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First, the Megalodon model bit through a large block of Styrofoam. Then, it moved on to larger fare, a wave-runner, a kayak, a large steel frame; with each passing feat more students gathered around the Soldotna High School computer screen.
When he was sufficiently impressed, freshman Cole Bartelds made a few quick movements with his mouse, attached a document to the video and embedded both in his SMART Board Project file.
The video was one of several students downloaded, learned to convert into different formats and manipulate inside their projects.
He and 17 other of the school's newest batch of "Star Techies" spent the day learning the hardware, software and capabilities of the interactive white board in what school administrators say has been a successful experiment in using students as tech-support.
Bartelds, who was selected for the program by his computer application's teacher Donna Bartman, said he's good with "computers and stuff" and could see using his newfound knowledge to help teachers and other students better utilize their classroom technology.
"My biology teacher, he's kind of impaired on (SMART Boards)," Bartelds said. "A lot of times he's wondering kind of what's going on with it."
Michael Lewis said he did not know the interactive board had so much capability.
"I kind of want to use the SMART technology more often since I know a lot more about it and I can probably teach more people about how to use it better too, that way they can have the knowledge," Lewis said.
Lewis said he got a letter in the mail inviting him to participate in the class.
Students with both technological and leadership skills are selected for the class, Bartman said.
Hannah Pothast goofed around with a microphone, speaking in an Australian accent and giggling with her classmates, as she learned how to record audio and embed it into a project.
She said she was excited to move beyond Power Point presentations and into something more interactive and useful for her class work.
Currently there are about 100 Star Techies at Soldotna High School, each trained to demonstrate technology to their peers and troubleshoot for their teachers.
The effect is almost viral as teachers can learn from students and students pass knowledge along to each other.
"We have so many smart boards in all these classes," Lewis said. "We're able to pass things along to teachers and they'll pass things along to other students so things will get around much quicker."
Rashah McChesney can be reached at email@example.com


text: The guy that works here is just a straight up d1ck. I go in there trying to get some quotes on my system so i can get them to my insurance company so its covered. well i asked the guy if he could come check and give me a quote real nice. the guy was like my time is money and since you didn't guy your **** from here i'm not going to help you out. i was like are you kidding me? i'm new to this area and this is the only dealer for crossfire around here. and the **** won't even help me out. all the shops back in utah were always real nice about helping you out with things. needless to say i told they the guy i'll never be going back there to buy anything ever again. i would not recommend to anyone ever going there if this is the way they treat people. helping people out when they come in like that is making future customers but i'll never go there for anything ever again

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Santosh Kurinec, a professor in the electrical and microelectronic engineering department in the Kate Gleason College of Engineering, has been named an IEEE Fellow by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Board of Directors.
The designation is one of the highest grades of membership in the international organization. Kurinec is being recognized for her work integrating innovative microelectronics research into engineering education.
"This is a great honor," says Kurinec. "It is an endorsement to our dedication in educating the next generation of engineers for one of the most astounding technologies of our times— semiconductors and microelectronics."
A member of the RIT faculty for 22 years, Kurinec has taught engineering courses and acted as academic advisor to students in the college. From 2001 to 2009, Kurinec was department head of microelectronic engineering. Since 2008, she has served as a visiting scholar at the IBM Watson Research Center in Yorktown Heights, N.Y. She is one of the leading researchers in the area of photovoltaics, non-volatile memory, advanced integrated circuit materials and processes.


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Linked by Thom Holwerda on Tue 20th Nov 2007 16:54 UTC, submitted by lefty78312
The Mozilla Corporation today released Firefox 3 Beta 1, which is now available for download in a variety of languages. The beta includes updates to the default theme, the new places site management features, improved security architecture, and Gecko 1.9. Release notes with a more complete list of features, are also available.
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RE: No x86_64
RE[2]: No x86_64
by johkra on Tue 20th Nov 2007 21:02 in reply to "RE: No x86_64"
Sure I could, but I don't think there's anything "elite" about using x86_64 nowadays.
It's most probably the second widespread architecture out there and most open source do already ship prebuilt binaries, so I consider it a bit strange for one of the best-known projects not to offer builds at all.
And no, I'm using Arch64 here.
RE[3]: No x86_64
by kajaman on Thu 22nd Nov 2007 07:34 in reply to "RE[2]: No x86_64"


text:
DiM wrote:zimmah wrote:if you want us to respect your authority as foundry team, why don't you show some respect to the mapmakers first? instead, you undermine your own authority by just ignoring your own rules and ignoring the foundry veterans.
actually thenobodies80 and his CAs aren't at fault here. for some of those maps they weren't even invited to the "party"
i'm not blaming anyone in person but the system as a whole.


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What's stressing your stressed out doctor?
A fascinating op-ed piece by Brigham and Women's physician and Harvard Medical School professor Jerry Avorn appeared on June 11th in The New York Times. It's called "Healing the Overwhelmed Physician." What the 'overwhelmed physician" about whom Dr. Avorn writes is overwhelmed by may surprise you.
It surprised me.
Looking at the title of the piece, I thought it might be about the emotional toll of practicing medicine, which may contribute to rates of drug abuse, divorce, and suicide among physicians that are higher than in the general population.
Or, I thought it might be about the level of debt medical graduates carry (average $170,000 for 2012 graduates), or about low rates of job satisfaction among American physicians, especially among ever busier primary care doctors.
But Dr. Avorn's editorial is about none of these. It's about the overwhelming flood of information which doctors must absorb to stay current. What used to be a tall but manageable stack of journals in one's own specialty has now become a daily deluge of Internet updates, most of which patients, too, are seeing and asking about.
He points to the perils of trying to distill medical information into practice "guidelines" which, in some cases, have nudged doctors towards prescribing expensive drugs or tests. Dr. Avorn makes some interesting suggestions about how to avoid this pitfall, including a system adopted by Australia and also by Kaiser Permanente in which an impartial guide, without financial ties to pharmaceutical companies or other commercial enterprises, "curates" data to help physicians navigate the sea of information.
I like the idea of a curator, but I must say, my own main source of stress as a primary care doctor has less to do with my inability to keep up with the daily flood of information than the pressure I feel to see patients more and more quickly. (I wrote a column about this in the Globe last year).
For me, some of the most satisfying moments I experience in medicine come when I have time to really think through a problem and then use the minimal amount of technology to diagnose and treat it.
For example, I just recently I saw an elderly man with blood in his urine. This is a frightening symptom with many possible causes: urinary and prostate infections, trauma, kidney stones, tumors of the bladder and kidney, bleeding disorders. My goal was not only to diagnose the man's bleeding, but to do it as quickly and painlessly as possible. Most helpful to me in doing this was--counterintuitively, perhaps--slowing down . A detailed history (the fact that there was no pain with the bleeding was important) and physical exam (there were no signs of trauma, he had none of the flank tenderness usually seen with stones, and the prostate gland wasn't tender) gave me most of the information I needed. After that, I felt confident that a single test would reveal the diagnosis and it did: a CAT scan showed a bladder tumor. Within hours, the man was seeing a urologist. I wasn't happy that the man had a tumor, but I did feel good about getting him on the road to treatment so soon.
There's one source of information that, somehow, never feels overwhelming: the patient.
The author is solely responsible for the content.


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(A) Except as otherwise provided under Chapter 119. of the Revised Code or Chapter 4761-11 of the Administrative Code, all motions, unless made upon the record at the hearing, shall be made in writing. A written motion shall state with particularity the relief or order sought, shall be accompanied by a memorandum setting forth the grounds therefore, and shall be filed in compliance with rule 4761-11-07 of the Administrative Code. A proposed entry may accompany any motion. Except in cases of summary suspensions pursuant to division (C) of section 4761.09 of the Revised Code, all motions except those filed subsequent to the close of the hearing shall be made no later than fourteen days before the date of hearing unless express exception is granted by the appointed hearing officer or the hearing examiner or by this chapter.
(B) All motions, together with supporting documentation, if any, shall be served as provided in rule 4761-11-08 of the Administrative Code.
(C) Within ten days after service of a written prehearing motion, or such other time as is fixed by the appointed hearing officer or hearing examiner, a response to that motion may be filed. A movant may reply to a response only with the permission of the appointed hearing officer or hearing examiner.
(D) Before ruling upon a written motion, the appointed hearing officer or hearing examiner shall consider all memoranda and supporting documents filed. The appointed hearing officer or hearing examiner shall enter a written ruling and shall issue copies to the representatives as identified under rule 4761-11-04 of the Administrative Code. The ruling on all oral motions made at hearing shall be included in the record except where the appointed hearing officer or hearing examiner elects to take the motion under advisement and issue a written ruling at a later time. The appointed hearing officer or hearing examiner shall include in each written ruling on a motion a short statement of the reasons therefore.
(E) Except as otherwise provided in this chapter or Chapter 119. of the Revised Code, rulings on all motions filed subsequent to the issuance of the report and recommendation by the hearing examiner shall be rendered by the board or, if the board is not in session, by the appointed hearing officer acting on its behalf.
Five Year Review (FYR) Dates: 09/18/2015 and 12/31/2021
Promulgated Under: 119.03
Statutory Authority: 4761.03
Rule Amplifies: 4761.03 , 119
Prior Effective Dates: 3/26/01, 5/23/05


