Don't feed poppy seed rolls to babies.
Trust me on this one.
Saturday, December 31, 2005
Monday, December 26, 2005
Gifting Myself
Although they didn't need to do it, both my mother- and brother-in-law presented me with the gift that keeps on giving this Christmas: Cash.
In situations like these, the first thing that comes to mind is to use the money to pay down my mortgage or to fund my retirement account or something, but I know that's not in the appropriate (commercial?) spirit. So, I went over to Amazon.com and did some browsing.
Items I considered included the following:
Video:
Audio:
But in the end, I went with a couple of Giller Prize-winning books:
While I was at it, I ordered the following for my daughter's upcoming birthday. Shhh! Don't tell her!
In situations like these, the first thing that comes to mind is to use the money to pay down my mortgage or to fund my retirement account or something, but I know that's not in the appropriate (commercial?) spirit. So, I went over to Amazon.com and did some browsing.
Items I considered included the following:
Video:
Audio:
- Rush in Rio [LIVE]
- Tausend Sterne or Willst Du Mit Mir Gehn by Nena (but Tausend Sterne wasn't available, and the import stuff is so expensive.)
- Great White North by Bob & Doug McKenzie
- Seeing the word "Cash" above makes me thing I should have considered some of Johnny Cash's recent works (such as Unchained), but I didn't think of that until now.
But in the end, I went with a couple of Giller Prize-winning books:
The In-Between World of Vikram Lall by M.G. Vassanji
Alias Grace by Margaret Atwood
While I was at it, I ordered the following for my daughter's upcoming birthday. Shhh! Don't tell her!
Crispin : The Cross of Lead by Avi
Holes by Louis Sachar
Saturday, December 24, 2005
Christmas Traditions #2: A New One
Inspired by the Bob Rivers tune, "I Am Santa Claus", the lyrics of which include,
Sees every move you make
Better be good for goodness sake
Leave him cookies and beer
He'll be back to your house first next year
Taking Advantage of Grandmothers
As my son has completely gone over to the dark side*, at least when it comes to the NFL, my mother-in-law bought him a Christmas gift. Football fans will notice the "slight imperfection" with the jersey; there's no need to state it in a comment. If you're not a football fan, don't worry about it.
I hear that she paid full price for it too. That's not fair. Someone should have noticed along the way and removed it from the sales stream. I know, Caveat emptor and all, but you can't expect granny to notice these little things.
* - Thanks to Doug who reminded me, "That's OK, you have another son."
I hear that she paid full price for it too. That's not fair. Someone should have noticed along the way and removed it from the sales stream. I know, Caveat emptor and all, but you can't expect granny to notice these little things.
* - Thanks to Doug who reminded me, "That's OK, you have another son."
Friday, December 23, 2005
Christmas Traditions #1: Poppy Seed Rolls
When I was little, for Christmas, Grandma (or Great-Grandma, depending on your generation) Marsik would make poppy seed (and nut-) rolls for Christmas. I always liked them, but my mother didn't typically make them. So, by the time I was in high school (or maybe college) I was making poppy seed rolls myself. Here's the recipe I use, somewhat updated for modern bread machines.
Poppy Seed (Nut) Roll
One interesting question is "How much filling should I use?". It's really up to you. If you use half a can for one roll, it might be just a little sparse. I've been told that it's better with one can per roll, but it's a little heavy on the filling that way. Maybe 3 cans for 4 rolls can work, but I used one can per roll this year.
Frosting - 1/2 cup powdered sugar with a little milk & vanilla and food colouring of your (or your kids') choice. Put on roll (after it cools).
Yum.
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Frosting - 1/2 cup powdered sugar with a little milk & vanilla and food colouring of your (or your kids') choice. Put on roll (after it cools).
Yum.
In past years, I think I used double the butter by mistake, not correctly knowing the conversions between sticks, pounds, and ounces. Or maybe I used half the butter. It still worked out. It's quite a flexible recipe. One year (many years ago) a friend helped me bake poppy seed rolls. As her mother would say, if you double the butter, it will just be a little richer.
Of course, you need helpers, too.
Tuesday, December 20, 2005
Traveling in Style
Although it wasn't my first choice, for our recent trip to and from Louisiana, we drove through the night both ways. On the other hand, Ron prefers night-driving on long trips. Since we were the only ones in the Taurus wagon, we were able to put down the back seats, lay out my Therm-A-Rest, top it with a sleeping bag and pillow, and basically have a full-length bed. Top it off with the necessary ear plugs and eye mask, and you have all you need for a nap.
On the way down,
I don't usually sleep in vehicles, and the quality of sleep really wasn't all that hot. It was strange in that I didn't really notice falling asleep or waking up. But, I'd think, "I must have been laying here about an hour now," check, and see that it was really 2 1/2 hours or so.
On Monday (after driving all night) I felt mostly fine. On Saturday, after the return, I did get quite tired, and a 3-hour nap helped.
Anyone up for a road trip?
On the way down,
- With us both awake, I drove to just south of Louisville, KY (Shepherdsville).
- Ron drove to Athens, AL.
- With Ron sleeping, I drove to Eutaw, AL (southwest of Tuscaloosa).
- With me sleeping, Ron drove to Poplarville, MS
- We were both up the rest of the way.
- With us both awake, Ron drove to Hattiesburg, MS.
- I drove to the Alabama state line.
- With me sleeping, Ron drove to Cullman, AL.
- With Ron sleeping, I drove to Elizabethtown, KY.
- With me sleeping, Ron drove to south of Cincinnati.
- With us both awake, Ron drove the rest of the way.
I don't usually sleep in vehicles, and the quality of sleep really wasn't all that hot. It was strange in that I didn't really notice falling asleep or waking up. But, I'd think, "I must have been laying here about an hour now," check, and see that it was really 2 1/2 hours or so.
On Monday (after driving all night) I felt mostly fine. On Saturday, after the return, I did get quite tired, and a 3-hour nap helped.
Anyone up for a road trip?
Saturday, December 10, 2005
Oh Christmas Tree
When I was really little, we got real Christmas trees. I remember going out a few times to buy the tree. I can't say that such trips were all that exciting -- it was more of having to stand out in the cold and out of everyone's way while the adults reached an agreement on the appropriate tree.
When I was a little older, like maybe 8 or 9 or so, we switched to artificial trees. That was OK and all, but I remember thinking that when I was an adult, I would buy real trees, since artificial ones were so, well, artificial. If I'm going to have a tree in a house, why not make it a tree, and not just a representation of one?
As you can guess, today was the day I made the Christmas tree purchase. There's so much to do for the holidays, and so little time to appreciate it all. I can see the advantages of having artificial trees. But then my daughter says that it wouldn't really seem like Christmas if she didn't get pricked by pine needles when she walks around the house in bare feet.
