http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3266721
So, I was reading one of my favorite sources of news and information (Jared's away message) when I stumbled across this link. Now, the gist of it is simple... the Chicago Cubs' ownership is thinking about selling. It's been known for a while that the team would go, but one thing has remained uncertain... would naming rights for Wrigley Field, one of the most historic and beautiful first-generation ballparks in the nation, be part of the deal?
It looks like the almighty dollar wins again.
Now, are we overreacting by getting upset about this? Possibly. But in a sport that hearkens back to some form of simplicity, where the uniforms are still not profaned by hideous ads (I'm looking your way, "soccer"...), there's no clock, and we don't make 'em play if the weather gets nasty, it's sad to see creeping corporatism. I had the good fortune of catching a game at Wrigley a few years ago, now that my sister lives just around the corner. Let me tell you, as a Fenway fan to the end, Wrigley is a beautiful, intimate, unique park. Will it lose all that charm if it picks up a corporate logo on that distinctive front sign? Probably not. But still, it's a change, and baseball hates change.
...on the other hand, this could be a massive opportunity/win-win situation for Wrigley Chewing Gum...
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Links!
In my first post I promised to borrow (outright steal) an idea from Bill Simmons and provide some weekly links for you. Being a rather proficient browser of the internet, and the friend of many an internet scouter, I come across many websites per week. Most of these websites suck, but some of them are worth a look!
The links I plan on giving you each week will be about anything so be prepared! If next to the link there is a giant NSFW (Not Safe For Work), it means do not open this link if you are in a place that frowns upon swearing/nudity etc. Don't worry, I'm not linking you any pornography ;) so most likely all NSFW tags will simply mean foul language (potty mouth).
1)
How to Write a Hit song
A funny video with an explanation at the beginning. Essentially, a blogger asked a bunch of readers to send him phrases that don't sound quite right (ex. 'Frog in her ear') and he would put them to music and make a hit song. Came out pretty well if in my opinion.
2)
Phases of the Luna Eclipse
A great shot of last weeks total lunar eclipse.
3)
Air Powered Cars
From Popular Mechanics, a cool article on the possibility of Air compression as an alternative power source. The Front page of the NY times reports that the country should expect Gas prices of over 4$ a gallon so any ideas are good ideas.
4)
Contacts of the Future
We currently live in the future. If you didn't realize this, you have not been paying attention. This is an article about the beginings of personal electronic visuals. I.e. you put on contacts which allow you to see information overlaying your normal view (Terminator Style). Obviously they are a long way from becoming available but a look into what some of the worlds best engineers are doing with their time is rather interesting.
5) (NSFW Maybe...)
You suck at photoshop
If you like sarcasm, you will like this video. A youtube clip of a guy 'teaching' photoshop. Actually part of a series which can be accessed in the related videos column on the side.
6)
Half of Briton's claim no religion
Snagged from Digg. Goes to show how even countries we consider to be similar to ours have VERY different people. The majority of Americans believe evolution is a lie, half of the UK thinks God might be a lie. Although I am speaking in generalizations, not having a religion does not mean you don't believe in God.
7)
Seed Banks Open!
This is a heartening link. I read an article about these vaults recently, and the first one is finally open! Essentially there will be several of these (maybe a dozen?) deep frozen vaults erected all over the world which will house preserved seeds from all varieties of crops. The vaults are being placed in out of the way places where they will be unlikely to be damaged should anything bad happen to the rest of the world (read: nuclear war). Kind of funny that we have to have a protection against ourselves.
Thats it for this week! Hopefully you'll enjoy them as I did. I should be back with a bigger post sometime in the next few days.
The links I plan on giving you each week will be about anything so be prepared! If next to the link there is a giant NSFW (Not Safe For Work), it means do not open this link if you are in a place that frowns upon swearing/nudity etc. Don't worry, I'm not linking you any pornography ;) so most likely all NSFW tags will simply mean foul language (potty mouth).
1)
How to Write a Hit song
A funny video with an explanation at the beginning. Essentially, a blogger asked a bunch of readers to send him phrases that don't sound quite right (ex. 'Frog in her ear') and he would put them to music and make a hit song. Came out pretty well if in my opinion.
2)
Phases of the Luna Eclipse
A great shot of last weeks total lunar eclipse.
3)
Air Powered Cars
From Popular Mechanics, a cool article on the possibility of Air compression as an alternative power source. The Front page of the NY times reports that the country should expect Gas prices of over 4$ a gallon so any ideas are good ideas.
4)
Contacts of the Future
We currently live in the future. If you didn't realize this, you have not been paying attention. This is an article about the beginings of personal electronic visuals. I.e. you put on contacts which allow you to see information overlaying your normal view (Terminator Style). Obviously they are a long way from becoming available but a look into what some of the worlds best engineers are doing with their time is rather interesting.
