I’m going to say the same thing here I’ve said everywhere else. The drop in Little League participation can probably be attributed to the increase in the popularity of football, though I have no numbers to back that up. And the demographic numbers Rock drops at the end are meaningless without a comparison to the demos of NFL, NBA, NHL, NASCAR, NCAA Football, and NCAA Basketball. My guess would be, with the exception of the NBA, the demos look very similar.
2.
jharp
To me it’s just gotten too goddamned expensive.
And I’ve been to literally hundreds of games. Had Indians season tickets in the 80’s. $9 a seat for the top seats.
3.
Corner Stone
The younker finally bought in to what we’ve been working on in low post basketball and had an impressive game. Double-double in scoring and rebounds with several assists, a few blocks and a steal.
4.
Corner Stone
Oh, and Nowitski is old and slow and Josh Smith seems to be finally coming into his own.
After six days, the Kickstarter is up to a little over $6,500, with a listed goal of $8,000. The numbers are skewed by one very large pledge, but I’m guardedly optimistic about making it.
The down side is that $8,000 is probably not enough to fund a print edition, just an ebook. For that I’d probably need $9,500 – $10,000. Of course, even if that’s the way it starts, it’s possible to save up the pennies and produce one, even if it starts out being digital only. It’s be a lot easier to do both at the same time, though, and I do really want to have something I can hold in my hands and point to as an accomplishment.
So, if you want that physical copy, please make a pledge. And if that happens, I could stop having to write these sorts of appeals, which I hate, and instead spend my time working on my stories.
6.
Corner Stone
Just think I’ll leave this here for now: Why They Hate Cornel West
“Michael Eric Dyson’s attack on Cornel West signals the bankruptcy of the black political class.”
7.
Germy Shoemangler
@Tissue Thin Pseudonym: Print on demand? Where rather than paying to print a bunch of books, you only print one for each order?
Yeah, I’ve given up ever going to Fenway again. I used to live a 15 minute walk away, and could get good walk-up tix pretty much whenever I wanted.
I can still get $10 tix to Astro’s homegames once in a while but what’s the point? The owner is putting AA level talent on the field.
And that’s a shame because there literally isn’t a bad seat in the house to watch a game. The park is amazingly simple for fan viewing.
Probably the worst seat I have ever had was third level up directly behind home plate. Felt like Mel Brooks Vertigo was going to get me when going to pee.
9.
BD of MN
Open thread you say? I’m going to vent about my damn van. Wheel bearing went out, and the CV axle is frozen into the bearing assembly and I cannot get it out. I pulled the whole spindle off, and have the spindle/bearing/CV in a 12 ton press and it *still* will not come loose. And of course, all the u-pull-it boneyards closed about 4 hours ago. Oh well, another weekend (probably week) up on the jackstands…
10.
Corner Stone
82F degrees in The Greater Houston Metro Area and it feels like 95F.
Hot and muggy as fuck.
11.
Violet
@Germy Shoemangler: I bought a print on demand book for my parents for a Christmas present. Good quality book when it arrived. Included black and white photos. Nicely done. I didn’t realize it was print-on-demand until it showed up with a print date of only a few days prior. I think that’s a good option.
@Germy Shoemangler: That’s a possibility, but there are costs associated with it. For there to be any print edition, on demand or otherwise, I need to pay for: a back cover; a entirely separate round of layout and proofing; and a set up fee.
13.
delk
Hockey.
I live across the street from a rink and it is booked solid. Lots of very young kids playing as well as over 50 leagues.
A mile west is the rink that the Blackhawks practice at and it is booked solid as well. So much so that the Hawks are building their own facility so that they can make money renting it out when they are not using it.
Bulls and Bucks just starting. Hope I can get the hate out of my head from listening to the live stream of NOM’s hate march in DC.
14.
raven
@BD of MN: I went to check the oil in my dodge caravan and the fucking plastic handle on the dipstick broke off. I tried to get it out from the top but made it worse so I had to take the housing off and push the broken stick out. $27 for a new dipstick and then I changed the oil. The manual says 5 quarts with the filter so that is what I put in. Now the damn stick reads way over.
@Tissue Thin Pseudonym: Don’t feel bad about reminding people, lots of folks want to do it but get distracted, like me! A reminder gives us another chance.
@satby: Thanks. I hate self-promotion in general and I have no idea where the boundary lies between acceptable reminders and just spamming. So reassurance that it’s okay is welcome, as is a polite advisory that I’ve gone over the line.
After teasing us with clouds all week. It is FINALLY raining. Too little, too late for our drought, but it’s better than no rain at all.
26.
Phylllis
@Tissue Thin Pseudonym: I have a tidy little stipend payment coming Friday & plan to make a pledge then. I’ve got it bookmarked.