Another thing I remember about putting up the Christmas when I was young is that, for everyone's sanity and temper levels, that the kids should have little involvement, and if possible, be in a different room. As an adult, I certainly see the wisdom in that, but my wife doesn't really agree.
When I was a little older, like maybe 8 or 9 or so, we switched to artificial trees. That was OK and all, but I remember thinking that when I was an adult, I would buy real trees, since artificial ones were so, well, artificial. If I'm going to have a tree in a house, why not make it a tree, and not just a representation of one?
As you can guess, today was the day I made the Christmas tree purchase. There's so much to do for the holidays, and so little time to appreciate it all. I can see the advantages of having artificial trees. But then my daughter says that it wouldn't really seem like Christmas if she didn't get pricked by pine needles when she walks around the house in bare feet.
Another thing I remember about putting up the Christmas when I was young is that, for everyone's sanity and temper levels, that the kids should have little involvement, and if possible, be in a different room. As an adult, I certainly see the wisdom in that, but my wife doesn't really agree.
Monday, December 05, 2005
Dueling Ends
If your son requests you to put on In the End by Linkin Park, instead put on The End by The Beatles.
Hilarity every time. (Really, my son wants me to mention that he was confused.)
Hilarity every time. (Really, my son wants me to mention that he was confused.)
Saturday, November 26, 2005
Tonight's Movie
I saw the 1983 flick Phar Lap at the library today, so I picked it up. The girls are watching it now as I putter around.
And here is Phar Lap's skin from 2004. (I had never heard of Phar Lap before then.)
And here is Phar Lap's skin from 2004. (I had never heard of Phar Lap before then.)
Friday, November 25, 2005
A Thanksgiving Tradition
(Watching boring NFL football action)
Now, to make it truly like the holidays I remember, Grandpa would quickly fall asleep with his mouth open. Before long, Dad would do the same, leaving the Son as the only one watching the game.
Actually, the only reason Boy-Boy would sit still for long enough to even get his picture taken was because he had a tummy ache. He's doing better now.
Now, to make it truly like the holidays I remember, Grandpa would quickly fall asleep with his mouth open. Before long, Dad would do the same, leaving the Son as the only one watching the game.
Actually, the only reason Boy-Boy would sit still for long enough to even get his picture taken was because he had a tummy ache. He's doing better now.
Wednesday, November 23, 2005
Wood County Courthouse/Bong Window (and a Toledo @ Bowling Green Football Game)
Same deal as last week, but this week's festivities were the Toledo @ Bowling Green football game (Final Score: Toledo 44, Bowling Green 41 2OT). Since we arrived before dark, here's the Wood County Courthouse. I've lost track of how many county courthouses I've taken photos of. I need to organize it all again.
Legend has it that only one window in the courthouse annex has its light on 24 hours a day, the "Bong Window". Legend continues that this is to encourage would-be violators of pharmaceutical laws to stay on the straight and narrow. "Don't let your bong end up here!" or something. However, we couldn't find the Bong Window, so I'm not convinced that it exists.
Here are Djl and Captain Mike with the Timchenkos:
And here's a game photo. BG wore brown shirts for the first time in maybe 10 years or so.
We watched the first half from field level, and the second half from the stands. While were weren't prohibited from the box area, we were certainly made to feel unwelcome. When I got home, it was 26F/-4C, though it was probably a bit warmer at the game. So, while it was nice to have a place to go to warm up at halftime, we didn't want to wear out our unwelcome.
(I regret that I neglected to capture the elusive Donut on non-film digital media in his natural habitat at the hardware store.)
Legend has it that only one window in the courthouse annex has its light on 24 hours a day, the "Bong Window". Legend continues that this is to encourage would-be violators of pharmaceutical laws to stay on the straight and narrow. "Don't let your bong end up here!" or something. However, we couldn't find the Bong Window, so I'm not convinced that it exists.
Here are Djl and Captain Mike with the Timchenkos:
And here's a game photo. BG wore brown shirts for the first time in maybe 10 years or so.
We watched the first half from field level, and the second half from the stands. While were weren't prohibited from the box area, we were certainly made to feel unwelcome. When I got home, it was 26F/-4C, though it was probably a bit warmer at the game. So, while it was nice to have a place to go to warm up at halftime, we didn't want to wear out our unwelcome.
(I regret that I neglected to capture the elusive Donut on non-film digital media in his natural habitat at the hardware store.)
Friday, November 18, 2005
"Little Boxes" by The Womenfolk
Here's a bit of trivia for you. According to Dr. Demento, the song "Little Boxes" by The Womenfolk was the shortest song in the history of the Billboard Hot 100 chart. You can find the lyrics by doing a search like this one, though I won't post them here. (Beware of tons of pop-up ads from song lyric sites!)
You can download the song here. Souces I have seen give the recording a duration of 1:02, though this mp3 comes in at 1:03.
Despite the song being from more than a generation ago (more like a generation and a half), it sounds rather "modern" in its negative take on suburban living. I guess the suburbs have been with us for a while now.
You can download the song here. Souces I have seen give the recording a duration of 1:02, though this mp3 comes in at 1:03.
Despite the song being from more than a generation ago (more like a generation and a half), it sounds rather "modern" in its negative take on suburban living. I guess the suburbs have been with us for a while now.
Wednesday, November 16, 2005
Quick Trip To Miami
Well, I guess I'm kind of obligated to do a write-up of yesterday's jaunt to Oxford and the Miami/Bowling Green football game. For writeup of the actual game, Yahoo! Sports did a better job than I could do. As it says, the start of the game was delayed for 2 1/2 hours due to the forecast of heavy storms approaching the area. Just as we were arriving at the stadium, it was being announced that the game was being suspended, and everyone was supposed to go to their cars (what if you walked?) or go to Millett Hall, the basketball arena. Not knowing any local establishments for the purchase of a beverage while we waited, we went up the hill to Millett and hung out for a while:
Not a whole lot was happening there. A women's volleyball game against Buffalo had just finished. But we still got to watch some exciting intercollegiate volleyball action involving the bored cheerleaders:
We also sent the following e-mail messages to Tony from my phone:
Stuck in millett hall. Hope it works out better in oxford than it did in new orleans.
Still stuck in Millett Hall. Listening to Weezer.
Still stick in millet. Being subjected to miami band. Please send help. Can't hold out much longer. Considering jumping.
I think it costs me 10c per each e-mail message I send, but it was worth it. Unfortunately, I have no idea how Tony reacted to the messages, as I was able to tell that he sent a reply, but either I couldn't figure out how to actually read an e-mail message to my phone, or it isn't working right on my phone.
Eventually (like 9:30pm) the game got started.
The north stands of the less-than-packed Yager Stadium:
Bowling Green celebrating (from 10 yards away) after a touchdown by Sean O'Drobinak:
Cheerleaders doing their thing rather than playing volleyball:
By the way, due to the delay in getting the game started, I didn't get to bed until about 3:00am. Zzzzzzzzzz.
