Just heard from my mother--my dad's back in the hospital with what they think might be bronchitis. Though they did an echocardiogram so my mom thinks they might be worried about his valve replacement. I spoke to him after I got off the phone with ...
Blogtimore, Hon
May 14, 2008
An unintended consequence of having an Red Sox-Oriole series where both teams are competitive is the jostling and yelling back and of drunken hooligans trying to show some bravado or be loyal to their team.As if the players on the team care what happens 400 feet away from the action.
I caught this last night during the Oriole game as a Red Sox fan, high fiving his buddies and other fellow Boston fans tussled with some Baltimore fans in the upper left field seats.
I'm all about having fun, some trash talk and there, and rooting for whomever; however, some people forget baseball is just a game and entertainment, not much more than that as fan.
Apparently, some people have not figured that out or take their sports way too seriously.
Most of the time it's the alcohol talking and idiots like you see in the picture ruin it for everyone --- well, until they are thrown out of the stadium, or arrested.
Remember, folks it's just a game which will be meaningless the next morning in the grand scheme of life.
Just have fun and enjoy it.
Bet on Baseball at BetUS.com - America's favorite sports betting destination for all sports fans; adding more excitement and bonuses than any other sportsbook; on the web.
Anna D. points out that despite our recent influx in murders, we're still killing each other much less frequently than we were last year at this time. She also provided ID's for four of the recent murder victims.
Quite a different story has emerged re. the gun battle May 7 on Ellwood Ave!
The 18-year-old who reportedly shot his mother actually shot his mother's friend. He's being charged with
A win is always a good thing. However, one against the World Champions and the legions of their fans invading Baltimore is even better.
I really don’t need to rehash the details of last night, but the Orioles beat the Red Sox last night, 5-4. Most of us already know what happened with the Luke Scott three-run homer and Jim Johnson’s clutch performance perhaps saved the game.
Johnson’s matchup with Ramirez was classic in the 7th inning.
The end result could have gone in favor of the Red Sox or the Orioles, but Johnson’s pounding of the strike zone and not being afraid to battle Manny paid off in the end. He helped Guthrie earn the win, and sent Baltimore Orioles fans home happy.
We’re 20-19 right now, and honestly, did any of us think we would be at this point right now? Remember, this was a team projected to lose 100 games. Granted, we still have 120+ games to go, but if this happened in 2007, this would have been a game the Orioles assuredly would have lost.
I don’t know if the Orioles will stay above .500 — the analyst in me says no; however, I like what I see on the field so far and this team is far better than the 2007 version, which on paper had vastly superior talent (on paper).
Finally, I saw a lot of orange mixed in with Boston’s red and blue in the stands. I’d say the ratio was 50-50 of Red Sox vs. Oriole fans, but after several seasons of just the total domination of the Yard by Red Sox Nation, it was great to see a lot of Baltimore fans come out and support the team.
For me, it was good to see a lot of orange in the stands again — the O’s need to do more promotions like that to just foster team spirit.
At this point, it doesn’t matter how it’s done, the organization just needs the perception that people still care.
I really don’t need to rehash the details of last night, but the Orioles beat the Red Sox last night, 5-4. Most of us already know what happened with the Luke Scott three-run homer and Jim Johnson’s clutch performance perhaps saved the game.
Johnson’s matchup with Ramirez was classic in the 7th inning.
The end result could have gone in favor of the Red Sox or the Orioles, but Johnson’s pounding of the strike zone and not being afraid to battle Manny paid off in the end. He helped Guthrie earn the win, and sent Baltimore Orioles fans home happy.
We’re 20-19 right now, and honestly, did any of us think we would be at this point right now? Remember, this was a team projected to lose 100 games. Granted, we still have 120+ games to go, but if this happened in 2007, this would have been a game the Orioles assuredly would have lost.
I don’t know if the Orioles will stay above .500 — the analyst in me says no; however, I like what I see on the field so far and this team is far better than the 2007 version, which on paper had vastly superior talent (on paper).
Finally, I saw a lot of orange mixed in with Boston’s red and blue in the stands. I’d say the ratio was 50-50 of Red Sox vs. Oriole fans, but after several seasons of just the total domination of the Yard by Red Sox Nation, it was great to see a lot of Baltimore fans come out and support the team.
For me, it was good to see a lot of orange in the stands again — the O’s need to do more promotions like that to just foster team spirit.
At this point, it doesn’t matter how it’s done, the organization just needs the perception that people still care.
Check it out - the company I work for just completed this game, and we're all very proud of it!
Just a warning for competitive types like myself: I've had to force myself to stop playing during work hours because I get stressed out by how bad I am at this.
People ask me why I don't golf. I'm not sure what to say since my impatience over an online game speaks volumes about my personality.
Just a warning for competitive types like myself: I've had to force myself to stop playing during work hours because I get stressed out by how bad I am at this.
People ask me why I don't golf. I'm not sure what to say since my impatience over an online game speaks volumes about my personality.
But not Hillary, now that she's got a new haircut.
Ah! Tagged back. This is interesting as I have just recieved an E mail with “four things” from another friend. So, to satisfy both, I’ll answer here.
What were you doing five years ago?
On May 14, 2005, My husband and I closed on our first condo together.
What are five things on your to-do list for today [...]
New Africa Video
If you have not checked out “Dave and Marv’s Tanzanian Safari” Click here
New Gym
“The Wave”–on the upper east side of Manhattan— is a small gym with a plethora of high end equipment used by high end clientèle. I have made it a priority to get into the best shape of my life and decided that belonging to this gym certainly is not going to hurt things. Yesterday, I did crunches next to R and B star John Legend–he sings as he does stomach exercises. The rumor on the street is that both Scarlett Johanson and 50 cent work out at The Wave as well. I might have to challenge 50 to a freestyle battle. The place is crawling with beautiful people and is close to the For Your Imagination headquarters. They have a health bar and serve lunch and dinner there. When you finish your workout you can order food that you can then eat after your shower. Who knows? Maybe I will be able to introduce someone there to the idea of producing a web TV show. Somehow I managed to get a free membership to this place- just do not ask me how.
New Job Update–For Your Imagination
Web 2.0 is my new world. Or should I say, Web: The next generation. Or should I say, I did not realize how much more there was to learn about what is happening on the internet. I have been meeting with people all over the city that have turned innovative ideas into real life companies. One of my jobs is to figure out how to make a tremendous amount of money in the world of web TV. I am contemplating the production of my own series in NYC. There is such a worldwide feel in the city–I think I can capture it on film. Just in thought mode for now though.
They did a nice post on the For Your Imagination blog.
Bushwick- A second time around
Hanging out in my new social circle has given me an outlet into an extremely creative new world. Last night I went to a variety show in Bushwick–the same place that I saw the midnight nutritional seminar a few weeks back. The show lasted about an hour and featured a avant-gard play, a comedy sketch involving a talking marmot, a film about speed dating that ended in murder, a sensual-weird-disturbing expressive dance performance involving two girls with thick red circles drawn around their eyes. They were dancing to music that falls somewhere between Nine Inch Nails and System of the Down. The Nuge–my roommate– powerfully read a few of his poems– I should videotape his stuff and upload it to the blog. The after party was ruled by Pass Kontrol– an amazingly psychedelic punk band that facilitated yet another stinky dance party in Brooklyn. In the end, the bottles of Old Granddad and Dewars did the Nuge and I in. We woke up at 11am the next morning in bed together. Luckily, we were not passionately embracing. Wendy would not have been happy. What a perfect opportunity to introduce who Wendy is…
My first contributing Writer-Wendy Brown
Wendy Brown–the Nuge’s girlfriend–is our third roommate. She is finishing up her undergrad at Brooklyn College this semester and will start teaching high school in Brooklyn in the fall. She has a prolific passion for writing and will be guest posting on DaveFordDoesEarth.com. I am extremely excited about Wendy joining the team. She is going to write about whatever it is she pleases about living in New York City. In addition to her supreme teaching skills, she also has sick biking skills and works as a “sweep” for Bike the Big Apple– the NYC bike tour company that employs many of my crew here in the city.
