Cup of Coffee

May 17, 2011: Unfamiliar

106 Comments

Today I have an interview that could lead to me working for a different company for the first time in seven years. I don't feel nervous, exactly, but my rut hasn't been a particularly bad one.

106 thoughts on “May 17, 2011: Unfamiliar”

      1. Having read part of the script for his show, I am amazed that, in 140 characters or less, Cowherd has managed to make it even douchier.

    1. For whatever reason, the Ft Myers feed doesn't work here at work. I think it's a function of it being a flash-based feed rather than through Windows Media.

      Edit: The Daytona Cubs' feed works, so at least I'll get the game somehow.

            1. Wait until he's in a massive slump, then trade him for

              peanuts

              an established closer.

              FTFY, AYFTFM.

                1. Good lord, did I get the tags messed up there. I fixed nothing. I will take my ball and go home now.

                  1. Hey, on a positive note, it gave me another opportunity to bash _elm_n, the Twin's version of Benny Sapp to me.

              2. WGOML. Not that I disagree. I'll give Bill Smith the benefit of doubt, but he's dug himself into a hole. I hope it's part of the usual ups-and-downs of GMing rather than indicative of his ability.

  6. Hey, why didn't anyone tell me today is the NBA lottery? I can't wait to see just how heartbreaking it ends up being for the Wolves.

              2. Looks like it can only end one way, but it can end only one way. I'm confusing myself.

    2. The Wolves have a 25% chance of getting the #1 pick.

      I did the ESPN random lottery generator, and the Wolves won. Of course, they did last year as well, and look how that turned out.

      1. I had to do it about 25 times for the Wolves to get the first pick.

        So, what will be more heartbreaking? Getting the 3rd pick, or miraculously getting the first pick and having Kahn pick Bismack?

  7. Zooey Daschanel is a new sitcom on Fox this coming Fall. See video below. I've known about this for a while because an old friend of mine has a 10 year old son who is at least in the pilot as the cheeky neighbor kid. The parents were totally taken by surprise that he made the cut and aren't sure they want show business for their kid. Basically one of them would have to move to L.A. if they decide they want to do this. Tough decision. Anyway the pilot looks interesting, something I wouldn't necessarily watch if it didn't have ZD and a friend's kid.

  8. A question for the site's admins:

    On the old site I used to be able to look at the quick view of a scheduled post (or a preview of the full post itself) to determine what time it was scheduled to go live. Is there a way to restore that so when you see a list of posts all scheduled for the same day you get more information than simply the date? Being able to see what kind of open windows there are in the mornings would be helpful just to make sure I don't step on anyone.

    2. I figured it wouldn't be long, and I hope he was as comfortable and peaceful as possible. What a great, humble man. There are very few like him in the game anymore.

    3. Wow, that cancer didn't mess around. A shame.

      I never got to see Harmon during his career, but I have seen every episode of Home Run Derby on which he appeared, and I think he was part of the show for a half-season or so because nobody could beat him.

    5. My daughter met Harmon a few years ago at an event and worked up the courage to say hello and tell him what big Twins fans we are. He was, she said, as nice as nice could be.

      "You would really like him, dad," she told me. I have no reason to doubt her judgement.

  10. Queen Elizabeth is in Dublin today, part of a 4 day visit to Ireland. It's the first visit my an English monarch since 1911, when Ireland was still part of the UK. I'll avoid discussing the various politics surrounding the visit, but needless to say I'm very interested in what happens.

  11. Joys of home ownership: I'm stripping the paint off the cabinets this week because the previous owner painted acrylic over oil. d'oh. Also on the list this summer are such fun tasks as finish painting the exterior of the house, a small kitchen up grade (counter top and tile back splash), and the installation of a new vanity in the "master" bath.

    1. Not only does it cost more per month, but you also get to do all the maintenance!

      I wish someone would have explained home-ownership better to me when I started looking. I'd have all kinds of money for baseball games and beer and such if it weren't for my stupid house. (Ok, so I did know what I was getting into, but that isn't going to stop me from complaining about it.)

      Also, vinyl siding owns.

      1. We're walking a very fine line with regards to this house. We're both trying to get out of texas, and if we're successful in escaping we'll need to sell this house which means keeping the price affordable.

    2. We don't own our house, but (per our agreement with the landlord when we moved in) will be stripping the wallpaper out of the kitchen and repainting the plaster white. We got about 10% done before the cold weather settled in last year and made working with the windows open a no-go. We also have the trim (door frames and baseboards) to paint in the other parts of the house we've already remodeled.

  12. bS,

    How much does your bean recipe from last week make in terms of servings? I'm only cooking for 2 here (really more like 1 1/2 since mo chailín is tiny and doesn't eat as much as I do) and your pot looks large. Should I halve or even quarter what you've got there?

    1. About 8-10 (large) servings, Magoo. It will keep for a week, easy. And probably freezes well, too.

      You could certainly cut the recipe in half.