27.
BD of MN
@raven: My 3.3 Caravan takes 4.5 qts…. I tried the heating (best I could do was MAPP) and penetrating oil routine a few times before I tried beating on it with a maul while it was still mounted to the car… Of course using a BFH mushroomed the end of the axle, so instead of just replacing the bearing I’m now also replacing the CV axle… I found several spindles for $30 from the boneyards, so I may just replace the whole assembly…
@raven:
The hot wrench!
@BD of MN:
Do be careful with a grease filled CV joint and a hot wrench. Of course if it seized it may not have much grease in it.
@Gravenstone: Yes, it’s the same Astros who have drastically improved their farm system in the last couple years, with that talent starting to filter up to the major league team.
34.
shell
HBO’s ‘new movie on a Saturday night’? ‘Godzilla’ Really? We really needed another fricking Godzilla remake?
I wish I had a better feel for how much a project like this usually raises from people searching at Kickstarter for it, as opposed to finding out about it from marketing somewhere else, like here or among my fantasy baseball league. So far, I’ve raised exactly $0 from people coming to the project from Kickstarter itself. The rationale for filtering my parents’ donation through the Kickstarter and paying the fees on it was that everything I read said that a project is more likely to be featured on the site and find backers there if it has reached at least 20% (or 40% in a couple of places) of its listed goal. I’m going to feel pretty stupid paying the $400 or so in fees on that money if I get nothing from it.
37.
Ruckus
@BD of MN:
MAPP is a warm wrench. OX/Acetylene, now that’s a hot wrench. We used to use them all the time installing or removing guide pins and bushings. When they got in the range of 2 inch dia they needed a bit of help. Dry ice sometimes helps on the inside part if heat isn’t enough.
But I also see that you actually just need to replace the entire assembly. Easier and a lot less dangerous. Not as much stress relief though.
38.
Mary G
@Tissue Thin Pseudonym: I put in my mite, sorry it couldn’t be more. One thing that stopped me doing it before this is that your Kickstarter doesn’t take Discovercard or Paypal, which are what I use 99% of the time. I had to dig my emergency Visa out of the ice block in the freezer. Only for a Juicer!
We are getting a tiny bit of rain today, not enough to get under the eaves wet, but still there’s a puddle in the low spot in the driveway. Free water from the sky seems awesome.
39.
Ruckus
@efgoldman:
The power of persuasion. Don’t even have to say the real words, just put the image in your mind.
Black kids are lost to baseball because it is a summer sport. The public schools manage a short baseball season, but if parents don’t have the money to pursue summer teams and travel teams then their kids get shortchanged. Football, basketball? Season starts and ends during the school year.
My grandson loves baseball, is a starter on the varsity team of his high school in his freshman year. His parents commit to a longer season outside the school sports program as well.
He’s Obama black.
Maybe you’ll see him in the majors in 8 or 9 years.
Football, basketball? Season starts and ends during the school year.
That’s mostly true for football, but not basketball. AAU teams dominate the basketball landscape and to be a serious candidate for a Division I scholarship you pretty much have to be on one. However, being on an AAU basketball team is significantly cheaper than one of the elite baseball or hockey programs.
49.
Ruckus
@Mnemosyne (tablet):
Our two are doing as they always do in the afternoon. Sleeping.
Tampa Bay is definitely better than the Red Wings if you ignore the goaltending. But, of course, you can’t ignore it, and Petr Mrazek is giving up goals like he uses vowels in his name while Ben Bishop is channeling Matt O’Connor. The Wings are so far into his head they should be charged a security deposit.
51.
NotMax
This past week was the first since November which didn’t necessitate closing all the windows at night because of cold temps.
Small gratifications, #19,771 in a series. Collect ’em all.
52.
a hip hop artist from Idaho (fka Bella Q)
OT:
I’ve set up the Team Bella Q page for the May 9 NAMI walk.
Team Bella Q includes people from all over the internet and the 3D world, each of whom cares about someone who lives with a medical illness known as mental illness.
NAMI offers all its programs at no cost to the participants. Team Bella Q hopes you will join us to raise money for NAMI Southwest OH. Donating is easy, fast, secure, and may be done anonymously.
You may join the team without a donation, and you can do so with your nym from here! NOTE: While I can (and will) send you a “personal” thanks, it is through the NAMI site and I won’t have access to any email address you used. Full disclosure: NAMI will require an email address, and will send you emails, but you can unsubscribe from their list pretty easily. I hope our beloved Soonergrunt and his family can find support through NAMI.
@efgoldman: I’m watching it without sound in a bar, so I have no idea. That said, if there’s going to be a Bruins broadcaster involved, thank god it’s not Jack Edwards.
