Brian Cashman®, again:
"We'll see how it comes out," Yankees® general manager Brian Cashman said. "Coming in, a lot of things make sense and they don't necessarily play out that way. We'll just see how it all looks when we put it together and see it in front of us."
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Monday, December 31, 2007
Friday, December 28, 2007
Why Does God Need a Starship?
In 1989, William Shatner® developed the initial storyline for and directed the rather forgettable Star Trek V: The Final Frontier®.
In this film, Spock's® half-brother, Sybok®, seizes control of the Enterprise®, so he can reach a mythical planet named Sha Ka Ree®, where a mysterious, presumably God-like entity awaits.
Claiming to be God, the entity asks Sybok and the Enterprise crew how they got to the planet. When told about the Enterprise, it demands passage aboard the ship in order to leave the planet to spread his Word to the rest of the Universe.
The movie would be completely forgettable were it not for Captain Kirk's® asking the entity, "Why does God need a starhip?"
Whenever any person or organization claims to speak for God, ask a similar question. "Why does God need you to speak for Him [or Her]?"
In this film, Spock's® half-brother, Sybok®, seizes control of the Enterprise®, so he can reach a mythical planet named Sha Ka Ree®, where a mysterious, presumably God-like entity awaits.
Claiming to be God, the entity asks Sybok and the Enterprise crew how they got to the planet. When told about the Enterprise, it demands passage aboard the ship in order to leave the planet to spread his Word to the rest of the Universe.
The movie would be completely forgettable were it not for Captain Kirk's® asking the entity, "Why does God need a starhip?"
Whenever any person or organization claims to speak for God, ask a similar question. "Why does God need you to speak for Him [or Her]?"
Thursday, December 27, 2007
Good or Bad
Today, Benazir Bhutto was shot and killed in Rawalpindi, Pakistan. Her assassin - or an accomplice, the reports are somewhat ambiguous - then blew himself up, killing at least another 20 people. It will take some time to determine who was responsible for this atrocity, but chances are pretty good that the perpetrators were Muslims, killing other Muslims.
Perhaps this is why the capital of Pakistan is called Islamabad, not Islamagood!
Perhaps this is why the capital of Pakistan is called Islamabad, not Islamagood!
Sunday, November 11, 2007
Excuse Me!
On Friday, I was waiting for a friend outside the Museum's new Crystal thing. He was late and, because I don't wear a watch anymore, I didn't know what time it was ... or how late he was.
Two ladies - one middle-aged, one perhaps a little older - came out of the museum, and headed in my direction. One of them was certain to wear a watch, I supposed.
"Excuse me," I said politely. The older lady got a stricken look on her face, said "No ... ", and turned her head away.
"Can you please tell me what time it is?" I continued.
"Three-ten," the younger woman said, and the two of them continued on their way.
Harsh!!
Two ladies - one middle-aged, one perhaps a little older - came out of the museum, and headed in my direction. One of them was certain to wear a watch, I supposed.
"Excuse me," I said politely. The older lady got a stricken look on her face, said "No ... ", and turned her head away.
"Can you please tell me what time it is?" I continued.
"Three-ten," the younger woman said, and the two of them continued on their way.
Harsh!!
Friday, November 09, 2007
Cliché Speak
"I understand why people are asking. I'd ask," he said. "For the most part, we're going to try to stay the course and build around our young pitching as we move forward. But talk is cheap. Actions speak louder than words, so let's see where I'm standing come February."
Brian Cashman®, GM, New York Yankees®
Brian Cashman®, GM, New York Yankees®
Sunday, October 28, 2007
Books V
These books might be of interest to you:
I especially recommend the Levitin book to anyone who has even the slightest interest in music!
- Rickles' Book, a memoir by Don Rickles
- Soulsville, U.S.A. : the Story of Stax Records, by Rob Bowman
- This is Your Brain on Music : the Science of a Human Obsession, by Daniel J. Levitin
I especially recommend the Levitin book to anyone who has even the slightest interest in music!
Sham Pain
In postseason baseball, when a team has a chance to clinch a League Championship or a World Series, columnists report that the champagne is on ice in the clubhouse.
Why?
If the team does win, the players make their way to the clubhouse, open bottles, and spray each other and the [now plastic-covered] walls, and pour champagne over each other and the coaches and managers and the reporters and commentators. Why ice the champagne if no one is going to drink it?
Why?
If the team does win, the players make their way to the clubhouse, open bottles, and spray each other and the [now plastic-covered] walls, and pour champagne over each other and the coaches and managers and the reporters and commentators. Why ice the champagne if no one is going to drink it?
Thursday, October 25, 2007
D N A! D N A!