New Travel Goal– Immediate travel goal
I have been thinking quite a bit about the next adventure that I want to start planning. I believe I shall climb another mountain. In the seven summit category I have been thinking about either Elbrus(pictured) in Russia, or Aconcagua in Argentina. Both are doable both physically and monetarily. If I went to Russia it would also help me to accomplish many of my travel goals. Hmm. I think I will need a month long trip to do either. While working out to get ready for Kilimanjaro I realized that it helps quite a bit to have something to train for.
As always, your comments are appreciated.
Related Post
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MySpace has informed us that on Monday it was awarded $234 million in statutory damages, the largest anti-spam sum ever made under CAN-SPAM
Robert Rauschenberg died yesterday.
check this video out:
This is the first of three recipes that I'll be posting from 660 Curries. Don't forget to leave a comment by 9 pm on Sunday, May 18th to be entered into the drawing for first of three copies of the book (see this post for details).
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I had a ton of fresh spinach that I had gotten at the market earlier in the week, so a spinach recipe was in order. I was all set to search the index
It was the middle of the longest lecture on apiculture Charles Mingus had ever sat through and he was beginning to regret giving up his bass, a jazz career overflowing with accolades, and all the money, women, and excitement that came with it. Jazz was a ruritania now that he was mired in the minutiae of “fixed-frame hives” and “smokers”.
In his disclosure of his wishes to the president of the North American Jazz Association for Jazz in America (NAJAJA) to pursue a life in beekeeping he expressed his desire for change. Mingus chuckled as he thought back to writing that going from jazz to bees would be “vicissitudinal to his spirit, his lifestyle, and his artistry.”
“What a magnificent douchebag I was,” thought Mingus, “to use an archaic version of the adjective form of ‘vicissitude’. I must have just thrown it in there because I’m a stupid cockface.”
Mingus contemplated further his life decisions and all the women he could have porked as the speaker droned on about the need to concatenate hive structures and the benefits of the new singular hive designs shaped like an upside-down uvula. Back then any woman would have jumped at the chance to be his penis holster: to have his purple-headed womb-ferret wriggling within their loins.
But now that he’d left jazz women looked at him with eyes full of arsenic.
“‘Irregardless’,” Mingus thought, “that’s a douchey word too. Why do I keep using such utterly pointless words? I am a cock.”
He cleared the phlegm from his throat and ruminated again on the career he abandoned because he worried about being the jazz bassist who had shark-jumped his craft.
At the front of the room slide after slide of oblong, squamous beehives filled the audience with glee. Mingus saw the mostly-male crowd was unaware of their vaginality: their eyes were moist at the sight of beehives! These men were children, really, better suited to playing tag and wiping their boogers on each other. They had no place in the real world. He could take it no longer.
“Listen up, cats, we’re talkin’ ’bout bees! Yeah, they make that sweet honey, but they don’t make the world spin. Let’s cool out on the bees a while, huh?”
His shibboleth was palpable. A crowd of angry, confused, and irritated faces drove him out of the room, and he was happy to go, revealing his callipygian side as he turned to leave. As he reached the door the room heard a malevolent borborygmus, and though Mingus knew it was coming it was so violent and explosive that when it burst from him he pronked.
Paper in the lecture room blew everywhere, and the cockbag at the podium was knocked over by the bowel-blowout. As if by prestidigitation Mingus produced a full upright bass from inside his vest and made his exit from beekeeping forever, leaving a room full of arsemongers and a life of tomfoolery behind.
He was barely out the door when he felt a hand on his shoulder. The shitcock from the lecture was forcibly turning Mingus to face him.
Now that Mingus and the speaker were face to face, Mingus could tell from the speaker’s comb-over and threadbare suit that he was a parsimonious little twat who had long ago nerfed himself through years of coddling and penissockery. He lived a life bereft of adventure.
Mingus bellowed, “Get you hands off of me! Your life is a monument to floccinaucinihilipilification, you shit-faced dildo-sandwich!”
“Why, I’ve never met anyone so ribald…”
“Ribald? I’m the living transubstantiation of emotion into music! Sometimes it gets a little raunchy, but that’s what life’s about. You’re too busy studying insects to notice you anal-riffic meat-wallet!”
“… S..sir,” said the speaker trembling with rage, “I’d thank you to leave our conference now.”
“No, I think it’s time for you to leave you little cock-carnageous bug-fucker!”
And with that Mingus defenestrated the speaker. He then stooped over, gathered up his bass, and free from the inanity of the beekeeping world went on to write a song about the silliness of antidisestablishmentarianism on the bus ride back to his condo, chuckling all the while at the day’s douchebaggery.
And what, bitches? - ACW
P.S. Felching.
Ok, so my next post isn't about how much my foot hurts. Whew.
But the first half mile of my 5 miles yesterday had me concerned. A little pain shot through my foot where I'd been experiencing problems over the past week right at the beginning of the run and I really thought I aggravated something. But it went away after a little while and the rest of my run felt fine. I even ran it in my usual "easy" pace window, with an 8:28 min/mile pace over the five miles.
There's a funny thing I've noticed since the weather has warmed up some and young ladies are out running (only hardcore morons run outside during the winter when it's 14 degrees). Generally when you pass by another runner, either a guy or an older lady, you wave or say hi or something like that. You're both in the same game and you both know it, so you acknolwedge it. The younger ladies, however, will not acknowledge others at all. They will run across the street, pretend to fiddle with their iPods, anything to not acknowledge they're not the only ones out running on the road. I'm not sure why, but I find that amusing. Wait. Maybe it's me. Maybe I scare the girls away. Huh. That'd suck if that's the case.
Anyway, today is 10X400 meter sprints as my last speed workout before my next half marathon. I'll do that on a treadmill because I don't have time to hit a real track somewhere today. Workouts like the one on tap for today hurt.
But the first half mile of my 5 miles yesterday had me concerned. A little pain shot through my foot where I'd been experiencing problems over the past week right at the beginning of the run and I really thought I aggravated something. But it went away after a little while and the rest of my run felt fine. I even ran it in my usual "easy" pace window, with an 8:28 min/mile pace over the five miles.
There's a funny thing I've noticed since the weather has warmed up some and young ladies are out running (only hardcore morons run outside during the winter when it's 14 degrees). Generally when you pass by another runner, either a guy or an older lady, you wave or say hi or something like that. You're both in the same game and you both know it, so you acknolwedge it. The younger ladies, however, will not acknowledge others at all. They will run across the street, pretend to fiddle with their iPods, anything to not acknowledge they're not the only ones out running on the road. I'm not sure why, but I find that amusing. Wait. Maybe it's me. Maybe I scare the girls away. Huh. That'd suck if that's the case.
Anyway, today is 10X400 meter sprints as my last speed workout before my next half marathon. I'll do that on a treadmill because I don't have time to hit a real track somewhere today. Workouts like the one on tap for today hurt.
Last night was the kind of game that portends great possibility.
Like, for example, a sweep of the hated Pinque Sox, perhaps? It’s only a two-game series, sure, and only May, but a sweep’s a sweep.
To whom do we turn to help us scale this mountain? None other than the DC Cab himself — arguably our most impressive starter so far. Jon Lester stands in our way.
Great discussion last night, too. Let’s keep building.