If you like the classic Universal monster movies like “Bride of Frankenstein” or “The Wolf Man,” it’s a must-see. It’s probably one of the all-time best movie parodies because it clearly loves its subjects while mocking them. Lon Chaney Jr. plays it straight as Larry Talbot/The Wolf Man and does a great job.
But if you never liked the old Universal monster movies, A&C’s version won’t make you like them.
59.
Ajabu
Hey BJ family:
I don’t want to step on Tissue Thin’s push, but my Kickstarter is really languishing.
I’ve only got 13 days to go and haven’t cracked $600 on a funding goal of $15,000.
I don’t have any large pledges to skew it (largest yet is $250 from a Doctor who took music lessons from me back in the day) so I essentially have to get about 300 $50 backers or 600 $25 backers.
I’m a musician. I don’t know anybody with money. Especially me. I can’t pad it.
What little bit I have pledged is almost exclusively from you guys and, win or lose, I’m very grateful.
Those of you with big contact lists, please try to help me out. It’s a very worthwhile project to celebrate my 50 years in music and I WILL get it done. If not this time, we’ll do it again!
If I have to do it more modestly, so be it. But let’s see if we can get closer with this one.
So far the numbers are embarrassing. Nobody’s card is charged unless we hit the $15K so your money is probably safe.
Here it is again: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1939410000/50th-anniversary-cd
And big hugs to all the BJers who already came through!!
@Ajabu: I feel bad for stepping on your Kickstarter, which did begin before mine, but I’d already missed so many deadlines to launch that I pretty had to go with it once everything was in place.
61.
Ajabu
@Tissue Thin Pseudonym:
Hey, we’re both just trying to create art in a country predisposed to treating us like lepers because we don’t have a “real job”.
If you look at it from a historical perspective, virtually all art (music, writing, painting, etc.) was done under the auspices of patrons. We just have to find them on the intertoobs.
Incidentally, I wasn’t throwing off at you with my comment about skewing. Just stating a fact as to why mine is in the dumper currently. Hope you weren’t offended.
And good luck. Looks like you’re going to make it!
Only it is impossible for me to find a game on the radio in central Indiana.
Growing up, I used to listen to Reds games on WTTS Bloomington. I was a Pirates fan, though. The Reds announcer was Joe Nuxhall, whose claim to fame was that he had been the youngest player to ever play major league baseball. It was WWII and he was a few weeks shy of his sixteenth birthday. The games were sponsored by Hudepohl beer and it was pretty clear that he was enjoyed the sponsor’s product.
@Ajabu: Not offended at all. I have the advantages of well-off parents and, finally, a steady job.
64.
Ajabu
@Tissue Thin Pseudonym:
Blessings are upon you. I have neither parents (I’ve already lived longer than either of them) or the elusive steady job. I do a lot of teaching but it’s erratic. A job is nigh impossible, actually.
I could just imagine the interview: “Well, let’s see. You’re in your 70’s, you haven’t done anything but play and teach music for 50 years… You have a Bachelor’s degree? In music? Isn’t that the career equivalent of completing 7th grade? Oh, yes, you’ll fit right into our corporate environment.”
Incidentally. I noticed that you were the 1st BJ member to pledge. I will return the favor as soon as this scramble is over. Thanks again.
65.
MJ
@Ajabu: I’m in for $25. Wish it could be more. Best of luck.
@Tissue Thin Pseudonym: Jack Edwards is a homer, but he can’t hold a candle to some of the local commentators in that regard. The Red Wings’ announcers are among the very worst. They barely even acknowledge the Wings’ opponents exist except to rue penalties not called by refs who are always letting their Wings down. At least Edwards knows the opposition and shows some enthusiasm when they play well against the Bruins.
69.
Sly
I agree with Rock that time is passing baseball by, but I would respectfully suggest that the best solution to that problem is for Major League Baseball to become the first major American sports leagues to become gender integrated.
70.
Corner Stone
@Gravenstone: Quick. Who is their signature player, players?
71.
Corner Stone
@Tissue Thin Pseudonym: They’ve always had a good farm system. You don’t know what you’re talking about here. Stick to women’s hockey.
72.
Corner Stone
@efgoldman: GFY.
You have no fucking clue what happened with league change and/or ownership change.
Just shut the fuck up, you fucking clown.
73.
Corner Stone
Err, life didn’t include an “always” clause. Derrr!
GFY.
@Tissue Thin Pseudonym: By the way, if you’re still there -in the bar, that is (and if so, have someone else drive you home) –have them turn on the Vancouver-Calgary game. It’s 4-4, midway thru the third.
78.
Omnes Omnibus
@BobS: Meh, the ‘Hawks win is the only hockey thing that matters.
79.
