tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-361346312024-02-21T09:13:46.621-06:00LP Cards Fan<b>Intellectual growth should commence at birth and cease only at death.
-Albert Einstein</b>LP Cards Fanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10858890547139126147noreply@blogger.comBlogger1688125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36134631.post-31652097601436147902012-11-19T18:13:00.002-06:002012-11-19T18:13:21.384-06:00Oh how things have changed<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzEGXuieegMoLTaor4oOsEd5lAvW9U_fSkCwT5PP4NqTCnXjevEOMzVMxMo0GngFrvcTHU7lq3xx_wZyi5YG9M32xbKABRjQUqWN-8g-HzXWQz7Qd_W852FzSZ1hvnODJAQgsD/s1600/Keef+vs+Bieber.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="572" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzEGXuieegMoLTaor4oOsEd5lAvW9U_fSkCwT5PP4NqTCnXjevEOMzVMxMo0GngFrvcTHU7lq3xx_wZyi5YG9M32xbKABRjQUqWN-8g-HzXWQz7Qd_W852FzSZ1hvnODJAQgsD/s640/Keef+vs+Bieber.png" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />Erichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02967331167796873760noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36134631.post-46847155338670147582012-11-01T09:01:00.000-05:002012-11-01T09:01:00.172-05:00A Reminder“Remember when teachers, public employees, Planned Parenthood, NPR, and PBS crashed the stock market, wiped out half of our 401Ks, took trillions in TARP money, gave themselves billions in bonuses, and paid no taxes? Yeah.. Me neither.” - Commenter Michael D on Balloon Juice back in June of 2011. It's still relevant.Erichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02967331167796873760noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36134631.post-37700913235102458972012-08-15T14:25:00.003-05:002012-08-15T14:25:48.727-05:00R5 Turbo 2A buddy of mine sent me these. He saw the car in Deerfield outside the DMV.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaBxumVMEohHHJFlC6F8YziaSefiXAFkYYc8eUzvLguYIHwng_4Gun67mdYiC7RkoPIvEpYbswtnL8TJAHsy3am1o4-QDSAJvm8xBTevlStwN830lxE4wl90JdEx1hL74duC7b/s1600/R5+Turbo+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaBxumVMEohHHJFlC6F8YziaSefiXAFkYYc8eUzvLguYIHwng_4Gun67mdYiC7RkoPIvEpYbswtnL8TJAHsy3am1o4-QDSAJvm8xBTevlStwN830lxE4wl90JdEx1hL74duC7b/s320/R5+Turbo+1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfC8KTq6Ws-3vJipk-rpgNemEkGnhghyHhbdf9oS4m9VwfX7TlYC-qhqtnN4KkPn5nZKM0TxW_VxdTXDbUAOqAba-YV-YZZfKBslObrIb7WSB8Mv736P07F5JCzi8DXrSFwWlq/s1600/R5+Turbo+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfC8KTq6Ws-3vJipk-rpgNemEkGnhghyHhbdf9oS4m9VwfX7TlYC-qhqtnN4KkPn5nZKM0TxW_VxdTXDbUAOqAba-YV-YZZfKBslObrIb7WSB8Mv736P07F5JCzi8DXrSFwWlq/s320/R5+Turbo+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-jf1GLBF7gbXoISlt5sEC7GHsPqit9Sf__CDc04-F4uxBHkXBNOtY4fLt_tAj9m1qUroPuo9Lgju8nScTWYQdBkiHl4UElTH4iJw55rGsCAzpsHwE6NS0GcvinaNS2L4jYxs4/s1600/R5+Turbo+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-jf1GLBF7gbXoISlt5sEC7GHsPqit9Sf__CDc04-F4uxBHkXBNOtY4fLt_tAj9m1qUroPuo9Lgju8nScTWYQdBkiHl4UElTH4iJw55rGsCAzpsHwE6NS0GcvinaNS2L4jYxs4/s320/R5+Turbo+3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />Erichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02967331167796873760noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36134631.post-85173381510340017772012-07-12T09:14:00.000-05:002012-07-12T09:14:07.791-05:00Missed Opportunity<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_145LS4ydY59N9IT-Zer69YpnhvTRQ5MMrwUvx_NyLhIViM7g7EpjTN_1GanqTNXRyBUjxhzvYVUzjimkDgYG8y0wSaK9I2ZWq_QWu4pXwDo6hzsx_Q5DVC2jAzVpNTPc-nl3/s1600/John+Kruk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_145LS4ydY59N9IT-Zer69YpnhvTRQ5MMrwUvx_NyLhIViM7g7EpjTN_1GanqTNXRyBUjxhzvYVUzjimkDgYG8y0wSaK9I2ZWq_QWu4pXwDo6hzsx_Q5DVC2jAzVpNTPc-nl3/s320/John+Kruk.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
In my third at bat tonight I hit a double down the right field line. The
pitcher - who I had been jawwing good-naturedly with all night - says,
"Nice hit."<br />
<br />
"Thanks" I replied.<br />
<br />
"You know a real athlete would have got a triple."<br />
<br />
This
was SOOOO the time to pull out the John (1 - 0) Kruk line, "I'm not an
athlete. I'm a baseball player," and I totally missed it.Erichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02967331167796873760noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36134631.post-57732895694197903472012-06-25T09:21:00.000-05:002012-06-25T09:21:33.329-05:00The Breakdown of CommunicationI received an email from my project manager this morning.<br />