I really don’t need to rehash the details of last night, but the Orioles beat the Red Sox last night, 5-4. Most of us already know what happened with the Luke Scott three-run homer and Jim Johnson’s clutch performance perhaps saved the game.
Johnson’s matchup with Ramirez was classic in the 7th inning.
The end result could have gone in favor of the Red Sox or the Orioles, but Johnson’s pounding of the strike zone and not being afraid to battle Manny paid off in the end. He helped Guthrie earn the win, and senf Baltimore Orioles fans home happy.
We’re 20-19 right now, and honestly, did any of us think we would be at this point right now? Remember, this was a team projected to lose 100 games. Granted, we still have 120+ games to go, but if this happened in 2007, this would have been a game the Orioles assuredly would have lost.
I don’t know if the Orioles will stay above .500 — the analyst in me says no; however, I like what I see on the field so far and this team is far better than the 2007 version, which on paper had vastly superior talent (on paper).
Finally, I saw a lot of orange mixed in with Boston’s red and blue in the stands. I’d say the ratio was 50-50 of Red Sox vs. Oriole fans, but after several seasons of just the total domination of the Yard by Red Sox Nation, it was great to see a lot of Baltimore fans come out and support the team…
Today is practically a Friday for me because tomorrow Annie and I are leaving to go to Cincinnati for a few days to attend to some wedding stuff. So I'm going to try not to fixate on the clock today and try to get some things done before I head out the door at 6 PM on the dot and not a minute more!
Last night my firm purchased 50 field seats at the Orioles-Red Sox game for us. One of the company founders is turning 90 (and still comes to the office each week, which is crazy!) and got to throw out the first pitch at the game so it all ties together. I went to the game and stayed for about half of it since it was progressing slowly and I really have no vested interest in either team. When the Red Sox or Yankees are in town, Camden Yards tends to be much fuller than during other series. Red Sox fans call Camden Yards "Fenway South" because so many fans fly down here for the games. Last night was no exception and I'd say about half the people there, if not more, were Sox fans.
Anyway, after the second inning I went to get some food because I was starving. The lines were really long thanks to the Sox fans so it took me an inning and a half to get through it. That's one thing I like about having a terrible home team here in Baltimore...you can go to a game on the spur of the moment because tickets are always available, and the park is empty enough that there aren't long lines at the concession stands. Anyway, I didn't want to have to get back up, so I bought a bunch of food. I got a big Diet Coke (wasn't feeling the $5.50 crappy beer that was less than 8 ounces), chicken tenders, fries and a big hot dog. It was actually cheaper than I thought, coming in at around $18 total. I proceeded to house that dinner spread in about 15 minutes, to the amazement of others around me. Whatever. I was hungry and really hadn't made up for my 1500 calorie deficit from Sunday, I think, as I'd been constantly hungry since Sunday.
So, the game was fun and I got home about 9:30, which was perfect. Another good thing about Camden Yards is that it's a 20 minute walk from my apartment.
Tomorrow night we're going to the Marlins-Reds game in Cincinnati using Annie's mom's corporate tickets, which are behind home plate and get us a complimentary (sounds much friendlier than free) coke and hot dog. Should be a good time, as the Marlins have suddenly become a good team and have swept the Nationals twice already this season. I'm looking forward to seeing them play. I'm also hoping Ken Griffey, Jr. plays so I can see him again before they trade him to Seattle.
On Sunday, following the race in Wilmington, I'm going to the Nationals-Orioles game in the afternoon! I'm really sad I won't be able to see the entire series this season, but getting to see the Sunday afternoon game will be great.
So, three baseball games in six days isn't too bad, really. Once the Orioles start playing at home more often, I'll go to more games since it's so close and I get a discount through the company.
On the running front, I got my 5 miles in today without any real issues. I actually was on time this morning getting out of bed and out the door, which was a nice change. I'll run tomorrow and Friday morning but take Saturday off to rest before the 10 Miler on Sunday. Should be a good time!
Last night my firm purchased 50 field seats at the Orioles-Red Sox game for us. One of the company founders is turning 90 (and still comes to the office each week, which is crazy!) and got to throw out the first pitch at the game so it all ties together. I went to the game and stayed for about half of it since it was progressing slowly and I really have no vested interest in either team. When the Red Sox or Yankees are in town, Camden Yards tends to be much fuller than during other series. Red Sox fans call Camden Yards "Fenway South" because so many fans fly down here for the games. Last night was no exception and I'd say about half the people there, if not more, were Sox fans.
Anyway, after the second inning I went to get some food because I was starving. The lines were really long thanks to the Sox fans so it took me an inning and a half to get through it. That's one thing I like about having a terrible home team here in Baltimore...you can go to a game on the spur of the moment because tickets are always available, and the park is empty enough that there aren't long lines at the concession stands. Anyway, I didn't want to have to get back up, so I bought a bunch of food. I got a big Diet Coke (wasn't feeling the $5.50 crappy beer that was less than 8 ounces), chicken tenders, fries and a big hot dog. It was actually cheaper than I thought, coming in at around $18 total. I proceeded to house that dinner spread in about 15 minutes, to the amazement of others around me. Whatever. I was hungry and really hadn't made up for my 1500 calorie deficit from Sunday, I think, as I'd been constantly hungry since Sunday.
So, the game was fun and I got home about 9:30, which was perfect. Another good thing about Camden Yards is that it's a 20 minute walk from my apartment.
Tomorrow night we're going to the Marlins-Reds game in Cincinnati using Annie's mom's corporate tickets, which are behind home plate and get us a complimentary (sounds much friendlier than free) coke and hot dog. Should be a good time, as the Marlins have suddenly become a good team and have swept the Nationals twice already this season. I'm looking forward to seeing them play. I'm also hoping Ken Griffey, Jr. plays so I can see him again before they trade him to Seattle.
On Sunday, following the race in Wilmington, I'm going to the Nationals-Orioles game in the afternoon! I'm really sad I won't be able to see the entire series this season, but getting to see the Sunday afternoon game will be great.
So, three baseball games in six days isn't too bad, really. Once the Orioles start playing at home more often, I'll go to more games since it's so close and I get a discount through the company.
On the running front, I got my 5 miles in today without any real issues. I actually was on time this morning getting out of bed and out the door, which was a nice change. I'll run tomorrow and Friday morning but take Saturday off to rest before the 10 Miler on Sunday. Should be a good time!
Right, so where was I?
Yeah, so I've been on a little bit of a blogging break. Things are mostly good. I've just been busy with work and very focused on things. I'll be back to posting sometime soon. I want to find more free time so when I sit down and write I can be a little more focused.
The skin problems in my eyelids have persisted, and this has been the one major negative for me this spring. The past couple weeks in particular have been extremely stressful, and I'm at a point where I'm just sick and tired and frustrated. The short is that it's better, it's healing (I had to have surgery twice), but there is some residual swelling in my upper right and lower left eyelids that is probably going to persist for some months to come. It just looks like some puffiness that won't go away. People tell me they don't notice it, but it's all I see when I look in the mirror. Oh well, so much for dating this summer, right? Yeah, I am pretty fucking fed up with the whole thing.
I've got a lot more to say about all the procedures and such, but I'll get to it later. At the very least, this frustrating experience has taught me how much one needs to take their health into their own hands and guide the decisions of their doctors. There were a couple points along the way where I had the chance to say yes, no, or let's wait, but I just didn't know any better. Now I do.
The other big news is that in two days I head out for the west coast. San Francisco, San Diego, and Las Vegas. I'm pretty excited. I really need a break from everything right now. I've gotten a lot of good Las Vegas tips, but I'm still plotting out what to do in San Francisco. Suggestions are welcome.
I will post some pics and anecdotes when I get back in a few weeks.
