Thursday, October 31, 2002

"It ryhmes with Shane MacGowan, not Puddin' Tane."

For as long as I can remember, I've seen the word "samhain" in print, either in regard to Halloween or Danzig's post-Misfits band, and supposed it was pronounced like it's spelled. Nope. I learned today that it's "sow-en". I feel kinda like I did after I found out Heinlein is pronounced "hine-line," not "HINE-lin" like I'd always imagined. Fortunately, I haven't had much cause to go around saying "samhain," (never found myself saying, "Dude, the new Samhain album kicks ass!") in fact, I don't think I've ever spoken the word aloud. Now that I know how it's pronounced, look out. Any wannabe goths come around "sam-haining" and I'm gonna smugly correct their ignorant asses.

Wednesday, October 30, 2002

Capital Punishment

Sniper suspect's son and ex-wife think death penalty appropriate. The ex-wife looks sternly resolute in the photo that accompanies the article, perhaps ready to administer the injection herself.

Sunday, October 27, 2002

The Adventures of C-Dog

Went down to see the Reputation at the Met Cafe tonight. No such luck. They were leaving the stage just as we strolled in. The Secret Handshake, a local band playing their last show turned out to be the highlight of the evening. Joel, from the Reputation, seemed genuinely sorry that we'd come all the way down only to miss them. He seemed to think daylight savings time had messed everything up.

In other news, I took a jar of change to the grocery store, as I sometimes do, to use the Coinstar machine. I usually treat the proceeds of my coin jar as free money and buy a luxury item I wouldn't normally splurge on -- macadamia nuts, for example. This time it was one of those battery operated spinning tooth brushes. I love it. The thing is though, there are some things you need to know if you are using one for the first time. (1) Don't take the thing out of your mouth while it's still spinning. (2) It will make you drool like gangbusters. So, what you'll not want to do is, upon observing that you're are drooling like mad all down your hand, take the spinning brush out of your mouth to figure out what to do about the excessive drooling. What'll happen is this: toothpaste will be rocketed into your eyes and in the shock and confusion of the toothpaste assault, the spinning brush will slip out of your drool-soaked hand and continue spraying your mirror and the rest of your bathroom.

Friday, October 25, 2002

RIP Paul Wellstone

Sen. Paul Wellstone (D) Minnesota has perished, along with 7 others, in a plane crash. (more...) CNBC, as I sit here, is reporting on how this might lead to a more favorable business climate if Republicans gain control of the Senate. (Wellstone was in a tightly contested race.)

Thursday, October 24, 2002

Bruce Campbell News

38 Across. 10 letters. B-B--HO--P Clue: Army of Elvis? (Quiddity also wants to see it.)

Monday, October 21, 2002

Cooperstown

It's about a five hour drive from Providence, RI to Cooperstown, NY. This time of year, when the leaves are starting to turn, it's not an unpleasant trip across across the Pioneer Valley, through the Berkshires, past Albany into central NY, then down the western shore of Lake Ostego to baseball's holiest shrine: the National Baseball Hall of Fame. It's one of those things I've wanted to do since I was about 10 years old, but just never made time for. A few months back my girlfriend (how cool is this?!) my girlfriend says, "have you ever been the Hall of Fame? No?!? Well, let's go!!" She's not really into baseball, so I don't think I would've ever thought of asking her, but when she grokked how much I love baseball she took it on herself to make sure I went.

I didn't really know what to expect of the place. I knew the museum had exhibits and a hall of plaques and that Cooperstown would be small, but that was pretty much it. For some reason, I half expected to see Hall of Famers, and guys hoping to get in, walking the streets. You know, Jim Rice getting a chili dog at the Doubleday Diner, Pete Rose working the counter at his memorabilia shop, maybe a red-eyed Ozzie Smith on the tale end of a celebratory bender threatening to do his patented back flip next to the bobbleheads in the Hall of Fame gift shop. No such luck. What is there is, for a baseball fan, pretty awe-inspiring. Recent items, like the bats Mike Cameron and Shawn Green swung when they hit four homers each in games this past year. The jersey Nomar wore during his 30 game hit streak in 1997. Gear, bats, and balls from McGwire, Sosa, and Bonds. There's a room devoted to the 500 club full of bats and gear worn by Aaron, Williams, McGwire, Foxx, Ott, et al. There was a ball signed by the 1918 World Champion Red Sox. There was a baseball card display. Man, was that tough to swallow. Cards I used to own on display in the Hall of Fame. (Sadly, most of those photos didn't turn out.)

You can read all about what's at the Hall, if it's your bag, at the website. You can even see the plaques, but it's nothing like being in that room, wandering from alcove to alcove, finding the ones you wanted to see, and touch, like Teddy's, Yaz's, Pudge's, and stumbling across others, like Nolan Ryan's, of guys that didn't play for the Red Sox, but were still pretty good players anyways, and watching other guys look for, and find the Yaz plaque you were just at, have their picture taken with it, then tell their son about how they used to idolize him as a kid. I can't wait until my nephew gets into the little league years so I can take him out there.

If I haven't bored you to tears yet, you can check out some of the photos we took here.

Thursday, October 17, 2002

Does anybody think Andy Rooney knows more about football that Monday Night Football's Melissa Stark? Hell, does anybody think Andy Rooney knows more about anything than Melissa Stark?



"Let's go down to the sidelines for a report. Melissa?"

"You know what bugs me? Paper clips..."
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