<indent>Subject: B 4 U R busy - C me</indent><br />
Text Body: :-)<br />
<br />
<br />
A few years back a couple of us at work had to explain to an intern that it is unacceptable to use leet speak in an email. Furthermore, it is entirely, 100% unacceptable to us it in a work email.<br /><br />For the love of FSM, there is little to no use for it at all. Leet Speak was improvised when texting had to be done on a standard phone number pad. “YOU” used to take 7 key strokes. “U” only took 2. Then, through the miracle of computer programming, the world was gifted with various predictive text applications. At that point “YOU” only took 3 key strokes.<br /><br />Now, between Smart Phones and cell phones with full QWERTY keyboards it is very easy to type in full sentences, punctuation and all. I admit text messages are “limited” to 160 characters but very few texts take more than that. Plus, every phone I’m aware of through the miracle of computer programming breaks up messages longer than 160 characters into two texts automatically.<br /><br />Most importantly, the computer programmers that created email applications saw fit to NOT limit emails to 160 characters. One can see that by just looking at this email. I surpassed it several paragraphs ago. So again, there is absolutely no reason a professional business person trying to communicate with another professional would say, “B 4 U R busy – C me.”Erichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02967331167796873760noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36134631.post-32668307798730819032012-06-04T15:48:00.001-05:002012-06-04T15:48:23.648-05:00RIP Richard DawsonI remember always liking the Family Feud and loved Hogan's Heros when I discovered it in reruns. Why was the Feud so great? <br />
<br />
See here.<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/zdVuEpD9_IY" width="420"></iframe><br />
<br />
And here<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/PaRlOG7twnc" width="420"></iframe>Erichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02967331167796873760noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36134631.post-63756354329087292312012-06-04T10:05:00.001-05:002012-06-04T10:05:14.182-05:00Today In Automotive History<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhehE9BneRsh0Gf7AqzCIJCKCZwsSUvM9vruHHCMNG5eg0t8er3A9d3y_GL-jWUQ1Z0I0IVZwkiMFwoV1Q6mueALWwFofED2owuY9nhPcNIBZxKs5kEJrEPpvjJr-Zw-Q8yjtgm/s1600/ford-quadricycle-04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhehE9BneRsh0Gf7AqzCIJCKCZwsSUvM9vruHHCMNG5eg0t8er3A9d3y_GL-jWUQ1Z0I0IVZwkiMFwoV1Q6mueALWwFofED2owuY9nhPcNIBZxKs5kEJrEPpvjJr-Zw-Q8yjtgm/s320/ford-quadricycle-04.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Around 4AM on June 4, 1896, Henry Ford took his first automobile for<a href="http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/henry-ford-test-drives-his-quadricycle"> its first drive</a>.Erichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02967331167796873760noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36134631.post-36527894389528040122012-05-31T08:56:00.000-05:002012-05-31T08:56:06.504-05:00Heave the HawkIn a little extra Random Baseball, White Sox announcer Ken Harrelson <a href="http://deadspin.com/5914346/ken-hawk-harrelson-melts-down-after-white-sox-pitcher-ejected-for-throwing-behind-a-batter">remains an embarrassment</a> to all of baseball. It is long since time to <a href="http://www.heavethehawk.com/">heave the Hawk</a>.Erichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02967331167796873760noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36134631.post-31656480772465673032012-05-30T16:28:00.000-05:002012-05-30T16:28:00.076-05:00Random Baseball: The Omniscience<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjJLNtFDFNnX7VH-6e_atfv3qITFw2OKMZLlphgh5zgKJVyOljrM4lXLsE7Flb0xyLQekm4RUqwM8fjI4TbO_5RlvYdIkmni3opx5ZS8-LKwgf5J8Rcvde1KGCVLs1FTn5lkw1/s1600/Bud-Selig.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjJLNtFDFNnX7VH-6e_atfv3qITFw2OKMZLlphgh5zgKJVyOljrM4lXLsE7Flb0xyLQekm4RUqwM8fjI4TbO_5RlvYdIkmni3opx5ZS8-LKwgf5J8Rcvde1KGCVLs1FTn5lkw1/s320/Bud-Selig.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Wow! Has it really been a month since I published anything? While I ponder the meaning of that I'll let you ponder the Bud "The Omniscient" Selig.<br />
