Wednesday, February 15, 2006
Real Quick - A Little About Michael Moore
Just for kicks I went over to MichaelMoore.com, as I haven't done in a while. The lines about Cheney and the birdshot incident were all over the page, but that didn't catch my eye. No, it takes real stupidity to get me to notice.
And I saw that in the headline "What if Jesus is Burning These Baptist Churches?" I though I would find some support for Moore's headline. But no. I found this:
"It's definitely arson," state fire marshal spokesman Ragan Ingram said Sunday.
Since Ragan Ingram is not significant enough to have his own page on Wikipedia, I conclude there is not much of a conspiracy theory surrounding him. Which leads me to the following conclusions conclusions:
1) Moore has his own conspiracy about Ingram.
2) Reading an entire article is as difficult for this man as running.
3) He does not like Baptists.
4) I wasted my time going to his site.
And I saw that in the headline "What if Jesus is Burning These Baptist Churches?" I though I would find some support for Moore's headline. But no. I found this:
"It's definitely arson," state fire marshal spokesman Ragan Ingram said Sunday.
Since Ragan Ingram is not significant enough to have his own page on Wikipedia, I conclude there is not much of a conspiracy theory surrounding him. Which leads me to the following conclusions conclusions:
1) Moore has his own conspiracy about Ingram.
2) Reading an entire article is as difficult for this man as running.
3) He does not like Baptists.
4) I wasted my time going to his site.
Labels: Politics
Wednesday, February 08, 2006
In The News - Mommy!
Well, Drudge has reported what critics of sexual harassment policies fear: a stupid case in which an innocent first grade boy gets sent home. As the AP reports:
That's one of those things that can be picked up at age 3, even if the kid wasn't in a day care environment. All it takes is for the kid's parents to realize that they exist for more reason than production and financial support of the child. The concept of not touching other kids is easy enough, and the rule about specific no-no touchie spots is always areas covered by the swimsuit. Kids should learn this at least from their parents. I learned it from them, teachers, and television (they ran little bits in between cartoons saying that you should tell if you're touched somewhere like that, etc).
I fully believe that corporal punishment should be employed here. I think the principal needs to take the kid's mom and turn her over her knee.
Berthena Dorinvil claims that her son was already touched by the girl. Either way, one serious question arises: Why wasn't the old rule of "keep your hands to yourself" ever instilled in this child?A first grader was suspended for three days after school officials said he sexually harassed a girl in his class by allegedly putting two fingers inside the girl's waistband while she sat on the floor in front of him.
The boy's mother, Berthena Dorinvil, said she "screamed" about last week's suspension from Downey Elementary School, and added her son doesn't know what sexual harassment is.
"He doesn't know those things," she told The Enterprise of Brockton. "He's only 6 years old."
That's one of those things that can be picked up at age 3, even if the kid wasn't in a day care environment. All it takes is for the kid's parents to realize that they exist for more reason than production and financial support of the child. The concept of not touching other kids is easy enough, and the rule about specific no-no touchie spots is always areas covered by the swimsuit. Kids should learn this at least from their parents. I learned it from them, teachers, and television (they ran little bits in between cartoons saying that you should tell if you're touched somewhere like that, etc).
I fully believe that corporal punishment should be employed here. I think the principal needs to take the kid's mom and turn her over her knee.
Labels: Other News Items
Thursday, February 02, 2006
Dodgers - Well, he used to be a Dodger
The Boston Red Sox, appauled by the idea of a skilled defensive shortstop, have been looking around. They have been looking around ever since the 2003-2004 offseason. When they were pursuing A-Rod, they essentially signaled that they were not satisfied with Nomar, then the face of the Red Sox. They then shuffled around, not re-establishing the team at that position. Now they are dissatisfied with Alex Cora, which may mean he'll be a Dodger again in a couple of years.
Unfortunately, there's not a lot on the market without a trade. And with Miggy for Manny unlikely, Boston has been reduced to looking at Alex Gonzalez. The Alex Gonzalez who played for the Marlins in 2003.
The problem is, he's barely a step up over Cora. In fact, he's more likely to be a step down. By the numbers:
Career Stats (from Baseball-Reference.com)
Batting AVG
Cora: .244
Gonzo: .245
Slugging
Cora: .349
Gonzo: .391
On Base %
Cora: .310
Gonzo: .291
Strikeout-Walk Ratio
Cora: 1.83 to 1
Gonzo: 3.95 to 1
Fielding % (at shortstop)
Cora: .970
Gonzo .968
***
One final statistic: quality of pitchers who gave up their most famous home run. While Gonzales has been known to pop a few more than Cora, neither is known as being a power hitter, or much of a hitter at all with career batting averages under .250. Gonzales' most famous home run was off Jeff Weaver in Game 4 of the 2003 World Series, which granted was a great clutch move. Cora's was at the end of an 18-pitch at bat off Matt Clement. Comparing the performances of those two pitchers last year:
Weaver 14-11, ERA 4:22, 35 HR
Clement 13-6, ERA 4.57, 18 HR
And Weaver pitched in the NL West, a much weaker division than the AL East, where Clement pitched.
Gonzo may not make the team. Cora may have his best year yet. Either way, the Red Sox will face a challenge from Toronto, who made good moves in the offseason, Baltimore, who has Leo Mazzone to work on 4 starting pitchers born in the 80s, Tampa Bay, who will try to start a fight with them again for no reason, and the Yankees, who will sign Barry Bonds as their DH in 2007 for $100,000,000. Granted, though, it is expected that Boston will try to hit grounders up the middle and go for doubles, provided that Johnny Damon does not pull a reverse Sampson and become stronger after cutting his hair.
Unfortunately, there's not a lot on the market without a trade. And with Miggy for Manny unlikely, Boston has been reduced to looking at Alex Gonzalez. The Alex Gonzalez who played for the Marlins in 2003.
The problem is, he's barely a step up over Cora. In fact, he's more likely to be a step down. By the numbers:
Career Stats (from Baseball-Reference.com)
Batting AVG
Cora: .244
Gonzo: .245
Slugging
Cora: .349
Gonzo: .391
On Base %
Cora: .310
Gonzo: .291
Strikeout-Walk Ratio
Cora: 1.83 to 1
Gonzo: 3.95 to 1
Fielding % (at shortstop)
Cora: .970
Gonzo .968
***
One final statistic: quality of pitchers who gave up their most famous home run. While Gonzales has been known to pop a few more than Cora, neither is known as being a power hitter, or much of a hitter at all with career batting averages under .250. Gonzales' most famous home run was off Jeff Weaver in Game 4 of the 2003 World Series, which granted was a great clutch move. Cora's was at the end of an 18-pitch at bat off Matt Clement. Comparing the performances of those two pitchers last year:
Weaver 14-11, ERA 4:22, 35 HR
Clement 13-6, ERA 4.57, 18 HR
And Weaver pitched in the NL West, a much weaker division than the AL East, where Clement pitched.
Gonzo may not make the team. Cora may have his best year yet. Either way, the Red Sox will face a challenge from Toronto, who made good moves in the offseason, Baltimore, who has Leo Mazzone to work on 4 starting pitchers born in the 80s, Tampa Bay, who will try to start a fight with them again for no reason, and the Yankees, who will sign Barry Bonds as their DH in 2007 for $100,000,000. Granted, though, it is expected that Boston will try to hit grounders up the middle and go for doubles, provided that Johnny Damon does not pull a reverse Sampson and become stronger after cutting his hair.
Labels: Dodgers
