Even though I don't have kids, I enjoy reading the "Father Knows Best" posts that people have written. Today, though, I'd like to address the other end of the age spectrum: dealing with elderly parents.
Tag Archives: featured
Winterball Wrapup
A look at how Twins players fared in the various winter leagues.
Curling on the Rocks
Your spiel log for Men's & Women's Round Robin Sessions 3-4. Continue reading Curling on the Rocks
XT for Mind and Body
Logging a lot of miles on the road can make Jack a dull boy and the legs thick with lactic acid... Continue reading XT for Mind and Body
Caribbean Series: The Final
Once again, Valle leads Mexico to the mountaintop.
First Monday Book Day: Food for Thought
Late last year I admitted to myself that I was in a reading rut. I'd been reading history almost exclusively for two years as I plowed my way through coursework. I had read a ton of great books, but had ceased enjoying them. I was overdue for a change of pace before I burnt myself out. So I wrote a Book of Face post asking for suggestions of good graphic novels or comic book series, thinking those were about as far removed from academic history as possible. I hadn't picked up a work in either genre since I read Persepolis in 2007 or so, and it seemed like time was ripe. I got a ton of good suggestions, made up a list, and started reading. Not everything I've read has been great, but one book emulsified a hilarious concept and captivating execution without breaking: Chew, Vol. 1: Taster's Choice, which collects the first five issues of the comic book series of the same name.
The premise of Chew is brilliant: Tony Chu is a detective, but not just any detective. Chu has a special power: he is a cibopath, a taste psychic. Give Chu something to eat and he knows, from soup to nuts, everything about it (provided the evidence is fresh enough). As you might expect, this rapidly becomes a source of great humor and (for unseasoned readers) more than a little queasiness.
Thanks to a deadly avian flu pandemic, chicken has been outlawed in Tony Chu's America. Because nothing tastes like chicken, a healthy black market for the real thing springs up. Chu quickly rises beyond his initial assignment, finding himself drafted into the FDA's special crimes unit, an agency with (near as I can tell), the combined powers of the FBI, DEA, and Homeland Security. The mystery Chu is investigating quickly goes pear-shaped when his brother (a chef) becomes entangled.
Sometimes great concepts only enjoy half-baked execution, but the world of Chew is consistently crisp. The artwork is effervescent, but smoothly shifts to a darker register when things get unsavory. Chu's partner is described as "the love child of Orson Welles and a grizzly bear," and displays infectious zest for his work.
I've read several other reviews of this book, and not one has mentioned the character names. A small thing, perhaps, but they amuse.
Like Malört, Chew might not be to every reader's taste. Some might find the humor cloying, or might find the premise too gut-churning to continue. To me, however, Chew is positively rib-tickling.
What books have you been devouring?
Caribbean Series Preview
The winter leagues move toward their conclusion.
Australian League Playoff Preview
For once, I get a playoff preview done before the playoffs start.
Natch: Recovery
Doing these long training runs, I've been much more focused on recovery afterwards. Continue reading Natch: Recovery
1991 World Series — Game 7
Part One -- Game Details
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - - -
Atlanta Braves 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 7 0
Minnesota Twins 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 10 0
PITCHERS: ATL - Smoltz, Stanton (8), Pena (9)
MIN - Morris
WP - Jack Morris
LP - Alejandro Pena
SAVE - none
HOME RUNS: ATL - none
MIN - none
Part Two -- Players of the Game, WPA Style
Jack Morris: 84.5% (!!!!)
John Smoltz: 31%
Dan Gladden: 23.4%
Terry Pendleton: 19.5%
Gene Larkin: 16.5%
Game Changing Moment--Sid Bream bounces into a 3-2-3 double play to end the top of the 8th inning. This improved the Twins' odds of winning by 29%.
Part Three -- Closing Observations and Thoughts
Listening to the games I felt there were an awful lot of triples. Thanks to br's play index, I confirmed those suspicions. 8 triples between the two teams was the most since the 1919 World Series. Also, the five triples (between two teams) in game five is third all-time, behind two different games played during the 1903 World Series. Mark Lemke is also tied for the record with two triples in one game and three in one series.
It took quite a while, at least one commercial break, after this game was over for any players to be interviewed. I kind of like that they waited a while and let the players have their moment first. Today, Morris probably would've had a microphone stuck in his face thirty seconds after Gladden crossed home.
That said, it was peculiar that they were able to interview most of the relevant players (Morris, Puckett, Gladden, etc.) but Larkin never got to say anything (at least in the immediate coverage).
Tom Kelly was awesome in his interview, as always. When asked about Morris going out for the 10th, he said (paraphrased) "He wanted to go out there and I figured, what the heck, it's just a game."
I've really enjoyed watching and discussing this series. Even though I knew virtually everything that was going to happen, I still felt tension and excitement. That's partly credit to the on-field dramatics (the 87 World Series is quite dull for the most part) and partly due to Jack Buck (Joe makes the '01 series very hard to re-watch). I hope you enjoyed this, too.
Part Four -- Twins Win!
Herb Carneal's call and a few minutes of talking with Gordo.
If you want to listen to more audio from the World Series, go here.