Currently listening to:
Yeah, so I've been on a little bit of a blogging break. Things are mostly good. I've just been busy with work and very focused on things. I'll be back to posting sometime soon. I want to find more free time so when I sit down and write I can be a little more focused.
The skin problems in my eyelids have persisted, and this has been the one major negative for me this spring. The past couple weeks in particular have been extremely stressful, and I'm at a point where I'm just sick and tired and frustrated. The short is that it's better, it's healing (I had to have surgery twice), but there is some residual swelling in my upper right and lower left eyelids that is probably going to persist for some months to come. It just looks like some puffiness that won't go away. People tell me they don't notice it, but it's all I see when I look in the mirror. Oh well, so much for dating this summer, right? Yeah, I am pretty fucking fed up with the whole thing.
I've got a lot more to say about all the procedures and such, but I'll get to it later. At the very least, this frustrating experience has taught me how much one needs to take their health into their own hands and guide the decisions of their doctors. There were a couple points along the way where I had the chance to say yes, no, or let's wait, but I just didn't know any better. Now I do.
The other big news is that in two days I head out for the west coast. San Francisco, San Diego, and Las Vegas. I'm pretty excited. I really need a break from everything right now. I've gotten a lot of good Las Vegas tips, but I'm still plotting out what to do in San Francisco. Suggestions are welcome.
I will post some pics and anecdotes when I get back in a few weeks.
Currently listening to:
A fan-made “Stargate: Atlantis” opening using the same style (and music) as “House, MD.” Nice!
Okay readers and cooks alike I just got a press release from Morton's about a cooking contest that is pretty simple and the rewards is a trip to Chicago and dinner with one of the founders of Mortons...no, not at Charlie Trotters...but Mortons.
Here's the copy:
MORTON’S THE STEAKHOUSE FIRES UP GUEST RECIPE CONTEST WITH WINNING RECIPE TO BE PUBLISHED IN NEW MORTON’S COOKBOOK
Winner Also Receives All-Expense Paid Trip for Two to Chicago and Dinner at the Original Morton’s Steakhouse with Morton’s Co-Founder Klaus Fritsch
To Submit a Recipe and View Complete Rules, visit www.mortons.com/recipecontest. Contest Entries Must Be Received by June 2, 2008.
(BALTIMORE, May 13, 2008) – Morton’s The Steakhouse, home of the “Best Steak Anywhere,” is searching for “The Best Recipe Anywhere” from its guests, aspiring chefs and anyone who shares Morton’s passion for preparing truly memorable meals with the best ingredients. The search for a winning recipe heats up this month with the first-ever Morton’s Guest Prime Recipe Contest. The best recipe will be selected for inclusion in Morton’s second cookbook, a sizzling sequel to Morton’s Steak Bible, which disclosed many of Morton’s mouthwatering recipes and grilling secrets for the first time. Guests of Morton’s and amateur chefs are eligible to enter the culinary contest, including people who have yet to experience the legendary food, service and hospitality of Morton’s, whose 79 steakhouses and 5,000 worldwide employees are celebrating the restaurant’s 30th anniversary this year.
The winning “guest” recipe will be featured in the second Morton’s cookbook, which Random House is scheduled to publish in late summer of 2009. The grand prize winner will also receive an all-expense paid trip for two to Chicago and enjoy a special dinner at the original Morton’s steakhouse on State and Rush Streets, which opened on December 21, 1978. The host of this special dinner will be Morton’s Steak Bible author Klaus Fritsch, who co-founded the legendary restaurant with Arnie Morton 30 years ago.
“The growth and success of Morton’s steakhouses over the past 30 years reflects our commitment to giving every guest a truly memorable dining experience, with great food, great service and legendary hospitality,” said Fritsch, who will lead the panel of culinary experts that will select the winner of Morton’s Guest Prime Recipe Contest. “Based on the positive response from Morton’s Steak Bible, we’re developing a sequel because our guests asked us to share more of the delicious recipes that have Morton’s flavor of the good life. The recipe contest will add an additional dash of fun, excitement, and another dimension to our new cookbook.”
The second Morton’s cookbook will include more of Morton’s renowned recipes for easy preparation at home, as well as Morton’s expert tips on fine wine and spirits.
To submit a recipe and view the complete rules for Morton’s Guest Prime Recipe Contest, visit www.mortons.com/recipecontest. Contest entries must be submitted by June 2, 2008. No purchase is required. A panel of experts selected by Morton’s will review creative recipes for beef, chicken or seafood entrees, appetizers, salads, sauces, marinades and dressings, soups, side dishes, desserts and even cocktails.
Here's the copy:
MORTON’S THE STEAKHOUSE FIRES UP GUEST RECIPE CONTEST WITH WINNING RECIPE TO BE PUBLISHED IN NEW MORTON’S COOKBOOK
Winner Also Receives All-Expense Paid Trip for Two to Chicago and Dinner at the Original Morton’s Steakhouse with Morton’s Co-Founder Klaus Fritsch
To Submit a Recipe and View Complete Rules, visit www.mortons.com/recipecontest. Contest Entries Must Be Received by June 2, 2008.
(BALTIMORE, May 13, 2008) – Morton’s The Steakhouse, home of the “Best Steak Anywhere,” is searching for “The Best Recipe Anywhere” from its guests, aspiring chefs and anyone who shares Morton’s passion for preparing truly memorable meals with the best ingredients. The search for a winning recipe heats up this month with the first-ever Morton’s Guest Prime Recipe Contest. The best recipe will be selected for inclusion in Morton’s second cookbook, a sizzling sequel to Morton’s Steak Bible, which disclosed many of Morton’s mouthwatering recipes and grilling secrets for the first time. Guests of Morton’s and amateur chefs are eligible to enter the culinary contest, including people who have yet to experience the legendary food, service and hospitality of Morton’s, whose 79 steakhouses and 5,000 worldwide employees are celebrating the restaurant’s 30th anniversary this year.
The winning “guest” recipe will be featured in the second Morton’s cookbook, which Random House is scheduled to publish in late summer of 2009. The grand prize winner will also receive an all-expense paid trip for two to Chicago and enjoy a special dinner at the original Morton’s steakhouse on State and Rush Streets, which opened on December 21, 1978. The host of this special dinner will be Morton’s Steak Bible author Klaus Fritsch, who co-founded the legendary restaurant with Arnie Morton 30 years ago.
“The growth and success of Morton’s steakhouses over the past 30 years reflects our commitment to giving every guest a truly memorable dining experience, with great food, great service and legendary hospitality,” said Fritsch, who will lead the panel of culinary experts that will select the winner of Morton’s Guest Prime Recipe Contest. “Based on the positive response from Morton’s Steak Bible, we’re developing a sequel because our guests asked us to share more of the delicious recipes that have Morton’s flavor of the good life. The recipe contest will add an additional dash of fun, excitement, and another dimension to our new cookbook.”
The second Morton’s cookbook will include more of Morton’s renowned recipes for easy preparation at home, as well as Morton’s expert tips on fine wine and spirits.
To submit a recipe and view the complete rules for Morton’s Guest Prime Recipe Contest, visit www.mortons.com/recipecontest. Contest entries must be submitted by June 2, 2008. No purchase is required. A panel of experts selected by Morton’s will review creative recipes for beef, chicken or seafood entrees, appetizers, salads, sauces, marinades and dressings, soups, side dishes, desserts and even cocktails.
Someone heard my pleas for sunshine, because it was gorgeous on Tuesday. We ran some errands in the morning, and rode bikes after naptime. I used naptime to put the Spinach Pie together for dinner, and Johnny and I also did another activity involving paper. We made a snowman!