Not a whole lot was happening there. A women's volleyball game against Buffalo had just finished. But we still got to watch some exciting intercollegiate volleyball action involving the bored cheerleaders:
We also sent the following e-mail messages to Tony from my phone:
Stuck in millett hall. Hope it works out better in oxford than it did in new orleans.
Still stuck in Millett Hall. Listening to Weezer.
Still stick in millet. Being subjected to miami band. Please send help. Can't hold out much longer. Considering jumping.
I think it costs me 10c per each e-mail message I send, but it was worth it. Unfortunately, I have no idea how Tony reacted to the messages, as I was able to tell that he sent a reply, but either I couldn't figure out how to actually read an e-mail message to my phone, or it isn't working right on my phone.
Eventually (like 9:30pm) the game got started.
- I don't recall being at a football game before where it rained so much.
- I don't recall seeing a team score three safeties in a game before.
- I don't recall seeing a team botch four punts in a game before.
- I don't recall seeing a quarterback throw five interceptions in a game before.
The north stands of the less-than-packed Yager Stadium:
Bowling Green celebrating (from 10 yards away) after a touchdown by Sean O'Drobinak:
Cheerleaders doing their thing rather than playing volleyball:
By the way, due to the delay in getting the game started, I didn't get to bed until about 3:00am. Zzzzzzzzzz.
Sunday, November 13, 2005
Google Talk
Sorry I haven't posted much lately; here's short post.
I don't know how long it' s been available, but Google, in its quest to take over the world and not just be the search engine of choice, has an instant messaging application available: Google Talk. Check it out.
I assume that it's well done. I've installed it, but I don't have anyone to send messages to. Give it a try and send me a message!
Disclaimer: At the time of this writing, the author held shares in Google, Inc.
I don't know how long it' s been available, but Google, in its quest to take over the world and not just be the search engine of choice, has an instant messaging application available: Google Talk. Check it out.
I assume that it's well done. I've installed it, but I don't have anyone to send messages to. Give it a try and send me a message!
Disclaimer: At the time of this writing, the author held shares in Google, Inc.
Wednesday, November 02, 2005
Working? Or Pulling Teeth?
In yesterday's entry, djl commented about the time he realised that he'd rather be having a root canal than working. I personally am not the sort who will tell you how much he hates his job. But let's see. Yesterday,
BTW, it wasn't a space issue as much as a quality issue. Wisdom teeth can deteriorate faster than normal teeth, and this one was in a position where it didn't do much chewing, was difficult to brush, and would only get worse.
- I got up at the normal time for that day, skipped breakfast at home, and drove my daughter to her before-school flute lesson.
- I then drove to Tim Hortons, where I had a leisurely breakfast of a bagel, cinnamon roll, small coffee, and a glass of water (that's a lot, but I should have ordered more) as I read a novel (The Time-Traveler's Wife).
- Next, I headed for the dentist's office, where I had a relatively fast, interesting, and painless procedure.
- I headed home, where I took care of some bills, and then surfed the 'Net for a while, including playing some online chess.
- In the afternoon, I lounged around and watched a bit of the "star & director commentary" version of my "UHF" DVD.
- Later in the afternoon, my wife went out, did some errands, and brought me home a large milkshake and ice cream. How nice.
BTW, it wasn't a space issue as much as a quality issue. Wisdom teeth can deteriorate faster than normal teeth, and this one was in a position where it didn't do much chewing, was difficult to brush, and would only get worse.
Tuesday, November 01, 2005
Extraction!
I finally went ahead and had a wisdom tooth removed this morning. (Yes, people at my tender age can have wisdom teeth removed too.) It wasn't really causing major problems, but as time went on, it was gradually aching more frequently when I'd eat something sweet or hot or cold or whatever. I figured that the situation wasn't going to get any better. Unfortuantely, they said that I wasn't supposed to take it home, so I can't show the kids or post a photo on the blog or anything like that. There actually was ample opportunity for me to palm it when nobody was looking -- I think the dentist intentionally gives you that chance -- after all, it's my tooth. But if them's the rules, them's the rules. (Maybe next time I'll try a back alley tooth extractor?)
So now I'm at home, changing the gauze pads every twenty or thirty minutes, and not allowed to drink anything at all today. (How will I manage?) I am allowed to have some ice cream tonight.
I feel fine now. Let's see how it goes after the anesthetic wears off. Unfortunately, I didn't get any cool drugs to try, but then I didn't ask for any.
Does anyone have any cool tooth stories?
So now I'm at home, changing the gauze pads every twenty or thirty minutes, and not allowed to drink anything at all today. (How will I manage?) I am allowed to have some ice cream tonight.
I feel fine now. Let's see how it goes after the anesthetic wears off. Unfortunately, I didn't get any cool drugs to try, but then I didn't ask for any.
Does anyone have any cool tooth stories?
Monday, October 31, 2005
Back to a Winning Strategy
Opening Music: The Impossible Dream (The Quest) by The Smothers Brothers
Recently, I've been making posts on things that none of my readers really care about, like my votes for baseball's most valuable players, and our getting another cell phone. This post is all about getting back to the blog's core competencies: family photos! Here are some recent ones:
Recently, I've been making posts on things that none of my readers really care about, like my votes for baseball's most valuable players, and our getting another cell phone. This post is all about getting back to the blog's core competencies: family photos! Here are some recent ones:
End of the 2005 Biking Season
Opening music: Losing it by Rush.
I have a few odds and ends things to write about. The first (with the demise of daylight savings time) will be the 2005 bicycle (and motorcycle) mileage report. For 2005, according to my odometers, I rode 1,001 miles (1,611 km) on the bicycle, and rode a lowly 223 miles (359 km) on the motorcycle.
If I ride any more before the end of the year, I'll update this page.
Closing music: Where Have All the Rude Boys Gone? by Ted Leo and the Pharmicists
I have a few odds and ends things to write about. The first (with the demise of daylight savings time) will be the 2005 bicycle (and motorcycle) mileage report. For 2005, according to my odometers, I rode 1,001 miles (1,611 km) on the bicycle, and rode a lowly 223 miles (359 km) on the motorcycle.
| Year | Distance Bicycled (miles) | Distance Motorcycled (miles) |
| 2002 | 1168 | |
| 2003 | 855 | |
| 2004 | 700 | 410 |
| 2005 | 1004 | 223 |
If I ride any more before the end of the year, I'll update this page.
Closing music: Where Have All the Rude Boys Gone? by Ted Leo and the Pharmicists
Wednesday, October 26, 2005
Use a Q, Get a Fine
Here's a news story worth writing a joke about:
20 fined for using letters W and Q
DIYARBAKIR, Turkey (Reuters) -- A Turkish court has fined 20 people for using the letters Q and W [...].The court [...] fined each of the 20 people 100 new lira ($75.53) for holding up the placards, written in Kurdish, [...]