<br />
First a minor item. Today the Cubs are finishing a 3 game home stand. No, I didn't typo. Just three games.<br />
<br />
Second let's look at the Astro's move to the American League starting in the 2013 season. Since this move will result in an odd number of teams in each league, baseball will have inter-league play every day of the year. This is bad enough in my mind but your mileage may vary. Consider <a href="http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/rosenblog/chi-sox-fans-should-hate-selig-20120517,0,7346946.column">Steve Rosenbloom's point</a> at the Tribune.<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Let’s say the Sox get the “Nate Dusek Special’’ and are scheduled to
finish next season with a six-game, two-city road trip to Los Angeles
and San Francisco. NL cities, NL rules. Let’s also say the Sox are in a
race fro the second wild-card spot with the <a class="taxInlineTagLink" href="http://www.chicagotribune.com/topic/sports/baseball/new-york-yankees-ORSPT000205.topic" id="ORSPT000205" title="New York Yankees">Yankees</a>,
who finish with six games at home against Pittsburgh and the Cubs. AL
city, AL rules. The Sox will have to sit down Viciedo or maybe Dunn or <a class="taxInlineTagLink" href="http://www.chicagotribune.com/topic/sports/baseball/alex-rios-PESPT000010365.topic" id="PESPT000010365" title="Alex Rios">Alex Rios</a>, while the Cubs insert <a class="taxInlineTagLink" href="http://www.chicagotribune.com/topic/sports/baseball/reed-johnson-PESPT000011630.topic" id="PESPT000011630" title="Reed Johnson">Reed Johnson</a> as DH against <a class="taxInlineTagLink" href="http://www.chicagotribune.com/topic/sports/baseball/c.c.-sabathia-PESPT006420.topic" id="PESPT006420" title="C.C. Sabathia">C.C. Sabathia</a>.</blockquote>
The team playing on the road is always at a disadvantage. Starting next year a team on the road playing inter-league will be doubly disadvantaged. They will not be able to play with the rules their team was built to compete with.<br />
<br />
Now you might argue the problem isn't inter-league play as much as it is the differing rules between the AL and NL. I would agree. My preference would be for the immediate end of the DH abomination. Not going to happen. I also don't think the NL is going to implement the DH rule. The rule difference has been in place for 4 decades.<br />
<br />
Inter-league has been around for a while now as well but it was two weeks year in the middle of the season. No team came down to the wire, fighting for a playoff berth, and had to play by different rules. Last season the Wild Card for both leagues came down to the 162nd game. It happens. The all-year inter-league play now makes this situation blatantly unfair for a team that gets the Selig Scheduling treatment.Erichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02967331167796873760noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36134631.post-25607632781132506682012-04-28T08:15:00.000-05:002012-04-28T08:15:00.662-05:00Ear WormThis has been stuck in my head for a week.
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/x6bFTVi0hHs" width="560"></iframe>
Also this.
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/9jjiWS__Mp0" width="420"></iframe>
You're welcome.Erichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02967331167796873760noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36134631.post-84203388375422918742012-04-27T13:06:00.000-05:002012-04-27T13:38:11.185-05:00Random Baseball - The Perfect Edition<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid0YfjL6j2TP0nsC6ppp3nYLvE_4N4bKw_xTCBDlrAfuBht6M05pdOoiQvNdJjc9JOWqP5Hb2nGKK5dZDX0qLQfpaY1rvPjcC__6BzRIHVyXh3GMENRUje0PT3e_FnBmf1cetB/s1600/baseball-bundle.jpg.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid0YfjL6j2TP0nsC6ppp3nYLvE_4N4bKw_xTCBDlrAfuBht6M05pdOoiQvNdJjc9JOWqP5Hb2nGKK5dZDX0qLQfpaY1rvPjcC__6BzRIHVyXh3GMENRUje0PT3e_FnBmf1cetB/s320/baseball-bundle.jpg.gif" width="223" /></a></div>
<ul>
<li>Last Saturday White Sox Pitcher Phillip Humber <a href="http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/whitesox/ct-spt-0422-white-sox-mariners-chicago--20120422,0,2577253.story">pitched the 21st perfect game</a> in MLB history. White Sox pitchers have recorded a disproportionate 3 of those games.
