September 2007
Wooooooooooooooot!!!!
Posted by on Saturday, September 29, 2007 in - 6 comments
I missed the champagne spraying. We were out, invited to eat dinner in a hotel restaurant - the sort of thing I rarely do. But we have a grand time and when we got home the Sox were winning and Papelbon put it to bed - and the Yanks were up 9-6 against Baltimore. So I didn't pay any more attention …
Autumnal Bulletosity For Your Consideration
Posted by on Friday, September 28, 2007 in - 60 comments
Well, here we are. Three seasons from summer. • What did I learn this week? I learned enough to know I am BBQing some beef tomorrow and going to slather them with avacado and lime. And I know now I can get up to 650 sit ups a week before Friday. I know you picture me lithe and all, but the years …
The Asterisk Ball
Posted by on Thursday, September 27, 2007 in - 7 comments
I like the Baseball Hall of Fame. It's where it should be, in a small town that has a claim (however tenuous now) to being a place where baseball started. Though no one really believes Abner Doubleday invented the game in the 1840s in Cooperstown, NY, the fact that the myth survived is in itself …
Up By Three With Five To Go
Posted by on Wednesday, September 26, 2007 in - 2 comments
There is a certain type of jockeying going on to be sure. Joe Torre does not put Kyle Farnsworth in the game the Yanks end up losing in extra innings (best call of the night after the bottom of the ninth, all tied up: "Free Baseball!") if he is not sure the greater good is being served. But was it …
More On Privacy As Exemplified By Adoption Records
Posted by on Wednesday, September 26, 2007 in - 33 comments
The trial decision in the case Cheskes v. Ontario (Attorney General) of Ontario's recently struck down access to adoption records case is now available on the internet. You can find a copy here. For present purposes, even though I've yapped about it before, have an interest in adoption and have …
Group Project: Federal Election 2007
Posted by on Tuesday, September 25, 2007 in - 14 comments
Apparently, the logos were being slapped on buses as we slept thought the night: • “The Tories, in fact, reportedly plan to use the two already-equipped buses now being operated by Progressive Conservative Leader John Tory in the Oct. 10 provincial election campaign. Two more Greyhound buses for …
Paying Indirectly Is So Much More Comforting
Posted by on Monday, September 24, 2007 in - leave a comment
Not that I can extract myself from the cost of being advertised upon/to/at, the idea that the New York Times has "got it" and is giving away its subscription content misses the point: • “"I was surprised by the New York Times' decision," Globe and Mail publisher Phillip Crawley said. He would …
Tacos Are Easier Than BBQ
Posted by on Sunday, September 23, 2007 in - 3 comments
I made my own fresh tomato salsa yesterday. Just ripe tomato, lime, onion, cilantro and...was there anything else? In fact I made a whole Canadian-Mexican feed for 12 (even though there were only five of us) in about 45 minutes. This is nutty and may have to be explored more. I don't know if it …
I Never Thought I Would Write This: Syracuse Wins!
Posted by on Saturday, September 22, 2007 in - 2 comments
I was conscious for most of it and listening intently on the radio when I was awake. At one point, half drifting, I thought that Syracuse had been caught in the second half, that the score was 31-21 Louisville, that the rational universe had imposed itself again. But no, the Orange won 38-35 over …
Friday Bullet and Chat and Autumn's Just Around The Corner
Posted by on Friday, September 21, 2007 in - 6 comments
OK, so it wasn't the end of summer last week. It's this weekend. You wouldn't know it. as it is going to push 30C later today in some parts of Ontario today. A weekend of actual sunshine, warmth and nothing to really do lays out before me. What to do? What to do? We have been playing a sort of …
Alberta Considers Not Selling The Farm Anymore
Posted by on Thursday, September 20, 2007 in - 6 comments
What an odd debate it is that is breaking out in Alberta over the report that is stating decades of Conservative governments have been giving away their oil. Alberta's government owns the resource and gets to charge a royalty for it's exploitation. While the new Premier has to make the decision …
Adoption Privacy Revisited
Posted by on Wednesday, September 19, 2007 in - leave a comment
In 2005, we had a lively debate when a new proposed law about adoption records in Ontario was announced. Today, two days after it came into force it was struck down as unconstitutional and the Information and Privacy Commissioner is all over the ruling, even issuing press releases. This is …
That Is The Sound Of Choking You Hear
Posted by on Wednesday, September 19, 2007 in - 11 comments
It is something of a comfortable feeling, this free fall. Sure some people say things like this: • “"We still have work," Manager Joe Torre said. "We won’t allow ourselves to get caught up in what people will assume is a foregone conclusion."” • But those are the words of someone planning on …
Now That Thare's All Them Digital Cameras...
Posted by on Tuesday, September 18, 2007 in - 5 comments
A good observation by Jay Leno the other night: now that there are all these digital cameras and phones that take pictures...where are all the UFO sightings? While Chris has his doubts, some believe Ontario. • To be fair, when I saw a Federal corrections officer unloading ten M-16s on my drive …
Where'd That Bandwidth Go?
Posted by on Tuesday, September 18, 2007 in - 16 comments
It's like the internet wanted me not to post. Maybe it was Stephane Dion not wanting me to point out the obvious - that the wrong guy was picked last year: • “Stéphane Dion suffered a by-election blow Monday that is expected to cast a shadow over his leadership as the Liberals lost their …
But What About the Surfers?