For the whole story, click here.
Knowing what I know about Turkey (which isn't much), I'm sure that it's more of an anti-Kurd thing than a real aversion to the letters Q and W. But it would be kind of funny if only it didn't reflect so poorly on freedom of speech and minority rights in the country. (Next, I'll try to open a business in Quebec, put a sign in English out front, and see what happens.)
20 fined for using letters W and Q
DIYARBAKIR, Turkey (Reuters) -- A Turkish court has fined 20 people for using the letters Q and W [...].The court [...] fined each of the 20 people 100 new lira ($75.53) for holding up the placards, written in Kurdish, [...]
For the whole story, click here.
Knowing what I know about Turkey (which isn't much), I'm sure that it's more of an anti-Kurd thing than a real aversion to the letters Q and W. But it would be kind of funny if only it didn't reflect so poorly on freedom of speech and minority rights in the country. (Next, I'll try to open a business in Quebec, put a sign in English out front, and see what happens.)
Thursday, October 20, 2005
Jonathan Hurst is 39 Today
Today is Jonathan Hurst's 39th birthday. Hurst has the distinction of being the only player in major league baseball history born on 20 October 1966, so he's the only player in MLB history turning 39 today.
Hurst appeared in 3 games for the Expos in 1992, and in 7 for the Mets in 1994. More recently, he has been spotted pitching for the Brother Elephants of Taiwan's Chinese Professional Baseball League.
Here's Hurst in his younger days with the Mets:
And here's a more recent photo with the Brother Elephants:
Hurst appeared in 3 games for the Expos in 1992, and in 7 for the Mets in 1994. More recently, he has been spotted pitching for the Brother Elephants of Taiwan's Chinese Professional Baseball League.
Here's Hurst in his younger days with the Mets:
And here's a more recent photo with the Brother Elephants:
Geography Games at Mousebreaker.com
Check out Geo Genius USA and Geo Genius Europe at Mousebreaker.com. On my second try, I scored like 8192 or so on the USA one, and 3161 (which ranked me #25) for the European version. In both, you need to quickly drag and drop state or country names at their locations on a blank map. The annoying things is that places like Luxemburg or Rhode Island are too small for me to get the label in the right place on the first click.
And, if you think you're really smart, try County Countup! I think I scored 52 on that one.
And, if you think you're really smart, try County Countup! I think I scored 52 on that one.
Monday, October 17, 2005
Feeling Morbid Again
I would say that it's because it's close to Halloween, but I think the real reason is because it's the time of year when I need to make my work-related insurance choices for 2006.
Through work, I can get $X per child of child term life insurance for 2006 for a small payroll deduction. To "break even" for one person, he or she would have to have a one-in-whatever chance of dying during the year. But, in my case I have more than one kid. So the odds make it even more likely for it to be a financial benefit.
Someone needs to do these calculations, or there could be no insurance industry. But I hate doing it for my own family.
Maybe I'm approaching it wrong. I'm not really considering financial hardship should a child die -- I'm thinking of it more like an investment or even a lottery ticket. What are the odds of hitting the jackpot or striking it rich or whatever? Yuck.
Through work, I can get $X per child of child term life insurance for 2006 for a small payroll deduction. To "break even" for one person, he or she would have to have a one-in-whatever chance of dying during the year. But, in my case I have more than one kid. So the odds make it even more likely for it to be a financial benefit.
Someone needs to do these calculations, or there could be no insurance industry. But I hate doing it for my own family.
Maybe I'm approaching it wrong. I'm not really considering financial hardship should a child die -- I'm thinking of it more like an investment or even a lottery ticket. What are the odds of hitting the jackpot or striking it rich or whatever? Yuck.
Friday, October 14, 2005
My 2005 Internet Baseball Awards Ballot
There are still a few hours left to vote in the 2005 Internet Baseball Awards, now administered at BaseballProspectus.com. Since 1991, the IBA has been the real selector of the real baseball MVPs, top pitchers, etc. (Seriously, I feel that the IBA voters generally do a better job than do the "real" voters.) For more information on the IBA or to vote, click here.
Before I announce my votes, let me say that I don't consider the team's performance when ranking the players. I'm looking for the best players, and not the "best players on the best teams". Also, as a caveat, I don't really feel comfortable putting pitchers in my MVP rankings. I do it, but I feel as I'm just tossing one in there.
So, without additional justification, here's my ballot:
Before I announce my votes, let me say that I don't consider the team's performance when ranking the players. I'm looking for the best players, and not the "best players on the best teams". Also, as a caveat, I don't really feel comfortable putting pitchers in my MVP rankings. I do it, but I feel as I'm just tossing one in there.
So, without additional justification, here's my ballot:
National League Cy Young Award
- Roger Clemens
- Andy Pettitte
- Dontrell Willis
- Chris Carpenter
- Roy Oswalt
American League Cy Young Award
National League Most Valuable Player
American League Most Valuable Player
(I'm less interested in "Manager of the Year" and "Rookie of the Year", so I don't vote on those.)
Comment away!
- Johan Santana
- Mark Buehrle
- Kevin Millwood
- Bartolo Colon
- Jon Garland
National League Most Valuable Player
- Derrek Lee
- Albert Pujols
- Jason Bay
- Morgan Ensberg
- Chase Utley
- Carlos Delgado
- Roger Clemens
- David Wright
- Todd Helton
- Miguel Cabrera
American League Most Valuable Player
- Alex Rodriguez
- Mark Teixeira
- Manny Ramirez
- David Ortiz
- Travis Hafner
- Michael Young
- Johan Santana
- Brian Roberts
- Vladimir Guerrero
- Jason Giambi
(I'm less interested in "Manager of the Year" and "Rookie of the Year", so I don't vote on those.)
Comment away!
Thursday, October 13, 2005
Sweet Lou Shouldn't Have Quit His Night Job
Lou Pinella has now been a major league manager for all or parts of 19 seasons. (Wow. That many aleady?) Before then, he spent 18 seasons as a big league player, debuting before even I was born. I'm sure he's forgotten like ten times as much baseball as I'll ever know. This said, after listening to him helping to broadcast the baseball playoffs, here's hoping that he finds another managerial job in '06.
Is it just me, or is he awful as a broadcaster?
Is it just me, or is he awful as a broadcaster?
Tuesday, October 11, 2005
Strange Spot For a Hurricane
I usually track the status of Atlantic hurricanes, possibly more than is necessary from this landlocked position. Hurricane/Tropical Storm/Tropical Depression Vince had quite an unusual track, and is apparently the first recorded tropical storm (since 1851 at least) to make landfall in Iberia.
Could a Great Lakes hurricane be far behind?
Could a Great Lakes hurricane be far behind?
