On one hand, I want to wring my company's neck and say it isn't worth it to bring in a thousand new outside people to do my job at every store much worse than I do. On the other, I'm getting too old to fight corporations.
Johnny Cash – Man In Black
"I'd love to wear a rainbow every day,
And tell the world that everything's OK,
But I'll try to carry off a little darkness on my back,
'Til things are brighter, I'm the Man In Black."
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TL-1XBWoBlE
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Loading... First Monday Book Day: Dram-atic Adventures
Programming Note: This is a Very Special Episode of First Monday, as it features contributions from both bS and Daneekas Ghost. Enjoy!
Book bS
Man, these are tough times around the Nation. Tough times require tough action. Fortunately, I chose a book this month that fits the times -- a book about whiskey.
I picked up a hardback copy of Kate Hopkins' 2009 book, 99 Drams of Whiskey: The Accidental Hedonist's Quest for the Perfect Shot and the History of the Drink for a song at my local used book store recently.
What is whiskey, you ask? Why, whiskey is mediocre beer made over into nobility.
If when you say whiskey you mean the devil's brew, the poison scourge, the bloody monster, that defiles innocence, dethrones reason, destroys the home, creates misery and poverty, yea, literally takes the bread from the mouths of little children; if you mean the evil drink that topples the Christian man and woman from the pinnacle of righteous, gracious living into the bottomless pit of degradation, and despair, and shame and helplessness, and hopelessness, then certainly I am against it.
But, if when you say whiskey you mean the oil of conversation, the philosophic wine, the ale that is consumed when good fellows get together, that puts a song in their hearts and laughter on their lips, and the warm glow of contentment in their eyes; if you mean Christmas cheer; if you mean the stimulating drink that puts the spring in the old gentleman's step on a frosty, crispy morning; if you mean the drink which enables a man to magnify his joy, and his happiness, and to forget, if only for a little while, life's great tragedies, and heartaches, and sorrows; if you mean that drink, the sale of which pours into our treasuries untold millions of dollars, which are used to provide tender care for our little crippled children, our blind, our deaf, our dumb, our pitiful aged and infirm; to build highways and hospitals and schools, then certainly I am for it.
This is my stand. I will not retreat from it. I will not compromise.
--Noah S. Sweat, Jr., 1952
I'd dare say that we need a song in our hearts right about now.
Continue reading First Monday Book Day: Dram-atic Adventures
EEE & MMM – Beginning of May Edition
Relevant EPL Results
- Wolves 1 - 1 B'Ham
- Fulham 3 - 0 Sunderland
- Aston Villa 1 - 2 West Brom
- Everton 1 - 1 Wigan
- Chelsea 2 - 1 Spurs
- Fulham 3 - 0 Bolton
- Wolves 0 - 3 Stoke City
EPL News
- Clint Dempsey scored twice against Bolton. He now has 33 Premiership goals for the club, a new club record. The prior record of 32 was shared by Brian McBride and Steed Malbranque.
- Arsenal beat ManUtd 1-0, which would have closed the gap on the title race considerably for the Gunners had they bothered to beat Bolton or Spurs. As it is, they are still 6 points back.
- Controversy in the Chelsea-Spurs match: Lampard's goal given after not entirely crossing the line and Kalou possibly a tad offside on the game winner.
- Chelsea are now 3 points from 1st with 3 to play. They are away to Manchester United on Sunday. A win there will have the teams tied on points at the top of the table, and Chelsea will go ahead on GD as they are currently both at +38. Continue reading EEE & MMM – Beginning of May Edition
Happy Birthday–May 2
Eddie Collins (1887)
Bing Crosby (1904)
Joe Falls (1928)
Eddie Bressoud (1932)
Gates Brown (1939)
Clay Carroll (1941)
Keith Moreland (1954)
Dr. A (1956)
Felix Jose (1965)
Paul Emmel (1968)
Entertainer Bing Crosby was part-owner and a vice president of the Pittsburgh Pirates from 1947 into the 1960s.
It appears that no players with connections to the Minnesota Twins were born on this day. However, it is the birthday of my brother, who is the head of the Mining and Minerals Department at Virginia Tech. Happy Birthday, Dr. A!
May 2, 2011: Closure
Osama bin Laden is dead. We don't have to go into the forbidden zone here, but I think we can all agree that it's not nothing.
I don't believe this will cause any philosophical change, but a man who danced on the graves of my countrymen after putting them in said graves is gone.
That's all I've got to say about that.
Bonnie “Prince” Billy – I See A Darkness
It is across the horizon and his name is Toby Gardenhire.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y9d5j-QJIGU
Copenhagen, 2003
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Loading... 2011 vs. 2010 Thought Experiment
So far this season, the Twins have played 3 games at Toronto, 3 games at NY, three vs Oakland, two vs KC, four at TB, four at Baltimore, two vs Clelveland, three vs TB, and three at KC. So 17 away games and 10 home games.
As a thought experiment, let's consider how the Twins did in those games last year. For situations where the Twins played more of that type of game, I will use the results of the 2010 games that were played first in chronological order.
@TOR, W 1-0
@TOR, L 1-1
@TOR, W 2-1
@NY, L 2-2
@NY, L 2-3
@NY, W 3-3
OAK, W 4-3
OAK, W 5-3
OAK, W 6-3
KC, W 7-3
KC, W 8-3
@TB, L 8-4
@TB, L 8-5
@TB, W 9-5
@TB, W 10-5
@BAL, W 11-5
@BAL, L 11-6
@BAL, W 12-6
@BAL, W 13-6
CLE, W 14-6
CLE, W 15-6
TB, L 15-7
TB, W 16-7
TB, L 16-8
@KC, W 17-8
@KC, W 18-8
@KC, L 18-9
Huh, here I thought with 16 of 27 games against the AL East and 17 of 27 games away, that looking back at last season the Twins would have been somewhere around .500 in that group of games, but it turns out they did great in those matchups last year.
More than anything, at this point I worry that the Twins don't have much depth and that seems to have hurt them so far this year as much as anything. It's possible they'll get healthier, but as they see some players come back to the lineup, they'll likely see others hit the DL.
The schedule isn't doing them any favors for a while, either. 40 of their first 61 games are on the road. These are the times which try fans' souls.
Game #Whatever: Royals a lot, Twins blah blah
Twins record: bad
I don't really know what to say about this. The Twins are just a very bad team right now. I don't think I'm going to do Players of the Week this time, either.
Let's talk about food instead. What's everyone eating this weekend? I think I'm going to have some chili tonight. What are everyone's thoughts on chili? Best kind of meat to use, and best way to cut that meat up? Lots of chunky tomatoes, or just a rich broth? Beans or no beans (and what kinds)? What's your optimal combination of seasonings to use? Should it be really spicy, or really really spicy? Am I forgetting some crucial aspect of chili for which I should be harshly disciplined? Let's talk about that.
Game 27: Twins at Royals
WARNING:
Watch this game at your own risk. The writer of this game log assumes no risk or responsibility to what may happen to you if you do watch this game. Watching Twins baseball in 2011 has been known to cause shortness of temper, stomach pain, nausea, violent fits of rage, depression, deep despair, uncontrollable weeping, extreme cravings for alcohol, convulsive arm muscle spasms, flying remotes, cracked television screens, uncontrollable shouting of expletives, incontinence and impotence. Some fans have even begun to believe that Bert Blyleven and Dan Gladden know what they are talking about.
Remember, you have been warned.