</li>
<li>Not to be out done, <a href="http://deadspin.com/5904775/high-school-pitcher-throws-rare-perfect-perfect-game">Andrea Chiaradio</a> threw a perfect perfect game. She recorded all the outs in her game by strikeout. </li>
<li>Ed at Gin and Tacos <a href="http://www.ginandtacos.com/2012/04/27/npf-cruel-random-perfection/">pondners the rarity of perfection</a> </li>
<li>And it is rare and should be rarer. There have been over 200,000 MLB games played and only 21 of them resulted in perfect games. That is about <a href="http://www.boston.com/sports/blogs/statsdriven/2012/04/perfection_baseballs_elusive_g.html">5 times more</a> than the math predicts. <blockquote>
When I add this modified error rate to on-base percentage, the resulting number—.348—is the probability that the average hitter reaches base, or in other words, breaks up a perfect game. Conversely, the probability that a player does not reach base is 1 - .348 = .652. As an aside, I am treating the number of dropped third strikes and catcher’s interference calls as negligible, having no noticeable effect on the aforementioned probability.
Now, to find the likelihood of a perfect game, given a historically average pitcher facing a lineup of nine historically average hitters, I multiply .652 by itself 27 times. This gives me the probability that 27 consecutive hitters will not reach base against an average pitcher.
(.652)^27 = 0.00000983
As mentioned, there have been 200,304 games played in major league history, at the start of which two pitchers each have a chance to throw a perfect game. This brings us to 400,608 perfect game opportunities. Multiplying this number by the probability of the average perfect game gives me the number of perfect games that we would expect to have been thrown in history, based simply on the odds of their occurrence.
0.00000983 x 400,608 = 3.94 ≈ 4.00 perfect games, or one every 34 seasons</blockquote>
</li>
</ul>Erichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02967331167796873760noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36134631.post-35699794006264623672012-04-26T13:37:00.000-05:002012-04-26T13:39:09.479-05:00Sick At My Stomach<br />
<br />
<center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/chicagoschraders/6259704272/" title="Ozzie is Packed and Ready by chicagoschraders, on Flickr"><img alt="Ozzie is Packed and Ready" height="161" src="http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6059/6259704272_a81fa84c86_m.jpg" width="240" /></a></center>
Last night Ozzie ran between my feet as I was walking down the hall. He got pinched and kicked. Holding up his right front paw he high tailed it into the second bedroom and hid under the bed. I couldn't get him to come out for over an hour and then it took a trail of catnip.<br />
<br />
He hobbled around all night and stayed to himself. He limped pretty badly for a while and I was strongly considering taking him to the vet. When I was able to corral him he reluctantly let me feel his leg. He didn't cry out in pain. This morning he was moving around pretty good. No noticeable limp while walking but when he trotted it was there. He was still being leery around me and staying clear of my feet.<br />
<br />
It was clearly an accident and he appears to be getting better quickly. But I can still "feel" him between my feet and "hear" his anguished cry of pain and it's making me sickErichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02967331167796873760noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36134631.post-15797582680017663782012-04-20T10:05:00.001-05:002012-04-20T13:13:40.672-05:00Random Baseball<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLYSMQtq3ed9UL2MG1GAkb3J9e1w0sMo4DC1EPpPYqKPej3oWboEp6sXDesDq0ue6OU1FgDJKeSu3s5WHAi0edhekWPG_YnN3QU6Eqdq65EXkuwcwBIumY5xBqHo4SUSKew35B/s1600/Jamie+Moyer+Rockies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="217" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLYSMQtq3ed9UL2MG1GAkb3J9e1w0sMo4DC1EPpPYqKPej3oWboEp6sXDesDq0ue6OU1FgDJKeSu3s5WHAi0edhekWPG_YnN3QU6Eqdq65EXkuwcwBIumY5xBqHo4SUSKew35B/s320/Jamie+Moyer+Rockies.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<br />
Maybe I'll bring Random Baseball back as a regular thing this year. But for now I'll give you just a couple of items.<br />
<br />
<ul><li>Jamie Moyer officially became the oldest pitcher to record a win in an MLB game this week. His catcher in that game was born in 1989, <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/moyerja01.shtml">3 years after Moyer debuted with the Cubs</a>. Since then he has faced <a href="http://deadspin.com/5903536/jamie-moyer-has-faced-89-percent-of-all-mlb-hitters-ever">8.9% of all the men</a> to have ever played major league baseball. (Moyers Rookie <a href="http://www.homeruncards.com/rookiecards/jamie-moyer-rookie-card.shtml">baseball card</a>)<br />