James Dewey Watson is an American molecular biologist, best known as one of the co-discoverers of the structure of DNA.
In 1953, based on X-ray diffraction images taken by Rosalind Franklin, Watson and Francis Crick suggested what is now accepted as the first accurate model of DNA structure in the journal Nature. Experimental evidence for their model was published in a series of five articles in the same issue of Nature. Of these, Franklin and Raymond Gosling's paper was the first publication of X-ray diffraction data that supported the Watson and Crick model. This issue also contained an article on DNA structure by Maurice Wilkins and his colleagues.
In 1962, after Franklin's death, Watson, Crick, and Wilkins jointly received the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. However, speculation continues on who should have received credit for the discovery, as it was based on Franklin's data.
So, Watson scored the Nobel Prize, and Rosalind Franklin became a footnote. Now, 45 years later, all James Watson had to do was keep his mouth shut, and his place in history would have been secure. Instead, he recently made statements about possible links between race and intelligence. He was quoted in an article for the Sunday Times Magazine, published on October 14, 2007, that he is "inherently gloomy about the prospect of Africa" because "all our social policies are based on the fact that their intelligence is the same as ours – whereas all the testing says not really."
As a result the London Science Museum cancelled a talk that Watson was scheduled to give on October 19, 2007. The museum spokesperson stated that, "We feel Dr. Watson has gone beyond the point of acceptable debate and we are, as a result, cancelling his talk." Additionally, the Board of Trustees of Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory suspended Dr. Watson's administrative responsibilities in response to the comments, according to a public statement posted on the laboratory's website. The University of Edinburgh also withdrew the invitation to Dr Watson to the "DNA, Dolly and Other Dangerous Ideas: The Destiny of 21st Century Science" Enlightenment Lecture on October 22, 2007.
Watson later apologized "unreservedly" and was quoted as being "mortified" for the comments attributed to him, stating, "I cannot understand how I could have said what I am quoted as having said. I can certainly understand why people, reading those words, have reacted in the ways they have," he said.
Following the controversy that ensued, Watson resigned from Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, where he served as Director and later as Chancellor, on October 25, 2007.
I wonder how anybody could be so stupid as to hold, and publicly state, such ignorant views in the 21st century. I'd like to think that Rosalind Franklin had the last laugh.
In 1953, based on X-ray diffraction images taken by Rosalind Franklin, Watson and Francis Crick suggested what is now accepted as the first accurate model of DNA structure in the journal Nature. Experimental evidence for their model was published in a series of five articles in the same issue of Nature. Of these, Franklin and Raymond Gosling's paper was the first publication of X-ray diffraction data that supported the Watson and Crick model. This issue also contained an article on DNA structure by Maurice Wilkins and his colleagues.
In 1962, after Franklin's death, Watson, Crick, and Wilkins jointly received the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. However, speculation continues on who should have received credit for the discovery, as it was based on Franklin's data.
So, Watson scored the Nobel Prize, and Rosalind Franklin became a footnote. Now, 45 years later, all James Watson had to do was keep his mouth shut, and his place in history would have been secure. Instead, he recently made statements about possible links between race and intelligence. He was quoted in an article for the Sunday Times Magazine, published on October 14, 2007, that he is "inherently gloomy about the prospect of Africa" because "all our social policies are based on the fact that their intelligence is the same as ours – whereas all the testing says not really."
As a result the London Science Museum cancelled a talk that Watson was scheduled to give on October 19, 2007. The museum spokesperson stated that, "We feel Dr. Watson has gone beyond the point of acceptable debate and we are, as a result, cancelling his talk." Additionally, the Board of Trustees of Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory suspended Dr. Watson's administrative responsibilities in response to the comments, according to a public statement posted on the laboratory's website. The University of Edinburgh also withdrew the invitation to Dr Watson to the "DNA, Dolly and Other Dangerous Ideas: The Destiny of 21st Century Science" Enlightenment Lecture on October 22, 2007.
Watson later apologized "unreservedly" and was quoted as being "mortified" for the comments attributed to him, stating, "I cannot understand how I could have said what I am quoted as having said. I can certainly understand why people, reading those words, have reacted in the ways they have," he said.
Following the controversy that ensued, Watson resigned from Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, where he served as Director and later as Chancellor, on October 25, 2007.
I wonder how anybody could be so stupid as to hold, and publicly state, such ignorant views in the 21st century. I'd like to think that Rosalind Franklin had the last laugh.
Thursday, October 18, 2007
Headlines for a Slow News Day #1
WMD Revisited
Today in Iraq, US security contractors found this artifact:
Authorities are debating whether to call in UN inspectors to verify the discovery of Weapons of Mashed Potatoes!