BobS
@Omnes Omnibus: I’ve heard that there are Blackhawks fans who are also hockey fans, but most of them apparently got lost in the shuffle when the bandwagon filled up 7 or 8 years ago.
Calgary just made it 6-4 with an empty net goal.
80.
Omnes Omnibus
@BobS: I have never been a been a bandwagon fan of any team. And, fuck you, for suggesting otherwise.
81.
BobS
@Omnes Omnibus:Dry those tears — I wasn’t referring to you. Or any of the other lifelong Blackhawks fans who discovered a hockey team in Chicago a few years ago.
If anyone is still reading, Corner Stone is, as usual, completely full of shit. In 2012, Baseball Prospectus ranked the Astros farm system as 25th of 30 teams in MLB. In 2011, they were 28th. In 2010, they were 28th. In 2009, they were 30th. In 2008, the were 29th. In 2007, they were 28th. Other publications had them ranked in similar positions. So, no, it’s not true that, “They’ve always had a good farm system.”
Stick with poking yourself in the eye with sharp objects.
83.
ruemara
@Corner Stone: We hate Cornell West because he’s a Stepin Fetchit parody of black intelligentsia who does even less for the black community than people who read Jacobin magazine. But thanks for all the interest from behind the viewing glass.
84.
Corner Stone
@Tissue Thin Pseudonym: JMN, after about 2005 the Astros made a concerted effort to trade talented prospects for established players in other clubs. Their farm system identified a number of current MLB players, almost all playing for other teams at present.
As usual, your myopia is not allowing you to see the whole picture.
85.
xephyr
Chris Rock is right. In addition to MLB being shackled to a fading sensibility, it’s tooooo long and boring! Speed up the game, and don’t be afraid to get a little funky, otherwise it’s going to be a dinosaur walking away… maybe not today, and maybe not in a few other countries, but it’s happening here – all the big money notwithstanding. What will they do when the fan base dies off?
I used to think you were just excitable, but now I know you are an asshole. It’s always good to know the assholes in a group, you know not to trust them with anything.
You should go somewhere where your “fuck you!” attitude will be appreciated. Anywhere will do that isn’t here, where you stand out as someone no one wants to hear from.
@Corner Stone: Name them. Going through their prospect lists for the years in question, there isn’t anything there. If you go back to before the years I listed, you get Hunter Pence, and that’s just about it for above average MLB players. After him, the two best careers turned in by Astros prospects from that era are Bud Norris, a useful but fungible 4/5 starter, and Chris Johnson, who has been a league average hitter and decent third baseman over 2,500 plate appearances. Other than those two (and I guess Troy Patton if you have a thing for useful but not outstanding bullpen arms) there’s a lot of Jason Castro and Jiovanni Mier.
Beyond that, your argument doesn’t make sense even on its own. You can’t say that a farm system is good even though it traded away all of its quality prospects. That is one of the reasons that it’s bad. In the Astros case, it’s a secondary reason, because their drafting has been terrible. The Tigers, on the other hand, have a terrible farm system despite drafting reasonably well in recent years because they keep trading prospects away. That may or may not have been worth it, but it doesn’t change the fact that their list of prospects is putrid.
But, please, tell me which awesome players in the majors were originally in the Astros system but were traded away as prospects.
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Vince
I’m going to say the same thing here I’ve said everywhere else. The drop in Little League participation can probably be attributed to the increase in the popularity of football, though I have no numbers to back that up. And the demographic numbers Rock drops at the end are meaningless without a comparison to the demos of NFL, NBA, NHL, NASCAR, NCAA Football, and NCAA Basketball. My guess would be, with the exception of the NBA, the demos look very similar.
jharp
To me it’s just gotten too goddamned expensive.
And I’ve been to literally hundreds of games. Had Indians season tickets in the 80’s. $9 a seat for the top seats.
Corner Stone
The younker finally bought in to what we’ve been working on in low post basketball and had an impressive game. Double-double in scoring and rebounds with several assists, a few blocks and a steal.
Corner Stone
Oh, and Nowitski is old and slow and Josh Smith seems to be finally coming into his own.
Tissue Thin Pseudonym
@efgoldman: Read about hockey!
After six days, the Kickstarter is up to a little over $6,500, with a listed goal of $8,000. The numbers are skewed by one very large pledge, but I’m guardedly optimistic about making it.
The down side is that $8,000 is probably not enough to fund a print edition, just an ebook. For that I’d probably need $9,500 – $10,000. Of course, even if that’s the way it starts, it’s possible to save up the pennies and produce one, even if it starts out being digital only. It’s be a lot easier to do both at the same time, though, and I do really want to have something I can hold in my hands and point to as an accomplishment.
