Don't try to show up the chick with the scorebook.
Don't try to show up the chick with the scorebook.
July 31, 2006
My favorite Jeopardy champion, Ken Jennings has a blog!
I particularly like this from his FAQ:
H&R Block? Come on!That's not really a question.
Don't get it? See here.
July 27, 2006
Since June 8, the Minnesota Twins have been playing not .500 baseball, not .600, not .700, but .800 (.810 to be exact). And yet they're still only in a tie for second in the American League Central, and a half game back of the Yankees for the Wild Card.
That's insane.
July 26, 2006
Tomorrow I'll post about the two baseball games I went to in the last week and other tidbits from my travels to and during the wedding. In the meantime, satisfy yourself with these pictures:
I have no photos of the wedding, reception or after goings-on. For that you'll have to check out Breath's pictures.
July 19, 2006
I just showed an Amish family how to use an elevator.
Also, coming either later tonight or maybe tomorrow morning, pictures from my day in Pittsburgh and a baseball game report. It depends on how soon I decide to crash, given that I was on the road at 6:30 this morning.
Edit: I just saw myself on ESPN's Baseball Tonight during the Pirates/Rockies recap. I mean, you had to know exactly where I was sitting and be looking for it and just sort of know that that one figure was me... but still. That was cool.
And speaking of seeing me in moving pictures (sort of)... I just figured out I could post this here. Even though there's still a few days until the wedding, I give you part two of my wedding gift to Jenn, which will probably entertain anyone who lived on or near Putz while Jerin did... (Part one is a slightly more traditional wedding gift which will not likely be posted here.)
As a warning, the volume is abnormally loud. I'd try and edit that, but the 15 day free trial period for the program I used to make this is over.
With deepest apologies to the Dixie Chicks and deepest gratitude to tfazio for writing the lyrics.
July 15, 2006
I would drop out of grad school for this in a heartbeat if it was just about any other team.
July 14, 2006
I caught Wordplay at the Michigan Theater last night, an entertaining documentary on the world of crossword puzzles. As most people reading this probably know, it features a brief cameo by The Dan and a few other folks you might recognize if you're a mystery hunter (like Kiran Kedlaya of Setec). Even if Dan hadn't had a cameo, I still would have been highly entertained by the film -- Jon Stewart has some hysterical scenes explaining his love for the Times Crossword and it's fun to watch Merl Reagle's thought process as he constructs a puzzle. Also, if Mike Mussina didn't pitch for the MFNYY, I think he would be the perfect man -- a Stanford alum with a 90+ MPH fastpitch who does crossword puzzles in the dugout? I think I'm in love (except for that whole Yankees thing).
There's also something oddly charming and comforting about watching a bunch of quirky nerdy types getting together in their element. I felt the same way watching Spellbound (the spelling bee documentary, not the Hitchcock film), and it reminds me of ARML meets from high school. (Oddly, it didn't remind me of the Hunt that much -- probably because of the individual vs. team competition aspect.) All in all, I highly recommend the film to everyone, even the non-crossword nerds.
But the best part of going to see the movie? A preview for this!
July 10, 2006
If you're here from the Glee Club Scavenger Hunt, you really want to follow this link
Given all the research I did as a youth on women in baseball, this article makes me extremely happy. I was aware of Pam Postema, who umped in the minors about twenty years ago, but I hadn't heard about Ria Cortesio until I came across this article. (The article fails to mention Amanda Clement who was an umpire for semi-pro leagues in the midwest back around the turn of the century, and I think the first female ump.)
Maybe if this whole computer science thing doesn't work out, I'll switch careers... at the very least I should look into umping for summer rec leagues.
July 03, 2006
The All Star game roster has been announced -- and Mauer's on it! (And he was named the American League player of the month for June.) Varitek is sitting this one out, but Papi, Manny, Papelbon, and Mark Loretta will be there representing the Sox. This will be Manny's tenth -- as in two digits -- All Star appearance. Johan "Cy Young" Santana will also be in there for the Twinkies.
If you still want opportunities to vote, Francisco Liriano, June's American League rookie of the month, is up for the remaining "Final Man" position. I'd change my button, but, well, I'm lazy.
July 02, 2006
If you're here from the Glee Club Scavenger Hunt, you really want to follow this link
 | Ticket to Toledo Mudhens vs. Indianapolis Indians game: $8 |
Last night I had the urge to get out of the house and go to a ballgame, but alas, the Tigers are in Pittsburgh this weekend, so I needed a back-up plan. Enter Toledo -- only an hour away and home of the 2005 International League (AAA) Champion Toledo Mudhens, farm team for the Detroit Tigers (and formerly for the Minnesota Twins). The tickets are significantly cheaper and the seats were better than anything I could afford at a major league ballpark (I was pretty much right behind home plate). They still price gouge you with the food, but my sum total was still cheaper than the cost of any ticket at Fenway.
Of course, I had to deal with the fact that I didn't recognize the names of any of the players, save for Dustan Mohr, who once upon a time got some big league play with the Twins. But I did get a look at the possible superstars of tomorrow. Craig Stansberry went 2 for 4 with a homerun for the Indians (farm team for the Pittsburgh Pirates) and Ryan Ludwick, who homered for Toledo with a man on base to put the Mudhens into the win category.
But there's more to a minor league game than just the game -- there's also the between inning entertainment. We had Jamie Farr (aka Corporal Klinger on M*A*S*H), Toledo's local celebrity, giving us the rules of the ballpark (via Jumbotron) -- "Those embarassing their mothers will be escorted out." We had giant mud hens, Muddy and Mudonna, doing the macarena. We had fans dressed up in giant mattress costumes trying to catch little foam pillows for a chance to win... I don't remember what. And there was another guy who won a year's supply of potato chips for accurately tossing three baseballs into a "strike zone" from a distance of approximately 20 feet. We had a polka band playing the German national anthem (because apparently it was German-American Heritage Day). We had a high school homerun derby and to close it all up, we had fireworks. All in all, a highly enjoyable day at the ballpark.