62 thoughts on “April 10, 2020: Umm…”

    1. Same with the nibbish household. My department at work has been through the roof lately (we had as many tickets opened last week as we usually do in a full month, and the pace didn't slow down this week), so my boss told us all to take off Monday, as well to give us a four day weekend. It was very appreciated.

    2. I, on the other hand, do not get the day off. But then, I knew that when I took this job.

  2. I met (by appt.) with the LCS owner to exchange goods (he had some Twins from the Gypsy Queen set, an autographed Kohl Stewart card, some of this year's Topps Stickers set, etc), and we of course talked baseball for a while. He shared this intriguing set of photos with me:

    Here's the video - enjoy

    1. Instant replay, in slow(er) motion, in 1970.

      I don't think Carbo touched home plate until after Sparky came out to argue.

      1. Pretty sure he'd have been out even if the ump hadn't had a brainfart. Oh heck, pic #2 clearly shows Elrod had the ball in his bare hand the whole time and not the glove -- he's safe!

        1. Yeah, I noticed the location of the ball in the pictures too. Carbo never touches home while Hendricks never tags him with the ball (or glove IMO).

          1. So I think, because the manager came out and interfered with the play prior to the plate being touched, that there's a good reason to so he's out, right?

              1. According to this site, with links to the rule book, this does not qualify as umpire interference, which means the play remained live until a different kind of interference occurred, that being "Offensive Interference" in which Anderson came out.

                "(a) Offensive interference is an act by a member of the team at bat which interferes with, obstructs, impedes, hinders or confuses any fielder attempting to make a play"

      1. You know, the training set for robot umps will undoubtedly include stuff like this. And the career of Angel Hernandez.

      2. It's terrible positioning, but I think it was better he stayed where he was. Trying to move, if he didn't well before the play started, would only make it worse as three people tried to negotiate where they should be.

  3. The Alma Mater just canceled reunion (always held in mid-June the week after graduation).

    1. My school was going to have an All School Reunion the weekend after 4th of July but that has been shelved.

  4. Watching an online seminar from work. Many people have their cameras on for some reason. One person is wearing a face mask. I guess they're safe.

  5. Not FZ actually, just about effects thereof:

    I had two perfectly normal work conversations today where the people I was talking to quickly veered into FZ territory and made aggravating claims. One was about corona virus stimulus response and the other was of the "we shouldn't be staying at home, see how low the death totals are," then extrapolating out about political parties.

    Both conversations left me more or less speechless, as they more or less came out of the blue. I don't know what people locally assume my politics are, and I try to keep my politics away from my practice. But getting it twice in quick succession was aggravating. I just wanted to do my work... and now I feel irritated and exhausted.

    1. I sometimes question whether we're fighting this virus in the right way, but to look at the low number of deaths after we put this strategy in place and then concluding that the strategy wasn't needed?

      Here's an example of the same logic:

      I once worked with some guys that made big money and were big gamblers. They'd go out to lunch together on Fridays. They played this game where everybody would put their credit card in a hat. Whoever had their credit card pulled, would buy everyone's lunch. I went to lunch but told them I'd just pay for my own lunch. After the card was drawn, one of the co-workers said that I should have played since my card wasn't pulled, and I would have won. He didn't take into account that my card was never in the hat to start with.

        1. True. Companies give bonuses for additional revenue but not for saved expenses. When Target had their security breach that cost them $160 million, Walmart didn't give their IT people a $10 million bonus for avoiding the same.

          1. Right?!? I've been keeping these space dinosaurs from invading Earth for years now, but I never get any thanks!

            1. There's also the issue that if you do your job too well, everyone takes it for granted. You need to let a couple space dinosaurs slip by as a reminder.

          2. counter-example, I think: the genius who came up with cutting one corner off of computer punch cards. Didn't that save a ton of lost productivity for the inventor's company, and get him a (modest) bonus?

    2. I've found that I cannot make the most innocuous comment or simply ask for a clarification about something in regard to this whole subject without people assuming there's a political agenda behind it. It makes me sad.

      1. Padre: I forgot to ask earlier - when they are Bringing in the Sheaves what are they doing and why?

      1. Seriously. Losing both parents in such quick succession has to leave a huge void.

    1. It's noticeable how much more quickly the pitchers and batters moved back then. I hope we get back to that.

  8. I used to do my Mpls-side interviewing here. Bumma.

    And I used to do my St. Paul recruiting here.

    I hope Keys lasts thru this.

    1. Oh, crap.

      Jimmy's, IIRC, had a burger named after THE George of Spamtown's George's Pizza. My h.s. buddy, Dean (his son, and a urologist in Edina these days) took me there once upon a time. Great place.

      You scared me about Key's. The St. Paul location is a fav.

