife to no end.
But today I turn 34, moving from my lower 30s squarely into the mid-30s. My right foot hurts and I have an irritated throat (thought I was getting a cold, now I wonder if it's related to the fumes we've had at work the last couple of days as they've resurfaced the stage in the theater that's connected to our campus center). And it's another in a string of dark, humid, rainy days.
I was going to be overly-dramatic and list all the famous people I could find who died on August 8, but it's not much of a list, depending on how much of a fan you are (or were) of Louise Brooks and Richard Deacon. Checking out the IMDB, it also appears that Alan Napier, who played Alfred on the TV version of Batman, died on August 8. I always liked Alfred, he helped even out the camp. Kind of like how lemon juice helps to even out sauces.
Oh, add Shirley Jackson to the roll call, too.
On a brighter note, August 8 was the wedding day for Julie Tenuta and Emo Phillips. They've since divorced, but can you imagine that wedding? Other notables married on August 8 include Ty Cobb (his first), Roman Pulanski (his third), and W. C. Fields for his first and only, which is heartening. You'd think all the drinking and cards would have irritiated his wife to no end.
07 August 2003
Relative to Cooch's thought that California should be your starter state for deciding to live somewhere, it should be noted that a recent Census report says that Americans, as a people, are no longer manifesting their destiny.
Seems that the in- and out-migration patterns of the 1990s have most moving Americans heading south, more particularly the southeast. California actually wound up giving people to surrounding states.
The news in this end of the country was also towards the negative, though it seems that New York was mostly bleeding people to New Jersey and Connecticut. Even so, net losses for New England and the mid-Atlantic states over the decade.
Oddly, I suppose, I've never thought about moving to California or the southeast. I'd applied to some law schools in North Carolina, and one in California (Santa Clara, not requiring an application fee, an application I turned around in 20 minutes that led to an acceptance, which suggests an lack of selectivity). In any case, I was more likely to end up in Seattle or Chicago if I was to leave here. Of course, I didn't leave here, which probably says something about me. Not sure what, though I have some guesses.
Seems that the in- and out-migration patterns of the 1990s have most moving Americans heading south, more particularly the southeast. California actually wound up giving people to surrounding states.
The news in this end of the country was also towards the negative, though it seems that New York was mostly bleeding people to New Jersey and Connecticut. Even so, net losses for New England and the mid-Atlantic states over the decade.
Oddly, I suppose, I've never thought about moving to California or the southeast. I'd applied to some law schools in North Carolina, and one in California (Santa Clara, not requiring an application fee, an application I turned around in 20 minutes that led to an acceptance, which suggests an lack of selectivity). In any case, I was more likely to end up in Seattle or Chicago if I was to leave here. Of course, I didn't leave here, which probably says something about me. Not sure what, though I have some guesses.
"In Sacramento today, Governor Coleman refused to commute the life sentence of The Gooch, whose last felony bullying offense led to his incarceration at San Quentin under the state's three-strikes law."
This recall thing just gets better and better. Word is that Gallagher is collecting signatures, too. Seriously.
This recall thing just gets better and better. Word is that Gallagher is collecting signatures, too. Seriously.
06 August 2003
Some meta-blogging for you, assuming you've read others listed at left...
I think Scott is on to something with the "in" status of the grape tomato. I will say that I think they're on the way to earning a permanent place on the culinary landscape, given that they're easy to manipulate in salads and generally have a more notable flavor than larger varieties.
Then again, they may be on the same flight path as baby corn, going from ethnic niche to near ubiquity to background noise.
If you click through on Scott's blog to read Amanda Conaway's blog (which I should link to, really), you'll learn about the recent sadness in the bourbon world. If you don't read her blog, I would also suggest going back through the archives for her poignant discourse on the issue of women and office toilet use.
Kudos for Greg with his fairly passionate discourse related to the recent naming of a gay Episcopal bishop in New Hampshire. One of my greatest struggles with being Catholic is trying to rectify my generally left-leaning social views with the continuing (or burgeoning) conservatism of the leadership. And I don't know if it's going to get any better under a new Pope, given how many cardinals got their red hat during JP2's run. I do take solace in the fact that there is room for dissent when you've got a billion people involved, but hope that at some point that dissent bubbles up and actually leads to positive change.
(Beyond that, congrats to Greg's mom and her partner - at least they aren't eloping :P)
And, in a non-meta-blogging note, I am looking forward to a possible gubenitorial debate between Larry Flynt, Arianna Huffington, and Ahnud. I won't be able to tell what any of them are saying, which may be for the best.
I think Scott is on to something with the "in" status of the grape tomato. I will say that I think they're on the way to earning a permanent place on the culinary landscape, given that they're easy to manipulate in salads and generally have a more notable flavor than larger varieties.