Despite my best efforts to reduce junk mail, we keep ending up on mailing lists. John and I are apparently on the same lists, because we get two of everything. I save it all up until I have a pretty big pile and then haul out the shredder. The pile had gotten out of control and kept spilling off my desk onto the floor, so I really wanted to tackle it.
Johnny handed me the paper and I fed it through the shredder. Then we emptied the bucket into white kitchen bags and sealed them to make "snow balls" and piled them up to make a "snowman."
I got out the fingerpaints again to make the eyes and smile. We had to wait until Maureen woke up so I could find the supplies to make the top hat and carrot nose. That was the point at which I lost my enthusiasm for the project, because I KNEW I had card stock and construction paper somewhere, but couldn't remember where the heck I put it. After tearing apart my closet and desk, I finally remembered where the stuff was. The top hat is made from black construction paper and fastened to the head with duct tape (the sections of the body are also loosely taped together). The nose is a piece of 8 by 10 card stock rolled up to a point, taped, and then stuck through a hole in the bag.
Johnny enjoyed himself, I got my chore done, and we have a decoration that only has to hang around until the next recycle day.
Despite my best efforts to reduce junk mail, we keep ending up on mailing lists. John and I are apparently on the same lists, because we get two of everything. I save it all up until I have a pretty big pile and then haul out the shredder. The pile had gotten out of control and kept spilling off my desk onto the floor, so I really wanted to tackle it.
Johnny handed me the paper and I fed it through the shredder. Then we emptied the bucket into white kitchen bags and sealed them to make "snow balls" and piled them up to make a "snowman."
I got out the fingerpaints again to make the eyes and smile. We had to wait until Maureen woke up so I could find the supplies to make the top hat and carrot nose. That was the point at which I lost my enthusiasm for the project, because I KNEW I had card stock and construction paper somewhere, but couldn't remember where the heck I put it. After tearing apart my closet and desk, I finally remembered where the stuff was. The top hat is made from black construction paper and fastened to the head with duct tape (the sections of the body are also loosely taped together). The nose is a piece of 8 by 10 card stock rolled up to a point, taped, and then stuck through a hole in the bag.
Johnny enjoyed himself, I got my chore done, and we have a decoration that only has to hang around until the next recycle day.
Ingredients:
4 cups fresh, whole strawberries
1 cup water
1 cup sugar
1 cup (loose) fresh basil
Directions:
Bring the water, sugar and basil to boil in a medium sauce pan. Boil, stirring occasionally until it reduces slightly and thickens to a light syrup. Strain and cool. Add to strawberries and blend until smooth in a blender. Pour mixture into 13x9 metal pan. Place in the freezer and
This issue has been the subject of much debate in our homeowners association lately, and I thought I’d post it here to get your take. Our current HOA guidelines require that all decks in the community be painted / stained in natural wood tones. Newer composite materials are acceptable as long as they meet this guideline. As with most communities with covenants, homeowners must submit proposed changes to the exteriors of their homes to an architectural committee.
As I mentioned in a prior post, the architectural committee that was just elected in our community has taken a more active approach in enforcing the community’s covenants. About 15 houses in the community have porches or decks that are at least partly white (railings, or in some cases, the whole structure). Most of them didn’t realize they needed approval from the HOA to make changes to the exterior of their homes. None of them realized that white was not an approved color for decks. (And one claims that she had approval to build her deck… and I tend to believe her).
Our community is set in the woods. Almost every home in the community backs to treed areas. Some back up right to the state park. I believe that the idea behind the rule was to make decks and porches “blend in” to the surroundings. Of course, this rule was created in 1983, before newer composite materials came into style. Now, white decks and railings are commonplace in newer communities in our area. In some cases, contractors will only install a white railing if certain composite materials are used for the floor boards. (This is apparently because the matching composite color is not manufactured for the railings).
The folks in violation of the covenants we’re given 30 days notice to remove or paint their white decks and railings. Those who aren’t in compliance within 30 days will have the HOA will file a lien against their property. Several of the folks that were cited are starting a petition to change the deck color rule to allow “natural wood tones or white.” After thinking about this for a few weeks, I think this is the right move for the community - not because I want to change every rule that folks accidentally violate, but because many homeowners would like to install newer, composite decks with white railings or floor boards. These decks look nice, add value to their properties, and thereby add value to all properties in the community.
What do You Think? Would you vote for a change in the rule to allow white decks? Have you found yourself on the wrong side of an HOA rule before? What did you do?
Photo: Shadow on Deck by JasperYue.
Of a retiree!
This is about the time that my heart exploded in my chest, and then I realized that the fast breeze blowing through the strands of my hair was actually the air being broken by my airbourne vehicle:
This is probably what the police report and insurance claim reads because this was all I could manage to muster five hours after the accident:
"4:12 am. Was leaving DC and following the direction of my GPS system, took the tunnel leading towards the 295 SE/SW entrance but went into the wrong tunnel heading towards RFK lot. Entered into complete and utter darkness with no lights, no signs. Tried to adjust to the darkeness and just when I realized the pavement swurved to the left, I tried to turn left but had already hit the tree with my right side and turned upside down, did a 360 degree turn in the air befofe flipping back over and doing a 80 degree swurve to a stop."
The only reason how I know exactly what direction my car flipped, okay, there are two:
1. The fact that as my car impacted on the tree I felt my entire insides lift up from my stomach to my lungs, compressing together like a Slinky being turned upside down. What I didn't fully realize immediately? That I was upside down. And I caught a millisecond glimpse out the cracked glass of the passenger window enough to see the pavement at eye level, and the tunnel glowing through the darkness at me. That's when I closed my eyes to prepare for nothing, something and everything - all at the same time.
2. My Guardian Angel: In the form of a 6"5-6"7 thin-framed man in a red Honda hatch. An image that will stick with me for the rest of my life as a reminder that the smallest instantaneous moments can quite possibly bring you the most purest form of joy that you'll ever feel in a lifetime.
Hours before I would see the "light of life" and my car was left demolished, I had spent the entire day just trudging through work. It was just another day among the many where I kept wandering the maze of cubicles wondering why I still, without fail, park in the same spot, walk through the same building and sit in front of the same screen every single day and endure the bezerk behavior of certain people who have made it a career in having no basic social skills.
By the time 5 o'clock chimed in, I was ready to leave the smothering feel of work and escape to a place I knew I could just let go: in the presence of friends, dancing and just releasing all that anger and stress out.
Several hours later, Christauff and I were doing our regular Friday night ritual of walking each other to our cars safely. We had the miracle of parking on the same street as each other (a rarity to anyone who has ever tried to park to go to a club in DC) and I got into my car and watched as he walked across the street to his. I went to program my GPS to head home, and started to pull out of my spot.
There were a lot of little miracles that night. Little bits of instances that in retrospect, I will be grateful for, for the rest of my life. The fact that I had decided to go to Ultrabar where seven people I knew were going to be there, the fact that Christauff and I always walked to our cars together after the night was through, the fact that Christauff forgot that I had a GPS in my car and had seen me headed in a different direction than he thought would be the regular way for me to get home and just figured I was lost, the fact that he then, as a great friend with concern, decided to follow behind me to make sure I was headed in the right direction - and that he kept following me until he was 3/4 mile away in his car as he watched my car propel itself through the air.
I even feel blessed that I had had such a crummy week prior. I had pictures of my brother's bedsores running around in my head, constant thoughts of my brother's legs being amputated, depressed over my job and my inability to deal with overt micromanagement, frustrated with the outcome of my future - where was I headed with my life? how was I going to get there?, hurt from the loss of a friend and caught in a whirlwind of complete and utter confusion with life in general.