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ABC's Extreme Makeover: Home Edition
December 05, 2010
The episode of ABC's Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, featuring University of Mount Union student volunteers assisting in the construction of a home for a Cleveland area family, will be aired on ABC on Sunday, December 5 at 8 p.m. Beginning at 7 p.m., NewsChannel5 will air a one-hour special that will give viewers a behind the scenes look of the week-long project.
Nearly 50 members from Alpha Phi Omega (APO), a service fraternity on Mount Union's campus, spent an entire week in October building a home equipped with technologies that help people with disabilities.
According to a press release from ABC, Andre and Jasmine Anderson have never allowed their visual impairment to slow them down, but rather have faced it head on. Both Andrew and Jasmine are blind, and have established the Disability Awareness Center in Maple Heights to help others who are struggling with sight loss. They have dedicated their time to supporting and counseling the disabled, connecting them with resources and developing support groups to help them live and lead more independent lives. The Andersons are fully committed to their community, all while pursuing graduate degrees and raising their two sons, 13-year-old Jaison (who is hearing impaired) and seven-year-old Jahzion. Every day they face challenges in their cramped and structurally dangerous two-story home, which was so crowded, it was hard to make room for Andre's guide dog.
Students from Mount Union heard about the opportunity to assist in the construction of a home in the Cleveland area from a former member of APO. Cleveland employee and 2010 graduate of Mount Union, Bryan McIntyre, forwarded an e-mail he had received about the show looking for community volunteers to current APO president, Kayla Hogue.
"Almost everyone in our chapter signed up to volunteer online," said Hogue, a senior intervention specialist major of Massillon, OH. "We were all waiting by the phone hoping for it to ring."
When signing up online, students had to indicate if they had any special skill set. Since most of the students did not have training and experience in construction, they each indicted they were students at the University of Mount Union in hopes that it would grab the show's attention. The show called each student and asked if he or she could volunteer during specific time slots, and most of the students ended up working late-night shifts in hopes of brightening the lives of the Anderson family.
"It was a once in a lifetime experience," said Hogue. "If the show came back to Ohio again, I would definitely volunteer."
Student from Mount Union didn't have the opportunity to meet the Anderson family, but they did meet Ty Pennington, producers and other people affiliated with the show. The Anderson family vacationed in Colorado during the week their new house was getting built.
This isn't the first time Mount Union students have helped on the set of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. In fact, in 2005, more than 100 students helped in the construction of a home in Boardman, OH.
Extreme Makeover: Home Edition is an Emmy-nominated reality-television program where a team of designers, contractors and volunteers completely rebuild a home, including all rooms and the exterior landscaping, in only seven days. For more information, visit ABC.com.


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Hawaii Shorts Success
Added Sep 8, 2013
Qld, Australia
I don't really own many shorts and most of the ones I do have are quite short and I don't feel comfortable wearing them any more. Its incredibly hard to find nice shorts that are long without being too old fashion and dorky. So when I was looking to make some summery outfits to take to Hawaii I decided to give these BurdaStyle Pleated shorts a go.
There are a few reasons why I chose these shorts in particular. They were pleated at the front which I have found suits my body shape, they have a side zip so I didn't have to be too picky learning to master the front fly and the pattern is actually for pants as well so I was able to make them a bit longer according to the pattern. I am so happy I chose this pattern! I loved the way it turned out and for the first time I actually like wearing shorts!!
Material Notes
3 Comments Sign in to add a post
Sep 9, 2013, 07.54 AMby cathysews
They look great
Sep 8, 2013, 11.58 AMby schnui
Great shorts Erin. They will so perfect for Hawaii.
Sep 8, 2013, 11.08 AMby sleepy-dumpling
The shorts are really great! I love your fabric choices. I've reached the age where short shorts don't really look right but these are the perfect length. These would also look great with a jacket in a winter fabric as an alternative to a skirt. I'm feeling inspired!
Add to Favorites 3 people added it


text: Job Discussion Forums :: View topic - Any retired people teaching in Spain? Get TEFL Certified & Start Your Adventure Today! Job Discussion Forums"The Internet's Meeting Place for ESL/EFL Students and Teachers from Around the World!" FAQ Search Memberlist Usergroups Register Profile Log in to check your private messages Log in Any retired people teaching in Spain? Job Discussion Forums Forum Index -> Spain View previous topic :: View next topic Author Message christopherx2Joined: 09 Jul 2004Posts: 1Location: england Posted: Mon Jul 12, 2004 1:26 pm Post subject: Any retired people teaching in Spain? Hi I'd be interested to hear the experiences of any older people teaching in Spain, particularly anyone who has retired out there and teaches to boost a pension. Do you get accepted into schools? Any major issues surrounding age? Is it easy to get work? Is there a market amongst older Spanish people who want a similar aged teacher? Back to top CharlesTESOLJoined: 06 Jul 2004Posts: 81Location: Barcelona, Spain Posted: Tue Jul 13, 2004 9:09 pm Post subject: While I am older than your average English abroad teacher, I am not of retirement age yet. However, because I work for a TESOL certificate course I have come across a few people who are that age and their experiences seem positive for the most part. Most of the people I'm talking about are in Spain, which is where I am, but one guy I know has taught in Andorra, China, Ecuador and Russia. He seems to enjoy it and does exactly what you mention, which is use the earnings to supplement his retirement income. I don't know if it's ever easy to get this kind of work in Spain, but I would say it's not unusually difficult. Not only do there seem to be some older Spanish people who want a similar aged teacher, but in Spain I have found that there are students and schools that actually have a rather positive reaction to middle aged and older teachers because of the life experience and work experience they have. There also seems to be a view among some schools that you are more stable and maybe more likely to stick around for longer than a semester or a school year. ¡Buena suerte!Last edited by CharlesTESOL on Wed Mar 09, 2005 11:08 am; edited 1 time in total Back to top myprofeJoined: 29 Jun 2004Posts: 22Location: Madrid Posted: Wed Jul 14, 2004 9:11 pm Post subject: getting old It's a question of marketing yourself. I've also found that being older gives you an advantage over the younger crowd of teachers. It's an image thing, older and wiser. Back to top Display posts from previous: All Posts1 Day7 Days2 Weeks1 Month3 Months6 Months1 Year Oldest FirstNewest First Job Discussion Forums Forum Index -> Spain All times are GMT Page 1 of 1 Jump to: Select a forum Where to Begin----------------General DiscussionNewbie ForumCurrent Events ForumTechnology ForumOnline Teaching Forum Africa Forums----------------General Africa Forum Asia Forums----------------CambodiaChina (Job-related Posts Only)China (Off-Topic)Hong KongIndiaIndonesiaJapanMalaysiaPhilippinesSingaporeTaiwanThailandGeneral Asia ForumVietnam Caribbean Forums----------------General Caribbean Forum Europe Forums----------------Czech RepublicFranceGermanyGreeceItalyMacedonia and the BalkansPolandRomaniaRussia & C.I.S.SpainTurkeyUkraineUnited KingdomGeneral Europe Forum Latin America Forums----------------ArgentinaBrazilChileColombiaCosta RicaMexicoMexico (off-topic)PeruGeneral Latin America Forum The Middle East Forums----------------BahrainEgyptIsraelKuwaitOmanQatarSaudi ArabiaUnited Arab EmiratesGeneral Middle East Forum North America Forums----------------General North America Forum Oceania----------------Australia/New Zealand You cannot post new topics in this forumYou cannot reply to topics in this forumYou cannot edit your posts in this forumYou cannot delete your posts in this forumYou cannot vote in polls in this forum This page is maintained by the one and only Dave Sperling. Contact Dave's ESL Cafe Copyright © 2018 Dave Sperling. All Rights Reserved. Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2002 phpBB Group Teaching Jobs in China


text:
FSD's 20 Most Influential
Inaugural list identifies those people having the biggest impact on non-commercial foodservice.
Barbara Kane
Vice President, Industry Relations,
Ecolab Inc.
If influence were measured by mere involvement, Barbara Kane would be at the top of our list. Kane is the current president of the Society for Foodservice Management. She is the chair of the Industry Advisory Board of the Association for Healthcare Foodservice. She is active in the American Dietetic Association, the Women's Foodservice Forum, the International Food Manufacturers Association, the National Association of College and University Food Services, the National Restaurant Association and more.


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The day's activities began just after 11:00 in the arena, where over 2,000 students gathered for a brief introduction to life on the UCSD campus. Presenters at the event included emcee's Gabi Hernandez (women's soccer) and Daniel Simmons (baseball), Chancellor Marye Anne Fox, Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs Penny Rue and number of other student-athletes. Alumnus John DeBello spoke about his time at UCSD and judged the annual Spirit Contest.
The new-look "cheerleaders" and dance team performed onstage and giveaways including an iPod, a surfboard and a mountain bike were handed out to winning students.
After the conclusion of the program inside, students were treated to lunch on the RIMAC patio and then had the opportunity to visit various booths from different entities on campus set up along Ridgewalk. The UCSD Athletics Department hosted a tent where new students could pick up posters, schedule cards and other souvenirs, while learning more about intercollegiate athletics and all that it has to offer.
Several coaches were on hand to mingle with the newcomers, while some teams, such as fencing and women's crew, used the opportunity to recruit walk-ons for their programs.
Sponsors for Monday's event included Chipotle Mexican Grill, Papa John's Pizza, Krispy Kreme, Home Plate Café, Pepsi, the UCSD Bookstore and the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System.
Classes officially begin on Thursday with the 11th-ranked UCSD men's water polo team hosting Chapman University that evening. The Tritons and Panthers will square off at 6:00 p.m. at Canyonview Pool.


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None found!
The All-American Rejects are a rock band that formed in Stillwater, Oklahoma, United States in the late 1990s by high school friends Tyson Ritter (on vocals, bass, piano) and Nick Wheeler (lead guitar, vocals and keys). Other current members are Chris Gaylor (on drums and percussion) and Mike Kennerty (rhythm guitar and vocals). They released their first independent album in the spring of 2000, and eventually built up a large local fanbase.
Read more about The All-American Rejects on Last.fm.
User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License and may also be available under the GNU FDL.
The All-American Rejects is an American rock band formed in Stillwater, Oklahoma in 1999. The band consists of lead vocalist and bass guitarist Tyson Ritter, lead guitarist, Nick Wheeler, rhythm guitarist, Mike Kennerty, and drummer Chris Gaylor.
The band achieved mainstream success with their debut self-titled studio album, The All-American Rejects, released in 2003. The album was certified platinum by the RIAA and spawned the hit single "Swing, Swing". The band's second album, Move Along (2005), brought the band more mainstream success. The album produced three hit singles; "It Ends Tonight", "Dirty Little Secret" and "Move Along", all of which charted in the top fifteen on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Both "Move Along" and "Dirty Little Secret" sold over two million digital downloads in the United States. The album itself was certified double platinum by the RIAA. The All-American Rejects' third album, When the World Comes Down, was released on December 16, 2008. The album was certified gold by the RIAA. The first single, "Gives You Hell", became the band's first song to be successful internationally: it peaked at number-four on the Hot 100 chart, number-three on the Australian ARIA Singles chart and charted in the top twenty of the UK Singles Chart. On March 21, 2011, the RIAA certified "Gives You Hell" 4× multi-platinum for sales of over 4 million in the United States.
None found!