Today in Iraq, US security contractors found this artifact:
Authorities are debating whether to call in UN inspectors to verify the discovery of Weapons of Mashed Potatoes!
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
Not a Morning Person?
I worked in IT for over 20 years. The only part that I really hated was getting up in the morning.
Every morning, Monday to Friday, I'd leave the house, and experience the fresh air, the sense of a start to a new day, and all that other positive stuff. Then, I'd board the bus for work, and spend the rest of the day indoors, breathing indoor air, working in a cubicle or an office or, on one contracting job, a store room, eating in a food court. It was all at least as good as it sounds.
Now that I've retired - surrendered? - I've discovered the early morning walk. At 7:00 AM - sometimes earlier, sometimes later - on those days when I'm awake, I grab my MP3 player and my headphones, and I go for a walk.
There's an interesting morning community out there. Some people are walking their dogs, some running, some going to work or school. And ... the air is fresher, the day is brighter, the music is great!
Then I go back to bed.
Every morning, Monday to Friday, I'd leave the house, and experience the fresh air, the sense of a start to a new day, and all that other positive stuff. Then, I'd board the bus for work, and spend the rest of the day indoors, breathing indoor air, working in a cubicle or an office or, on one contracting job, a store room, eating in a food court. It was all at least as good as it sounds.
Now that I've retired - surrendered? - I've discovered the early morning walk. At 7:00 AM - sometimes earlier, sometimes later - on those days when I'm awake, I grab my MP3 player and my headphones, and I go for a walk.
There's an interesting morning community out there. Some people are walking their dogs, some running, some going to work or school. And ... the air is fresher, the day is brighter, the music is great!
Then I go back to bed.
Thursday, October 04, 2007
Soft On ... Hard On
There's going to be an election in Ontario very soon, and that means that it's time for candidates and leaders to utter those most dishonest and distasteful words "Soft on crime, soft on terrorism, soft on ... whatever!"
A political opponent is always soft on something, while the speaker is hard on something. Think "You don't want a tougher Patriot Act? Aren't you a patriot? Are you soft on terrorism?" and transfer the setting to Ontario or Canada.
These words are utterly meaningless! They are emotionally-charged catchphrases meant to bring about distrust in voters and hesitation in political rivals! They are the equivalent of "Do you beat your wife before or after dinner?"
These are not black and white issues. For instance, if a candidate doesn't support the hiring of hundreds of police officers or the implementation of some lame security scheme, is he or she soft on crime or terrorism or garbage collection or whatever? Probably not!
When you hear a politican utter these words, run!
A political opponent is always soft on something, while the speaker is hard on something. Think "You don't want a tougher Patriot Act? Aren't you a patriot? Are you soft on terrorism?" and transfer the setting to Ontario or Canada.
These words are utterly meaningless! They are emotionally-charged catchphrases meant to bring about distrust in voters and hesitation in political rivals! They are the equivalent of "Do you beat your wife before or after dinner?"
These are not black and white issues. For instance, if a candidate doesn't support the hiring of hundreds of police officers or the implementation of some lame security scheme, is he or she soft on crime or terrorism or garbage collection or whatever? Probably not!
When you hear a politican utter these words, run!
Monday, October 01, 2007
On the Outside ... Phoning In
There is a daily radio show called Prime Time Sports®, hosted by Bob McCown®. I don't listen to it or its TV version, because I don't get the point of talk radio or phone-in radio or whatever.
What I do watch is televised baseball, and there have been several commercials on TV for McCown's show, most of which revolve around his addressing the TV audience, sharing his unique viewpoint concerning his listeners. In my favourite one of these ads, he talks about being rude to his callers, saying, "I don't call them; they call me."
This is how I feel about anyone who calls my home. A lot of people presuppose a social contract, in which we all agree to be polite to anyone who calls us. I never signed that contract. I consider such calls to be an invasion of my privacy.
Telemarketers, charitable donation solicitors, and others who introduce themselves, and want to know how I am, get very little of my time. I worked the phones for a market research company many years ago. Callers: I feel your pain - well, actually, I felt your pain - I don't want to be reminded of it. Don't call me.
For many years, I worked as a programmer/analyst, and received a lot of calls from headhunters - mostly when I was employed; rarely when I was looking for work. On one particular occasion, about ten years into my 'career,' some guy called me and went into his routine. I cut him short, and told him that I'd contact him if I needed his services.
He proceeded to lecture me on the fact that, if I wanted to get anywhere in the IT business, I should not alienate people like him. Too easy! I told him that, if he wanted to get anywhere in the headhunter business, he should not alienate people like me.
I didn't call you; you called me.