Posted by on Monday, September 17, 2007 in - 2 comments
Shocking news at the lack of consideration being paid to surfers in the face of a new apparently perfect energy generation project off Cornwall England: • “The Wave Hub - a seafloor "socket", will connect wave energy machines to the mainland. The proposed power station will involve up to 20 sets …
One Effect Of The Self-Determined Meritocracy
Posted by on Monday, September 17, 2007 in - 19 comments
The 50th anniversary of a sorry excuse for a belief system is being noted today - yet even in light of such sad news one can still find a favorite stat: • “Every year, 400,000 copies of Rand’s novels are offered free to Advanced Placement high school programs. They are paid for by the Ayn Rand …
Me And TV Sports Yesterday
Posted by on Sunday, September 16, 2007 in - leave a comment
Having messed up my sleep this weekend due to watch The Guns of Navarone on Friday until 3 am (I was in need of watching something where the right team won after the Sox choked after being up 2-7), I spent a rich and rewarding day napping and watching sports with half an eye. • In a nutshell …
Are These The Last Friday Bullets Of Summer?
Posted by on Friday, September 14, 2007 in - 12 comments
It's been a good summer. The garden is full of cherry tomatoes, collards and kale. Diving board jumping skills were attained by those that needed it. Stuff acquired includes the $320 canoe and I had an Almond Joyful at Purity Dairy. • Presidential Update: sometime comment maker and Societ hat …
The Big Papi Remedy
Posted by on Thursday, September 13, 2007 in - leave a comment
What better way to end a grumpy day? • “For the first time this season, and the 10th as a Red Sox, Ortiz ended a game via a walkoff home run. This one came with Julio Lugo at first base, one out, Tampa Bay closer Al Reyes on the mound, and, perhaps most importantly, Delmon Young in right field …
The Back To School Sickies
Posted by on Wednesday, September 12, 2007 in - 8 comments
Me first. Sick before anyone else. So I am grumpy. • Real men don't fisk. If you can't write your own full paragraph in response with an interesting argument, don't bother. Fisking was interesting for a month in 2002.Michael Demmons notes on Facebook that he "is removing friends who send him …
Group Project: Now It's Six Years On
Posted by on Tuesday, September 11, 2007 in - 6 comments
A year has passed since I wrote this summarizing what I wrote over the previous years. While my point of view is pretty much the same, it's less intense. Too many intervening events, I suppose: SARS, tsunami and Katrina, as well as fostering again and our own growing up. But I took part in an …
Norway Says Green Is Green
Posted by on Monday, September 10, 2007 in - leave a comment
While there is a Ministry of Truth aspect to it, I like the idea of ensuring claims of environmentally sensibility are actually sensible for the environment: • “No car can be "green," "clean" or "environmentally friendly" according to some of the world's strictest advertising guidelines set to …
Wow! SU's 2007 Football Really Does Suck
Posted by on Sunday, September 9, 2007 in - 2 comments
Not that a university team is as similar to a pro team from one year to the next but last season the Syracuse Orange lost to Iowa in overtime. This year they lost 0-35. Yikes. That after being massacreed at home by Washington in last week's season opener. • This makes the decision as to which …
Back To School Friday Bullet-a-thon
Posted by on Friday, September 7, 2007 in - 14 comments
This week was the one I hated. While I watched the crying kids with disdain on the first day of kindergarten, each year there was a greater and greater creep of disillusion and anxiety until by high school...well, you know how it goes. Fortunately, all the small people got allocated to the right …
Ralph's Rib's Sauce Is Back!
Posted by on Thursday, September 6, 2007 in - leave a comment
Despite being a man who does sit ups - have I mentioned that? - I have to make sure I do not forget those who made me a man who does sit ups including those fine purveyors of BBQ. One of the saddest days in my family was the day back in 2006 that we learned that Ralph's Ribs of Ithaca had shut …
Bye Pav
Posted by on Thursday, September 6, 2007 in - 1 comment
This is the sort of pop culture news to which one has a weird closeness and, yet, dislocation. It is sort of a touchstone as to the disutility of pop culture, as the obit in the Times tells in perhaps a bit too honestly than need be: • “And in the early 1990s he began staging Pavarotti and …
I Forgot Why Mulroney Was So Fun
Posted by on Thursday, September 6, 2007 in - 11 comments
Remember when Canadian politics involved people against whom you could actually have a reaction? • “"Look, out of 11 million citizens of this country, there were a million people — young men from British Columbia to Newfoundland — who rose to fight the Nazis. The most evil machine ever known to …
A Fundraiser For Trevor
Posted by on Wednesday, September 5, 2007 in - 3 comments
I received news this week of an event coming up on 26 September 2007 in Vancouver in support of my undergrad friend, Capt. Trevor Green. Here is part of the news release: • “On September 26 lets gather together at The Yale Hotel for a fundraiser to assist Trevor, Debbie and Grace on their …
Stewart Park, Ithaca, NY
Posted by on Tuesday, September 4, 2007 in - leave a comment
An Election In Ontario
Posted by on Tuesday, September 4, 2007 in - 8 comments
Ontario suffers from a funny sort of guilt - sorry it is so large and populous and diverse and economically strong and sets the national agenda. It could spin off Toronto, you know...that might work. And, because someone had a whacky idea a few years back, Ontario has fixed provincial elections …
Florida Snabbed
Posted by on Tuesday, September 4, 2007 in - leave a comment
A ESPN affiliate floated up under WTIC Hartford during the Red Sox game last night and, hey, it was Orlando Florida. I know you all share with me the joy at the end of summer and the beginning of AM radio propagation season.
Last Weekend Of Summer
Posted by on Monday, September 3, 2007 in - 27 comments
Somewhere in America I hit two 30 yard field goals. I could do that when I was a skinny kid but haven't done it for close to 30 years. Not really that hard to believe given I filled the gap with at least 20 years of semi-regular soccer but it is a different skill than that round ball with all its …