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TOPEKA, Kan. (WIBW) - The hard work and studying paid off for students at Capital City School.
Highland Park High School basketball seniors returned to the school Wednesday to take on staff members in a friendly scrimmage.
The players visited the students prior to assessments to encourage them to do their best and promised to return after the tests were finished.
Players say they had just as much fun today as the kids did.
"It's been a lot of fun when you get to do what you love," said Oshai Clark, Highland Park basketball player. "Basketball is fun, school can be fun. Life is what you make it."
While staff members played, students got to eat pizza and enter for the chance to win prizes.


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Elite PC Gaming
Who are we?
Elite Pc Gaming is a community that exists for gamers. We pride ourselves on operating a sociable experience while playing your favorite games with people who also love gaming. Have you ever found yourself playing a game you truly enjoy but having nobody to share the experience with? Look no further. EPC is aiming to support a vast array of games whether they are on the PC, XBOX, PlayStation and even WII. We want all our members to enjoy themselves (no pun intended).
Casual Players Welcome
We are looking for players than know how to enjoy the game the best way possible. Our community would love to help players meet new people to get along with and just let them know there is always someone there to play with. We are looking for people who just want to have fun. We pride ourselves on being a rage/drama free community, promoting good sportsman like behaviour and welcome people of all skills levels and ranks.
There's a home for professional gamers too
Players that are wishing to get into the competitive side can do so freely with us. We welcome all those who believe in winning and winning in style! We've got a strong infrastructure in place that'll help setup teams for ladders and tournaments. Our plans for Elite Pc Gaming in competitive gaming is only rising and we cannot wait to share the experience with you.
The games we currently support
World Of Warcraft, League of Legends, Counter Strike, Call of Duty, Dota, Diablo, Battlefield, Arma, and many others. We're currently looking to expand our clan members in all of the above mentioned games, if you feel that have something to give us as a community of gamers, please feel free to get in touch with us.
Expectations from both parties
We expect all of our members to adhere to each individual games rules and ToS for all games. We expect everyone to be active on our forums, team speak and in game. As such we require members to have a working mic and headset. All in all we want to recruit people who are willing to help Elite Pc Gaming grow and portray us in a positive light at all times. In return we promise a fun clan with active members, an active team speak server and soon some competitions and clan contests to keep things interesting.
Due to the nature of the games we play, we employ an 18+ recruitment scheme.


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When it comes to Kiwis in grand finals, what once was a trickle has become a flood. Eight New Zealanders will feature in today's showpiece match, continuing a remarkable trend of Kiwi representation in recent years.
In the past three years a total of 32 Kiwis have run out on to Stadium Australia for the NRL's biggest day, more than in the 1970s (two), 1980s (five) and 1990s (24) combined.
Since then there has been a burgeoning trend of men from this side of the Tasman competing in the grand final. Across the period 2000-09 New Zealanders made 47 grand final appearances, picking up 17 winners medals.
There has been Kiwi representation in the past 18 consecutive grand finals; the 1993 match between the Broncos and the Dragons was the last time no New Zealanders were involved.
Today Sam Perrett, Krisnan Inu, Frank Pritchard and Greg Eastwood will turn out for the Bulldogs, while Jesse Bromwich, Sika Manu and Kevin Proctor are in the Storm line up. Despite the fact he has an asterix beside his name, Sam Kasiano is the eighth Kiwi on show today.
It will be a second grand final for Perrett (Roosters, 2009) and Manu (Storm, 2008) while Inu will improbably line up for his third (Eels, 2009; Warriors, 2011) though he has yet to win one.
The first grand final Kiwi was tough-tackling hooker Bill Noonan, who represented the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs in the 1974 decider versus Jack Gibson's Eastern Suburbs.
Pre-match entertainment at the Sydney Cricket Ground comprised marching girls and a brass band, quite a departure from the multi-layered extravaganzas of today.
The Bulldogs lost 19-4, a surprise after they had convincingly beaten the Roosters in the preliminary final.
The late Henry Tatana was the next Kiwi sighted on the last Sunday in September. Universally recognised as one of the toughest in the game, the goal-kicking prop had been part of the Bulldogs in 1974 but didn't get on the park. He was then recruited by the Dragons but the Southern Sydney side lost 38-0 to the Roosters in 1975, a game that was remembered most for Graeme Langlands and his white boots.
For the next 12 years there was no New Zealand representation in the grand finals as the Kiwis plying their trade across the Tasman were at the wrong clubs at the wrong times.
Not a single player from Graham Lowe's brilliant Kiwi side of 1983-1985 (men such as Dean Bell, Olsen Filipaina, Fred Ah Kuoi, Clayton Friend, Kurt Sorensen, Mark Graham and Hugh McGahan) ever tasted the thrill of grand final day.
It was a special occasion in 1987. Manly beat Canberra 18-8 in the NSWRL decider and there were Kiwis (Darrell Williams and Brent Todd) in both teams. Williams, who signed from the Mount Albert Lions in 1986, became the first New Zealander to win the game's ultimate prize.
The centre was lucky to be involved in the game, needing six painkilling injections before the match and another at halftime. He had torn anterior and medial cruciate ligaments in his knee the year before, but decided to keep it a secret and play through the pain - fearful that the Brookvale club would tear up his newly-inked contract if they knew.
Todd was a loser that day, but would play three more grand finals for the Canberra Raiders (1989, 1990 and 1991). Balmain Tigers halfback Gary Freeman was the only other Kiwi to make a grand final that decade (1988 & 1989).
Every year since 1994 there has been at least one New Zealander in the grand final and more than a few match-winners. Think of Matthew Ridge kicking Manly to victory in 1996; Tawera Nikau and Stephen Kearney inspiring an unlikely second-half Storm comeback in 1999; 'Hair Bears' Joe Galuvao and Tony Puletua propelling the Panthers in 2003; a fearless 18-year-old Sonny Bill Williams against the Roosters in 2004; Benji Marshall's magic for the Tigers in 2005; Adam Blair storming over the Eels in 2009 and Jason Nightingale crossing for a brace in 2010.
Speedy winger Jason Williams was the first Kiwi to score a grand final try, dotting down for the Bulldogs in 1994.
In the same game, Daryl Halligan become the first New Zealander to kick a goal, though it was all in vain as the Sydney side were thrashed by Ruben Wiki's Raiders.


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Harvard has tied its program record with 23 victories this season (Gil Talbot).
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. -- The Harvard men's basketball team will host Penn at Lavietes Pavilion in the final home game of the regular season Saturday, Feb. 25 at 7 p.m. The game will be shown live on ESPN3.com.
The game, which is sold out, will feature a Harvard team that stands 23-3 overall and 9-1 in the Ivy League, good for first place in the conference, while Penn, currently in second place, enters the week 7-2 in the Ancient Eight and 15-11 overall. Two Harvard victories this week against Princeton and Penn would clinch at least a share of the Ivy League title for the Crimson.
Harvard has tied the program record with its 23 victories this season and has won 27 straight home contests, the second longest active streak in the country.
The Ivy League boasted three appearances on ESPN3 last season that drew a combined 85,017 unique viewers -- 13,494 for the March 5 Princeton at Harvard game, 17,074 for the March 8 Princeton at Penn game and 54,449 for the March 12 Harvard-Princeton playoff game in New Haven, Conn.
Information on ESPN3
ESPN3 is ESPN's live 24/7 multi-screen sports network with thousands of global sports events annually and accessible online via WatchESPN.com to at no cost to approximately 70 million homes with a high-speed Internet connection or video subscription from an affiliated provider. It is also available at no cost to 21 million U.S. college students and U.S.-based military personnel via computers connected to on-campus educational networks and on-base military networks. It is accessed on smartphones/tablets via the WatchESPN app and on ESPN on Xbox LIVE with an affiliated provider.


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Green Day Tickets
Looking for Green Day tickets? GoTickets.com can get them for you, even if you want floor seats or front row tickets. Once the Green Day tour schedule is out, GoTickets.com will have the best Green Day seats for all the dates. Only an American Idiot would buy their Green Day tickets somewhere other than GoTickets.com.
Green Day Tour Dates & Concert Schedule
Get Email Updates on
Green Day
How To Buy Green Day Tickets
- Select your Green Day Tickets from our inventory
- Select Date and Quantity of Green Day Tickets
- Place your order
Shipping & Availability When purchasing Green Day tickets online, you will be taken to our Green Day Tickets page. You will then be able to pick which Green Day event you would like to purchase. All tickets listed are seated together. All of our Green Day tickets are shipped via Federal Express. Please note that we do not deliver on Saturday unless, that option is specially requested on your order . Our ticket inventory is updated hourly. If for any reason the tickets are no longer available, you will be able to cancel your order or request a different area.
Green Day Ticket Information
Order Green Day tickets for their 99 Revolutions Tour. Green Day tickets are selling quickly as the band is coming off the heels of a European tour, which followed the wildly popular North American spring tour. Reserve Green Day tickets to catch a band born out of the post-punk, slacker movement, now working harder than ever.
Reserve Green Day concert tickets for their summer tour. Green Day has been cresting the modern rock charts with album after album of hits. Now the band is playing in large, indoor venues away from the dimly lit night clubs from where they sprouted. Does this mean they've finally sold-out and gone commercial? The answer of course is a resounding, NO! Of course the boys are grown up, and have become a commercial success, but their roots still grow firmly in the fertile post-punk, beer-soaked, soil from which they sprang forth. If anything, they've gotten a little more edgier. The title track of their American Idiot album even fires shots at the U.S. political scene, while the single Holiday contains the up-tempo guitar riffs fans have come to know.
They may not be the cynical, in-your-face kids of before, but they can still rock the house and do it with a sneer. Green Day is arguably one the most influential bands of the 90's. When people were beginning to tire of the angst-ridden sounds or Nirvana and Pearl Jam, Green Day opened the door for the post-punk alternative scene. Numerous teenage boy pop-punk bands owe their thanks and influence to Green Day.
Reserve your Green Day tickets now for the upcoming tour to witness a sports arena near you become heavily rocked for the first time in a long time.
99 Revolutions Tour Dates
March 28 - Rosemont, IL, Allstate Arena
March 29 - Moline, IL, iWireless Center
March 31 - Pittsburgh, PA, CONSOL Energy Center
April 1 - Rochester, NY, Blue Cross Arena
April 3 - Philadelphia, PA ,Liacouras Center
April 4 - Fairfax, VA, Patriot Center
April 6 - Uncasville, CT, Mohegan Sun Arena
April 7 - Brooklyn, NY, Barclays Center
April 9 - Providence , RI, Dunkin' Donuts Center
April 11 - Toronto, ON, Air Canada Centre
April 12 - Quebec City, QC, Colisée Pepsi
April 16 - Berkeley, CA, Greek Theatre
April 18 - Los Angeles, CA, Los Angeles Sport Arena