Saturday, October 08, 2005
High School Reunions
It's been an undisclosed number of years since I graduated from high school and tonight there was a scheduled formal high school reunion. I have always attended this sort of thing in the past, but I didn't go to this one. There are really two reasons for this:
No offence meant to those that were there. As I said above, I'm thinking of people I've seen in the past 5 years outside of alumni band. And I did attend alumni band this year after missing it in 2004. One high school thing in the course of a few weeks is enough.
- I'm busier now. Not only do I have my own activities, my kids also now have things to do. I suppose I could have missed my son's football game today (or hit the road immediately following it), but it didn't seem worth the effort.
- It doesn't seem to be a high priority for the folks I'd like to see at a reunion. I figure that the people I would most want to see are the people that I already keep in touch with. A few months ago, I e-mailed all of my fellow classmates that I could remember seeing, speaking to, or writing within the past 5 years (not counting those from alumni band). I basically said, "Let me know if you're going to the reunion. I'll go if you do." Nobody said that they were going to attend the reunion. I'd suspect that maybe people were trying to avoid me, but they didn't attend previous reunions either.
No offence meant to those that were there. As I said above, I'm thinking of people I've seen in the past 5 years outside of alumni band. And I did attend alumni band this year after missing it in 2004. One high school thing in the course of a few weeks is enough.
Tuesday, October 04, 2005
Winning Going Away
In August, I wrote an entry on the progress of my Fantasy Baseball team. Back then, I had been in first place for a few weeks, and was wondering how long it could last. Well, the answer turned out to be, for the entire rest of the season. I don't think a day went by since that post where I was out of first place, and it never got really close. More recently, my lead had been increasing, and the lead at the end of the season may be just about the biggest all year.
Why did I do so well? I suppose (in a 13-team league) drafting David Ortiz, Manny Ramirez, and Andruw Jones didn't hurt the power department, and the bullpen was anchored by Mariano Rivera, Billy Wagner, and Danys Baez.
If you'll excuse me for a moment,
Just a Little Glass
Here're my team's final batting statistics:
And here are the pitchers:
Why did I do so well? I suppose (in a 13-team league) drafting David Ortiz, Manny Ramirez, and Andruw Jones didn't hurt the power department, and the bullpen was anchored by Mariano Rivera, Billy Wagner, and Danys Baez.
If you'll excuse me for a moment,
Just a Little Glass
2005 Dave Spiwack League Champions
Here're my team's final batting statistics:
And here are the pitchers:
Monday, October 03, 2005
We're Now Wireless
It took more than a week, but the phone number port (of our wired phone to our new wireless phone) has gone through. We'll have to see how this works out. If it doesn't work well, I suppose we could always get a new wireline home phone for $24/month or whatever.
Call us at home and see if it goes through!
Call us at home and see if it goes through!
Sunday, October 02, 2005
Inverted Spectra and the '05 Indians
Has there ever been a team in baseball history that had so much of its offence up the middle defensively, and were so weak offensively on the corners?
Here's the '05 Indian defensive regulars from best hitter (OPS) to worst.
1) Peralta, SS
2) V Martinez, C
3) Sizemore, CF
4) Crisp, LF
5) R Belliard, 2B
6) Broussard, 1B
7) Blake, RF
8) A Boone, 3B
You would expect the following to be the offensive order, from best to worst. (See Bill James on the defensive spectrum.)
1B - LF - RF - 3B - CF - 2B - SS - C
The Indians' order is this:
SS - C - CF - LF - 2B - 1B - RF - 3B
I suppose this is a good thing, as I'm sure it's easier to find a good-hitting 1B or RF than a ace starting pitcher or top-hitting SS.
Here's the '05 Indian defensive regulars from best hitter (OPS) to worst.
1) Peralta, SS
2) V Martinez, C
3) Sizemore, CF
4) Crisp, LF
5) R Belliard, 2B
6) Broussard, 1B
7) Blake, RF
8) A Boone, 3B
You would expect the following to be the offensive order, from best to worst. (See Bill James on the defensive spectrum.)
1B - LF - RF - 3B - CF - 2B - SS - C
The Indians' order is this:
SS - C - CF - LF - 2B - 1B - RF - 3B
I suppose this is a good thing, as I'm sure it's easier to find a good-hitting 1B or RF than a ace starting pitcher or top-hitting SS.
Friday, September 30, 2005
(Not) Talkin' Baseball
Carew and Gaylord Perry...
We're on the verge of a potentially historic end to the 2005 MLB regular season. Three A.L. teams (Boston, New York, and Cleveland) are competing for two playoff spots. There is even an outside chance of an unprecedented three-way tie between them, which would happen if Boston and Cleveland both win exactly two of three over the weekend.
Unfortunately, there isn't much chatter about it at work. I can get a bit of college football talk (which, really, is king around here) and maybe some NFL talk if I go looking for it. I can also find a bit of cricket talk, but I am only marginally literate in cricket. But there isn't much interest here in baseball.
I'll have to wait until tonight at the TV station.
Go Tribe!
Don't knock, don't knock, the Rock...
We're on the verge of a potentially historic end to the 2005 MLB regular season. Three A.L. teams (Boston, New York, and Cleveland) are competing for two playoff spots. There is even an outside chance of an unprecedented three-way tie between them, which would happen if Boston and Cleveland both win exactly two of three over the weekend.
Unfortunately, there isn't much chatter about it at work. I can get a bit of college football talk (which, really, is king around here) and maybe some NFL talk if I go looking for it. I can also find a bit of cricket talk, but I am only marginally literate in cricket. But there isn't much interest here in baseball.
I'll have to wait until tonight at the TV station.
Go Tribe!
Don't knock, don't knock, the Rock...
Sunday, September 25, 2005
Taking the Wireless Plunge
Friday night, the screen of the cell phone stopped working! :-(
The phone worked fine, but you couldn't see anything on the screen. This made it rather more difficult to use than a "regular" phone, which doesn't have a screen in the first place. We've had that phone (a Samsung SCH 8500) for more than 5 years, and it was a good phone. We'll miss it, but it's to the point of being disposable technology. I can get a new phone for "free", as long as I agree to another two years of service, whereas if the old phone can be fixed, it would certainly not be cheap.
My wife and I had been discussing getting a second mobile phone, so we each would have one. (The advantages to this should be obvious.) But, we didn't really see a need to have two mobile phones and a land line at the house. So, my initial plan was to try the two phones for a while, and then cancel the wired phone. I knew that you could change mobile providers and keep the same phone number with the new provider. However, I thought that was only for mobile to mobile. It turns out that you are also able to port a landline phone to a mobile phone [FN1]. So, I want ahead and requested that. The mobile phone port went through right away. Once the landline phone port goes through (likely in a business day or few), we'll be a completely wireless family. Except for internet (of course).
For those that want to update their phonebooks, you won't have to, which is the point. But keep in mind that the old cell number will likely become my number, while the old landline number will likely become my wife's number. But both will mostly work for both of us.