What I do watch is televised baseball, and there have been several commercials on TV for McCown's show, most of which revolve around his addressing the TV audience, sharing his unique viewpoint concerning his listeners. In my favourite one of these ads, he talks about being rude to his callers, saying, "I don't call them; they call me."
This is how I feel about anyone who calls my home. A lot of people presuppose a social contract, in which we all agree to be polite to anyone who calls us. I never signed that contract. I consider such calls to be an invasion of my privacy.
Telemarketers, charitable donation solicitors, and others who introduce themselves, and want to know how I am, get very little of my time. I worked the phones for a market research company many years ago. Callers: I feel your pain - well, actually, I felt your pain - I don't want to be reminded of it. Don't call me.
For many years, I worked as a programmer/analyst, and received a lot of calls from headhunters - mostly when I was employed; rarely when I was looking for work. On one particular occasion, about ten years into my 'career,' some guy called me and went into his routine. I cut him short, and told him that I'd contact him if I needed his services.
He proceeded to lecture me on the fact that, if I wanted to get anywhere in the IT business, I should not alienate people like him. Too easy! I told him that, if he wanted to get anywhere in the headhunter business, he should not alienate people like me.
I didn't call you; you called me.
Saturday, September 22, 2007
Water, Water Everywhere
[Another] Summer is winding down, and that means one last barbecue, one last ...
Anyway, we have only one grade of water in Ontario, and that's drinking water. So, I was wondering what the heck is with watering lawns for hours at a time? Grass isn't even a crop - it's an ornament, especially around condos and apartment buildings. Some people have decided that it's a good idea to spray drinking water on ornamental lawns for hours at a time. Is it me, or ...
Anyway, we have only one grade of water in Ontario, and that's drinking water. So, I was wondering what the heck is with watering lawns for hours at a time? Grass isn't even a crop - it's an ornament, especially around condos and apartment buildings. Some people have decided that it's a good idea to spray drinking water on ornamental lawns for hours at a time. Is it me, or ...
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
September 11th
It is time to put aside a few minutes to remember the innocents who were executed on this day in 2001 for the crime of being American, without trial or evidence or representation by counsel. My condolences to the families and friends of these victims, and to the world that is suffering the ongoing consequences of these crimes against humanity.
Monday, September 10, 2007
WEBC
Congratulations to all those who participated in the Weekend to End Breast Cancer, this past Saturday and Sunday, walking up to 60 KM to raise money for research towards finding a cure for Breast Cancer, and to show solidarity with victims and potential victims of this horrible disease!
Congratulations to my wife for completing the walk, and raising nearly $4500!
Congratulations to my wife for completing the walk, and raising nearly $4500!
Friday, August 31, 2007
Thursday, August 23, 2007
Ouch!!
Five runs in the fourth inning.
Nine runs in the sixth.
Ten runs in the eighth.
Six runs in the ninth.
The Texas Rangers became the first Major League baseball team in 110 years to score 30 runs in a game, setting an American League record Wednesday (yesterday) in a 30 - 3 rout of the Baltimore Orioles.
Well!
A national food brand - OK, it's President's Choice® - now sells a cookie called Lassy Mogs™. The name derives from "lassy," molasses, and "mog," a small, low-rising cake. This delicacy, and its name, originate from Atlantic Canada.
These cookies are out of this world! I recommend them without hesitation. I also recommend them with coffee!
There is no connection to Lassie®, although I keep wanting to ask, "Mog, has Timmy fallen down the well?"
From Wikipedia: All "Lassies" have been male, playing a female character. The female collie loses her coat at least once a year, making it unsuitable for use year-round. Also, the male is larger and a child actor can play opposite the dog for a longer period of time.
But I digress ... cookies ... try 'em ASAP!
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
Forest for the Trees
Until today, when the guys from Grasshoppers® worked their magic, we've let our back yard go [to hell], and the weeds have been really enormous.
Recently, we saw a little bird hopping around with a look on his face that said, "This forest wasn't on the map!"
Birds arriving later will no doubt think, "What forest?"
The most audacious visitors to Weedland were a family of raccoons, whom we repeatedly drove off with loud music from the radio. They didn't appreciate the rap station any more than we did, but a rock station was the one that combined music we could listen to with volume that they couldn't endure.
No birds or raccoons were harmed in this blogpost.
Recently, we saw a little bird hopping around with a look on his face that said, "This forest wasn't on the map!"
Birds arriving later will no doubt think, "What forest?"
The most audacious visitors to Weedland were a family of raccoons, whom we repeatedly drove off with loud music from the radio. They didn't appreciate the rap station any more than we did, but a rock station was the one that combined music we could listen to with volume that they couldn't endure.
No birds or raccoons were harmed in this blogpost.
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