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mercredi 25 avril 2012
Turkey Summons Iraqi Charge d'Affaires as Rift Deepens
w w w . t u r k i s h w e e k l y . n e t
Turkey summoned Iraq's charge d'affaires on Tuesday, a tit-for-tat move a day after Baghdad summoned Turkey's ambassador in a top-level diplomatic row that has heightened regional tensions, Today's Zaman reported.
Iraq, locked in a public row with neighboring Turkey, summoned Ankara's ambassador in Baghdad on Sunday to protest at critical remarks by Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
The envoy, Yunus Demirer, heard the Iraqi complaint on Sunday after several days of charge and counter-charge.
Turkey, in turn, summoned the Iraqi charge d'affaires Sudat Khidir on Tuesday and told him that the latest statements by Iraqi officials condemning Turkey is unacceptable.
Foreign Ministry officials told the Iraqi envoy that Iraq's peace and stability is a priority matter for Turkey as the situation in Iraq would have direct repercussions on Turkey.
Erdogan accused his Iraqi counterpart Nouri al-Maliki on Thursday of stoking conflict between Shi'ite Muslims, Sunni Muslims and Kurds through "self-centred" behavior.
Maliki fired back that Turkey was becoming a "hostile state" with a sectarian agenda, saying it was meddling in Iraqi affairs and trying to establish regional "hegemony".
Erdogan returned to the fray on Saturday, saying: "If we respond to Mr. Maliki, we give him the opportunity to show off."
Analysts say mainly Sunni Turkey is worried that growing tensions in Iraq and violence in their mutual neighbor Syria may lead to a wider Sunni-Shi'ite conflict in the region.
Turkish officials also conveyed a message to Iraq during the meeting, saying that Iraqis are brothers of Turks and that Turkey is rejecting sectarian- and ethnic-based policies in the war-torn country.
Turkish diplomats also told the Iraqi envoy that Turkey strongly rejects summoning of Turkish ambassador to Baghdad on Sunday.
Erdogan's government has also recently forged close ties with Masoud Barzani, president of Iraq's semi-autonomous Kurdish region, which is embroiled in a row with the Baghdad government over claims to the city of Kirkuk and the region's oil.
Erdogan has criticised Maliki several times since sectarian tensions flared in Iraq in December when the Shi'ite-led government tried to remove Sunni Deputy Prime Minister Saleh al-Mutlaq and sought an arrest warrant for Sunni Vice President Tareq al-Hashemi on charges he ran death squads.
Hashemi fled Baghdad and has since met Erdoğan in İstanbul.
The rift between Baghdad and the Kurds worsened this month when the Kurdistan Regional Government said it was halting oil exports because the central government was not paying oil firms operating in the north.
Iraq is Turkey's second largest trading partner after Germany, with trade reaching $12 billion last year, more than half of which was with the Kurdish region.
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Two California men are facing felony drug charges after Ohio State Highway Patrol troopers seized more than a pound of hashish during a traffic stop in Preble County Thursday morning.
Troopers stopped a 1998 Toyota 4-Runner with California registration for an unsafe lane change violation on Interstate 70 near milepost 10 at 11:39 a.m. Criminal indicators were observed and a Patrol drug-sniffing canine alerted to the vehicle.
A probable cause search revealed two thin packages of vacuum-sealed hashish, weighing more than a pound, worth approximately $2,505.
The driver, Patrick Cirelli, 29, of Penn Valley, CA, and passenger, Brandon Mundell, 26, of Tahoe City, CA, a known drug violator, were incarcerated in the Preble County Jail. They have been charged with possession of hashish, which is a third-degree felony, as well as possession of criminal tools, which is a fifth-degree felony.
Copyright 2013 Toledo News Now. All rights reserved.
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I saw this on the weekend ABC news last night, too. I think this is such a nice thing for the Waldorf Astoria hotel in New York to do :)
Tony and Jo Fioravante will celebrate their 66th wedding anniversary today the same way they spent their wedding night, with a stay at the luxurious Waldorf Astoria hotel in Manhattan -- and the Park Avenue room will cost the couple just $15.75.
The Staten Island couple, who kept their original receipt from 1948, will pay the same rate this year, even though the room rates in 2014 start at $799.
The Fioravantes are cashing in on the hotels long-standing tradition of honoring the original rate for couples celebrating an anniversary of 50 years or more who spent their wedding night at the Waldorf and kept the receipt after all those years.
Deb Curl commented on Facebook, "My parents did that for their 50th and they were treated like royalty!"


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Yes, about 2 seconds is all it takes. No knitting required!
You'll need:
- a round inner cushion
- a roomy old knitted hat
Stuff cushion into knitted hat. If you are feeling very crafty, gather the edge with woolen thread in a matching colour, pull tight and push knot inside to hide it. (Or just turn it over and use as is...I won't tell, promise.)
And...tadah! You are done!
Cute throw pillow/sea urchin pouf and instant gratification.
P.S.: Yes, that's the same knitted hat that served as a vase cozy in the post below... so many uses for oversized smurf hats!