So, if you want that physical copy, please make a pledge. And if that happens, I could stop having to write these sorts of appeals, which I hate, and instead spend my time working on my stories.
Corner Stone
Just think I’ll leave this here for now:
Why They Hate Cornel West
“Michael Eric Dyson’s attack on Cornel West signals the bankruptcy of the black political class.”
Germy Shoemangler
@Tissue Thin Pseudonym: Print on demand? Where rather than paying to print a bunch of books, you only print one for each order?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Print_on_demand
I’m new, so if you’ve already addressed this topic, pardon.
Corner Stone
@efgoldman:
I can still get $10 tix to Astro’s homegames once in a while but what’s the point? The owner is putting AA level talent on the field.
And that’s a shame because there literally isn’t a bad seat in the house to watch a game. The park is amazingly simple for fan viewing.
Probably the worst seat I have ever had was third level up directly behind home plate. Felt like Mel Brooks Vertigo was going to get me when going to pee.
BD of MN
Open thread you say? I’m going to vent about my damn van. Wheel bearing went out, and the CV axle is frozen into the bearing assembly and I cannot get it out. I pulled the whole spindle off, and have the spindle/bearing/CV in a 12 ton press and it *still* will not come loose. And of course, all the u-pull-it boneyards closed about 4 hours ago. Oh well, another weekend (probably week) up on the jackstands…
Corner Stone
82F degrees in The Greater Houston Metro Area and it feels like 95F.
Hot and muggy as fuck.
Violet
@Germy Shoemangler: I bought a print on demand book for my parents for a Christmas present. Good quality book when it arrived. Included black and white photos. Nicely done. I didn’t realize it was print-on-demand until it showed up with a print date of only a few days prior. I think that’s a good option.
Tissue Thin Pseudonym
@Germy Shoemangler: That’s a possibility, but there are costs associated with it. For there to be any print edition, on demand or otherwise, I need to pay for: a back cover; a entirely separate round of layout and proofing; and a set up fee.
delk
Hockey.
I live across the street from a rink and it is booked solid. Lots of very young kids playing as well as over 50 leagues.
A mile west is the rink that the Blackhawks practice at and it is booked solid as well. So much so that the Hawks are building their own facility so that they can make money renting it out when they are not using it.
Bulls and Bucks just starting. Hope I can get the hate out of my head from listening to the live stream of NOM’s hate march in DC.
raven
@BD of MN: I went to check the oil in my dodge caravan and the fucking plastic handle on the dipstick broke off. I tried to get it out from the top but made it worse so I had to take the housing off and push the broken stick out. $27 for a new dipstick and then I changed the oil. The manual says 5 quarts with the filter so that is what I put in. Now the damn stick reads way over.
Oh, screw baseball AND hockey!
raven
@BD of MN: What about heating it?
ixnay
Baseball is, however, the very best game for listening to during night-time driving.
Omnes Omnibus
@raven: They put 7 quarts of synthetic in my Saab today. Not cheap.
raven
@Omnes Omnibus: Yea, a 5 qt jug of Havoline was $23!
Corner Stone
@ixnay:
It is if you enjoy 15 minute half inning changes.
jharp
@ixnay:
Agree. Only it is impossible for me to find a game on the radio in central Indiana.
Miss those days of listening to the ball game on the radio.
raven
@jharp: KMOX doesn’t come in???
Tissue Thin Pseudonym
@ixnay: Depending upon how long the drive is, cricket might be better.
satby
@Tissue Thin Pseudonym: Don’t feel bad about reminding people, lots of folks want to do it but get distracted, like me! A reminder gives us another chance.
Tissue Thin Pseudonym
@satby: Thanks. I hate self-promotion in general and I have no idea where the boundary lies between acceptable reminders and just spamming. So reassurance that it’s okay is welcome, as is a polite advisory that I’ve gone over the line.
Mnemosyne (tablet)
After teasing us with clouds all week. It is FINALLY raining. Too little, too late for our drought, but it’s better than no rain at all.
Phylllis
@Tissue Thin Pseudonym: I have a tidy little stipend payment coming Friday & plan to make a pledge then. I’ve got it bookmarked.
BD of MN
@raven: My 3.3 Caravan takes 4.5 qts…. I tried the heating (best I could do was MAPP) and penetrating oil routine a few times before I tried beating on it with a maul while it was still mounted to the car… Of course using a BFH mushroomed the end of the axle, so instead of just replacing the bearing I’m now also replacing the CV axle… I found several spindles for $30 from the boneyards, so I may just replace the whole assembly…
jeffreyw
@raven: Didja crank it and run it for a minute to fill the filter?
Gravenstone
@Corner Stone:
This would be the very same Astros who are currently LEADING the AL West? Those Astros? Will it last? Probably not. But damn, enjoy while you can.