Oh, also, I didn't really know what kind of phone to buy, other than preferring a cheap flip phone. We went with one of two different models, mainly to have an easy way to tell them apart. It was either that or using a Sharpie marker to write our names on the phones. We went with the models below. The first one was "free", while the other one cost $10.
[FN1] Interestingly, when my group at work changed offices 100 metres within the same building, we weren't able to keep the same phone numbers, and all got new ones. So much for [insert company slogan here].
The phone worked fine, but you couldn't see anything on the screen. This made it rather more difficult to use than a "regular" phone, which doesn't have a screen in the first place. We've had that phone (a Samsung SCH 8500) for more than 5 years, and it was a good phone. We'll miss it, but it's to the point of being disposable technology. I can get a new phone for "free", as long as I agree to another two years of service, whereas if the old phone can be fixed, it would certainly not be cheap.
My wife and I had been discussing getting a second mobile phone, so we each would have one. (The advantages to this should be obvious.) But, we didn't really see a need to have two mobile phones and a land line at the house. So, my initial plan was to try the two phones for a while, and then cancel the wired phone. I knew that you could change mobile providers and keep the same phone number with the new provider. However, I thought that was only for mobile to mobile. It turns out that you are also able to port a landline phone to a mobile phone [FN1]. So, I want ahead and requested that. The mobile phone port went through right away. Once the landline phone port goes through (likely in a business day or few), we'll be a completely wireless family. Except for internet (of course).
For those that want to update their phonebooks, you won't have to, which is the point. But keep in mind that the old cell number will likely become my number, while the old landline number will likely become my wife's number. But both will mostly work for both of us.
Oh, also, I didn't really know what kind of phone to buy, other than preferring a cheap flip phone. We went with one of two different models, mainly to have an easy way to tell them apart. It was either that or using a Sharpie marker to write our names on the phones. We went with the models below. The first one was "free", while the other one cost $10.
[FN1] Interestingly, when my group at work changed offices 100 metres within the same building, we weren't able to keep the same phone numbers, and all got new ones. So much for [insert company slogan here].
Wednesday, September 21, 2005
2-Day Software Updates
I usually get prints made from digital images at the Wal-Mart photo centre. Not only are they cheaper than anywhere else, I have also been happier with the print quality there than at other places (as strange as that may sound).
Last night, I went in to get some prints made, and there was a little sign that said something like,
That's interesting. (As you know, I work in the software biz.) I'm not sure how the software provider can get away with that, or how much money it is costing their customer. Maybe the next time we need to provide a software update, I can try telling the customer that their system will be down for two days!
Last night, I went in to get some prints made, and there was a little sign that said something like,
Due to a Software Update, One-hour
digital print service will be
unavailable until Thurs.
digital print service will be
unavailable until Thurs.
That's interesting. (As you know, I work in the software biz.) I'm not sure how the software provider can get away with that, or how much money it is costing their customer. Maybe the next time we need to provide a software update, I can try telling the customer that their system will be down for two days!
Sunday, September 18, 2005
Thursday, September 15, 2005
Rocket Again
Roger Clemens is having the best season of his stellar career at age 43 (at least in just about everything besides wins, which is very team-dependent). But also, when batting, his current on base percentage (.295) is higher than that of Aaron Boone (.293), and the same as that of Ivan Rodriguez.
I'm not sure if the Rocket is going to retire after this season, but he certainly deserves to be offered million$ of reason$ to keep pitching.
I'm not sure if the Rocket is going to retire after this season, but he certainly deserves to be offered million$ of reason$ to keep pitching.
Wednesday, September 14, 2005
New Comment Policy
I've been getting a bit of blog spam lately. Stuff like "Anonymous says, "This is a cool site. Check out my page where I'll try to sell you stuff"". Because of this, I changed the setting to only allow registered users of Blogspot to leave comments here. Let's see if this helps.
Send me an e-mail if you have a problem with this.
Send me an e-mail if you have a problem with this.
200,000 Miles
(That's 321,869 km for the metrically-inclined.)
When I was a kid, I liked to watch the car odometer as we rolled along. Thinking about it, this might sound strange to some people, but probably only the ones that don't know me well. When I was 7 or so, my step-father-to-be took me on a ride in his '66 VW Beetle, and I got to watch as the odometer flipped from 99999 back to 00000.
Since then, my family and I have never had a car that got to 200,000 miles, though just about every one went past 100,000. Until today that is. The Taurus just flipped to 200,000 miles, and now stands at 200,000.1 (which reads 00000.1). Unfortunately, I was alone -- I would have liked to have made it a family event, but it was not to be.
I think the car had ~95,000 (or maybe 89,000) miles on it when we got it, so we've only had it for the second half of its existence.
Is 300,000 next?
When I was a kid, I liked to watch the car odometer as we rolled along. Thinking about it, this might sound strange to some people, but probably only the ones that don't know me well. When I was 7 or so, my step-father-to-be took me on a ride in his '66 VW Beetle, and I got to watch as the odometer flipped from 99999 back to 00000.
Since then, my family and I have never had a car that got to 200,000 miles, though just about every one went past 100,000. Until today that is. The Taurus just flipped to 200,000 miles, and now stands at 200,000.1 (which reads 00000.1). Unfortunately, I was alone -- I would have liked to have made it a family event, but it was not to be.
I think the car had ~95,000 (or maybe 89,000) miles on it when we got it, so we've only had it for the second half of its existence.
Is 300,000 next?
On Dasher! On Dancer! On Savannah, Taylor, and Mackenzie!
At cheerleading practice last night, I heard the "coach" call out for Savannah, Taylor, and Mackenzie. I thought to myself, "Welcome to 2005." I mean, from my vantage point, these seem to be common girls' names that weren't common when I was a child. In my era, the coach might have called out for Robin, Tammy, and Diane, for example. (Now, these are more likely the names of the coaches.)
I don't have anything against trends in names; my kids have names that weren't common when I was young. Actually, they aren't common now, as the most popular one was #65 in the year it was given. It looks like we may have been ahead of the trend on another, as it was in the 130s when it was given, and is in the 50s now.
I also don't have anything against common names. I mean, I favour names that people are somewhat familiar with, meaning that there is a finite number of names to choose from. And, unless we have a completely even distribution, sombody has to have the most common names, be it Savannah, Taylor, and Mackenzie, or Emily, Madison, and Olivia.
I don't have anything against trends in names; my kids have names that weren't common when I was young. Actually, they aren't common now, as the most popular one was #65 in the year it was given. It looks like we may have been ahead of the trend on another, as it was in the 130s when it was given, and is in the 50s now.
I also don't have anything against common names. I mean, I favour names that people are somewhat familiar with, meaning that there is a finite number of names to choose from. And, unless we have a completely even distribution, sombody has to have the most common names, be it Savannah, Taylor, and Mackenzie, or Emily, Madison, and Olivia.