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So now we can find out twice as fast that it costs $1 million to start a radio station!
It really depends on your needs.
http://www.cmsmatrix.org/matrix/cms-matrix [cmsmatrix.org] Will allow you to compare CMSs. Drupal is a much more complex and flexable system then Wordpress. That comes at a cost in simplicity. I think the key here is "big projects like this"
And the only thing you can complain about is the cost, so they've done their job.
Since when is 1.35 million "a lot" of money for a development project, anyway? How big a staff does 1.35 million fund over six months? I'm guessing that'd cover 10-15 people making 75-100k/yr (factoring in benefits and the like) for a 6 month project, and that's if all of that money was strictly staffing costs, and didn't include service contracts for things like the move to a "cloud" hosting provider?
It doesn't seem that inordinately expensive to me, as development projects go.
My only real complaint so f
Drupal is written for developers, not end users.
I think this is the root of my problems with it. I had just wanted to install and use it, not use it as a basis for development.
This. If you want to install a CMS, install a theme, and launch, go for WordPress.
Drupal is like: install, and then what ??@#!!.
That said, both Drupal and WordPress can be made (emphasis) to encompass the same functionality. Check out the following sister sites, made in Drupal and WordPress:
http://www.rue89.com/ [rue89.com]
http://www.quebec89.com/ [quebec89.com]
"... unlike Wordpress, Drupal is written for developers, not end users."
Drupal is written for yesterday's developers, using yesterday's technology. PHP, for Grid's sake. It's not even really object-oriented. Well, it is, sort of. But that's a later add-on to the language, not something that was designed in from the start.
Yay, FCC! Taking us into "tomorrow" with yesterday's tools! At around ten times the cost of the same website done by somebody else.
It's the usual trade-off between simplicity and control. I have found Wordpress is great for smaller, simpler sites - especially something blog-based. Drupal is more complex from the start, but it gives you more control if you're trying to do something fancy.
To put it another way, there's a certain point of complexity where Wordpress becomes much harder to work with than Drupal.
Horses for courses.
The real answer to this is - Drupal looks good from the outside and there are many, many Drupal consultants who will talk your ear off about how great Drupal is and be even happier to charge you 1.35m for a website.
The same people who love PHP and Drupal are the same folks who couldn't figure out how XML works so they instead opted to adopt schema-less JSON and whatever other made up flavor of the month solutions required less book-learnin' to implement. One need only look at the nested blob datastructures
(Obligatory disclosure: My business is providing technical services for advocacy organizations in DC. [jasonlefkowitz.net] My practice isn't Drupal-oriented, but obviously I have a financial interest in trends in that sector, so you may wish to discount my opinions accordingly.)
The answer is that it has critical mass in the advocacy/e-government sector. It isn't so much anything about Drupal per se that makes it the default choice; it's that in this line of business it's what everybody else uses. So you get lots of projects
I've tried using both, and Drupal seems to be structured much more to drop in modules and have it do whatever you want just alright, while WordPress is designed specifically to be a blogging system, thus it's extra good at doing that.
Nobody's stopping them from trying to use a combination of the two if they desire so, either. But I'm not sure how much they really need a blogging CMS.
So I'm glad to see the FCC taking advantage of good OSS and thereby delivering a better product to the people at a lower overall cost.
Maybe they didn't spend a big chunk on licensing fees, but $1.35 million for a fairly vanilla website is quite expensive.
A government agency changes its website to the usual CMS/Jquery plugin with nice graphics interface that gets installed into most websites these days. How is this news?
I'd rather read about the efforts of the State Department, their website looks better imho, and they have pretty neat technology when it comes to visa applications. They have this image detection routine that will detect if you are wearing glasses, or if the picture has the wrong proportions based on the frame of your face and the frame of th
I just used the system when applying for a visa and thought it was pretty neat. I know the image detection works that way since I was doctoring images in the Gimp and just uploading it to the Test your Picture section to see how good it was. And it is really good
This the FCC (YEA YEA boradcast flag, sell Verizon and ATT&T anything they want, he its not OTA but we can regulate ISPs because um...well we want too) we are talking about.
They actually did something supportive of open standards, and freedom for a change. I mean really its a shock that they new site is not being developed on Sharepoint! I almost spit my coffee out when when I read this! I mean they DID NOT PICK Sharepoint! Hope is alive!
However it does depend heavily on 3:rd party modules and not all of them actually clean up the DB after you install them. I have an old site, upgraded from Drupal 4.X-something, and while upgrade path has been rough at times, I've always managed to get it to work. However my DB is now a mess of unused tables that I'm not sure if I can delete.
I've tried the module "backup and migrate" to move the tables I "think" I need to another site, but unfortunatly I haven't managed to get it to work yet. It's either move the "whole mess" or it won't work.
A shame that it isn't easier, although D7 is a great step forward.
One of the biggest problems with Drupal is the need to install a whole bunch of modules to even get the basic functionality you would expect in a website. For example, in WordPress you get nice URLs (with the title as-words-in-the-url instead of just a document ID) out of the box. In Drupal, you install the path module, and then the pathauto module (to automatically create aliases at the time of article creation), not to mention dependencies.
It is because Drupal is module oriented, it has a very tight core built upon modules. One module to hadle users, one to handle paths, one to handlt translation of text string one to handle logs and so on. It is kind of like most *NIX systems where ls, sed, more, wget, ln, mkdir, grep and so on work together to form a coherent operating system. You need a programming language? Install a module. You need an audio encoder? Install it.
Granted, Drupal is developer-oriented, it is its weakness and strength. For e
Well, if they included every potential feature in core, someone else would be writing right now: "One of the biggest problems with Drupal is that they shoved so much stuff in core it's really bloated."
Damned if they do, damned if they don't. I for one prefer the leaner, more modular approach, as it allows me to decide exactly what goes in.
You're right that it certainly increases the learning curve though.
A system you can't break apart and repair is a system that's broken from the start.
Ahh, it's been a few days since a Slashdot story mentioned Drupal.
What IS it with Drupal and Slashdot? It's only used by ~1% of websites, AFAIK.
What IS it with Drupal and Slashdot?
It's only used by ~1% of websites, AFAIK.
In other words it has about the same market share as all flavors of Linux combined [wikipedia.org] (excluding Android), so we should probably be discussing this as often as various Linux flavors.
I've done 2 (and a half) magazine sites writing fully custom CMS and am finishing a site with Drupal. Drupal can be pretty annoying but in the end you get caching for free which is a huge plus. Unlike Wordpress it's not for the "I just want to blog" crowd ("Born to Blog" might be a good t-shirt
Personally, I do not like the idea of
FCC.gov's privacy page does not clearly mention this, nor does it provide links to opt-out from advertising networks (yes, I know, another cookie to opt you out, but something is better than nothing: http://www.networkadvertising.org/managing/opt_out.asp [networkadvertising.org]
(yes, I submitted this information to them a
So this leaves me wondering what happened to the http://reboot.fcc.gov/ [fcc.gov] initiative announced back in January which was built using Liferay ( http://www.liferay.com/ [liferay.com] )
Leave it to the US Government to spend $1.35 million deploying a website on a free, open-source platform. Hey, Uncle Sam - I'll do the same quality site for the bargain price of $500,000.
Does that include all hardware, man hours for designers, testers, etc? What about back-end integration with dozens of existing apps, data conversion for the old site? Can you figure out layer upon layer of requirements that you have to decipher, CDN integration, section 508 compliance (do you even know what that is?). Oh, and you can't use persistent cookies (they're illegal), and so on. You also need to design an API that you can expose to the public. Don't forget a search engine as well, it should do face
I know I've designed sites that do everything you just described, albeit not for the government, and done so from scratch (no CMS). It took me about 4 months, as the lead along with 1 other coder, and including hardware, people time, testing, everything, cost less than $200K.
You also probably didn't have to pay off multiple levels of bureaucracy and consultant insiders to make things happen. Don't you just love government efficiency?
I know I've designed sites that do everything you just described, albeit not for the government, and done so from scratch (no CMS). It took me about 4 months, as the lead along with 1 other coder, and including hardware, people time, testing, everything, cost less than $200K.
Sure, but does it have back-end integration to a S/360 mainframe? Hmmm??
Not a penny of that was actually spent on the open-source platform. That was labor costs (project planning, custom coding, design, testing, and many many layers of management, auditing, and bureaucratic oversight), and I'm sure a very healthy chunk was spent in the data center costs (dedicated machines, load balancing, content delivery networks). Of course since it's a Federal project, the data center is also required to go through all those same layers of management, auditing, and bureaucratic oversight.
http://validator.w3.org/check?uri=http%3A%2F%2Fbeta.fcc.gov%2F&charset=(detect+automatically)&doctype=Inline&group=0 [w3.org]
but also
http://validator.w3.org/check?uri=http%3A%2F%2Fslashdot.org%2F&charset=(detect+automatically)&doctype=Inline&group=0&user-agent=W3C_Validator%2F1.2 [w3.org]
I just don't understand why. Can anybody explain?
$1.35 million for this? Seriously? Building a custom Drupal template is trivial. It's not a bad-looking site, but it's basically a homepage design and a single template for all other pages. And navigating the site I'm not seeing a significant amount of content, in fact, a decent amount of it links off to other government sites. And there are some odd, inconsistent navigational elements here and there. I'm curious to know who was responsible for the content load, FCC employees or the developer.
Regardless, th
curl -I data.fcc.gov
The article makes it sound like Drupal is this great thing that's providing all this new data transparency. It appears that that APIs are actually written in Java. Big D only powers the pretty face.
Is modern supposed to imply a website designed to be 1024 pixels wide?
"It takes all sorts of in & out-door schooling to get adapted to my kind of fooling" - R. Frost


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Being a desktop application, Deskzilla provides the ability to work with bugs while being offline or when Bugzilla server is not accessible. There are also user interface and functional enhancements that allow to execute common Bugzilla operations faster.
Deskzilla is easily installed - it is a cross-platform application written in Java, and it does not require any additional installation on the server side.
What's New
- This version fixes a startup crash on OS X Mavericks. Please note, however, that this version is not digitally signed, so you may need to disable Gatekeeper for the first launch.
- The release contains a fix for Bugzilla 4.2+, which ensures that all changes are downloaded by Deskzilla and are not missed. However, if you have a lot of changes happening on the server, it may
- OS X 10.5.2 or later
- Latest version of Java


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I'll admit it. My lofty New Year's resolutions went out the door just about as soon as I woke up with a hangover courtesy of New Year's Eve. But there's no reason to give up permanently, and February's as good a time as any to recommit to whatever we were all vowing: eating breakfast, fitting more vegetables and fruits into our diets, hitting the gym...(That one! I really mean it this time!)
Every weekday this past month, we shared a new juice or smoothie recipe. Some of these drinks are vibrant and green, some sweet and mellow, some thickened with stick-to-your-ribs yogurt, and others vegan-friendly. Here they all are—plus a few old favorites—in case you're looking for a little inspiration for your still-kinda-the-New-Year-resolutions.
Go Straight to the Recipes
Green Grapefruit Ginger Juice
The Californian Smoothie (Avocado-Berry Smoothie)
Tangy Kumquat-Pear Juice
Simple Orange-Carrot Juice
Easy Mango-Blackberry Smoothie
The Maine Squeeze (Blueberry, Oat, and Ginger Smoothie)
Asian Pear, Basil, and Lemon Juice
Orange Sweet Potato Juice
Date, Tahini, and Cardamom Smoothie
Melon-Mint Smoothie
Buffalo Green Juice
Peaches and Cream Smoothie
Spicy Red Juice
Gateway Green Smoothie
Orange-Tangerine Smoothie
Easy Upgraded Bottled Juice
Balanced Green Juice
Here, Lassi!
Pineapple Parsnip Blood Orange Juice
Simple Pink Pineapple Juice
Top Banana Smoothie
Refreshing Green Juice
Gingery Sweet Potato Apple Juice
Neer More (South Indian-Style Spiced Buttermilk)
Thai Mango-Pineapple-Coconut Juice