WaterGirl
@Tissue Thin Pseudonym: Count me in when I get paid on the 1st.
rikyrah
@Corner Stone:
BWA HA HA HA HA AH HA HA AH AH AH
Ruckus
@raven:
The hot wrench!
@BD of MN:
Do be careful with a grease filled CV joint and a hot wrench. Of course if it seized it may not have much grease in it.
Tissue Thin Pseudonym
@Gravenstone: Yes, it’s the same Astros who have drastically improved their farm system in the last couple years, with that talent starting to filter up to the major league team.
shell
HBO’s ‘new movie on a Saturday night’? ‘Godzilla’ Really? We really needed another fricking Godzilla remake?
SatanicPanic
@Corner Stone: thanks but no thanks
Tissue Thin Pseudonym
I wish I had a better feel for how much a project like this usually raises from people searching at Kickstarter for it, as opposed to finding out about it from marketing somewhere else, like here or among my fantasy baseball league. So far, I’ve raised exactly $0 from people coming to the project from Kickstarter itself. The rationale for filtering my parents’ donation through the Kickstarter and paying the fees on it was that everything I read said that a project is more likely to be featured on the site and find backers there if it has reached at least 20% (or 40% in a couple of places) of its listed goal. I’m going to feel pretty stupid paying the $400 or so in fees on that money if I get nothing from it.
Ruckus
@BD of MN:
MAPP is a warm wrench. OX/Acetylene, now that’s a hot wrench. We used to use them all the time installing or removing guide pins and bushings. When they got in the range of 2 inch dia they needed a bit of help. Dry ice sometimes helps on the inside part if heat isn’t enough.
But I also see that you actually just need to replace the entire assembly. Easier and a lot less dangerous. Not as much stress relief though.
Mary G
@Tissue Thin Pseudonym: I put in my mite, sorry it couldn’t be more. One thing that stopped me doing it before this is that your Kickstarter doesn’t take Discovercard or Paypal, which are what I use 99% of the time. I had to dig my emergency Visa out of the ice block in the freezer. Only for a Juicer!
We are getting a tiny bit of rain today, not enough to get under the eaves wet, but still there’s a puddle in the low spot in the driveway. Free water from the sky seems awesome.
Ruckus
@efgoldman:
The power of persuasion. Don’t even have to say the real words, just put the image in your mind.
Tissue Thin Pseudonym
@efgoldman: Similar, but not quite identical.
Ruckus
@Mary G:
You and Mems got there first. It is, scratch that, was raining here in Old Town as well, not hard but more than I expected.
Ruckus
@Tissue Thin Pseudonym:
Some might say better.
Tissue Thin Pseudonym
@Mary G: Thank you!
Mnemosyne (tablet)
@Mary G:
@Ruckus:
The cats are very confused by the strange sounds and smells. They’re not used to hearing cars driving through puddles.
raven
@jeffreyw: Gotta go back and check it again.
raven
@efgoldman: For nighttime baseball that is it.
Kay Eye
Black kids are lost to baseball because it is a summer sport. The public schools manage a short baseball season, but if parents don’t have the money to pursue summer teams and travel teams then their kids get shortchanged. Football, basketball? Season starts and ends during the school year.
My grandson loves baseball, is a starter on the varsity team of his high school in his freshman year. His parents commit to a longer season outside the school sports program as well.
He’s Obama black.
Maybe you’ll see him in the majors in 8 or 9 years.
Tissue Thin Pseudonym
@Kay Eye:
That’s mostly true for football, but not basketball. AAU teams dominate the basketball landscape and to be a serious candidate for a Division I scholarship you pretty much have to be on one. However, being on an AAU basketball team is significantly cheaper than one of the elite baseball or hockey programs.
Ruckus
@Mnemosyne (tablet):
Our two are doing as they always do in the afternoon. Sleeping.
Tissue Thin Pseudonym
Tampa Bay is definitely better than the Red Wings if you ignore the goaltending. But, of course, you can’t ignore it, and Petr Mrazek is giving up goals like he uses vowels in his name while Ben Bishop is channeling Matt O’Connor. The Wings are so far into his head they should be charged a security deposit.
NotMax
This past week was the first since November which didn’t necessitate closing all the windows at night because of cold temps.
Small gratifications, #19,771 in a series. Collect ’em all.
a hip hop artist from Idaho (fka Bella Q)
OT:
I’ve set up the Team Bella Q page for the May 9 NAMI walk.
You may join the team without a donation, and you can do so with your nym from here! NOTE: While I can (and will) send you a “personal” thanks, it is through the NAMI site and I won’t have access to any email address you used. Full disclosure: NAMI will require an email address, and will send you emails, but you can unsubscribe from their list pretty easily. I hope our beloved Soonergrunt and his family can find support through NAMI.