      1. DPWY had the temerity to point out the publication date on NBB's link on Jimmy's over on Bookface.

        I'm now wondering if we discussed this closure back then. A StP friend noted that the place had gone way downhill under the last owners.

          1. And speaking of that thread, have we discussed something like a Random Wayback Cup post, with a link to and highlights from a random Cuppa from the past?

          2. I strangely missed this last time but I second UncleWalt's opinion of the joint. We only visited twice but it was only okay. Keys received more visits from us.

  9. Since we're waxing nostalgic about MN food:
    1) Coney Island, Duluth (not sure if still open) - greek style coneys, buttermilk - not sure if open
    2) Gopher Bar, Lowertown, St. Paul (awesome mustard Coney's, loose meet, NE style bun, Schmidt beer on tap) - open
    3) Perkins, Duluth (late nite Monte Christos, chili) - i think open but no MC's anymore.
    4) Park Rapids had this Broasted Chicken joint on Main Street with the patented broasting machine - gone
    5) Maid Rite in Albert Lea - used to take the FIL there - gone
    6) Best Steakhouse in Dinkytown - good value - gone
    7) Grandma's West Bank - tricycle burger - gone
    8) Mayslacks - garlic roast beef sandwiches - gone
    9) Annies Parlour (East Bank) - burgers/shakes/fries - still there
    10) Chinese Lantern, Duluth - buddy of mine's folks owned this place - Imperial Delight! - burned down
    11) Guadalaharry's (St. Anthony Main) - free chips/salsa during happy hour
    12) Lincoln Del - NorthEnd- bloody mary's - gone
    13) Nora's - Uptown - steak/martini's - gone
    14) Muddy Pig - Selby/Dale - had Surly on tap - gone
    15) Loring Cafe - soup/bread/wine - now Lurcat's

    1. Peter's Grill, Minneapolis - best club sandwich I've ever had, and pies straight from heaven's oven - gone.
      The Vineyard, Anoka - The Salad, perfect prime rib, great surf & turf, tasty Old Fashioneds - gone.
      The Flat Iron, St. Cloud - The legendary Darrel burger on Coburn's bakery buns, dollar Grain Belt taps - gone.
      Pinske's Meat Market , Gaylord - The best spiced hamburger, used at the Hub Cafe and all the fairs and carnivals in Sibley county (we used to buy it ten pounds at a time for the freezer), awesome venison sausage when little brother got his corn-fed southern Minnesota deer - gone.

            1. I called them them the other day to see if they’d ship me some meats for the end of the world. I was told that normally yes, but they have no one on staff right now and can’t do shipping. I was le sad.

    2. During some down time this last couple of weeks, I created a map of places for my coworkers to stop when hey are traveling all over the state (with our $11 lunch per diem). It has three categories: restaurants, bakeries, and butcher shops. Off the top of my head, I included:
      Burrito Union
      John Hardy's
      Bravo Burritos
      Northern Waters Smokehaus

      Suggestions to share are always welcome.

      1. Benson bakery belongs on that list.

        Dam Store near Mankato (but is out of the way). Best cream pies ever.

      2. I loved John Hardy's (Rochester and Spamtown for a while while the Big Man was still alive).

        Key's, of course.

        And Northfield had two places of note. Grundy's had fantastic burgers on their flat top and "Greek onion rings" --zomg! And there was a hoagie shop whose name I forget.

        Both are long gone. But the Ole Store is still around. They've gone up-market and fancified, but still have the caramel rolls.

        Finally, on the East Side of Spamtown was a place we used to go after the bars closed, for hot beef sandwiches (white bread smothered in beef and gravy, with mashed potatoes)... Gaaah. I can't remember that place's name either.

        1. Betty's Pies on Hwy 61 north of Duluth - Raspberry Cream Pie - and now indoor toilets.

        1. Kramarczuk's Polish is my go-to sausage at Target Field, with grilled onion, sauerkraut and mustard, and a cold Grain Belt Premium. I sure miss baseball.

      4. John Hardy's ..... how I miss thee. It's funny, no one believes me when I say that some of the best smoked pork is in Rochester Minnesota.

      5. Bloedow’s. I’ve never met a doughnut that measures up to their maple long john. I never walk out with fewer than half a dozen, but I think the doughnuts are still in the 70¢ range.

        Beno’s Deli. I like the Clint Eastwich (roast beef x2, Swiss & provolone, poppy seed kaiser) or Waltz Me Willy (roast beef + two cuts of braunschweiger, Swiss, rye).

        Lakeview Drive-In. Seasonal, of course. Whatever you get to eat, order it with a mug of their homebrewed root beer. I usually go with a pizza burger & a chili cheese dog. They serve fried clams...

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