Friday, June 1, 2007
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
Thursday, May 24, 2007
Did you mean...?
I heart Google. We all do. It, along with cell phones/PDA's/Outlook has allowed us all to become complete idiots because we don't have to remember a thing. I've been dating someone for months and have no idea what her phone numbers are because they are all stored in my cell phone. Oh well, if that Einstein legend is true then we are in good company - why bother remembering things you can look up; better to save precious brain capacity for the important things like One Hit Wonders of the 1980s.
But I digress. There's one thing that really ticks me off about Google and I don't know why. It is the same feature that, many times, I actually find quite useful. You know when you misspell a search term, but since Google is smarter than you it helps you out? For example, if I search for "Kajagoogo" the little man inside my computer asks me Did you mean: kajagoogoo. I think that's brilliant.
But when I didn't type the word wrong, and I just happen to be searching for something spelled similarly to a more popular search term, it asks me the same thing. And that pisses me off. So much so, in fact, that I always, always, say, out loud mind you, "No!" For example, I was searching for "leak frog" and Google asked if I meant leap frog. "No! I meant leak frog, damnit!" Now Google's just trying to help a brother out. Why would that possibly bother me? What the hell's wrong with me?
OK, maybe it's not that bad. I've only broken 2-3 monitors in anger over this. (Those new flat screens are so much more flingable than the old behemoths). So Google, I forgive you. I know you mean well. I'll keep relying upon your infinite wisdom if you keep finding me those Saved By The Bell pictures that brighten my day. One love.
But I digress. There's one thing that really ticks me off about Google and I don't know why. It is the same feature that, many times, I actually find quite useful. You know when you misspell a search term, but since Google is smarter than you it helps you out? For example, if I search for "Kajagoogo" the little man inside my computer asks me Did you mean: kajagoogoo. I think that's brilliant.
But when I didn't type the word wrong, and I just happen to be searching for something spelled similarly to a more popular search term, it asks me the same thing. And that pisses me off. So much so, in fact, that I always, always, say, out loud mind you, "No!" For example, I was searching for "leak frog" and Google asked if I meant leap frog. "No! I meant leak frog, damnit!" Now Google's just trying to help a brother out. Why would that possibly bother me? What the hell's wrong with me?
OK, maybe it's not that bad. I've only broken 2-3 monitors in anger over this. (Those new flat screens are so much more flingable than the old behemoths). So Google, I forgive you. I know you mean well. I'll keep relying upon your infinite wisdom if you keep finding me those Saved By The Bell pictures that brighten my day. One love.
Tuesday, May 15, 2007
Two Pump Chump
My buddy Dave's band just finished a new video - check it out. NSFW lyrics, so you may want to use the headphones. Crank it up!
Friday, May 11, 2007
Monday, April 30, 2007
Monday, April 23, 2007
Dinger x4
Had another Bats game Sunday afternoon. Beautiful blue skies, slight breeze...perfect. Unfortunately the Bats' bats have gone quiet lately. Nothing quite as exciting as this:
But why does Joe Morgan suck so hard?
But why does Joe Morgan suck so hard?
Thursday, April 12, 2007
Much better
It was still a little brisk Tuesday night, but compared to last week it was darn-near tropical. And you may think you can beat dollar hot dogs and dollar sodas, but you'd be so so wrong, my friends.
Actually turned out to be a very entertaining, well-played game. Two strong performances from the starting pitchers. Here's the box score, if you are so inclined.
Three items of note from Tuesday's game:
1. The Columbus closer is Chris Booker, a former Bat. Always had decent stuff. I didn't have high hopes for a comeback once he rumbled to the mound in the 9th. (He's still a big dude).
2. The number of strikeouts (17 between the 2 teams in a 9 inning game), especially on called strikes. The ump had a large strike zone - he called it the same all night - and there were 8 backwards K's posted in my book. Maybe it's a sign that this is still the minor leagues, because I'd think big league hitters would have adjusted over the course of the game. Eventually you gotta swing at that low and away pitch, son!
3. The sad saga of Earl Snyder. Went into the game 0-for-16. Left the game 0-for-19 (batting cleanup, mind you). Put up another donut last night from the 7-hole and is now 0-for-23. How do you keep that out of your head when you're standing at the plate? Especially with the bright new video board at Slugger Field that shows a big ol' .000? Maybe hitting a baseball really is the hardest thing in sports.
The Bats leave for their first road trip today - no games for me until next weekend. But this weekend has significant blog possibilities, so stay tuned. If, you know, you've got nothing better to do. Which I suspect is the case for most of you if you've made it this far.