<li>Former Cardinals outfielder <strike>Roy Hobbs</strike> Rick Ankiel <a href="http://deadspin.com/5902657/rick-ankiel-threw-a-strike-from-center-field">threw a strike</a>. From center field.<br />
</ul>Erichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02967331167796873760noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36134631.post-24975193077921896262012-04-19T16:30:00.005-05:002012-04-19T16:30:01.080-05:00I Pulled Into Nazareth<a href="http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/music/turnitup/sc-ent-0419-levon-helm-obit-hold-20120420,0,626190.column">R.I.P. Levon Helm of The Band</a><br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/5fJvok8NqGg" width="420"></iframe><br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/4RjqcTsxx-8" width="560"></iframe>Erichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02967331167796873760noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36134631.post-66775871500797207942012-04-19T16:22:00.000-05:002012-04-19T16:22:54.934-05:00New RuleFrom this day forth we will not<br />
<br />
1. Run 5 miles<br />
2. Then go play softball<br />
3. Then stay out with the team until midnight.<br />
<br />
I'm exhausted. Of course, really, it might just be #3 that is the problem.Erichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02967331167796873760noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36134631.post-17481591869391232032012-04-06T13:50:00.000-05:002012-04-06T13:50:19.182-05:00Science Friday - Explaining Man's Influence on Extreme Weather PatternsOver at<a href="http://earlywarn.blogspot.com/"> Early Warning</a> there is a longish post on the possible affects climate change is having <a href="http://earlywarn.blogspot.com/2012/04/slowing-rossby-waves-leading-to-extreme.html">on the northern jet stream</a>. The post is a summary of a longer science paper that is behind a firewall. I won't try to recreate everything here as EW does a terrific job in explaining the underlying science and the papers observations. In summary, climate change appears to be affecting the speed of the jet stream winds and the frequency of the wind's wave pattern shape. These affects are contributing to prolonged extreme weather. While they rightly point out that the paper's conclusions are not definitive they certainly match up with our observations of the weather over the past couple years.<br />
<br />
As they say, go read the whole thing. The language isn't too dry and it has plenty of visuals to help the reader understand the concepts being explained.Erichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02967331167796873760noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36134631.post-53614164181437484082012-04-06T09:02:00.000-05:002012-04-06T09:02:39.791-05:00Opening Day(s)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwwWYAXcF0Yf8VWHPi3wJTnvoG_HlkIFJp52pco4dvPS29ndNbpt20RAR7GJf4ylVQPWAMekyIzODoirD0LEYW3SfZ-J4HB8kD9lNgqJamkH7ockMYrpR3wgkANrjkmePnphyphenhyphenE/s1600/Freese+Slide+At+Home.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwwWYAXcF0Yf8VWHPi3wJTnvoG_HlkIFJp52pco4dvPS29ndNbpt20RAR7GJf4ylVQPWAMekyIzODoirD0LEYW3SfZ-J4HB8kD9lNgqJamkH7ockMYrpR3wgkANrjkmePnphyphenhyphenE/s320/Freese+Slide+At+Home.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
The 2012 baseball season is under way. A few thoughts from the first games.<br />
<br />
<ul><li>My Cardinals won in impressive fashion in Miami Wednesday night with pitcher Kyle Lohse throwing 6+ no-hit baseball.</li>
<li>All the pomp and pagentry that went into the introductions in Miami was cool. They even had Brazilian dancers escorting players on to the field. All very Miami. The stadium was sold out. They still need to put a good team on the field if they want that to continue.</li>
<li>Miami lost to Cincinnati on Thursday. An 0 - 2 start.</li>
<li>Cubs opening day was one of the coldest I've been to ... maybe ever. The temp wasn't so bad but our seats were in a natural wind tunnel. It sucked.</li>
<li>The Cubs lost 2 - 1. IIRC, the Cubs have not won on opening day since 1996. </li>
<li><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/k/kershcl01.shtml">Clayton Kershaw</a>, the Dodgers ace and scheduled opening day pitcher had the flu. His manager, Don Mattingly, his pitching coach, and his general manager all asked him not to pitch. He pitched anyway.</li>
</ul>Let me comment a bit more on the Kershaw issue. Mattingly should have put his foot down and not allowed this to happen. He's the manager and it's his job. He should have skipped Kershaw's spot in the rotation and gone with his Day 2 pitcher. Kershaw would get his start in game 5.<br />
<br />
