All posts by Beau

March 19, 2017: Baylor

In our pool I went from 1st place to 8th place in one day as I only got 2 of 7 games correct yesterday. However, I still have all final four teams still going, including Baylor, the school my cousin goes to.

In good news, she just agreed to be our live-in nanny this summer. So hats off to her, and go Baylor!

Still Alive — Jonathan Coulton with Sara Quin

I'm not sure how much this song hits with those who haven't played the video game Portal, as the lyrics (written by Coulton) directly reference two different video games in heavy detail. Certainly, the game version sung by Ellen McClain has more appeal within game. There's also a live version sung by Felicity Day that is entertaining, but with poor quality.

This particular version of the song with Sara Quin singing and some beautiful use of the theremin is my favorite version. Even if video game music isn't your thing and the lyrics don't make any sense, this is just damn pleasant.

4 votes, average: 8.00 out of 104 votes, average: 8.00 out of 104 votes, average: 8.00 out of 104 votes, average: 8.00 out of 104 votes, average: 8.00 out of 104 votes, average: 8.00 out of 104 votes, average: 8.00 out of 104 votes, average: 8.00 out of 104 votes, average: 8.00 out of 104 votes, average: 8.00 out of 10 (4 votes, average: 8.00 out of 10)
You must be a WGOM Citizen to rate WGOM Videos.
Loading...

Tift Merritt — Virginia, No One Can Warn You

Tift has been around for 15 years now and this is her first single. She's never been popular; her debut album barely made the country charts. But she makes a pretty good living. She comes to Minneapolis every other year or so. If I went to concerts ever, I'd go see her for sure. Friends have and have said great things. Some have compared her music stylings to Emmylou Harris, whom I've gathered is pretty popular round these parts.

2 votes, average: 7.50 out of 102 votes, average: 7.50 out of 102 votes, average: 7.50 out of 102 votes, average: 7.50 out of 102 votes, average: 7.50 out of 102 votes, average: 7.50 out of 102 votes, average: 7.50 out of 102 votes, average: 7.50 out of 102 votes, average: 7.50 out of 102 votes, average: 7.50 out of 10 (2 votes, average: 7.50 out of 10)
You must be a WGOM Citizen to rate WGOM Videos.
Loading...

Barenaked Ladies — Some Fantastic

So apparently I'm the first one to lay down a Barenaked Ladies song. Some find them gimmicky--and they are at times--but I find overall they're brilliant  writers and musicians. One problem is they're famous for some of their weaker songs, including the tiresome "If I Had $1,000,000" and the nonsensical and overplayed "One Week."

My favorite songs are "Brian Wilson," "The Old Apartment," and "Life, In A Nutshell." Though today you get my fourth favorite, "Some Fantastic," because they decided to sing that one in their bathroom.

7 votes, average: 6.29 out of 107 votes, average: 6.29 out of 107 votes, average: 6.29 out of 107 votes, average: 6.29 out of 107 votes, average: 6.29 out of 107 votes, average: 6.29 out of 107 votes, average: 6.29 out of 107 votes, average: 6.29 out of 107 votes, average: 6.29 out of 107 votes, average: 6.29 out of 10 (7 votes, average: 6.29 out of 10)
You must be a WGOM Citizen to rate WGOM Videos.
Loading...

Father Knows Best: Boredom

Things have been rough lately, mostly because at least two people at any given time have been sick in this household--sometimes all four of us--since at least Thanksgiving. It's exhausting. But at least it's fairly simple to figure out what you need to do to get through each day. I think about when Henry was a baby. I was tired constantly; some days I could barely keep my eyes open. But while I was by no means confident in what I was doing, I knew pretty much every decision was around eating, pooping, or sleeping. Not that complex.

I'm not nearly as exhausted these days, which I won't complain about. But I'm more frequently being faced with probably the hardest part about being a parent so far, which is boredom. That sounds harsh, but I don't know how else to explain that agonizing feeling when Henry wants to read the same book 12 times in a row, or play the same game (in the wrong way, of course) for an hour straight (and I only barely tolerated it the first time because he was being adorable), or the same routine day after day after day because with his autism it takes tremendous effort to talk him into deviating from original plans. I've learned that sometimes the only way to get him to do something I want to do is to just do it without asking, which works okay if we're going to a new park, but usually not well when it's playing with a new toy.

I know that in six or seven years he might barely ever want to play with me at all. He certainly won't want to hang on my leg or beg me to pay attention to him. Nor will he say, "I love you Daddy," genuinely but with an ulterior motive of getting a cookie. So I want to enjoy every second. But too many nights I just can't wait until he goes to bed so I can do something interesting. And I feel horrible about it.

So, what advice say you guys? How do you keep focused and interested in toddler time night after night after night?

Half-Baked Hall: 1946-1950

And we're back at it! Due to the rule changes this time around, I first have to break some sad news about players who were on the ballot who have been unceremoniously cut off.

Sam Rice: Fell to 33% on his 5th ballot after starting out with 56% of the vote. That sound you hear is Scot weeping.

Hack Wilson: Fell to 28% on his 5th ballot after starting out with 44%. Who knew WGOMers weren't impressed with RBIs?

Earl Averill: Fell to 28% (+ 11 maybe) on his 2nd ballot.

Pie Traynor: Fell to 39% on his third ballot. Sorry Pepper.

Waite Hoyt: Actually increased his vote total to 33% (+ 6 maybe) on his third ballot, but it wasn't enough.

Tony Lazzeri: Started out with 16% of the vote but with 42% giving him a maybe. Once people realized that it was okay not to vote for a Yankee, they backed off. He fell to 28% with 0% maybe on his third ballot.

Also, these players were going to be on the last ballot before we took a break, but no longer meet the threshold. Hal Trosky, Billy Jurges, Ben Chapman, Roy Cullenbine, Curt Davis, and Freddie Fitzsimmons. We hardly knew ye.

Now for what you've been waiting for. Below is your ballot. For write-ups, I gave everyone two people this time around. If you no longer want to do write-ups, please let me know.

Final Ballot

Nobody

Returning Players

Earl Averill (3rd), Wes Ferrell (3rd), Gabby Hartnett (3rd), Bob Johnson (2nd), Chuck Klein (2nd), Bill Terry (5th)

New Hitters

Luke Appling (nibbish)
Dick Bartell (Scot)
Bill Dickey (philosopher)
Rick Ferrell (daneekasghost)
Augie Galan (bhiggum)
Joe Gordon (New Britain Bo)
Hank Greenberg (yickit)
Stan Hack (nibbish)
Babe Herman (nibbish)
Ernie Lombardi (freealonzo)
Joe Medwick (Can of Corn)
Mel Ott (freealonzo)
Arky Vaughan (New Britain Bo)
Dixie Walker (Beau)

New Pitchers

Tommy Bridges (Scot)
Dizzy Dean (philosopher)
Lefty Gomez (Can of Corn)
Mel Harder (yickit)
Carl Hubbell (DPWY)
Ted Lyons (DPWY)
Claude Passeau (freealonzo)
Schoolboy Rowe (Beau)
Red Ruffing (daneekasghost)
Bucky Walters (bhiggum)

Stats

Recent Ballot

Ballots will be sent out February 17th.  Please don't stress about the write-ups. Even a passing comment or two is welcome if you're feeling stressed for time.