  13. Just had one of those magazine scammers come to my door. Kid needed only 3,000 more points to get his trip to Paris. He also wanted me to help him with his oration skills(!). When I told him I didn't want any magazines, he said that last year he sold chocolates but they made him stop because too many people have diabetes. He then said I could donate to homeless vets. I told him goodbye. I wish I had asked to see his permit and called the police if he didn't have one.

  14. It pales compared to the other news of this morning, but last night I came home to a dead hard drive on my home computer.

    I haven't opened the case yet to inspect, but I fear that this is the machine in which I only have one hard drive (I usually prefer to have a separate data drive from the drive with the OS and applications). In which case, BERT! because I hadn't done a backup in a long, long time, and that's the machine on which I do my taxes, among other things.

    so, what's the expected price tag to have a service access and copy all the data from a defunct hard drive these days?

    1. Before you shell out the cash for a service, have you considered copying the data yourself? First, remove bad drive and put it in the freezer. Really, put it in the freezer. Then get a new hard drive in your PC and install an OS. After a couple of days in the freezer, stick the bad drive into the machine. If the system recognizes the drive, start copying to the new drive. You can find some free utilities for this on the web, I used to use on called XXCopy. One thing to keep in mind is that you'll probably have to change permissions on the My Documents folders to gain access to them from the new C: drive. There's a knowledge base article on that on the MS website. A quick Google will get you there. The key is to make sure you have everything ready to go before you start. Once the old drive heats up enough, chances are good it will seize up again before too long.

      1. The way I got everything off of my shot HD was to run a CD based OS and copy to an external HD instead of twayn's method of a new HD with an OS installed. Though you will need a new HD eventually.

        1. That works, too. The key is to freeze the bad hard drive to make the internal components contract and unstick so the platters can spin freely.

          1. thanks much to both of you.

            Do you put the drive in a ziplock or summat before putting it in the freezer?

            1. the best way is in a tupperware container full of water. however, you want to leave about an inch of space if you can so it doesn't overflow when it freezes.

              1. umm, uh, ummm.

                *imagines dunking hard drive in water, then freezing the whole thing*

                something does not compute there. Per se.

      1. "I'd hate to think I wasn't nice and respectful to someone." A pretty good code to live by.

      2. Somehow I never tire of reading these tales of Harmon's graciousness. This was one of the best.

    1. Oh man, I think I would have to pass. I'm only a casual fan and just don't feel comfortable writing anything for mass consumption when I have only a basic understanding of the league and transfer rules and such.

      Thanks for the offer though.

  18. Wow. Vin Mazzaro really got the shaft.

    Ned Yost not only let him get pummeled mercilessly (fourteen runs over 2 1/3), but the Gentlemen then sent him down. Oy.

    As baseball writer Joe Sheehan said tongue-in-cheek on Twitter, "Mazzaro just got unlucky with a .667 BABIP."

  19. I just turned on the four letter. I know I will be disappointed with the NBA lottery, but this year everything Minnesota sports related has been like Charlie Brown trying to kick that darn football. Fingers crossed anyway.

    1. Hannah Storm does not know the meaning of the word "next". It's been next for about a half hour.

          1. Thank God. We'd probably have to hear that Anthony Randolph is the second coming of Kevin Durant.

        2. OH MY GOD! For some reason, Kahn sitting next to that little kid is perfect.

  20. I'm listening to the Red Wings game. Announcer Josh Wetzhel can't get over the fact that Gwinnett's pitcher is named Rowdy Hardy.

      1. Those who believe in rigging claim it will be the Cavs. Or the Wolves. Maybe the Jazz, too?

      2. I'm wondering if that kid sitting on stage for them was the one who made the Comic-Sans decision.

    1. When he got ready to announce the 4th pick, I said "Here it is" to myself.

      But really, it would make sense for them to get the first pick for the first time ever in one of the weakest draft pools in years.

    1. Next time we have a lottery pick that we are keeping, let's send a cute puppy as our representative - ideally one from an endangered breed.

    1. Actually, that would make sense with the "rigged" theory. The Cavs get it this year because of "The Decision" and the Clippers get it next year so the league can keep pimping Blake Griffin.

      1. Not only did Cleveland win, but they won from way back and they have the first and fourth pick. They should be much better. Meanwhile, the second best player is a power forward. Of course.

        1. The Clippers trading away/losing the first overall pick in the draft fits the franchise history perfectly.

          Unfortunately that happening to the Wolves next year fits them like a glove as well.

        2. Sign me up for a trade for a good veteran at a position of need. Failing that, I am all in on Biyombo. Fantastic name and, if he lives up to his potential as an athletic, shot blocking monster center, very fun and useful to have on the team.

        3. You don't expect them to take Kyrie Irving with the number 2 pick?? Surely the Cavs won't???

          1. I suppose the ridiculousness of most lottery team owners is part of the fun.

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