Instead they let Kershaw pitch. He only went 3 innings and the Dodgers had to <a href="http://losangeles.dodgers.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2012_04_05_lanmlb_sdnmlb_1&mode=recap&c_id=la#gid=2012_04_05_lanmlb_sdnmlb_1&mode=box">use 5 relievers</a>. Those relievers will have limited availability over the next couple of days. If a starter gets in trouble they may have to leave him in and take a loss. Kershaw was also visibly sick. He did not give up a run but he looked weak. Plus, adding the stress of playing yesterday may delay his recovery and he won't be ready for his next start.<br />
<br />
A lot of people were talking about what a gutsy performance it was. I think it was a stupid performance and a poor decision. Kershaw's pride made him want the opening day start and the teams management couldn't or wouldn't stand up for what was right.Erichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02967331167796873760noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36134631.post-74987063642846585712012-03-28T20:26:00.003-05:002012-03-29T08:15:00.113-05:00Chip Off The Old Block<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0bFRj3orSLXADVEBxBOz-1S_cchl5hsoJdWKUQy1ghJSMn2z67QqNYDx3tBDHKXJp9tkrpozGnrydzfxidha6fwP65CyclRmziu631dSNcEq_c_xL2bT2OcqSE_dzOVNI6b4O/s1600/MITT-ROMNEY-RMONEY.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0bFRj3orSLXADVEBxBOz-1S_cchl5hsoJdWKUQy1ghJSMn2z67QqNYDx3tBDHKXJp9tkrpozGnrydzfxidha6fwP65CyclRmziu631dSNcEq_c_xL2bT2OcqSE_dzOVNI6b4O/s320/MITT-ROMNEY-RMONEY.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
Daddy was a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_W._Romney#Governor_of_Michigan">gov'ner</a>. I was a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitt_Romney#Governor_of_Massachusetts">gov'ner</a>.<br />
<br />
Daddy liked <a href="http://politicalwire.com/archives/2012/03/28/romney_tells_humorous_story_about_closing_a_factory.html">liked firing people</a>. I <a href="http://thinkprogress.org/politics/2012/01/09/400524/romney-fire-people/?mobile=nc">love</a> to <a href="http://thinkprogress.org/economy/2011/04/12/173892/romney-job-killer/">fire people</a>.<br />
<br />
Daddy <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Romney_presidential_campaign,_1968">ran for president.</a> I'm running for president.<br />
<br />
Daddy lost. I... oh.<br />
<br />
I wonder if Daddy ever left the family dog <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/mitt-romneys-dog-on-the-car-roof-story-still-proves-to-be-his-critics-best-friend/2012/03/14/gIQAp2LxCS_story.html">on the car's roof.</a><br />
<br />
In all seriousness look at the story with Mittens referring to his father firing people. He refers to the story of Michigan voters being mad at his father for the layoff as "humorous." Maybe I'm being unfair to George Romney. Maybe he didn't like firing people.<br />
<br />
But surely Mittens does.<br />
<br />
I don't think that a candidate has to come from one specific background. Having a variety of people leads to a variety of experiences. That variety, hopefully, can lead to better legislation and governance. Mittens background though has made him either clueless, ignorant, cruel, or all three. Or maybe, as Rachel Maddow points out, <a href="http://www.balloon-juice.com/2012/03/22/i-just-want-to-post-this-again/">he is just an out and out fucking liar</a>.<br />
<br />
(edited at the suggestion of a friend.)Erichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02967331167796873760noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36134631.post-13308142276851332812012-03-26T14:39:00.001-05:002012-03-26T14:40:40.047-05:00Self InflictedIt's long over due for an Ozzie update. This one isn't 100% good news. Apparently he has allergies. Until today I didn't know that cats could get allergies. Well, Ozzie has an itch on his ear and he's scratching and scratching and scratching.<br />
<br />
And scratching some more. I checked him twice for ear mites yesterday. The first time I saw nothing. The second time a few hours later I found this.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg96FYGSBQUvpJkXcGiEvem3miauRaaKbLjPhWj9mAKkcaz-Ebiaxpo3TNNZDXmXZG30xcZt7ktZBBpH7EoGPEYiftyL3iSva5hok81MIY2Vs6EWzCD6rmq7MU4gU7nwNfa2TnG/s1600/DSC_2068.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg96FYGSBQUvpJkXcGiEvem3miauRaaKbLjPhWj9mAKkcaz-Ebiaxpo3TNNZDXmXZG30xcZt7ktZBBpH7EoGPEYiftyL3iSva5hok81MIY2Vs6EWzCD6rmq7MU4gU7nwNfa2TnG/s320/DSC_2068.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
We went to see Vet Rachel today. She's the one that diagnosed him with allergies. He received a steroid shot and I have some liquid antibiotics I have to put on his food once a day for a week. He's also somewhat indignant at the mani/pedi he received.<br />
<br />
Otherwise all is well.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4rUjYPA54xyuFJ1eWTaBswgFDbLCNvTWthidlqG9zmeNL4fmhUamg_vVTPRxGHyiH5IPAAfMkxbdnzPfJvYSTxmUTwKnSKSjJKVZ8XQ-9BqBNChoGNLbSquaNjwr7PVM8WMue/s1600/DSC_2066.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4rUjYPA54xyuFJ1eWTaBswgFDbLCNvTWthidlqG9zmeNL4fmhUamg_vVTPRxGHyiH5IPAAfMkxbdnzPfJvYSTxmUTwKnSKSjJKVZ8XQ-9BqBNChoGNLbSquaNjwr7PVM8WMue/s320/DSC_2066.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<br />