5) (NSFW Maybe...)
You suck at photoshop
If you like sarcasm, you will like this video. A youtube clip of a guy 'teaching' photoshop. Actually part of a series which can be accessed in the related videos column on the side.
6)
Half of Briton's claim no religion
Snagged from Digg. Goes to show how even countries we consider to be similar to ours have VERY different people. The majority of Americans believe evolution is a lie, half of the UK thinks God might be a lie. Although I am speaking in generalizations, not having a religion does not mean you don't believe in God.
7)
Seed Banks Open!
This is a heartening link. I read an article about these vaults recently, and the first one is finally open! Essentially there will be several of these (maybe a dozen?) deep frozen vaults erected all over the world which will house preserved seeds from all varieties of crops. The vaults are being placed in out of the way places where they will be unlikely to be damaged should anything bad happen to the rest of the world (read: nuclear war). Kind of funny that we have to have a protection against ourselves.
Thats it for this week! Hopefully you'll enjoy them as I did. I should be back with a bigger post sometime in the next few days.
Monday, February 25, 2008
More pitching!
Great news in the Red Sox Nation today: the Sox have reached a minor league agreement with 35 year old right handed (former) flamethrower Bartolo Colon. This is an example of how this front office has been putting the Sox in a position to play great baseball: having the courage to go after big contracts and make controversial deals, but not making the rookie (read: Yankee) mistake of doing this at the expense of bargain players and prospects.
Colon is being characterized as "high reward, low risk," and that sums it up nicely. At best, we get a pretty steady rotation guy who throws a lot of innings. At worst, we are out a million bucks or so. I'm eager to see how he shapes up in spring training. When he was throwing well (2002-2003) he had a pretty well spotted fastball and a decent little sinker. Let's keep an eye on him, shall we?
Colon is being characterized as "high reward, low risk," and that sums it up nicely. At best, we get a pretty steady rotation guy who throws a lot of innings. At worst, we are out a million bucks or so. I'm eager to see how he shapes up in spring training. When he was throwing well (2002-2003) he had a pretty well spotted fastball and a decent little sinker. Let's keep an eye on him, shall we?
Saturday, February 23, 2008
Bienvenidos!
First of all, what he said.
Secondly, you may be curious about the nature of this particular blog. "Jack of all blogs?" you may be saying to yourself, "what the dickens does that mean, precisely?"
Well the answer to that is simple, and can be found in the description that Jared schemed up for this internet idea-pile: "Because life isn't just about one thing." This is a blog about baseball (namely the feared and beloved Boston Red Sox) but it is also a blog about the preponderance of various colors and styles of packaged cheeses. Sure, I may post about presidential politics, but Jared might come right back with something about recombinant DNA (That's a Science term).
Speaking of Science - (capital "S" Science, of course) : You may notice that I speak frequently and adoringly of this subject. Do not confuse this enthusiasm with any knowledge. Basically I love Science because it provides me with incredible inventions and concepts, and anyone who doesn't is probably not very interesting.
Anyways, thanks for stopping by. Go ahead, bookmark us. Check back in a little while. Who knows what will have turned up by then.
Secondly, you may be curious about the nature of this particular blog. "Jack of all blogs?" you may be saying to yourself, "what the dickens does that mean, precisely?"
Well the answer to that is simple, and can be found in the description that Jared schemed up for this internet idea-pile: "Because life isn't just about one thing." This is a blog about baseball (namely the feared and beloved Boston Red Sox) but it is also a blog about the preponderance of various colors and styles of packaged cheeses. Sure, I may post about presidential politics, but Jared might come right back with something about recombinant DNA (That's a Science term).
Speaking of Science - (capital "S" Science, of course) : You may notice that I speak frequently and adoringly of this subject. Do not confuse this enthusiasm with any knowledge. Basically I love Science because it provides me with incredible inventions and concepts, and anyone who doesn't is probably not very interesting.
Anyways, thanks for stopping by. Go ahead, bookmark us. Check back in a little while. Who knows what will have turned up by then.
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Welcome to the Blog
After walking the long and short of the internet, searching its various nooks and crannies and generally taking in the sites (pun intended) I said to myself, "Jared, you gotta be a part of this internet thing." Well, after a few failed ventures I decided that it was time to start a blog and express my thoughts on the world to all those wandering intellectuals and bored college students looking for an opinion to agree or disagree with. A few clicks of a mouse later and here I am, following the American dream: starting small but looking to the stars...
