Game 132: The Dome Claims Another Victim

Commander Kick Ass did not, suffering through another tough day at the office, surrendering two long balls on the way to a 5-1 deficit. The Red Sox struggled all the way back, tying the game at 5 before the Desperate Third Baseman, just like that, took MDC over the wall for a two run blast to seal an 8-5 loss.

Today's Alberto Gonzales Update

This is from Randy Cohen's blog, "The Moral of The Story". Randy is "The Ethicist", the ethics columnist for the New York Times.

Texas Tech has hired the disgraced former Attorney General (not to be confused with the former Yankee backup infielder) to teach a seminar course in political science. Apparently a fuss has developed over this fact, asserting that Gonzales is overpaid (50 times more than a comparable professor) and unsuited to a role as a professor (due to his numerous ethical failings while in office).

Heck, I'm overpaid. We are paid in proportion to what we are thought to be worth. Since people aren't willing to pay to watch me work, I don't get paid as much as Donovan McNabb.

Is Gonzales unsuited to teach? He is certainly unethical-or at least, performed his duties unethically. But he does bring experience that few others do at the performance of government, however inept.

My feeling is, if the powers that be at Texas Tech see this as a good hire, it's their baby to rock. I certainly would reconsider contributing if I were an alumni, though.

Today's Out Of Context Don Draper Quote

“Mourning is just extended self-pity. In New Guinea, Pygmies grind up their ancestors and drink the powder in a beer.”


(h/t unlikelywords.com)

Game 131: Appointment on Showdown Street

With time growing short on the 2009 baseball season, Boston pulled into Tampa Bay to try and take out the Tampa Bay Naughty Fish, thus clarifying the playoff picture a bit. They took one step closer tonight with an 8-4 win, Jon Lester pitching 6 fine innings while his mates stomped poor Andy Sonnanstine for 5 runs over four innings. New friend Billy Wagner pitched another scoreless inning, and when the Okey Doke gave up a couple of counters to tighten the score a tad, the Lord of The Dance came in to lock down a rare 2 inning save.

Jason Bay, JD Drew, and Kevin Youkilis homered, and Jacoby Ellsbury chipped in with a triple and two tremendous catches in center field. Boston ends the day 3 1/2 games in front of the Rangers and 6 full games ahead of the Rays for the wild card slot.

Jack Wakes Up

Harwood, Seth. "Jack Wakes Up". Random House: New York, 2008.

Wow.

Harwood's Jack Palms is an out of work actor, out of rehab and out of options, when his friend Ralph dragoons him into playing nursemaid over a drug deal. When Ralph turns up dead, Jack finds himself tied into a real life version of his film adventures, with gunplay, romance and derring do aplenty.

Harwood writes strong, confident prose, with vibrant scenes and vivid characters. There is violence and some sex here, but as long as that isn't a big problem for you, "Jack Wakes Up" is well worth your time. A fantastic, very quick read-I picked the book up midafternoon today and finished right after dinner.

I don't know why I don't read more books like these-potboilers like this. I always enjoy them, but they have a kind of sameness to them. I have a feeling, though, that Jack Palms may stick with me for a while. Very well done story, and an enjoyable time.

Promotional Considerations

Through the 21st century miracle that is Twitter, Grammar Girl, aka Mignon Fogarty, connected me with Seth Harwood, an author who sent me a free copy of his novel, Jack Wakes Up. You can buy the book here.

In exchange, I need only review the book here, which I will do willingly.

Just know, in the interests of full disclosure, that I was in some sense compensated for this review, by, you know, getting the book for free.

That is all.

Dave Winer on Health Care

Dave Winer, programmer and inventor of RSS, with the simplest, clearest health care description I've ever seen.

Just a Soda?

A really interesting video about the Soda Pop Stop that I saw here

Today's Out Of Context Don Draper Quote

“Well, I’ll break it to you, but there is no big lie. There is no system. The universe is indifferent.”


(via unlikelywords.com)

Burn Down The Mission

Adam Savage of Mythbusters is on Twitter, just like all the cool kids are (@donttrythis). He suggested the other day that the young Elton John performing "Burn Down The Mission" was worthy of reappreciation. I listened to it on the way home tonight, and, to the surprise of no one, Savage is correct.

The Red Sox are off tonight.

All we have to do to fail is do nothing...

Nicholas Kristof on the woman who had to divorce her husband to avoid being bankrupted by his health expenses.

No More Mr. Nice Blog

This, from No More Mr. Nice Blog, is a nice, pithy account on why the Republican argument on health care reform is winning the day.

Today's Out Of Context Don Draper Quote

“Here. I’ll give you $50 tomorrow. I guess when you try to forget something, you have to forget everything.”

(h/t unlikelywords.com)

Game 130: Come home, Paul Byrd, all is forgiven.

Emergency starter Paul Byrd came up aces for the Red Sox, spinning 6 three hit shutout innings, and handing a 4-0 lead to the bullpen, who locked it down to seal a 7-0 win. Billy Wagner made his debut for the Sox, striking out the side in the 8th, and Rocco Baldelli, the pride of Rhode Island, knocked one over the wall to power the win.

Mo Rocca thinks I'm funny.

Mo Rocca, panelist on NPR's "Wait Wait Don't Tell Me" and former correspondent for the "Daily Show", thinks I'm funny.

Rocca tweeted (twitter.com/morocca)"How can Kim Jong-Il show that he loves his gay son? Start up a PFLAG-Pyongyang chapter? http://bit.ly/4nu7KJ"

And I replied to him, "Isn't KJI already a little gay? He already makes everyone wear uniforms."

To which Rocca retweeted, "RT @spudrph isn't KJI already a little gay? He already makes everyone wear uniforms// & how bout those NK parades? Super gay!"

Mo Rocca thinks I'm funny.