The warm unseasonably warm weather has him shedding lack mad and I'm struggling to keep up. From his perspective though that just means extra brushings which are a net positive in Ozzieland.Erichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02967331167796873760noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36134631.post-74235313037430662332012-03-19T08:36:00.001-05:002012-03-19T10:00:53.807-05:00Voting Dilemma<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0uxHPQ6EaoSIcdfXjSR3z-tSczpPLE3zQt8vhaivnAy8bFNCYHoZqsBbWB4lcH7wYWrvhhgBonliQcejrCnYZngLWzRJdgHBi1Kv0OK5W-NvgrGKwYgl_K9PJd0bEq2KanY1R/s1600/the-thinker.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0uxHPQ6EaoSIcdfXjSR3z-tSczpPLE3zQt8vhaivnAy8bFNCYHoZqsBbWB4lcH7wYWrvhhgBonliQcejrCnYZngLWzRJdgHBi1Kv0OK5W-NvgrGKwYgl_K9PJd0bEq2KanY1R/s320/the-thinker.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
Tomorrow is the Illinois Primary election. For the Democratic ballot in my precinct there is only one contested race for Cook Country Clerk. The Clerkship is a clear patronage position where they get to hire several thousand people. Dorothy Brown, the current clerk, still collects "donations" to her campaign fund from her workers. The challenger Ricardo Munoz is a Chicago City Alderman that is a "reformer." Even he has admitted that is a relative term. Plus he voted to sell off the parking meters. And while I believe most people's true complaint about the parking meter deal is they have to pay more money that isn't my concern. My concern is the city getting rid of an asset that should have been feeding its coffers for years to come.<br />
<br />
There's a contested race or two for judges but I strongly disagree with the concept of elected judges. They should be appointed based on merit.<br />
<br />
So, I guess I could declare as a Republican and vote in their primary. Then I would get to choose between Mittens, The Frothy One, and The Perfesser. I feel dirty just thinking about it.<br />
<br />
I might just skip the primary election this year.<br />
<br />
UPDATE: Even if I wanted to cross over and fuck with Mittens the Frothy One doesn't have any <a href="http://www.chicagoelections.com/sampleballots/REP-ES/REP-ES-487.pdf">delegates</a> on the ballot in my precinct. A vote for the candidate ultimately doesn't mean anything during the primary. The vote for the delegates is what matters. Yep, I'm pretty sure I will not be voting tomorrow.Erichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02967331167796873760noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36134631.post-13881642619380860582012-03-14T09:02:00.000-05:002012-03-14T09:02:19.433-05:00Inconveivable<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7xAIeuxT0T83fKkEVSEuXi6FKIrOAky2cEmifWzzSMx7i2V8uTHuPW8Oxo0EEimVstyLJtAinwHXolMIhaRbc6wlObuPxTioUY53dhoL8kE9SiVuv4OGwTXpvMlFnWRLPdLgv/s1600/blago+presser.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7xAIeuxT0T83fKkEVSEuXi6FKIrOAky2cEmifWzzSMx7i2V8uTHuPW8Oxo0EEimVstyLJtAinwHXolMIhaRbc6wlObuPxTioUY53dhoL8kE9SiVuv4OGwTXpvMlFnWRLPdLgv/s320/blago+presser.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<a href="http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/chi-on-last-day-free-blagojevich-to-offer-last-word-20120314,0,1785964.story">Blago to speak before heading to club fed.</a><br />
<br />
<blockquote>His announcement that he will make a statement said it would start precisely at 5:02, enabling prime time news to lead with his remarks.<br />
<br />
Attorneys for the disgraced governor have said he wants to depart in a dignified way, without a media frenzy. </blockquote><br />
He was sentenced to 14 years and is going to a prison in Colorado. It is unlikely he will do 14 but he'll be gone a good long while. I haven't sung the praises of US Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald is a while. He has been on a crusade to clean up Illinois politics. And while crusades have a deservedly bad name I fully support Fitz on his.Erichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02967331167796873760noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36134631.post-22384684022603634052012-03-12T16:26:00.000-05:002012-03-12T16:26:53.191-05:00In my heart, I know that Rick Santorum dabbles in buggery.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio2y33pY9o3p36O7PWFm63iyYDc2MjHsmNcDK57zyMmdgTCbzR6OUbhdXWe9SKd8fn1VakrQcDwzHFmfhYH2AKxgWUQP5wX2EXZQoPeP5xmm1olMvjOnaJHHgS8fFqaF04ay_g/s1600/santorum+concession.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="219" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio2y33pY9o3p36O7PWFm63iyYDc2MjHsmNcDK57zyMmdgTCbzR6OUbhdXWe9SKd8fn1VakrQcDwzHFmfhYH2AKxgWUQP5wX2EXZQoPeP5xmm1olMvjOnaJHHgS8fFqaF04ay_g/s320/santorum+concession.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Deep down in his heart The Frothy One just knows <a href="http://blog.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2012/03/12/in_his_heart_rick_santorum_knows_that_dutch_people_are_forcibly_euthanized">Dutch doctors are slaughtering the elderly</a>. "Deep down in his heart" is the new "<span class="st">I looked the man in the <b>...</b> I was able to get a <a href="http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/George_W._Bush#2001">sense of his <em>soul</em></a>.</span>"<br />
