64 thoughts on “August 12, 2014: New World”

  1. Here is a list of Twins with 300+ career doubles

    Puckett 414
    Oliva 329
    Hrbek 312
    Carew 305
    Mauer 300

  2. Hey everyone, keep the STL suburb of Ferguson in your thoughts and prayers. I lived not too far from there (in Florissant) for 7 years. It pains me to see such violence and tension in that area. Definitely don't want to venture into forbidden zone territory, but just want to have people pray for peace and justice to prevail.

    1. I chose silence over at FB.

      A lot of folks are posting that this is "shocking," but isn't it pretty well known that he fought depression all through his life? Maybe it wasn't. Anyway, it's tragic as hell that he couldn't be saved, regardless of how shocking it was. Depression is a powerful state where I spent a lot of years and hopefully with every tragedy, we at least learn more about what does and doesn't work and how the disease can be battled.

        1. Whelp.

          I had a weird encounter with him once. Our college band toured in Asia in January of 1999. During our time in Tokyo we attended a sumo wrestling match. It was pretty sweet on its own, but about halfway through someone in our group spotted Robin Williams a quarter of the way around the arena. As the match progressed people in the arena started whispering and pointing and filtering over to that section, trying to get a closer look.

          I never did walk over to get closer, but he and his small entourage walked by me/us in the hallway toward the end of the match. He was smiles and waves.

          RIP.

        2. My friend remarked, "Enjoying the click-bait about Robin Williams. Nothing says 'Let's honor this man's memory' like a frantic scramble to capitalize on his death."

            1. The worst I ever saw was in pro wrestling. A guy died in a stunt coming where he was to lower into the ring from a cable during a Pay-Per-View broadcast, and immediately guys were selling their VHSs and DVDs saying "YOU HAVE TO SEE FOR YOURSELF HOW OWEN HART DIED LAST NIGHT!"

              1. I wasn't at that event, but I was at the RAW the next night which ended up being a tribute to Owen. It was very touching and I felt very honored to be a part of that.

  3. In news of cosmic convergence:
    Today is the 2-month anniversary of my sister's death. When I turned on the car this morning The Flaming Lips' "Do You Realize" was playing.

  4. Had to wait until the last minute to find out, but I'm off the hook for jury duty. They called every one of the 18 groups but mine, here in my first-ever summons. Random draw for the win!

        1. When I first registered to vote, the lady at the courthouse asked "Democrat or Republican?" and I said "leave it blank". She said "Independent, then" and started typing. And I said "No. Leave it blank." She looked at me confused for a second then typed something else. When I got my registration card, "Party Affiliation" was completely blank.

          1. Interesting, I've never been asked that question upon registering. I would probably do the exact same thing though.

            1. It's a big deal in Iowa with the caucuses. You can only caucus with the party you declare on your voter card, so that's why they ask.

                1. People who decide to put a party on their voter cards, I guess. For me, they're just the reason for 2 unnecessary years of political ads.

            2. Different States. MN doesn't have party registration. I assume from your comment WI is the same way.
              Probably the Dakotas, too.

              1. There's no voter registration in ND, you just show up with your ID and they confirm you've voted in previous elections. On primaries you may vote in one of the party's primaries, you choose which.

                1. That's MN's M.O., too. More or less.
                  You can register at the polls, too, if you haven't voted before. With evidence of residence within the district or a registered voter "vouching" for you.
                  I get to pick which party to vote for today! Primary day in MN!

                  1. Grumble, grumble, I miss the late (post-State-Fair) primaries.
                    That was always the day to meet the candidates and read their literature without greasy fingers because your food's on a stick.
                    How am I supposed to know which of these yayhoos to vote for without having a chance to meet them?

      1. I'm genuinely curious if any of the registered Citizens made it to 36 without ever being called. I couldn't find one at work.

        A poor girl I work with - age 30? - has been called four times and selected every time.

        1. Heh, I didn't even make it a year. I served on a jury spring break of my freshman year of college. I was 18 years, 8 months old. The case? A bar fight.

          I was called again while living in Brooklyn (age 24) but didn't actually end up doing anything that time.

        2. I've never been called for jury duty, and I'll be 35 at the end of this month. I have a ways to go to get to free's level, I guess.

        3. I'm 43 and have never had to go to the courthouse for jury duty. I've been given a summons or whatever they call it in the mail a number of times, but I either was able to get out of it because my work would ask to excuse me, I couldn't afford to miss work or have someone babysit in my place, or I called in the night before and was told not to show up. I think I was given jury duty in MN when I was at college in ID, so I was excused then. It used to be a lot easier to get excused for financial reasons. I don't have that excuse now because I can work whenever, but the last few times I was told not to come in the night before. My wife has gone in but has never actually sat on a jury. I think the fact she's a teacher at a private Christian school has a lot to do with it.

        4. I've been summoned three times I think? The first time I was a part of the jury pool and kicked off almost immediately, presumably because I was young. The other two times I haven't been called. I think I'd actually like to participate in a jury, but I am fairly certain that my views are too radical to make it through to one.

        5. Called once when I was 23. Never served. I like to think I avoided it by saying my favorite book was "The Runaway Jury" by John Grisham.

        6. I would love LOVE to serve on a jury. All you guys trying to skirt it don't know what you're missing. It's very rare to get a chance to serve your civic duty in a tradition dating back hundreds of years.

          Plus, it's the most voyeuristic thing in the world.

          (I've never served in a duty, and will likely never get the chance.)

          1. I'm fine with serving on a jury, as long as it's not a OJ style 8 month affair. A week or two, sure whatever.

    1. I got the summons, but I was in Ireland at school, so they excused me. Never got anything again.

      1. Same, only school in D.C. instead of Ireland. Same with wife after she moved from MN to VA.

  5. I need to get the ID the AU ball rolling again sometime. I've recently picked up AU cards of three "new" players -- a draft pick, a FA prospect, and a star. Thank you, gixen.

    1. My friend, a Red Sox fan, says he hopes that the Red Sox gift for him is getting Pedro to plunk him one last time. I'd be on board with this.

      1. if that means that Pedro will get the opportunity to throw Don Zimmer's corpse around again I'm all for it.

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