But in that millisecond glimpse of the world upside down, and in the next instant when I closed my eyes and prepared for what I feared to be the end, I found myself shaking away that fear, gripping the steering wheel with both hands tightly, keeping my eyes shut tight as my heart pounded in my throat, my ears, the pit of my stomach - I just let go of every single stress and hurt that I had been consumed with before - and relaxed my body and just breathed.
When I opened my eyes, glass was everywhere, and my hands were bleeding and so was a small patch on my chest where the airbag had hit. Smoke was all around me, and I turned my head ever so slightly to try and make sense of what my eyes were seeing through the cracked and broken glass window of my driver's door: Christauff, his red Honda hatch, and him running from his car, across the pavement, to open my car door.
I walked out of the accident truly unscathed. No broken bones, no massive amounts of blood. As I lay in the guestroom of Christauff's and his girlfriend's condo that morning, I kept counting the solid breaths of air that I sucked into my lungs.
"Someone wants you around, Em," Christauff had kept saying as we drove to his condo.
This is my second chance at life. This is my chance to keep living it without regret and to realize the true value of what I have surrounding me. I was given a second chance at this journey and I am not going to waste it worrying about things that I cannot change.
Hey, did you miss me? I was serving time in prison because I was caught wearing white before Memorial Day. I originally thought I was too pretty to go to prison, but then I realized that without access to my...
Rita Moreno could live to be 100. She just will never get old. (This is from The Electric Company in the early 1970's. It takes me back, old school!) Judy Graubart is Cinderella.
And of course, I show you this on the heals of this strange news. Y'all know it's going to suck. But if it still helps children to read, the suckiness will be at least tolerable. Oh, and can you believe there is a new Fraggle Rock live-action movie in the works? No, I can't either! Again, it will suck. But at least they're going to use actual muppets and not CGI or anything useless like that. I hope they stick with the puppets when they finally decide to turn Tony Award winner Avenue Q into a movie.
And of course, I show you this on the heals of this strange news. Y'all know it's going to suck. But if it still helps children to read, the suckiness will be at least tolerable. Oh, and can you believe there is a new Fraggle Rock live-action movie in the works? No, I can't either! Again, it will suck. But at least they're going to use actual muppets and not CGI or anything useless like that. I hope they stick with the puppets when they finally decide to turn Tony Award winner Avenue Q into a movie.
Todd Rhoades of Leadership Network and Monday Morning Insight posts about the tragic plane crash that took the lives of Forest Pollack and his 13 year old son Preston.
That we won.
That we beat a team that earlier in the season mercy-ruled us, 13-1.
That the fact that we were mercy-ruled in March against them and beat them in May means I've done something right as a coach.
That it was a great game.
That we've now advanced to the 2nd round of the playoffs.
That we came all the way from the city, that we were the severe underdogs, that we were playing on a well-manicured field that obviously has a decent baseball budget, that we beat a county team, that I overheard one of their players say, "I can't believe we're losing to these guys!"
The victory turned into a crisis of conscience when it meant we have the second round of the playoffs tomorrow, when I'm scheduled to give my final presentation for graduate school. I had not expected it to interfere with playoffs, but because of the rainouts, it is. I called my professor and left here a heart-wrenching message, right from the field. She called me back, saying she could adjust, that she has another class I can present to. That's so nice.
That we beat a team that earlier in the season mercy-ruled us, 13-1.
That the fact that we were mercy-ruled in March against them and beat them in May means I've done something right as a coach.
That it was a great game.
That we've now advanced to the 2nd round of the playoffs.
That we came all the way from the city, that we were the severe underdogs, that we were playing on a well-manicured field that obviously has a decent baseball budget, that we beat a county team, that I overheard one of their players say, "I can't believe we're losing to these guys!"
The victory turned into a crisis of conscience when it meant we have the second round of the playoffs tomorrow, when I'm scheduled to give my final presentation for graduate school. I had not expected it to interfere with playoffs, but because of the rainouts, it is. I called my professor and left here a heart-wrenching message, right from the field. She called me back, saying she could adjust, that she has another class I can present to. That's so nice.
We laid down a whole bunch of this click-floor stuff last week but then had to pause it for a weekend trip. We still have about six boxes’ worth left to do, but man. Once the momentum builds on this part the rest is just sledding downhill.
I’m still trying to decide on some sort of color scheme — thinking royal blue with yellow-green accents, but I’m not married to it — and figuring out what to do about curtains. As in, where to get them, where to put them, what they should look like. And what to do about those 15-light doors: Roman blinds? Some sort of panel-curtain set up? Not sure. Suggestions welcome on all fronts.
And somewhere down the line I’d like to reupholster this pair of chairs we inherited:
… but I’m not sure what fabric to use. I’m thinking some sort of floral or wallpaper print, large-scale and without an obvious repeat, because I love this so much, but the fabric is a titch too crazy. But then I think maybe I ought to stick to a solid color, something with a little more staying power. I don’t know.
Anyway. It kills me how long this project is taking. Iain knew it would but I naively thought we could knock it all out quickly, 1-2-3. It’ll be weeks yet before we can put it all together, since we have to take turns working on it on the weekends or do what we can after the kids are in bed and before we collapse, asleep, where we stand. But oh, the end will be worth it. It’s such a great room, and to fix the problems and redecorate it intelligently will make it so much more pleasant to hang out in.
My post a while back about stalking Maureen Dowd was anti-climactic because I never actually met MoDo. At best I got a curious and/or nervous look from here as to why I was taking a pictures. The person I did manage to meet was George Stephanopoulos. Like any celebrity, he is smaller than he appears in television, which is mighty small indeed. Despite his bushy eyebrows, he has never lost that boyish whiz-kid look he had as one of Bill Clinton’s inner circle. 
Producing his Sunday morning show requires a fair amount of physical energy. The show is recorded in the smaller of the third floor studios of the brand new Newseum right next to a large staircase the runs up and down the height of the building. Right after the Roundtable segment, while the panelists are moseying over to the green room for the web post-interview, George and an assistant race up the stairwell to get to sixth floor for the Weekly Funnies segment. I had been standing outside watching all the guests go by when he came out for the next segment. As he went past, to break the awkwardness of me staring at him, I said, “I really love the show.” I felt like a groupie hanging around the back door of a Hannah Montana concert.
He stopped and said “thanks” and continued on up the stairs. Once he gets up to the roof terrace (and these are tall floors), he sets up overlooking the Mall of DC. From there he points out a landmark and introduces the late show comic clips. After that, he does the closing remarks and the show wraps.But that doesn’t mean he is done. I wandered back through the museum looking at some of the exhibits and when I got back down to the third floor I noticed a group hanging outside the door to the studio. I glanced into the studio and saw George sitting at the desk talking to the camera.
I wandered over to see what the crowd was for. Before I could find out, the door opened and a guy wearing tons of badges ushered them in and I wagon-trained along. I don’t like looking like a tourist even when I am being one. Even though I had a camera case over my shoulder, I had dressed for the day in pleated khakis and a nice earth-tone button down shirt. I looked positively Al Gore-ish. This group that was on a private tour was also dressed pretty nicely for a Sunday morning in Washington. They turned out to be a group of VIPs from a company that owned several network affiliates. Everybody tip-toed back into the electronics filled back of the studio with all the cables and cameras. In addition to Snuffleupagus (as cruel bloggers call him), there was the guest wrangler and three or four production people.
George was doing drop-in interviews with local stations. The producer was on the phone and would tell George who they were going to talk to next. George would then sit there repeating the name and city of the local anchor he was about to talk to. The camera man would count down the feed and then George would turn on the charm. He’d make news-show happy chat with the local newscaster and pimp the panelists and topic for the day’s show which obviously hadn’t aired yet in that market. While I was in there, he talked to LA, Atlanta, and Miami. Between the drop-ins, he would walk out from behind the desk and schmooze with the big wigs. The topic of the day was (and still is) when will Hillary throw in the towel. He would just shrug and reply to the effect of “when she is good and ready.”