Tissue Thin Pseudonym
Hopefully, we don’t blow the two goal lead this time.
Tissue Thin Pseudonym
@a hip hop artist from Idaho (fka Bella Q): I’m in.
shell
For those who get MeTv on their cable lineup- at 10pm, ‘Abbot and Costello Meet Frankenstein’
a hip hop artist from Idaho (fka Bella Q)
@Tissue Thin Pseudonym: Thanks!
Tissue Thin Pseudonym
@efgoldman: I’m watching it without sound in a bar, so I have no idea. That said, if there’s going to be a Bruins broadcaster involved, thank god it’s not Jack Edwards.
Mnemosyne (tablet)
@shell:
@efgoldman:
If you like the classic Universal monster movies like “Bride of Frankenstein” or “The Wolf Man,” it’s a must-see. It’s probably one of the all-time best movie parodies because it clearly loves its subjects while mocking them. Lon Chaney Jr. plays it straight as Larry Talbot/The Wolf Man and does a great job.
But if you never liked the old Universal monster movies, A&C’s version won’t make you like them.
Ajabu
Hey BJ family:
I don’t want to step on Tissue Thin’s push, but my Kickstarter is really languishing.
I’ve only got 13 days to go and haven’t cracked $600 on a funding goal of $15,000.
I don’t have any large pledges to skew it (largest yet is $250 from a Doctor who took music lessons from me back in the day) so I essentially have to get about 300 $50 backers or 600 $25 backers.
I’m a musician. I don’t know anybody with money. Especially me. I can’t pad it.
What little bit I have pledged is almost exclusively from you guys and, win or lose, I’m very grateful.
Those of you with big contact lists, please try to help me out. It’s a very worthwhile project to celebrate my 50 years in music and I WILL get it done. If not this time, we’ll do it again!
If I have to do it more modestly, so be it. But let’s see if we can get closer with this one.
So far the numbers are embarrassing. Nobody’s card is charged unless we hit the $15K so your money is probably safe.
Here it is again: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1939410000/50th-anniversary-cd
And big hugs to all the BJers who already came through!!
Tissue Thin Pseudonym
@Ajabu: I feel bad for stepping on your Kickstarter, which did begin before mine, but I’d already missed so many deadlines to launch that I pretty had to go with it once everything was in place.
Ajabu
@Tissue Thin Pseudonym:
Hey, we’re both just trying to create art in a country predisposed to treating us like lepers because we don’t have a “real job”.
If you look at it from a historical perspective, virtually all art (music, writing, painting, etc.) was done under the auspices of patrons. We just have to find them on the intertoobs.
Incidentally, I wasn’t throwing off at you with my comment about skewing. Just stating a fact as to why mine is in the dumper currently. Hope you weren’t offended.
And good luck. Looks like you’re going to make it!
Origuy
@jharp:
Growing up, I used to listen to Reds games on WTTS Bloomington. I was a Pirates fan, though. The Reds announcer was Joe Nuxhall, whose claim to fame was that he had been the youngest player to ever play major league baseball. It was WWII and he was a few weeks shy of his sixteenth birthday. The games were sponsored by Hudepohl beer and it was pretty clear that he was enjoyed the sponsor’s product.
Tissue Thin Pseudonym
@Ajabu: Not offended at all. I have the advantages of well-off parents and, finally, a steady job.
Ajabu
@Tissue Thin Pseudonym:
Blessings are upon you. I have neither parents (I’ve already lived longer than either of them) or the elusive steady job. I do a lot of teaching but it’s erratic. A job is nigh impossible, actually.
I could just imagine the interview: “Well, let’s see. You’re in your 70’s, you haven’t done anything but play and teach music for 50 years… You have a Bachelor’s degree? In music? Isn’t that the career equivalent of completing 7th grade? Oh, yes, you’ll fit right into our corporate environment.”
Incidentally. I noticed that you were the 1st BJ member to pledge. I will return the favor as soon as this scramble is over. Thanks again.
MJ
@Ajabu: I’m in for $25. Wish it could be more. Best of luck.
Tissue Thin Pseudonym
@efgoldman: Every time Pierre is inside the glass, I hope someone drills him in the face with a slap shot.
Ajabu
@Tissue Thin Pseudonym:
@efgoldman:
I wish I could get with you guys on this stuff but…
I’m a musician from the Caribbean. If it’s not Basketball I don’t have a clue.
Here’s one for your dining & dancing pleasure –
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=54aPmBnAj00
smintheus
@Tissue Thin Pseudonym: Jack Edwards is a homer, but he can’t hold a candle to some of the local commentators in that regard. The Red Wings’ announcers are among the very worst. They barely even acknowledge the Wings’ opponents exist except to rue penalties not called by refs who are always letting their Wings down. At least Edwards knows the opposition and shows some enthusiasm when they play well against the Bruins.