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US Presswire file photo
I will, however, have a special post up this afternoon, revealing my Hall of Fame ballot after the results are officially announced at 3 p.m. EST. So please check back later today for that.
US Presswire file photo
Bob Carpenter was announced as the TV announcer again last week, and resigned acceptance ensued. Did we get any similar announcement about FP Santangelo?
Ladson (Idiot) is reporting that F.P. indeed is back as Bobby's color guy, and Vice President of Making Corrections to Bobby's Idiotic Hyperbole.
Carpenter: I don't know why the runner didn't tag up on that deep fly ball....
Santangelo: Well Bob, there were two outs on the play, and as every Little Leaguer knows, with two outs you run on contact.
Carpenter: That's a good point F.P.
Me: facepalm
FP had a longer contract (if I am remembering correctly). I think 3 or 4 years.
If memory serves, FP's status for this year was not in question. Also, speak for yourself regarding "resigned acceptance." I happen to like Bob just fine. To each his or her own. (Ducking and covering now.) :-)
MicheleS and I were searching our memory banks at the same time.
Anybody but Dribble.
I read that line "resigned acceptance" and thought maybe Carpenter had pulled a Riggleman. But when I went to Caddie's, he wasn't there.
A quick note on F.P......since last season was his first as a full time color commentator, F.P. came to Spring Training 2 weeks early on his own dime to get to learn the Nats. Dribble never did get to learn the Nats and especially not on his own.
I like Bob and FP. Maybe it's my Midwestern roots (life-long Washingtonian, but family's from Michigan), but I dig Carpenter's slightly hoaky delivery. No, there's not a lot of cynicism, snark etc. that seems popular with people in this area, but I like his positive energy. I find FP knowledgeable and hard-working as well.
I like FP, especially after what we have had before. Not a huge fan of Bob but he is not horrible. Kinda funny when he gets his homerun voice on for a fly ball that does not even reach the warning track though.
Hall of Fame - I vote for Larkin and McGwire. I realize that will bring screams from the purists but I still think what he did deserves recognition. I also put Pete Rose in the Hall with the plaque reading "This man bet on Baseball", along with his stats including more hits than any other player in the history of the game. It's a Hall of Fame people, and McGwire and Rose were the best at what they did when they played.
I, also, am glad Bob is back. Although he does continue to say things like, "the 2nd baseman has not had an error in 20 games" which, of course, causes the error on the next play.
I'm one of those who is addicted to Charlie & Dave on the radio. It really hasn't been the announcing team that keeps me from watching, but the constant shifting between MASN & MASN2. The few games I did watch last year left me with the impression that FP brings something to the table that Dibble lacked (intelligence). Carpenter is what he is - A career play-by-play announcer.
Harry Caray gets soused by the sixth inning and forgets whether he's working for the Cardinals or the White Sox or the Cubs and becomes a national icon. Carpenter is a nice guy and gets hooted. Go figure.
Reminiscent of Van Patrick: "Farr goes up the middle for five yards on first down, reaches the 24, call it the 23 1/2. First and four from the 22." And has a fifty year career.
John Miller has it right. Give them the score every 3 minutes, turn the egg timer over, and everything will be okay.
Just means great minds think alike! And I am ducking and covering with you..I am fine with Carp being back.
Count me as a Carp guy, too.
As a MLB.tv viewer (cheaper version), I get the home team's broadcast. That means that half the Nats games I watched last season were MASN and the other half were with the local announcers. Believe me -- with a few notable exceptions -- Carpenter and FP are better than average.
Listen 95% to the radio, but Carpenter is a professional. Having watched the TV guys for some other teams--! He's ok.
Only time I can get Charlie & Dave on the radio is when I'm listening in my car on XM radio and the Nats have a home game. They are very good but usually my trip is generally no more than 30 minutes or so and I don't get the full experience of listening to them.
On the other hand I do watch many games (wife says too many) by way of MLB network and to me Carp and FP are a pretty good duo. The only games I can't get them is when they play Atlanta or Cincy and because of some black out rule (I'm on DirectTV)the east TN area is considered to be local market to those two teams. Reds announcers are okay but let me tell you, 2 or 3 innings of Chip Carey and Don Sutton are enough for me to select the mute button.
As long as Don Sutton ain't on, I'm happy.
I just wish MASN would fix the "Taylor problem".
"Jon Miller has it right. Give them the score every 3 minutes, turn the egg timer over, and everything will be okay."
I still miss Hank Greenwald, but covers a lot of ground out there. One of the few pxp announcers worth listening to for his own sake.
"but *Miller* covers a lot of ground..."
Don't you people have editors??!
If given a ballot, I would vote for Barry Larkin, Jeff Bagwell, Tim Raines and Alan Trammell.
If I'm not at a game, most times I'm listening to Charlie and Dave somehow. I think they're perfect.
I agree Larkin deserves to be voted in to the HOF this year. I would make McGwire wait a little longer at least until there seems to be some consensus on what to do about players who played in the "steroid era" and there will need to be some decision made soon because if they keep putting their names on the ballet and voters can only vote for 10 players by 2015 very few players will every get the 75% vote needed to get in.
As for Rose I would never let him in as long as he is alive and I was a Charlie Hustle fan. He broke a cardinal rule in baseball one that every player knows. I doubt he ever threw a game, he says he always bet for the Reds to win, but there is a danger to consorting with gamblers. Players in financial trouble in debt to unscrupulous people is not good for sports. Maybe I put him in when he is dead this should be enough of a deterrent.
I think Vinny Castilla is the first player who played on the Nationals to be on the HOF ballot. Vinny had a nice career 3 SS and an AS but not HOF material. Playing in Colorado probably helped his numbers too.
I like FP and occasionally he picks up something I missed like when Detwiler pitched from the stretch with no one on base. I'm used to Carpenter and we could do a lot worse.
Forced by subscription blackouts to listen/watch other broadcast teams, notwithstanding the fact that I'm a Nats fan for life, the Carp/FP team is above average.
I also think that they have greater than favorable comparisons to those guys that covered the post-season.
As a professional analyst of the sport, I really think that FP is at the top---I like his ironic sense of humor too!
Gooooooooooo Nats!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I'd have Bagwell, Larkin, Raines, Trammell, McGwire, Edgar Martinez on my HOF ballot for sure, and probably Larry Walker and Fred McGriff if I'm feeling in a big hall mood, and Bernie Williams if I'm feeling sentimental. Palmeiro is a tough case, after all, how many of us have wanted to wag a finger at Congress, even if we have to lie to do it?
It's a little sad there's not valid starting pitcher to vote for on the ballot at this point. I suppose Morris is getting some of those votes by default because the guy wasn't all that, one particular night excepted.
Given some of the really lousy announcers on ESPN and elsewhere, I'm very happy with the guys we have. My favorites were Don Orsillo and Dennis Eckersley when the latter was filling in for Jerry Remy. Remy and Orsillo can be very funny late in a blowout game--but our crews are both fine.
My HOF Ballot: Bagwell, Morris, Raines, Edgar, Larry Walker and that's it. Don't think Larkin should be in. Nor Trammell. Nor steroids guilty.
As far as announcers go, I hope we hear this 200 times in 2012:
"Seeee Youuuuu Later!"
I'll never understand why tv play-by-play guys now talk more than their radio counterparts. I mean, I'm also watching the game, so a large percentage of what they say is redundant since I can see it, and even if I don't it's replayed or there's the box in the corner for the count, etc. Carpenter seems excessive compared to most, but I think there was an article a few years back that tried to compile stats for announcers' word counts, and he wasn't as high up as I figured. But he really steps all over the action every chance he gets and won't shut up and allow things to just unfold without blathering on like he's paid by the word.
i just hope carpenter can take another vacation and bring on dave jagler for a couple of games. carp and fop are fine, but the best bet is still to pause the tivo and listen to charlie and dave.
my hof ballot: larkin, trammell, bagwell, raines, martinez
i mean fp not fop. hardly
I'm glad Bob is back and F.P. was a major upgrade over Angry Rob.
As for the HOF, I'm afraid were equating "above average" with "great" Only Larkin seems to come close to great and even then I'm not fully convinced. I would not be shocked if no one is voted in this year.
As far as announcers go, I hope we hear this 200 times in 2012:
"Seeee Youuuuu Later!"
What will that get us, about 125 home runs?
Edgar Martinez does not deserve to be on the ballot. He didn't play a postion. He held a spot in a batting order.
Feel Wood, brilliant. How many times did Carp start the see you later to see it caught on the warning track. LOL
Edgar played third pretty well, it's not his fault the Mariners thought he couldn't stay healthy playing there. The DH is a position in the AL, so a team would be idiotic not to maximize it's potential in regards to their roster. There are plenty of guys who actually can't hit as a dh, Dunn being only the most recent example. He certainly could have handled 1st better than guys like Thome, Thomas, or Giambi.
I am most thankful that Carpenter is coming back. He has a very good voice, he is professional, and he is one of us in that he likes the Nats. Welcome back Bobby!!!
If I understand you correctly by your standards a guy who comes to bat maybe 4 times a game but doesn't play a position is not eligible for the HOF. How do you feel about relief pitchers who throw maybe one inning a game for 60 or so appearances a year and rarely if ever swing the bat? If you are okay with the closer being eligible for induction but not the DH I've got a serious disagreement with you.
I will be shocked if Larkin is not voted in.
You guys not voting for Larkin do know that he was a shortstop?
Larkin has an MVP award so there is no arguing that at least for a short time he was better than his peers. I know plenty have an MVP and are not in the hall and Murphy has 2 I think.
Larkin also has 12 AS appearances, 9 SS awards and 3 GG awards and he probably would have had 4 more except Ozzie Smith got the 13 GGs right before him, it was kind of hard to take that title away from the Wizard of OZ.
Larkin also was a 30-30 man, stole 379 bases including 51 the year he won the MVP with a career success rate of 83%.
So he hit for avg. hit for power had excellent speed and was a GG'r. What did you want him to do sell beer between innings?
Also Edgar Martinez as a DH would have to have been the best right hand hitter in baseball (which he almost was for a short time), to be considered for the HOF.
All the others you can make an argument about except for Bagwell which if he was clean should be voted in too.
why do dh's not belong in the hall? as much as some people dislike it the dh is a part of the game (at least in the al) so if someone is the best in that era at that job then they deserve to be in the hall as much as anyone else.
Charlie, Dave, FP, & Bob are among the best in the business for my money. Few rival the DC radio duo. Funny, informative, and on the ball. I was not a fan of Dibble before, during, or after his service with MASN and was greatly relieved to be rid of him on XM as well. (BTW, Bowden really is pretty good on XM. He may have been lacking as a GM, but I look forward to hearing him in the evenings during drive time). Bob is better than most too. I hate it when football anaylsts call a baseball game and Bob true is a baseball announcer. He understands the sport.
Knoxville -- MLB audio is about $30 and they don't black out any games.
Bowden is pretty good on Baseball Today also. Once gave a long list of the tasks a GM has to do right after the season is over--and that didn't count rescuing kidnapped players. Even if he couldn't do the job, at least he knew what it was.
Feel Wood bringin' the funny today!
I would be disappointed if Tim "Rock" Raines didn't make it inthe HOF this year. I remember watching him while I was growing up in the 1980's...he could do everything on the field...a great combination of speed and power. A perennial All-Star and a Phillie-Killer...what's not to like?!? The Nats could sure use someone like him patrolling the outfield.
Love coming back here after commenting in the AM
1. I am a radio guy first, think that is because we had no tv growing up and it just seems pure. I love our two and hope they stay for a long time
2. I also agree with the point about closers vs. dhs. At first I was reluctant to include a dh but when you think about a guy who gets in maybe 80 innings a year vs a guy who bats 4 times a game I think its ok for both as long as they were the best at what they did.
3. I understand that Rose and McGwire will not get in but I still think they were the best of their era and if the plaque includes their negatives as well as positives, I am ok with that.
I'm happy Carpenter is back. I really like him and FP together.
Good one Feel Wood: "As far as announcers go, I hope we hear this 200 times in 2012:
"Seeee Youuuuu Later!"
What will that get us, about 125 home runs?"
I grew to like FP w/ Bob. Their chemistry was good by mid-season.
I love FP and would have been sad to miss Carp's call of dingers (and laughed out loud about how many actual dingers would result in 200 calls, FeelWood). I liked Dave's call of the game, too. I like them on the radio, and they are who I listen to on the MLB app if I'm not home to watch or there to watch. NatsJack, thanks for the tidbit about FP getting down there to learn our guys some. That's the sign of a real pro.
Looking forward to hearing about Mark's HOF ballot in a few hours.
I would love to see Pete Rose in the HOF. I think he belongs there in spite of his character flaws. There are already players in the HOF with character flaws, so why not Pete Rose.
McGuire, on the other hand, would not get my vote because of the steroids. I would not know if he could have made it without the steroids. I probably would vote for Barry Bonds because I think he had HOF career before he started steroids. I do not count him as the home run leader though because of the 'roids. I consider Hank Arron the home run king of the modern era and Josh Gibson the all-time leader.
They should wait until Pete Rose dies and then induct him and Giammati together the same year. Imagine the crowd they'd pull for that induction ceremony!
I'm fine with the MASN team. I like FP a lot versus the other clowns they have had in there. I do with MASN would add pitch count to the box in the upper corner like other networks do. As much as they talk about it it would be nice to see it on the screen.
Larkin, Morris in. No one else. Raines's ## are good, not great, except for SB. I think the problem for Raines is that he hung around too long. After age 32 he had one season w/ more than 109 games. Too many people remember him as a hanger-on than for what he did in his prime Expo years.
"Character flaws" does not describe Pete Rose. "Disgraced his uniform" would be more accurate.
As to McGuire and Bonds, "artificially enhanced his performance" is also not a character flaw. Baseball history, like it or not, is about comparing past and present performances. Their "records," such as they are, will be in the HOF. They don't need to be there.
Jack Morris' ERA is a little high for the Hall. He didn't pitch in the extreme pitchers' era of roughly 1960-1975 but also missed out on the steroid hitters' era. As for Pete Rose, if I were Commissioner, I would negotiate an abject apology for the betting in return for Rose being put back on the Hall list.
As for Pete Rose, if I were Commissioner, I would negotiate an abject apology for the betting in return for Rose being put back on the Hall list.
But Rose has already apologized. Fat lot of good that did him.
Pete Rose should be at the head of the Hall of Fame. He was a daily example of how the game is supposed to be played and respected. His gambling, whether addiction or corruption, should be discussed as a part of that Hall of Fame player's personality. Like you would discuss The Mick's alcoholism or womanizing.
Upon further research, I realize that Rose has apologized for the errors of his ways. He ought to be put back on the HOF list and let the sportwriters decide.
hallwagner said...
why do dh's not belong in the hall?
This is a hard question to answer because there are many reasons which I will probably not explain well.
When a player is being judged to see if he is good enough to be in the HOF you have look at the whole package. If the player was a very good or even a great hitter but was a poor defensive player they might not make it in because of their poor defense, think Adam Dunn. If you let a DH in who did not play defense you could argue that a player who played a position poorly even in the NL that it was unfair that their poor defensive statistics were used against them if their offensive stats were better than the DH who got in.
Maybe you can just say that defense is not important enough to make it one of the major reasons a player should be voted in. If that is true you would probably take Ozzie Smith and maybe Brooks Robinson out of the HOF.
Just as when you build a team you have to worry about how your position player will play defense, think PF, you should also take this into consideration for the HOF.
Additionally, when choosing a person for the HOF he is usually judged against his peers so if you are a shortstop you are judged against other shortstops, first base etc. Since there are not DH's in the HOF (you can argue Paul Molitor) it is very difficult to set what HOF standards you should hold them to. Just as it was very difficult for a reliever to make it into the HOF ask Goose Gossage or maybe Lee Smith now. It will be very difficult to be the first DH. Edgar Martinez would need to have at least 3,000 hits and a batting avg of .320 to have a good chance.
On the flip side the game has changed so that starting pitchers are going to have a more difficult time getting in because the 300 win plateau may not be reached again.
Every body can have their own opinion about this there is no rule or set number that has to be reached other than 75% of the people with ballots having to vote for you.
Anon @1:21... I like that.
There is no baseball rule against drinking or womanizing.
Baseball's gambling policy is still prominently displayed in every locker room, and it must be read annually to each player by a club employee.
QUESTION- Should Shoeless Joe Jackson, who received none of the Rothstein bribe, be considered for the Hall of Fame? A debate might be interesting.
With all the moves in recent years to get smart women like Suzy Kolber on the sidelines that can ask relevant questions, MASN hasn't figured out how to make this process work with Debi Taylor.
Is it Debi or is it MASN? I wonder if MASN is making Debi look bad as they give her only 2 or 3 questions she can ask or is Debi the ditz many people say she is? I am thinking it is MASN. I think Debi can ask more than "what was working for you tonight" or "how do you feel" or "what will you do your next outing" or "what was your approach".
Is it time to get FP down into the locker room after the game to conduct the post-game interviews and just use Debi during the game and pre-game? It is a step backwards from the 3 person format "2 in the booth" and sideline reporter. The Dodgers do it fine with just Vin!
Actually, it is disputed on whether Jackson received bribe money. He testified yes but recanted. But he probably did.
QUESTION- Should Shoeless Joe Jackson, who received none of the Rothstein bribe, be considered for the Hall of Fame?
Hall of Fame: No Shoes No Shirt No Service
Is it Debi or is it MASN? I wonder if MASN is making Debi look bad as they give her only 2 or 3 questions she can ask or is Debi the ditz many people say she is? I am thinking it is MASN. I think Debi can ask more than "what was working for you tonight" or "how do you feel" or "what will you do your next outing" or "what was your approach".
If it's MASN, then why doesn't Amber Theoharis look like a ditz? And why is Amber Theoharis allowed to be critical of the Orioles on her MASN blog if Debbi Taylor can't be equally as frank on hers?
Pete Rose should not be in. He bet on baseball which impacted his team's ability to succeed. I cite two examples assuming he always bet on his team to win.
#1 - Rose places a bet on his team to win in Thursday's game. He's used his best reliever three days in a row and should not use him a fourth day. However, he's up by a run and wants to win his bet. He uses his reliever thereby hamstringing his bullpen for a week.
#2 - Rose knows he has a good bet for tomorrow's game because of the pitching match-up. Today he's up by a run, but because he knows he's betting tomorrow, he saves his pitcher.
We need to understand that any time a player or manager starts betting, even on his own team to win, it calls into question the integrity of every game he's played in or managed. Once that happens, the game is ruined.
Pete Rose should not be in. He bet on baseball which impacted his team's ability to succeed. I cite two examples assuming he always bet on his team to win.
If Rose was on the HoF ballot just as a manager you might have a point. But if he's HoF-worthy at all it would be as a player. Is there any evidence that he bet on baseball during his playing days?
Also, there is precedent for players being elected to the HoF even though they were banned from baseball for extended periods of time after they retired from playing due to taking employment from casino operations. I speak of Mickey Mantle and Willie Mays.
Joe Jackson's shoes are in the HOF, I've seen them ;).
The answer is maybe. He really only played 10 years and one of those he was injured.
However his last year he did bat .382 and lead the league in triples at age 32 with 20. Ruth batted 4th that year in AL .376 with 54 HR's changing the game forever.
I'd probably put him in because of the injustice of it. If it happened today not one of them would have been ban they actually won their court case and Kenesaw Mountain Landis ban them anyway for life.
There was no official policy before Landis, at least not one that said they would be ban for life. Seems harsh now but it was probably the right thing to do for baseball.
Watch Eight Men Out its a good movie.
Just to give you an idea on how harsh the gambling policy is Mickey Mantle and Willie Mays, both retired and both in no way involved in baseball anymore, were banned in 1983 after they were hired by casinos in Atlantic City, as greeters and autograph signers. Bowie Kuhn opined that a casino was "no place for a baseball hero and Hall of Famer"; Mantle and Mays were reinstated by Peter Ueberroth in 1985.
Rose thought that he would have no problem betting on baseball even after Mantle and Mays were banned for shaking hands at a casino?
Rose "great player" but either unbelievably arrogant or dumb as a box of rocks or maybe both.
Sorry Rose fans never, never, never getting in the HOF as long as he is alive.
With all due respect Feel Wood I don't think that matters. Imagine how our enjoyment of baseball would be impacted if we felt that the games were not on the level. It would be like the steroids issue times 100. Fair competition is the foundation of the game. There must zero tolerance for betting as a result, even for the guy who may be one of the greatest players of all time.
Carpenter still needs a lot more experience. I wish he would get it in the minors and leave the majors to the pros.
Feel Wood,
Both Mantle HOF 1974, and Mays HOF 1979, were already in the HOF.
The were banned form attending any HOF ceremonies until they were reinstated.
No gambling, ban for life! Every player knows this no one else besides Rose since 1920 has every had to be ban for this. Rose F'd up big time.
Hey I loved the guy growing up even met him once. He probably could have worked out an arrangement with MLB if he had just come clean in the investigation but he lied his ass off even when they had damning evidence. When the HOF time limit for voting for him was just about to expire then he came clean. It really is very sad.
Only Larkin.
Rogers Hornsby was not only a big gambler on the horses(once one of America's most popular sports) but probably helped fix races.
With all due respect Feel Wood I don't think that matters. Imagine how our enjoyment of baseball would be impacted if we felt that the games were not on the level. It would be like the steroids issue times 100. Fair competition is the foundation of the game. There must zero tolerance for betting as a result, even for the guy who may be one of the greatest players of all time.
This is why I asked if he bet on baseball as a player. What if he had retired from playing, got elected to the HoF after five years and then got hired to manage the Reds and developed the gambling problem? If you're going to make judgements about HoF worthiness on a player's whole lifetime rather than just his playing days, then eligibility for HoF should be limited to players who are already dead, wouldn't you agree?
No. In your scenario, I would have taken down his plaque.
"If you're going to make judgements about HoF worthiness on a player's whole lifetime rather than just his playing days, then eligibility for HoF should be limited to players who are already dead, wouldn't you agree?"
The gentleman makes a good point....
No. In your scenario, I would have taken down his plaque.
Has that ever happened, in any sport? O.J. Simpson is still in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and he's currently doing time for crimes in Vegas.
The Olympics takes away medals all the time.
Capcha was "permit" -- I guess it favors Rose being in.
Sec 3, My Sofa said...
The Olympics takes away medals all the time.
For infractions committed prior to or during a competition, yes. But that's a different situation than we're talking here. This would be revoking an honor because the recipient did something wrong after the honor was awarded. Like if an Olympic gold medalist's medal was stripped because he failed a drug test administered years after the race was run. That doesn't happen.
A couple of you made a connection, without specifically stating it. If I'm not mistaken, Rose's penalty is exactly the same as that given Shoeless Joe, so if the HOF is open to Rose (who was proven to have bet on baseball), it has to be open to Shoeless Joe.
To bring up a different subject, although someone mentioned it on the side, is the beginning of the use of instant replay, apparently for fair/foul or catch/no catch. This is truly stupid. I speak as a a former umpire:
1. Fair foul calls are among the easiest to make...chalk or no chalk. To make it surer, add some color to the chalk.
2. Actually, the answer is simple. 6 umpires per game. Right now, you are using 2 extra umpires for the All Star game and playoffs. Therefore, baseball is having 2 extra umpires per game do something in the 40 or so most important games of the year that they don't do in the other 2,500 or so games.
3. The extra umpires give the game some interesting advantages.
a. Only two of the umpires would do the plate, switching off. The talent for calling the plate is very different than calling bases.
b. Assuming that the foul line umpires actually run, they should be right on top of any catch or trap. I know of a number of umpires who are almost perfect behind the plate and are regularly out of position on the bases.
c. The extra umpires should be able to rotate more smoothly and do a better job of covering centerfield.
By the way, forget trying to use optics for balls and strikes. The way the rules are currently written, it would be almost an impossibility, but an umpire with a real talent for balls & strikes and mistakes are seriously reduced.
1. Fair foul calls are among the easiest to make...chalk or no chalk. To make it surer, add some color to the chalk.
They don't use chalk any more, they use paint. No puff. So I suppose you could look at the ball to see if there's a paint smudge, but there might not always be. Instant replay would be quicker.
I could swear I've seen something white kick up on balls that hit the line.
Me, too. Maybe we were both hallucinating?