I tried to stay as inconspicuous as possible. As he came around shaking hands and being introduced to everyone, it became inevitable that he would reach me. I just stuck out my hand and introduced myself. He said, “That’s right, we met outside.” He had remembered me from the hallway.
Once all the on-air promotions were done, the tour continued on over to the master control room, but I ducked out the other direction before anyone could notice me and call security.
The whole time I was there, George was nothing but polite and professional to everyone. That included senators, news columnists, corporate guests, and me, a nosey blogger that had wandered in off the street. Say what you want, but I say George Stephanopolous is a class act.
BlatantCommentWhoring™: When have you wandered into someplace you didn’t belong and were you caught?
the day started out wonderfully!!! I went to curves before 9 a.m. then my friend took Bo w/ her to the park so it was just Zeke and I hanging out and doing some chores and we went for a walk after lunch. I had time before Bo got home to shower and do my hair then we had time to play outside w/ friends before heading off to a crazy busy night. we went to pick up Caleb from school early, Dean from work early , so we could go volunteer at a conference at church. I had taken dinner ( a crockpot of chili, cornbread muffins and brownies) for our tech crew so after a rough first session technically (our A server was down at the start and a fire alarm evacuated the building) we went to get our kids so we could feed them dinner before the next session. We couldnt find our keys and when we did we found our van wouldnt start. we couldnt go get our kids food!! not to mention or van wouldnt start, not even after being jumped a few times!!
A friend drove Dean to get the kids food while I stressed out and called my friend to insure a ride home for us all at the end of the night. Sometime in there Caleb dropped all of the brownies I had made on the ground in the parking lot, so only one person other than our family go to enjoy them. We had little time to finally feed the kids before being back in our serving roles for the meeting. Things were going much better technically, aside from the time freeze ( u had to be there), and sometime during the service our friend Sara, who turns the BIG 30 today, showed up. She was meeting her hubby and they had a spare vehicle so it was decided we could drive their van home. Things continued to improve and now if we can just find the money and time to fix our van we’ll be good to go….tomorrow’s going to be crazy but we’ll figure it out.
Praise God for having friends around willing and able to help us, we are truly blessed, even amidst the difficult times. it’s been a whirlwind day emotionally and I am just floored at how things can take such a drastic turn. not sure what tomorrow holds for me, but I am determined that someone doesnt want me to attend the session I really want to tomorrow, which makes me more motivated to go so ha ha on you devil I am going!! :-) I’ve got a paid sitter lined up, free childcare at church available if that doesnt work out…so I’m excited that no matter what I’ll be where I am supposed to be tomorrow. Now off to rest so I am physically and mentally up for it!
Nikolai 'Kolya' Rodchenko: I see. You and your wife, you work in the theater. And you live here...in Siberia.
Raymond Greenwood: It's just temporary.
Rodchenko: [dryly] Of course. Nobody is here permanently.
—White Nights (1985)
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I mentioned awhile back that the Morrell Park Community Association had decided that they didn't want me to do their newsletter anymore. I wasn't getting any feedback with relation to their website, so I put up a "Goodbye" page letting people know that the site was going to go dark sometime shortly after Christmas.
Well, that's when heads started to explode. The phone calls and emails started, people asking me what was going on, please don't do this, and so on and so forth. The VP of the Association came up with the hosting fee and the renewal and told me that they wanted the website to go on. So I put up a new home page with a new design, and solicited updated information. And I waited for the information.
And waited.
And waited.
And waited. I got information from one person and I put that up, but otherwise nothing came to me.
And the stuff that was on the homepage started to age out, so I took it down, piece by piece. At this point, all that's left is the meeting dates, some recycling information and some contact information for the Association. I'm not going to make stuff up for them, right?
A few weeks ago (April 7) an email came to me from the Association's VP. It read, in part:
Good things are happening back here in Morrell Park. Next Pancake Breakfast, 8th year for Mayors Clean Up, Big CERT expansion Meeting, Next GED Sessions both day and evening , Little League 28th Parade, updates/plans on MP New Rec Center, Dunkin Donut expansion, and new homes being built to name a few. Also, many Business and Builders want to advertise and our web site update is desperately needed. Good people have offered to help make this happen
XX and XY son B offered to place MP updates on the web. <snipped> [B] would like to become more involved offering his experience with computers to update MPCA web site. However, he needs www.morrellpark.net user ID and password. Could you please forward that information forward so this process and progress can begin ?
I guess that's their way of saying they don't want me to do this anymore either. So I sent a reply telling them it wasn't quite as simple as handing over an ID and a password, and I'd get in touch with B directly.
A few days later, on the following Sunday, I sent B a detailed email telling him how to FTP information to the website: where the hosting is located, etc. He didn't reply, nor has the website been updated since then.
So let me be the first to congratulate the officers of the Morrell Park Community Association on their fine selection of a new webmaster. You've done a fantastic job, so far. And the best part is that I'll be billing the MPCA for hosting a webpage that hasn't been updated in a couple of months.
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Confidential to SH: I admit it in this space; you were right. 'nuff said.
My email to Live Nation. I suggest others left in the rain follow suit.
Tags: Live Nation, Nissan Pavilion, radiohead
I don’t really get off by bragging on my kids much regardless of how smart or beautiful they are — and they are, but my kid made the sweetest unassisted triple play in little league tonight that I just need to, uh, document it in, uh, perpetuity on my blog.
The situation: bases loaded, no out. The boy was playing 3rd base. The batter hit a pop-up right to him about 5 feet off the bag toward the pitcher’s mound. He caught it and noticed the kid on third took off for home, so he stepped on 3rd base to double him off. The runner on 2nd took off for third and didn’t have the presence of mind to get back to 2nd after the ball was caught so the boy tagged him at 3rd base for the unassisted triple play.
Honestly, the boy didn’t really even realize what he was doing; it all just kind of fell into his lap. But it was a stunning play that killed a rally. The crowd went wild (all 15 of us parents) and his teammates mobbed him by the bench when they came off the field.
After the game, the coaches award a game ball to the player who had the greatest impact on the game. It was no contest who deserved this one, and to make it better one of his coaches pulled the actual ball he made the play with out of the game for the game ball award and wrote the date, the team name, the boy’s name, and “unassisted triple play” on it. That was really cool. I have to admit the boy’s coaches might not be the greatest team of little league baseball minds ever assembled but they’re all really nice guys. And none of them play up their own kids over all others, which is something you don’t see much in youth sports.
I didn’t think my kid would even like baseball let alone be good at it, but he’s shown an ability to play that I never expected. He likes football more, but he’s better at baseball and you can’t tell he’s only in his first year compared with some of the other kids on the team who’ve been playing for 2 or 3 years.
Some kids bloom late, I guess.
So the night of the "semifinals." Three left. I'm guessing just about everyone (myself included) predicted the results of tonight before the singers even set foot on stage. Syesha bowing out leaving the two Davids for the finals. I'm not so sure that anything that happened tonight will change that result although, if the results are as close as Seacrest tells us they are (and who really trusts Fox, forefathers of the "fair and balanced Fox News" to give us the truth), there could be a shocker tomorrow.
"Celebrity" spottings tonight - Justin Guarini and Lloyd from Entourage. Also, nice job by Ryan by picking on Syesha's dad forgetting that it was her father and (a) suggesting that he may be gay, and; (b) reminding him about the finals next week. You know Ryan's fucked up when Paula is shooting him reminders to jar him back into reality.