Sly
I agree with Rock that time is passing baseball by, but I would respectfully suggest that the best solution to that problem is for Major League Baseball to become the first major American sports leagues to become gender integrated.
Corner Stone
@Gravenstone: Quick. Who is their signature player, players?
Corner Stone
@Tissue Thin Pseudonym: They’ve always had a good farm system. You don’t know what you’re talking about here. Stick to women’s hockey.
Corner Stone
@efgoldman: GFY.
You have no fucking clue what happened with league change and/or ownership change.
Just shut the fuck up, you fucking clown.
Corner Stone
Err, life didn’t include an “always” clause. Derrr!
GFY.
BobS
@Tissue Thin Pseudonym: Terrible announcer.
Omnes Omnibus
@Corner Stone: I am stunned that you take this so seriously. Stunned.
Joel
@Corner Stone: Altuve and a bunch of schmucks
BobS
@Tissue Thin Pseudonym: By the way, if you’re still there -in the bar, that is (and if so, have someone else drive you home) –have them turn on the Vancouver-Calgary game. It’s 4-4, midway thru the third.
Omnes Omnibus
@BobS: Meh, the ‘Hawks win is the only hockey thing that matters.
BobS
@Omnes Omnibus: I’ve heard that there are Blackhawks fans who are also hockey fans, but most of them apparently got lost in the shuffle when the bandwagon filled up 7 or 8 years ago.
Calgary just made it 6-4 with an empty net goal.
Omnes Omnibus
@BobS: I have never been a been a bandwagon fan of any team. And, fuck you, for suggesting otherwise.
BobS
@Omnes Omnibus:Dry those tears — I wasn’t referring to you. Or any of the other lifelong Blackhawks fans who discovered a hockey team in Chicago a few years ago.
Tissue Thin Pseudonym
If anyone is still reading, Corner Stone is, as usual, completely full of shit. In 2012, Baseball Prospectus ranked the Astros farm system as 25th of 30 teams in MLB. In 2011, they were 28th. In 2010, they were 28th. In 2009, they were 30th. In 2008, the were 29th. In 2007, they were 28th. Other publications had them ranked in similar positions. So, no, it’s not true that, “They’ve always had a good farm system.”
Stick with poking yourself in the eye with sharp objects.
ruemara
@Corner Stone: We hate Cornell West because he’s a Stepin Fetchit parody of black intelligentsia who does even less for the black community than people who read Jacobin magazine. But thanks for all the interest from behind the viewing glass.
Corner Stone
@Tissue Thin Pseudonym: JMN, after about 2005 the Astros made a concerted effort to trade talented prospects for established players in other clubs. Their farm system identified a number of current MLB players, almost all playing for other teams at present.
As usual, your myopia is not allowing you to see the whole picture.
xephyr
Chris Rock is right. In addition to MLB being shackled to a fading sensibility, it’s tooooo long and boring! Speed up the game, and don’t be afraid to get a little funky, otherwise it’s going to be a dinosaur walking away… maybe not today, and maybe not in a few other countries, but it’s happening here – all the big money notwithstanding. What will they do when the fan base dies off?
J R in WV
@Corner Stone:
I used to think you were just excitable, but now I know you are an asshole. It’s always good to know the assholes in a group, you know not to trust them with anything.
You should go somewhere where your “fuck you!” attitude will be appreciated. Anywhere will do that isn’t here, where you stand out as someone no one wants to hear from.
Tissue Thin Pseudonym
@Corner Stone: Name them. Going through their prospect lists for the years in question, there isn’t anything there. If you go back to before the years I listed, you get Hunter Pence, and that’s just about it for above average MLB players. After him, the two best careers turned in by Astros prospects from that era are Bud Norris, a useful but fungible 4/5 starter, and Chris Johnson, who has been a league average hitter and decent third baseman over 2,500 plate appearances. Other than those two (and I guess Troy Patton if you have a thing for useful but not outstanding bullpen arms) there’s a lot of Jason Castro and Jiovanni Mier.
Beyond that, your argument doesn’t make sense even on its own. You can’t say that a farm system is good even though it traded away all of its quality prospects. That is one of the reasons that it’s bad. In the Astros case, it’s a secondary reason, because their drafting has been terrible. The Tigers, on the other hand, have a terrible farm system despite drafting reasonably well in recent years because they keep trading prospects away. That may or may not have been worth it, but it doesn’t change the fact that their list of prospects is putrid.
But, please, tell me which awesome players in the majors were originally in the Astros system but were traded away as prospects.