text:
August 10, 2010
The Billionaire's Vinegar
It is a fun read. Check it out if you're a wine geek with some interest in history and nothing more pressing on your night stand. It's summer. This is a good page turner. Of course, you might instead peruse the newly released 3rd edition of The Great Domaines of Burgundy too. That's not exactly a page turner though.
The Billionaire's Vinegar tells the story of the alleged and now infamous 18th century Jefferson bottles of Ch. Lafite. How "super collector" Hardy Rodenstock, nee Meinhard Görke, allegedly conned wine experts and the world into believing these bottles were authentic and once owned by the author of the US Declaration of Independence. And how reputations of those experts, Michael Broadbent chief among them, were tarnished irreparably. Yes, it's a fun read though the author sure seems to be bent on vengence for a crime or misdeed commited against the insufferably rich. I get the logistics. I failed to care too much about their plight. It's pathetic all around but the author doesn't come out smelling so good to me, what with his reveling in pinning the guilty with their guilt. One wonders how much fiction is in this work of nonfiction.
Nevertheless, I finished it and can't help reflecting on the odd confluence of characters and events that I first came across nearly 20 years ago as I somewhat spontaneously got into wine.
We all have our wine epiphany stories, right? Actually, I have several and they all come out depending on what feels right in the moment.
I got into wine because my family enjoyed wine, not much fancy though apparently my paternal grandfather enjoyed Chateauneuf du Pape. I grew up and, voila, I became interested.
So I grew up with wine.
No, I got into wine because, during a seminal visit to San Francisco in the mid-70s for a family reunion when I was but a wee lad, I accompanied several family members to go wine tasting. It was a fairly long drive. I remember little of where we went, but I did talk to an older cousin on the ride about her dream of trees that grew bubble gum. Or perhaps I remembered more than I give credit. Years later, visiting Napa (where we most certainly went), I entered the "new" barrel room at Inglenook (now Coppola) and the sight of hundreds of barrels stacked several high, and the unmistakable smell of wine soaked oak and perhaps even redwood, it all hit me like a ton of bricks. I remember that smell from that day, and I bet this was at least one of the stops we made. It actually looked familiar, and that's odd in my experience of returning to places I knew I'd been. They never look the same, and here was a place I never guessed I went but now believe I did.
That's a pretty good "wine's in my bones" story, no?
Well, I studied abroad in college in England and visited France extensively and studied for half a year in Austria and visited wineries in the latter two places, traveling and drinking wine in Italy and Germany as well. I went to St. Emilion and Tuscany and the Wachau and the Rheingau, all without being a wine geek. My time in Austria taught me about dry Austrian wine, though I don't recall hearing the words gruner veltliner, which I most certainly did hear, at some point anyway.
So I'm one of those "I got into it as an exchange student in Europe" people. They always sound insufferable, so let's skip that one.
Then there are my several siblings, among them two of my brothers, one close in age and another more than a decade ahead of me. Both had some interest in wine and encouraged me, upon my return from Europe, to try Napa cabernet from Steltzner, in the Stags Leap area. After graduating from college, on June 17, 1991, to be exact, I had dropped a girlfriend off at SF airport for her flight home and drove to that brother's house in Sacramento. He said I had to try this 1986 Steltzner Cabernet. I did and it was delicious. Aromatic, not doubt oak laden but flavorful and quite good. That wine made an impression. Of course, I proceeded to leave the next day on a solo cross country road trip in a '66 Ford Mustang convertible and let's just say I forgot all about wine for that whole summer.
So was that my wine epiphany? Maybe, but no, not really.
Then fall came and I fled my summer destination of Chicago for California again and I was flailing. I was a new graduate with an English degree and a year bumming around Europe sandwiched in there while my classmates at home seemed to get serious overnight, land internships while I was away and undoubtedly had fabulous jobs. Me? I headed for the Liquor Barn. I was of age. I had time though little money. I guess I had prior wine experiences to draw me in. But really fate brought me there.
And what did I find? Who knows what the wine was. But at the check out stand, I found...I'm ashamed to admit...um...Wine Spectator. Yes, my wine epiphany may indeed have involved Wine Spectator magazine. Many people could say the same, and really, I feign embarrasment. I'll own it. Here's this magazine devoted to wine and I grabbed it on an impulse and my life changed. Why?
Everything in The Billionaire's Vinegar, that's why. There was an article on Michael Broadbent, the head wine man at Christie's, with a picture of him biking to work on the streets of London. How cool was that? There was an article of a hundred year vertical tasting of Ch. Lafite, including a few bottles of the second wine Carraudes de Lafite and positive notes from both those bottles and minor vintages of the main wine overlooked by those with lots of cash but not a lot of taste. Impressions were immediate and they have stayed with me. It wasn't the point of the lifestyle magazine, but read that you could ride your bike to wine auctions and champion so-called off vintages that delivered the goods if not the high price tags and drooling of collector types.
And there was an article about so-called "super collector" Tawfiq Khoury, who merits some mention in the book as one of a club of international collectors in Rodenstock's circle, if only because of a shared interest in wine and appearance at flashy wine tasting events. Khoury seemed so down to earth to me in the interview despite his high profile. He loved wine. He obviously had and apparently still has boatloads of money. I recall him commenting that Ch. d'Yquem is a better investment than any CD account. Yet, I liked him in what I read. He had a photographic memory for the wines he tasted. I sort of wished I had the same.
That issue or one soon enough had yet another reference to the Jefferson bottles. That girlfriend from the airport gifted me Broadbent's New Great Vintage Wine Book for my next birthday, a book that is repeatedly mentioned in The Billionaire's Vinegar for having countless notes from questionable Rodenstock tastings and even a postscript discussing and defending the so-called Jefferson bottles. Dubious connections aside, I knew about Broadbent from Wine Spectator and I loved the history told in his tasting notes. I still have the book and read though it, a relic in my own library.
So reading The Billionaire's Vinegar wasn't so much of a revelation a tawdry story and its flawed characters; rather, a revisit with old acquaintances of a world I've never inhabited nor cared to, but found intriguing and oddly inspirational at the beginning of my wine journey. For that this book is worth reading and remarking upon. Perhaps your interest would be less personal, and though the new Great Domaines of Burgundy is something of much greater substance, I can't deny The Billionaire's Vinegar was a good read, indeed. ***Enjoy now.
3 comments:
- Portland Charcuterie Project said...
I still haven't read it, but will trade you for a great new ( to me ) book I just finished this spring called "wine and war".
I promised it to Kelley Fox but you can borrow it since I most likely won't see her for awhile.
ps.. amy and I have a sitter and I'll see you saturday.. I have some smoked salmon and pickles with your name on it. ( Please bring a few bottles of your old stuff for me to purchase.)
- Vincent Fritzsche said...
I got it from the library, so you'll have to borrow it from there. I have read Wine and War. Really enjoyed that, though not the Kladstrups' other book on Champagne. Tedious.
Um, what's going on on Saturday? Sadly, all the older wines are strictly for the library. There will be time to try them, however. Perhaps in the man cave.
- Portland Charcuterie Project said...
NP on the "old" wines.. we'll work something out.. we each have something the other wants :)
Sorry about the mixup.. I meant see you Friday.. we're heading over to Storyteller to see Byron and drink some more of his great wine and of course Amy is dying for that chocolate.
hope to see you there.