Then again, they may be on the same flight path as baby corn, going from ethnic niche to near ubiquity to background noise.
If you click through on Scott's blog to read Amanda Conaway's blog (which I should link to, really), you'll learn about the recent sadness in the bourbon world. If you don't read her blog, I would also suggest going back through the archives for her poignant discourse on the issue of women and office toilet use.
Kudos for Greg with his fairly passionate discourse related to the recent naming of a gay Episcopal bishop in New Hampshire. One of my greatest struggles with being Catholic is trying to rectify my generally left-leaning social views with the continuing (or burgeoning) conservatism of the leadership. And I don't know if it's going to get any better under a new Pope, given how many cardinals got their red hat during JP2's run. I do take solace in the fact that there is room for dissent when you've got a billion people involved, but hope that at some point that dissent bubbles up and actually leads to positive change.
(Beyond that, congrats to Greg's mom and her partner - at least they aren't eloping :P)
And, in a non-meta-blogging note, I am looking forward to a possible gubenitorial debate between Larry Flynt, Arianna Huffington, and Ahnud. I won't be able to tell what any of them are saying, which may be for the best.
Three items of note from since my post on wanting to play at the WSOP.
1. As James Dinan was quick to point out, one can play at sattelite tournaments to get into the big event, where the combined entry fees of the tournament represent the winner's stake (James McManus plays a one-table sattelite to get into the 2000 WSOP's big event in Positively Fifth Street). James was even kind enough to mention one happening at Foxwoods in the near future, but I need a lot more experience before doing anything like that.
2. Pursuant to that, I had the opportunity to play for "real" at a program one of my RAs ran tonight. I got to bust a guy after going all in with a straight which he didn't think I had, but generally played like a moron otherwise. Hey, it didn't cost me anything and I wasn't eligible for the prizes. Hopefully, the RA will make this a regular game, but I doubt it.
3. Since my initial entry, I've gotten 3 or 4 emails letting me know about various on-line opportunities to play. Pass. If I'm going to spend money on computer poker, it'll be to get a Wilson Turbo Poker program. Sadly, no Mac version available.
1. As James Dinan was quick to point out, one can play at sattelite tournaments to get into the big event, where the combined entry fees of the tournament represent the winner's stake (James McManus plays a one-table sattelite to get into the 2000 WSOP's big event in Positively Fifth Street). James was even kind enough to mention one happening at Foxwoods in the near future, but I need a lot more experience before doing anything like that.
2. Pursuant to that, I had the opportunity to play for "real" at a program one of my RAs ran tonight. I got to bust a guy after going all in with a straight which he didn't think I had, but generally played like a moron otherwise. Hey, it didn't cost me anything and I wasn't eligible for the prizes. Hopefully, the RA will make this a regular game, but I doubt it.
3. Since my initial entry, I've gotten 3 or 4 emails letting me know about various on-line opportunities to play. Pass. If I'm going to spend money on computer poker, it'll be to get a Wilson Turbo Poker program. Sadly, no Mac version available.
Can someone tell me why I'm supposed to care who the song "You're So Vain" is about? Or, better yet, why the various media outlets are all over it?
Is this some sort of self-absorbed baby boomer thing that I'm just not going to get ever?
If nothing else, it gives me one more reason to dislike Dick Ebersol. I'm sure he's using money earned while screwing up Olympic coverage to find out the answer to this burning secret.
Is this some sort of self-absorbed baby boomer thing that I'm just not going to get ever?
If nothing else, it gives me one more reason to dislike Dick Ebersol. I'm sure he's using money earned while screwing up Olympic coverage to find out the answer to this burning secret.
04 August 2003
Time to open the mail bag for the readers challenge I posted a while back asking folks to give their ideas for French words to take out of English (prompted by the French language police's decision to replace e-mail with courriel).
The missus chimed in by suggesting we replace "resume" with "C.V." This is apparently the more standard term world-wide, and given that it's in use in American academia, it's at least got a foothold.
Dave Vacca wrote to give the old standby of replacing "garage" with "car hole." He also liked the idea of calling the art movement Fauvism by a more literal translation: Beastiality. Imagine, as Dave did, this intro to an art text: "The artists most closely
associated with Beastiality include Henri Matisse, Albert Marquet, Andre Derain and Maurice de Vlaminck."
I had three suggestions for re-naming the eclair, France's pastry contribution to atherosclerosis. Matt Bruce suggested "fancy Twinkie," which I like quite a bit, though perhaps the eclair is more like a fancy Chocodile. Scott Monty had both the generic "puff pastry" and the salute to French military prowess, "dessert Wellington."
Scott actually had several more ideas:
* Montpelier, Vermont would be called North Bumf*ck. If you've been through, you'd probably agree.
* Suisse Chalet would be called Howard Johnson's. Having stayed in both, that may be a slander to Mr. Johnson. And wouldn't the Suisse Chalet be Swiss?