At least, that is how I wish the story went. Frankly, I think Rob was just tired of me filling our AIM windows with lines and lines of text about things he may or may not have cared about, but didn't feel like dealing with at 2:15 in the morning. Being the experienced Web browser that he is, he suggested we create a blog on this surprisingly simple website. A few days of name debates later --- and if this is the effort it takes to create a name for an internet blog, I immediately feel sorry for all parents who have to agonize over the names of their children. Granted, in life, repeats are allowed-- we pulled this website out of our hats.
Here is the part where I should put a description of myself, however, I have a feeling that all those who are reading this first post are personal friends of mine who felt pity for the poor Away Message advertising I will end up doing, and all those who read this blog in the future ( hopefully there will be many!) probably won't troll back this far. But if you must know: I am currently a Senior in College, graduating this May, I hail from a small (fairly large) town near the Heart (Hart) of these United States called Glastonbury (G-Burg, Gbury, Gburbs, G-town, etc). People might describe me, if they are being nice, as witty, funny, happy, good natured, easy going, and smart. If they are being mean they might say I'm argumentative, occasionally negative, lazy, easily distracted and arrogant. There is truth in all of these descriptions, and lacking any one of these would yield a different person. I am an avid reader of books, a watcher of films, a viewer of TV, player of Video games, a sports buff, and a science nerd. You bring up a topic to me and I will most defiantly have an opinion on it.
This is getting quite long for an introductory post (pretty arbitrary statement, I have no idea how long intro posts should be), so I'll cut to the chase:
What should you expect from this blog!
I plan to have one major post a week, with a few minor ones interspersed throughout. The major post will probably be filled with ramblings, arguments, opinions and random ideas. The smaller posts will probably include a Sports section(mainly about football, baseball, and odd sports), book, movie and video game reviews, and bios on cool people/events . I am also planning on taking a leaf out of the Book of Bill Simmons, a writer for ESPN.com and ESPN the magazine and having a post of weekly LINKS! These will probably be assorted links from around the internet that I have gathered and think are worth sharing, they will probably cover a wide variety of websites and topics.
Other than that, this being my first blog (other than live journal), I'll just have to call 'em as I see 'em. If the most this blog accomplishes is to cure you of your boredom for a few minutes, then I'll see it as a success, but hopefully, both you and I can get something more out of it.
In closing, welcome my friends. Come in. Its a crazy world out there. Sit with me around the warm glow of the screen, and take some shelter from the storm.
-Jared
At least, that is how I wish the story went. Frankly, I think Rob was just tired of me filling our AIM windows with lines and lines of text about things he may or may not have cared about, but didn't feel like dealing with at 2:15 in the morning. Being the experienced Web browser that he is, he suggested we create a blog on this surprisingly simple website. A few days of name debates later --- and if this is the effort it takes to create a name for an internet blog, I immediately feel sorry for all parents who have to agonize over the names of their children. Granted, in life, repeats are allowed-- we pulled this website out of our hats.
Here is the part where I should put a description of myself, however, I have a feeling that all those who are reading this first post are personal friends of mine who felt pity for the poor Away Message advertising I will end up doing, and all those who read this blog in the future ( hopefully there will be many!) probably won't troll back this far. But if you must know: I am currently a Senior in College, graduating this May, I hail from a small (fairly large) town near the Heart (Hart) of these United States called Glastonbury (G-Burg, Gbury, Gburbs, G-town, etc). People might describe me, if they are being nice, as witty, funny, happy, good natured, easy going, and smart. If they are being mean they might say I'm argumentative, occasionally negative, lazy, easily distracted and arrogant. There is truth in all of these descriptions, and lacking any one of these would yield a different person. I am an avid reader of books, a watcher of films, a viewer of TV, player of Video games, a sports buff, and a science nerd. You bring up a topic to me and I will most defiantly have an opinion on it.
This is getting quite long for an introductory post (pretty arbitrary statement, I have no idea how long intro posts should be), so I'll cut to the chase:
What should you expect from this blog!
I plan to have one major post a week, with a few minor ones interspersed throughout. The major post will probably be filled with ramblings, arguments, opinions and random ideas. The smaller posts will probably include a Sports section(mainly about football, baseball, and odd sports), book, movie and video game reviews, and bios on cool people/events . I am also planning on taking a leaf out of the Book of Bill Simmons, a writer for ESPN.com and ESPN the magazine and having a post of weekly LINKS! These will probably be assorted links from around the internet that I have gathered and think are worth sharing, they will probably cover a wide variety of websites and topics.
Other than that, this being my first blog (other than live journal), I'll just have to call 'em as I see 'em. If the most this blog accomplishes is to cure you of your boredom for a few minutes, then I'll see it as a success, but hopefully, both you and I can get something more out of it.
In closing, welcome my friends. Come in. Its a crazy world out there. Sit with me around the warm glow of the screen, and take some shelter from the storm.
-Jared
Thursday, February 14, 2008
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