text:
All schools in Washington County were on lockdown for several hours Thursday morning while the Sheriff's Office investigated a threat made on Facebook.
The Sheriff's Office and the Superintendent's Office both tell Newschannel 7 there was nothing specific about the threat and that the lockdown is just a precaution.
An officer was also been assigned to every school.
It appears to be a similar situation as what we saw in Bay County on Tuesday. A student said they heard there would be a Sandy Hook Elementary copycat shooting at their school Friday. But they did not find any truth to the rumor.
"We have not locating anybody that has said, 'I'm going to do that,'" said Mike Jones, the head of security for Bay County Schools. "It's just been people saying, 'We hear that's going to happen.' We have this happen a lot of times as it gets closer to the holidays and testing days these kinds of rumors start."
Jones also announced the creation of a task force to explore other ways to make campuses safe.
"We can never stop a serious threat, we minimize, and that's what we tell our folks. We train them to spot the obvious and take action before things get bad."
Many school systems in the country are experiencing similar occurrences and are using the utmost of caution to make sure all the children are safe.


text:
ANDOVER—Augusta jumped out to a 6-2 lead, but Andover Central rallied to tie the game 6-6 in the opener of Tuesday's Legion baseball doubleheader.
Going into the final inning, coach Doug Jefferson collected the Orioles in a huddle and calmly got them refocused.
It paid off. Preston Bevan led off the final inning with a walk, stole second base, then advanced to third on a grounder by Kade Trebbe. Kolton Schenker was intentionally walked, then stole second.
That left two runners on for Greg Slaton, who got a hold of a pitch and blooped it over the infield for an RBI base hit. Ian Rogers later drove in a run with a bases-loaded walk. In the bottom of the inning, Rogers got a quick three outs to preserve an 8-6 Oriole win.
Augusta had an early 2-0 lead in Game 2, but Central's offense woke up and took a 6-2 lead after two innings and a 13-3 lead as the Jaguars managed to get the split.
The two games were the final ones of the season. The Legion Zone tournament will be played Monday, July 15 through 17.