* Crayon would now be a pee-wee pencil.
* And my favorite, apparently inspired by the Deck of Weasels, a beret would now be called a "sissy hat."
Scott also included a Wall Street Journal editoria which made an interesting point. The French seemed more concerned with the use of the word "mail" than the word "electronic," which in French is "electronique." According to the OED, the word "mail" dervies from a Middle French term for a courier's bag. "Electronic," meanwhile, came to use from the Greek via Latin. French is a Romance language, but you'd think they'd not want to put the kibosh on a putatively native word.
The missus chimed in by suggesting we replace "resume" with "C.V." This is apparently the more standard term world-wide, and given that it's in use in American academia, it's at least got a foothold.
Dave Vacca wrote to give the old standby of replacing "garage" with "car hole." He also liked the idea of calling the art movement Fauvism by a more literal translation: Beastiality. Imagine, as Dave did, this intro to an art text: "The artists most closely
associated with Beastiality include Henri Matisse, Albert Marquet, Andre Derain and Maurice de Vlaminck."
I had three suggestions for re-naming the eclair, France's pastry contribution to atherosclerosis. Matt Bruce suggested "fancy Twinkie," which I like quite a bit, though perhaps the eclair is more like a fancy Chocodile. Scott Monty had both the generic "puff pastry" and the salute to French military prowess, "dessert Wellington."
Scott actually had several more ideas:
* Montpelier, Vermont would be called North Bumf*ck. If you've been through, you'd probably agree.
* Suisse Chalet would be called Howard Johnson's. Having stayed in both, that may be a slander to Mr. Johnson. And wouldn't the Suisse Chalet be Swiss?
* Crayon would now be a pee-wee pencil.
* And my favorite, apparently inspired by the Deck of Weasels, a beret would now be called a "sissy hat."
Scott also included a Wall Street Journal editoria which made an interesting point. The French seemed more concerned with the use of the word "mail" than the word "electronic," which in French is "electronique." According to the OED, the word "mail" dervies from a Middle French term for a courier's bag. "Electronic," meanwhile, came to use from the Greek via Latin. French is a Romance language, but you'd think they'd not want to put the kibosh on a putatively native word.
03 August 2003
We're back. Or, more accurately, I'm back. Sarah had to work at the Gap.
It's been a long day, but a productive one for the most part. Most of the sessions were helpful, as they sparked some good conversation on what Sarah and I are looking for in each other as we go about our married life, and in how we want to approach the spiritual dimension of married life.
I do think it would have been a tough day if you weren't that religious, in that you wouldn't have that much to talk about during those sessions. I doubt that many folks in that position go through with a formal Catholic ceremony (though they may to appease the family), so they wouldn't be at the class to begin with.
There was a finance session that wasn't too helpful. It was pretty basic, more for folks who may be just starting to be financially independent.
The sex and family session was better than expected. For most folks, the idea of the marriage prep thing is that priests and nuns give you the business about sex, why you'll go to hell if you fool around before marriage, etc. That's not the case. The priest did talk more than usual, but mostly in relating the areas of sex and marriage to various Bible passages. This is where the couples who presented really helped, in that they gave some concrete and personal examples of troubles they had and how they grew into this portion of their marriage.
There was talk of Natural Family Planning, the replacement for the rhythm method. Women got a very professional-looking brochure discussing NFP, while men got a cartoony booklet that I think was written for high school sophomores. It included pictures of reproductive systems and some simply worded Q&A on making babies, NFP, etc. I'd be offended if I really cared.
I do think NFP has to be a tough sell, between the negative connotations left over from the rhythm method and all the work that goes into doing NFP right (taking basal temperatures, checking mucus, etc.).
The day ended with a mass, which was kind of interesting given that it was during a period of fairly steady thunder and lightning. Not sure if that was a comment on us or not.
Outside of the one couple I mentioned earlier, we didn't get much of a chance to interact with others, which was too bad. The couple sitting to our right was an interesting one, in that the woman is pregnant with twins. There were a few other couples there already working on the family, which was actually kind of nice to see to show that they aren't shunned or anything.
(I did feel badly that after lunch we inadvertantly blew off the other couple by leaving for a walk thinking they were behind us when they weren't.)
The only other thing that stood out for me was that I don't think we met anyone who is getting married later than we are. One other couple at lunch is getting married the same day, while everyone else was a September wedding. I think there may have even been a late August or two that we ran into. We were originally going to go to a class in Wellesley in March (it was cancelled), so good on us for being ahead of the curve!
Anyway, it's done, and it wasn't as painful as we thought. For those of you thinking about Catholic nuptuals, take heart.
It's been a long day, but a productive one for the most part. Most of the sessions were helpful, as they sparked some good conversation on what Sarah and I are looking for in each other as we go about our married life, and in how we want to approach the spiritual dimension of married life.