<br />
I don't know how to express how sad it makes me that people this fucking dumb are allowed the reins of power in this country.<br />
<br />
<br />
- Title shamelessly stolen <a href="http://www.balloon-juice.com/2012/03/12/in-his-heart-is-the-new-truthiness/">from John Cole</a>.Erichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02967331167796873760noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36134631.post-8715494223872445182012-03-05T16:28:00.003-06:002012-03-05T16:29:15.460-06:00They've Gone PlaidLamborghini's, like all super cars, have always been impractical cars. <br />
<ul><li>They only seat two people. And rarely comfortably.<br />
</li>
<li>They swig gasoline faster than Charlie Sheen does beer on a weekend bender in Vegas.<br />
</li>
<li>They cost 10 or 20 times a typical family sedan.<br />
</li>
<li>They are ostentatious.<br />
</li>
<li>They are in-your-face-fuckyou I'm rich.</li>
</ul>So what's left for the company to do? Sometimes you have to think outside the box and ask questions like:<br />
Who needs a roof?<br />
<br />
Or a windshield?!?<br />
<br />
Ladies and gentlemen, The Lamborghini Aventador J: <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_P4qtGo-cgUIMtyJfbwA9fmk8ADhYkrL-8f6jj4KR5qfoJrbItWqfnd_tul6x3mIypxYY6SHtDteoZbJ4O0j7AqBb3cWOBIIc-95nDG_WmdsdchP8V70NRXtKKjYJ81BVQtwx/s1600/lamborghini-aventador-j_100384132_m.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_P4qtGo-cgUIMtyJfbwA9fmk8ADhYkrL-8f6jj4KR5qfoJrbItWqfnd_tul6x3mIypxYY6SHtDteoZbJ4O0j7AqBb3cWOBIIc-95nDG_WmdsdchP8V70NRXtKKjYJ81BVQtwx/s320/lamborghini-aventador-j_100384132_m.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<br />
God, I love the Italians.Erichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02967331167796873760noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36134631.post-62342931360547668712012-03-05T13:02:00.000-06:002012-03-05T13:02:09.493-06:00Some Self Reflection Needed<a href="http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/chi-philip-patnaudew-reported-missing-20120303,0,4825386.story">Body found in Belmont Harbor.</a><br />
<br />
<blockquote>Patnaude was last seen about 2:30 a.m. Saturday in a cab near Wellington Avenue and Broadway, where he told a friend he was going to the lakefront, police said.<br />
<br />
According to family members, Patnaude left the East Lakeview neighborhood where he and a large group of friends had been out drinking a little after 2 a.m. and took a cab to Belmont Harbor.</blockquote><br />
I'm not going to question Mr. Patnaude's decision to go "to the lakefront." In fact, my heart goes out to his loved ones.<br />
<br />
No, I'm questioning his "large group of friends." Drunk people make poor decisions all the time. Groups of drunk people also make poor decisions. I've been in both situations. In a very related situation I was at a big party at a lake house when we discovered a couple had snuck off to "go swimming." This was after copious amounts of shots. One or two people recognized the problem and a search was immediately organized. (They were found safe having a conversation at the end of the dock.)<br />
<br />
I've never been in a group where someone didn't recognize and vocalize an idea was not a good one. I don't think the friends should be legally or civilly culpable but there's a large group of people who should be questioning their commitment to friendship.Erichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02967331167796873760noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36134631.post-24726321979707392802012-03-04T21:15:00.000-06:002012-03-04T21:15:12.957-06:00GlovesI went to Sports Authority to buy some gloves to wear while jogging. I was successful. I may have gone a bit over board though.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS41lIDNyU1oQ-ePwfpl5BYmfhGcE8ypwDn9WPsuom-m_2XkEKPe92X7OjUQI_09eeNgcJT46SQ_Ym3z5ISvDsXTmo9iXaYoRo5I8UhRGAsrt7b4iEeDWCncXbifrGrGoq1qdh/s1600/IMAG0086.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="240" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS41lIDNyU1oQ-ePwfpl5BYmfhGcE8ypwDn9WPsuom-m_2XkEKPe92X7OjUQI_09eeNgcJT46SQ_Ym3z5ISvDsXTmo9iXaYoRo5I8UhRGAsrt7b4iEeDWCncXbifrGrGoq1qdh/s320/IMAG0086.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<br />
In fairness, I did need a new mitt.Erichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02967331167796873760noreply@blogger.com0