Wednesday, September 07, 2005
The New Musician
(Considering what a used flute costs these days, if she decides she doesn't want to play it, I'll learn to play flute...)
The Missing Element in Gasoline Price Discussions
In the news, there have been some stories on the high price of gasoline, which around here seems fixed at $2.999. The illegailty of price gouging is mentioned, as are discussions about making price gouging more illegal. The "man on the street" soundbites are interesting, too, as it's always some guy saying something like, "It's highway robbery, what they're charging. Someone oughta do something about it."
It seems to me there is one missing element in the discussion. If you think that gasoline is too expensive, you could always, you know, use less.
Or, if that isn't possible, then maybe you are indeed up a creek.
It seems to me there is one missing element in the discussion. If you think that gasoline is too expensive, you could always, you know, use less.
Or, if that isn't possible, then maybe you are indeed up a creek.
Sunday, September 04, 2005
Unfair and InflexibleSM
We're still thinking about getting a second moblie phone. If we do, then we'll likely do away with the land line to our house. (Just how do the traditional wired phone companies plan to make money in the future?) Anyway, Sprint has "Fair and FlexibleSM" plans. One reason I find this interesting is that this must mean that their other plans are Unfair and Inflexible, right?
Saturday, September 03, 2005
Into the Great Wide Open
OK, I'm watching the Oklahoma/TCU game, and there's a quick pass. The announcers say, "The receiver's wide open!..." And, the receiver may have come down with it too, if he didn't have two defenders on his back the instant he touched the ball.
So, when it comes to football, what does it mean to be wide open? Playing as kids, it means that you don't have a defender within 20 yards of you. At higher levels, closer defenders are probably allowed. But, let's not use the term "wide open" so liberally. "Wide open" is wider open than just "open". The way I see it, if you can't take at least a good step and a half after catching the ball before being touched by a defender, you weren't wide open.
Thank you.
So, when it comes to football, what does it mean to be wide open? Playing as kids, it means that you don't have a defender within 20 yards of you. At higher levels, closer defenders are probably allowed. But, let's not use the term "wide open" so liberally. "Wide open" is wider open than just "open". The way I see it, if you can't take at least a good step and a half after catching the ball before being touched by a defender, you weren't wide open.
Thank you.
Monday, August 29, 2005
Saturday, August 27, 2005
Another Baby Weekend Thought
I was hoping to spend some time with my book tonight once I got everything taken care of today and everyone in bed. Unfortunately, by the time I'm finally ready for that, I'm sleepy and ready for bed myself!
Back to Work and Baby Weekend
Last night was the start of high school football season. Like last year, I'll be working at the TV station, entering high school football scores into the system so that hundreds of scores will rotate on the bottom of the screen,
Last night was pretty cool and uneventful from my point of view. For the people more directly involved with the 30-minute football wrapup TV show, well, there is room for improvement, and I'm sure it will improve. There were a few times where things didn't go as planned, but that doesn't mean that there were many problems that the home viewer would notice.
Also, this weekend the wife and big kids are away, leaving me at home with the little tykes. Last night I had to get a baby sitter to watch the remaining kids, while I worked. While experienced and responsible for the job, she doesn't have as much experience with crying babies as do parents, and the babies probably cried more for her than they would for their parents. So, I'm sure having crying babies was more stressful for the sitter than would be, for example, popping a video in for bigger kids on other (hypothetical) baby sitting jobs. Because of this, I was directed to pay well. What is "well" for this day and age? I didn't really know, but I gave $30. Am I overly generous or a cheapskate? I was gone about 5 hours, but then the kids were sleeping for a lot of that time (except when they were crying, of course).
I also got a taste of what child care expenses must be like for people who need it. It's probably not 75% of income for most people, but I'll get paid $40 for the night. Subtract the $30, and then another $1.40 for a snack and pop, and I'm left with $8.60 before gas and taxes. Hey, can I deduct the $30 for income tax purposes. I probably can! I'll have to look into that.
Finally, as I mentioned, this weekend I'm alone with the babies. I don't anticipate any major problems, as long as I stop them from chewing on banana peels they get from the trash and things like that, but I see that we're already off schedule. I was left with a detailed schedule of daily activities, but we're way off. Lunch was supposed to be at 11:00am. But, as I type this, it's 1:17pm, and they're probably about ready to get up from their pre-lunch nap.
If the weather holds up, we'll go to a park or for a walk or something.
- To annoy viewers that don't care (but if they don't care, they shouldn't watch).
- To get people to wait and wait and wait to see their school's score, even though it might never be there.
- To allow people to have something to complain about if we get the score wrong. Of course, that never happens. If it's on television, it must be true.
Last night was pretty cool and uneventful from my point of view. For the people more directly involved with the 30-minute football wrapup TV show, well, there is room for improvement, and I'm sure it will improve. There were a few times where things didn't go as planned, but that doesn't mean that there were many problems that the home viewer would notice.
Also, this weekend the wife and big kids are away, leaving me at home with the little tykes. Last night I had to get a baby sitter to watch the remaining kids, while I worked. While experienced and responsible for the job, she doesn't have as much experience with crying babies as do parents, and the babies probably cried more for her than they would for their parents. So, I'm sure having crying babies was more stressful for the sitter than would be, for example, popping a video in for bigger kids on other (hypothetical) baby sitting jobs. Because of this, I was directed to pay well. What is "well" for this day and age? I didn't really know, but I gave $30. Am I overly generous or a cheapskate? I was gone about 5 hours, but then the kids were sleeping for a lot of that time (except when they were crying, of course).
I also got a taste of what child care expenses must be like for people who need it. It's probably not 75% of income for most people, but I'll get paid $40 for the night. Subtract the $30, and then another $1.40 for a snack and pop, and I'm left with $8.60 before gas and taxes. Hey, can I deduct the $30 for income tax purposes. I probably can! I'll have to look into that.
Finally, as I mentioned, this weekend I'm alone with the babies. I don't anticipate any major problems, as long as I stop them from chewing on banana peels they get from the trash and things like that, but I see that we're already off schedule. I was left with a detailed schedule of daily activities, but we're way off. Lunch was supposed to be at 11:00am. But, as I type this, it's 1:17pm, and they're probably about ready to get up from their pre-lunch nap.
If the weather holds up, we'll go to a park or for a walk or something.
August Photos
I guess I can't get another month go by without posting some new photos of everyone, so here you go!
The dog in the next one is named "Penny Peepot" until she is house trained. When that happens, her name will become "Penny Teapot".
The dog in the next one is named "Penny Peepot" until she is house trained. When that happens, her name will become "Penny Teapot".
Monday, August 22, 2005
I Hold The Key
Now where's the lock?