Actually turned out to be a very entertaining, well-played game. Two strong performances from the starting pitchers. Here's the box score, if you are so inclined.
Three items of note from Tuesday's game:
1. The Columbus closer is Chris Booker, a former Bat. Always had decent stuff. I didn't have high hopes for a comeback once he rumbled to the mound in the 9th. (He's still a big dude).
2. The number of strikeouts (17 between the 2 teams in a 9 inning game), especially on called strikes. The ump had a large strike zone - he called it the same all night - and there were 8 backwards K's posted in my book. Maybe it's a sign that this is still the minor leagues, because I'd think big league hitters would have adjusted over the course of the game. Eventually you gotta swing at that low and away pitch, son!
3. The sad saga of Earl Snyder. Went into the game 0-for-16. Left the game 0-for-19 (batting cleanup, mind you). Put up another donut last night from the 7-hole and is now 0-for-23. How do you keep that out of your head when you're standing at the plate? Especially with the bright new video board at Slugger Field that shows a big ol' .000? Maybe hitting a baseball really is the hardest thing in sports.
The Bats leave for their first road trip today - no games for me until next weekend. But this weekend has significant blog possibilities, so stay tuned. If, you know, you've got nothing better to do. Which I suspect is the case for most of you if you've made it this far.
Friday, April 6, 2007
Take Me Out To The...Damn It's Cold!!!
As some of you may know I have a part-time gig in the spring and summer - I keep score for the Louisville Bats, the Triple-A farm club for the Cincinnati Reds. There are a few of us who rotate so I don't do every game - usually once or twice a week. Last night, as I'm sure you saw all over the national news, was Opening Day at beautiful Slugger Field.
Basically I keep score the way many of us learned as a kid, but much more detailed. What happens on every pitch, where every ball that's put in play ends up, etc. Since I have to see every pitch, I have to pee really fast and I can't leave early. Which on a balmy summer evening is not a problem. But when it's early April and the wind chill at 10 PM is 31 degrees, well, that's less pleasant. (Of course, the game went 10 innings as well. I should have known it was going to be one of those nights when the pre-game skydiver MISSED THE ENTIRE FIELD. Wind, shmind, a baseball diamond is a really big target!)
Other than the toe-numbing cold it was actually a pretty good game. Bats pulled it out in the bottom of the 10th. Ran into a buddy who I hadn't seen in a while, although why he would stay for 9 innings and THEN leave seemed odd. You're already cold, man! Go the distance! Ease his pain! Do it for Moonlight Graham!
It's always fun to see who's back in the minors, or which former Bats have ended up elsewhere. Biggest surprise was that Mark Bellhorn, former Red Sox big leaguer, is the Bats' starting second baseman. Maybe it's the fact that he hit .190 for the Padres last year...hard to say.
Got there too late to check out the food this year - that's never been a strong point for Slugger Field. I get a great seat behind the plate, but sometimes the fried-bologna sandwich aroma is a bit overpowering. And a frosty cold one didn't really sound all that tempting last night. So at least I didn't spend the money I earned on concessions.
My next game is in a few days and the forecast looks promising. Go Bats!
Basically I keep score the way many of us learned as a kid, but much more detailed. What happens on every pitch, where every ball that's put in play ends up, etc. Since I have to see every pitch, I have to pee really fast and I can't leave early. Which on a balmy summer evening is not a problem. But when it's early April and the wind chill at 10 PM is 31 degrees, well, that's less pleasant. (Of course, the game went 10 innings as well. I should have known it was going to be one of those nights when the pre-game skydiver MISSED THE ENTIRE FIELD. Wind, shmind, a baseball diamond is a really big target!)
Other than the toe-numbing cold it was actually a pretty good game. Bats pulled it out in the bottom of the 10th. Ran into a buddy who I hadn't seen in a while, although why he would stay for 9 innings and THEN leave seemed odd. You're already cold, man! Go the distance! Ease his pain! Do it for Moonlight Graham!
It's always fun to see who's back in the minors, or which former Bats have ended up elsewhere. Biggest surprise was that Mark Bellhorn, former Red Sox big leaguer, is the Bats' starting second baseman. Maybe it's the fact that he hit .190 for the Padres last year...hard to say.
Got there too late to check out the food this year - that's never been a strong point for Slugger Field. I get a great seat behind the plate, but sometimes the fried-bologna sandwich aroma is a bit overpowering. And a frosty cold one didn't really sound all that tempting last night. So at least I didn't spend the money I earned on concessions.
My next game is in a few days and the forecast looks promising. Go Bats!
Thursday, April 5, 2007
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