I do think it would have been a tough day if you weren't that religious, in that you wouldn't have that much to talk about during those sessions. I doubt that many folks in that position go through with a formal Catholic ceremony (though they may to appease the family), so they wouldn't be at the class to begin with.
There was a finance session that wasn't too helpful. It was pretty basic, more for folks who may be just starting to be financially independent.
The sex and family session was better than expected. For most folks, the idea of the marriage prep thing is that priests and nuns give you the business about sex, why you'll go to hell if you fool around before marriage, etc. That's not the case. The priest did talk more than usual, but mostly in relating the areas of sex and marriage to various Bible passages. This is where the couples who presented really helped, in that they gave some concrete and personal examples of troubles they had and how they grew into this portion of their marriage.
There was talk of Natural Family Planning, the replacement for the rhythm method. Women got a very professional-looking brochure discussing NFP, while men got a cartoony booklet that I think was written for high school sophomores. It included pictures of reproductive systems and some simply worded Q&A on making babies, NFP, etc. I'd be offended if I really cared.
I do think NFP has to be a tough sell, between the negative connotations left over from the rhythm method and all the work that goes into doing NFP right (taking basal temperatures, checking mucus, etc.).
The day ended with a mass, which was kind of interesting given that it was during a period of fairly steady thunder and lightning. Not sure if that was a comment on us or not.
Outside of the one couple I mentioned earlier, we didn't get much of a chance to interact with others, which was too bad. The couple sitting to our right was an interesting one, in that the woman is pregnant with twins. There were a few other couples there already working on the family, which was actually kind of nice to see to show that they aren't shunned or anything.
(I did feel badly that after lunch we inadvertantly blew off the other couple by leaving for a walk thinking they were behind us when they weren't.)
The only other thing that stood out for me was that I don't think we met anyone who is getting married later than we are. One other couple at lunch is getting married the same day, while everyone else was a September wedding. I think there may have even been a late August or two that we ran into. We were originally going to go to a class in Wellesley in March (it was cancelled), so good on us for being ahead of the curve!
Anyway, it's done, and it wasn't as painful as we thought. For those of you thinking about Catholic nuptuals, take heart.
Just a quick note as we prepare to go back for the second day of our marriage prep class. The first day wasn't so bad - mostly discussions on personal and interpersonal issues. We got to meet a few other couples, nothing really in-depth, but we did meet a pair getting married a few weeks before us up in the North Shore area. They mentioned that they were having hotel problems, but thankfully aren't using the same one we are.
Today is a full day session, and we'll venture into topics including finances and the dreaded sex and family session. There are two married couples who are doing most of the presenting, so the Catholic paradox of getting sex advice from the supposedly celibate shouldn't be in play. Actually, the priest in charge has mentioned sex a couple of times, but usually in reference to something else. He seems pretty realistic (and considering this place has handled something like 8000 couples, he'd have to be).
Today is a full day session, and we'll venture into topics including finances and the dreaded sex and family session. There are two married couples who are doing most of the presenting, so the Catholic paradox of getting sex advice from the supposedly celibate shouldn't be in play. Actually, the priest in charge has mentioned sex a couple of times, but usually in reference to something else. He seems pretty realistic (and considering this place has handled something like 8000 couples, he'd have to be).
01 August 2003
You know it's the last day of trading in baseball when, after a day away from your fantasy team, you don't know who all of your players play for any more.
Such as it was for me, when I discovered last night that Jose Guillen and Aaron Boone were no longer Reds. I'm now in a tough position relative to them, as they are both now on teams where I would really prefer that they not contribute to the franchise's overall success (A's and Yanks, respectively).
In my suck league, I have the opposite problem. I drafted Jeff Suppan due to his track record of sucking with the Royals, but then he was doing OK with the Pirates, who have since shipped him back to his original team, the Red Sox.
(Then again, I did have Roy Halladay on my suck league pitching staff going back to that rocky time in April where he had four straight no decisions.)
As you can imagine, I'd have no problem with real life working out at the expense of my fantasy teams, with apologies to my one known A's fan in the readership.
Such as it was for me, when I discovered last night that Jose Guillen and Aaron Boone were no longer Reds. I'm now in a tough position relative to them, as they are both now on teams where I would really prefer that they not contribute to the franchise's overall success (A's and Yanks, respectively).
In my suck league, I have the opposite problem. I drafted Jeff Suppan due to his track record of sucking with the Royals, but then he was doing OK with the Pirates, who have since shipped him back to his original team, the Red Sox.
(Then again, I did have Roy Halladay on my suck league pitching staff going back to that rocky time in April where he had four straight no decisions.)
As you can imagine, I'd have no problem with real life working out at the expense of my fantasy teams, with apologies to my one known A's fan in the readership.
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