Today, someone noticed that there was a key on the roof of our house. Never passing on a trip to get out on the roof, I went and retrieved it. I have no idea how it got there, how long it's been on the roof, or what it unlocks. From the looks of things, it's been outside for a while, but I'm sure it hasn't been there for a real long time, or we would have noticed it. So, maybe some passing kid wanted to be cruel to his companion and tossed his key on someone's roof. Or, maybe it's left over from the construction of the house, and somehow worked its way to that location. Or maybe something else entirely.
It's a mystery. What do you think?
Today, someone noticed that there was a key on the roof of our house. Never passing on a trip to get out on the roof, I went and retrieved it. I have no idea how it got there, how long it's been on the roof, or what it unlocks. From the looks of things, it's been outside for a while, but I'm sure it hasn't been there for a real long time, or we would have noticed it. So, maybe some passing kid wanted to be cruel to his companion and tossed his key on someone's roof. Or, maybe it's left over from the construction of the house, and somehow worked its way to that location. Or maybe something else entirely.
It's a mystery. What do you think?
Route 256, Kapitel Drei: The Final Chapter
Today, I noticed that it has been changed to a State Route 256 sign. Thanks a lot, Mr Ward: your people do good work!
Sunday, August 14, 2005
Holmes County Courthouse, Millersburg
Here's the Holmes County Courthouse in Millersburg on 14 August 2005. I cut off the top. Drats. (But there's not much of it; it's kind of rounded at the top.)
Saturday, August 13, 2005
Just a Little Glass -- Still in First Place
Despite a slow start, my fantasy baseball team, Just a Little Glass, team has been in first place for maybe two or three weeks now. Since there is no way to go back and look at league standings for any one day in the season, I thought I'd save a copy of the standings board for posterity's sake. (I may never be in first place again!) At the end of the season, maybe I'll post again, and we can see if I've been able to hold onto my lead.
Why have I done so well? I don't know. Getting Andruw Jones in the 6th round looks like a steal. Plus, Danys Baez and his 24 (so far) saves, seems like a good deal for a 14th round pick. At the end of the year, I'll post complete team stats.
In the list below, djl is Hudler Junta, and dfv is Preston Tramriders.
Why have I done so well? I don't know. Getting Andruw Jones in the 6th round looks like a steal. Plus, Danys Baez and his 24 (so far) saves, seems like a good deal for a 14th round pick. At the end of the year, I'll post complete team stats.
In the list below, djl is Hudler Junta, and dfv is Preston Tramriders.
Wednesday, August 10, 2005
The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
(amazon.com link)
I received The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini as a birthday present last year. Due to being much slower with reading since last Fall, I didn't pick it up until recently, and it was with a bit of trepidation that I began this book. The blurb on the cover says that it is a "Moving portrait of modern Afghanistan". While one can assume that any such portrait would include some of the horrors of today's Afghanistan, I was not looking forward to a page-after-page assault on the senses. In that regard, the book was a success. There were certainly enough gut-wrenching scenes, but that wasn't the main point of the book, and I was able to get through it without too much difficulty.
The book is the story of Amir, who was born into a wealthy family in Afghanistan in 1963. It was a small wealthy family, as he had no siblings and his mother died in childbirth, leaving him, his father Baba, his father's servant Ali, and Ali's son Hassan. (Is Baba his father's name, or just his language's word for father? That wasn't clear to me.) For the first 100 or so pages, it's the story of Amir's childhood, focusing primarily on his relationship with his father and also with Hassan.
In Afghanistan, Amir's relationship with his father is always strained, as he is more a person of letters and thought, while his bear-wrestling father is a man of action. It is obvious that Amir's father is looking for someone like himself in a son, while Amir is not that person.
With Hassan, Amir's relationship starts out almost brotherly and eventually becomes quite strained. I thought the relationship was somewhat hokey at times, as narrator Amir played the "evil twin" to Hassan's picture of purity and goodness. I guess Hassan seemed too "perfect", but then that contrast is what the narrator was trying to portray.
Suddenly, on page 110 (of 372), Ali and Hassan are gone, and with the Soviets in control, Amir and Baba are emigrating to America. For a while, the story is on the improving father-son relationship. Eventually Amir gets married, time passes without too much interesting happening, and suddenly it's 2001. I felt that this middle section wasn't all that interesting. It almost seemed like a half-hearted effort, but you could say that the author/narrator was making a point about how uninteresting his adult life was, compared to his childhood.
This, of course, is all a setup for Amir's journey back to Afghanistan as a 38-year old in 2001, when the country (at least Kabul) was still ruled by the Taliban. While there, he confronts old demons, long hidden but not forgotten, and tries to see if, as a friend suggested, there is indeed a way to be good again. While in Kabul, there are a few coincidences, including one that I would consider a deus ex machina. (See if you can spot it.)
All-in-all, though, I think it works. I can spot what the author is doing at times, but that doesn't make it any less intriguing of a story. If I gave fractional stars, I would probably give this one three and a half. But I don't, so I'll give it four stars out of five.
All that and I didn't even tell you what a kite runner is.
Monday, August 08, 2005
Route 256, Part Deux
Yesterday, I posted about a incorrectly signed local route, and mentioned that I sent a mail asking about it to the local roads superintendent. Today, I got the following e-mail:
Someone previously brought this to our attention.A date commitment, oooh. Now I'll have to check up on it and post whether or not it is met! And if you're looking for work, and like working outside, let me know. I know of someone who might be looking for help... :-)
I intend to have the sign changed.
We have been extremely busy and short of help.
We should have it changed by the end of the month.
Sunday, August 07, 2005
Getting My Kicks on Route 256
Below is a sign noting an upcoming junction with Route 256. It may appear to be an ordinary highway sign, but can you spot the problem with it? It's a marker for US Federal Highway 256 (which has never existed) when it should be a marker for State Route 256.
I'm sure that many people wouldn't notice or care about such a mistake. I'm not one of those, as at least I noticed it. I took a photo of it to send to a friend whom I know also notices such things. But since I had a photo, I thought I'd post it here -- the blog has been quiet long enough.
As I've said before, I have respect for the people who make and install highway signs. Everyone makes mistakes, and it's not like most of these positions require an advanced university degree. But, on the other hand, it's their job to know the difference between a State and a Federal route.
Rather than simply sound like I'm complaining about the situation, I did write a note to the city Street Department superintendent, mentioning the mix-up and requesting that it be corrected. If the response or resolution is interesting, I may blog about it here.
I'm sure that many people wouldn't notice or care about such a mistake. I'm not one of those, as at least I noticed it. I took a photo of it to send to a friend whom I know also notices such things. But since I had a photo, I thought I'd post it here -- the blog has been quiet long enough.
As I've said before, I have respect for the people who make and install highway signs. Everyone makes mistakes, and it's not like most of these positions require an advanced university degree. But, on the other hand, it's their job to know the difference between a State and a Federal route.
Rather than simply sound like I'm complaining about the situation, I did write a note to the city Street Department superintendent, mentioning the mix-up and requesting that it be corrected. If the response or resolution is interesting, I may blog about it here.
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