Best way for me to recap is to give an overall review of each performer:
David Archuleta:
And So It Goes is one of my all-time favorite Billy Joel songs and Billy Joel is one of my all-time favorite artists. I thought David hit this one out of the park. Unfortunately if David was in danger of having trouble getting votes, this performance was his first. David's take on Chris Brown in his second performance was about as believable as if I got up and started rapping Fitty Cent. Really it was just pitiful. And painful. The producers did him no favors with the final song, a drippingly sacharine number that I recognize from the late-night dedication shows on the soft rock radio stations. Look, it's no surprise by now that he's got a great voice. He's just not a terrific performer. By the way... this kid is going to be a lot of fun on the Idol tour. He's dumb as a fucking brick. Have you ever seen a performer have so much trouble understanding the concept of a vamp? The hardest working person in show business - Archuleta's tutor.
Syesha Mercado:
Unlike the judges, I thought Syesha shined on Fever tonight. However, that's because I too see her true talent as a Broadway/cabaret-type singer. She's got stage presence that makes up for sometimes lagging vocals. And by lagging, I mean she suffers from the fact that as a black woman, she just can't quite measure up to Alicia Keyes and Whitney and Mariah when she covers them. She still has a great voice. As for her final song, I'd never heard of it and am not quite sure why the producers picked it. All I remember is that Syesha's wardrobe looked like something out of Flashdance. Also, am I the only one noticing that Syesha is looking more and more like Vanessa Williams every night? Nice job Idol stylists.
David Cook:
Look, it's no secret that I have a total man crush on David Cook. I think he's an incredible performer, has an incredible voice, and he's the first Idol contestant ever (and by ever I mean in the two seasons I've followed the show) that I could see myself buying a CD from. I was not familiar with the Roberta Flack song that Simon had him take on, but judging by the reaction, I'm guessing it was on par with his Mariah remake of Always Be My Baby. The second song was totally rushed. As for his final song, even though I'm not such a huge fan of Don't Want to Miss a Thing, or as most people know it, "That Armageddon Song," I understand why the producers picked it and I thought David did a great job with it. That said, I really, really, really hope now that he doesn't win because I fear what Clive Davis will force him to do on a CD.
Continued Prediction:
The two David's in the finals.
"Celebrity" spottings tonight - Justin Guarini and Lloyd from Entourage. Also, nice job by Ryan by picking on Syesha's dad forgetting that it was her father and (a) suggesting that he may be gay, and; (b) reminding him about the finals next week. You know Ryan's fucked up when Paula is shooting him reminders to jar him back into reality.
Best way for me to recap is to give an overall review of each performer:
David Archuleta:
And So It Goes is one of my all-time favorite Billy Joel songs and Billy Joel is one of my all-time favorite artists. I thought David hit this one out of the park. Unfortunately if David was in danger of having trouble getting votes, this performance was his first. David's take on Chris Brown in his second performance was about as believable as if I got up and started rapping Fitty Cent. Really it was just pitiful. And painful. The producers did him no favors with the final song, a drippingly sacharine number that I recognize from the late-night dedication shows on the soft rock radio stations. Look, it's no surprise by now that he's got a great voice. He's just not a terrific performer. By the way... this kid is going to be a lot of fun on the Idol tour. He's dumb as a fucking brick. Have you ever seen a performer have so much trouble understanding the concept of a vamp? The hardest working person in show business - Archuleta's tutor.
Syesha Mercado:
Unlike the judges, I thought Syesha shined on Fever tonight. However, that's because I too see her true talent as a Broadway/cabaret-type singer. She's got stage presence that makes up for sometimes lagging vocals. And by lagging, I mean she suffers from the fact that as a black woman, she just can't quite measure up to Alicia Keyes and Whitney and Mariah when she covers them. She still has a great voice. As for her final song, I'd never heard of it and am not quite sure why the producers picked it. All I remember is that Syesha's wardrobe looked like something out of Flashdance. Also, am I the only one noticing that Syesha is looking more and more like Vanessa Williams every night? Nice job Idol stylists.
David Cook:
Look, it's no secret that I have a total man crush on David Cook. I think he's an incredible performer, has an incredible voice, and he's the first Idol contestant ever (and by ever I mean in the two seasons I've followed the show) that I could see myself buying a CD from. I was not familiar with the Roberta Flack song that Simon had him take on, but judging by the reaction, I'm guessing it was on par with his Mariah remake of Always Be My Baby. The second song was totally rushed. As for his final song, even though I'm not such a huge fan of Don't Want to Miss a Thing, or as most people know it, "That Armageddon Song," I understand why the producers picked it and I thought David did a great job with it. That said, I really, really, really hope now that he doesn't win because I fear what Clive Davis will force him to do on a CD.
Continued Prediction:
The two David's in the finals.
Canton Crossing developer and First Mariner Bank CEO Ed Hale announced today further plans for the project in Southeast Baltimore. The progress of the project had been in doubt recently with rumors about cash flow problems surrounding the recently completed first phase of the project (The First Mariner Bank Building). But the fact that Ed [...]
I don’t usually spend money on new products when I see them on the shelves. But when I get the chance to try them for free that’s a different matter.
“Sickeningly sweet Gatorade” is how I’d describe G2 from Gatorade. If you mixed a regular grape-flavored Gatorade with one of those plastic barrel-shaped jugs of slightly fruit-like sugar water from your childhood (you know, the types with the foil lid that you peeled off), you’d get G2. That slightly sweat-like salty taste you get from regular Gatorade to let you know that you aren’t just drinking sugar water is notably absent.
I saw Mint Crisp M&M’s and thought “ooh, chocolate M&M’s infused with mint” despite seeing “crisp.” Chocolate lovers beware, there isn’t a lot chocolate in these things. There is a lot of mint flavor; if you like Andes mints, you’ll probably like the taste. They’re also bigger than regular M&M’s so you get less of them in a bag.
In both cases I’ll stick with the original.
- I’ll Have a Little Bit of Coffee With My Sugar and Cream
- Fondue Pots for Christmas Eve
- The Ginormous Office Project, Week Three
- Living Without Methyltheobromine
- Front Foot Benefit, Or Lack Thereof
Once upon a time there were two ponies who were friends. These two ponies liked the same pastures and the same kind of hay, and they generally got along. They were happy ponies.
There were also some crabby ponies that were bored by their pastures, and because they were jealous that the happy ponies were chipper and contented, they were generally negative and critical of the happy ponies. One day those crabby ponies developed a horrible case of navicular disease - which is of course characterized by severe lameness - and they died.
The End.
Good story. :)
There were also some crabby ponies that were bored by their pastures, and because they were jealous that the happy ponies were chipper and contented, they were generally negative and critical of the happy ponies. One day those crabby ponies developed a horrible case of navicular disease - which is of course characterized by severe lameness - and they died.
The End.
Good story. :)
May 13, 2008
The Passively Multiplayer Online Game
It’s a social network/link sharing site with a sort of Steampunk feel. You take “missions” which are basically tours of websites that someone’s linked together. You can create your own missions, leave “mines” behind that “detonate” when another PMOG person comes across them (no damage is done to your computer or your browser - just to the PMOG stats). You can leave teleports to other sites (often with little notes that indicate if you like the site you’re on, you’ll love the teleport destination, too).
“Badges” are awarded based on your surfing behaviours. Like for going so many hours without hitting Google, or having so many return visits to a particular website over a span of time.
More detailed information is here.
Yeah, it’s kind of like advertising disguised as a game. Yeah, you can do a lot of the same thing just by trolling through Digg or del.icio.us. But this is cute dammit.
This is the part where you say things like “OMG THEY’RE TRACKING YOU ON THE WEB AND MIGHT BE STEALING YOUR INFORMATION”. Me, I’mma go make me some rivals.