text:
5/3/09 at Rangers Ballpark
Remember that Nolan Ryan statue giveaway that I complained about in my previous entry? Well, I ended up using it to my advantage. I brought the statue with me to this game…
…and gave it to one of the season ticket holders. In exchange, he brought me into the stadium as his guest when the special "season ticket holders" entrance opened two and a half hours early. I was pumped! The rain had held off. I was gonna have a huge head start on the competition. Double digits would finally be mine. I could FEEL it.
But then I ran inside and saw this:
The cage was set up for batting practice, but the Rangers weren't hitting. I don't think I need to describe how frustrating that was.
I used the downtime to photograph the amazingly wide tunnel on the right field foul line:
Here's another look at it from the seats:
Just before the gates had opened, I met a guy named Dan (aka "drosenda" in the comments) who's been reading this blog since 2005. He and I ended up hanging out for most of the first hour, and he kindly alerted me when a certain Rangers player began signing autographs along the foul line in shallow right field. I ran over and got the player to sign my ticket. (Note the price.) Can you identify the signature? Apparently this guy hardly ever signs. Here, check it out:
I got another autograph soon after on my ticket from May 1st:
That ticket had gotten soaked on May 2nd, but you can hardly tell, right? (Note the price.) Can you identify this autograph?
(The reason why this one was signed in black is that I lost my blue sharpie on 4/24/09 at U.S. Cellular Field, and I haven't yet had a chance to buy a new one; I've been at the mercy of other people's markers, which often suck.)
The pitchers had already begun playing catch at this point, and when they finished several minutes later, I got Eddie Guardado to toss me a ball near the foul pole where the wall slants up really high.
The White Sox finally took the field. The following photo might suggest that they were defending themselves against a swarm of killer gnats…
…but in fact they were just stretching.
Batting practice got underway about an hour after the stadium opened…
…and it ended 25 minutes early! It was a snagging nightmare. The seats were crowded. There were kids everywhere. The White Sox weren't hitting or throwing much into the stands. And I had to deal with a real jerk. There was a guy (who was about the same age and size as me) who thought it would be a good idea to block/grab me as I tried to run past him up the steps to get in position for a long home run. But that's not all. When I told him to get his ******* hands off me, he accused me of running into him. It was one of the worst BP's of my life. I only managed to get one ball. Gavin Floyd tossed it to me in left-center field. Meh.
The highlight for me was simply watching the kids run out onto the batter's eye for balls:
That was the one spot that had a decent amount of action, so I was tempted to head over there and claim a spot along the side railing. What kept me from doing that, however, was the fact that I would've been twice as old as everyone else. There wasn't an official "kids only" rule, but that's how it felt. Also, I noticed that whenever a ball landed there, the kids would dive and slip and pile on top of each other. It was an injury (and a grass stain) waiting to happen. I didn't want any part of it.
Before BP started, I had gotten a photo with Dan (pictured below in the "W" cap), and after BP ended, I got a photo with another blog reader named Frank (aka "texas4") who had brought his copy of my book for me to sign:
It was time to do one final round of wandering. I started by taking a photo of another unique tunnel on the field level…
…and then headed up to the upper deck. Check out this huge open-air concourse:
I need to show one more photo of the concourse so you can see how wide it was in one spot. I took the following shot with my back against a closed concession stand. You can see a Six Flags roller coaster poking up in the distance:
Once again…outstanding design. Why doesn't every stadium have a concourse this wide? If you're going to try to cram roughly 50,000 people into one building, especially in Texas where people tend to be rather large, you might as well give them room to walk around.
Here's a photo from the edge of the upper deck all the way out in left field:
Here's my panorama attempt:
Here's a look from the very top corner of the upper deck in right field:
In many stadiums, when the upper deck is empty, security does not allow fans to wander all over the place, but here in Awesome Arlington, the only reason why security stopped me was to ask where I was from. (Screw New York. God Bless Texas.)
Rangers Ballpark, as great as it is, DOES have a few ugly signs of disrepair:
This surprised me because the stadium is only 15 years old, and really, how hard can it be to fix something like that? Get a little concrete mix. (Or some gray Play-Doh.) I'm pretty sure the upper deck didn't start falling apart last month, so the question is: why wasn't it fixed during the off-season?
Here's a part of the stadium that needs no fixing:
It's like the Great Hall at the new Yankee Stadium–minus the ego.
Back in the seating bowl, this was the scene shortly before the game started:
(Gotta love Carlos Quentin practicing his swing. Has anyone ever had a positive interaction with him? From what I saw, he ignored everyone for three straight days.)
When the players finished throwing, I got Jayson Nix to toss me the ball. That was No. 3 on the day for me–still lousy but at least respectable, given the circumstances.
During the game I sat in center field, right next to the batter's eye as I had done the previous two nights. This was my view:
At this stadium, there's a promotion (I'm still not sure exactly how it works) where if the Rangers score a certain number of runs in a certain inning (or something like that), every fan wins a free taco. Well, it happened last night, and when the usher walked down the stairs and handed me a coupon, this was my reaction:
Okay, so it happens to be incredibly easy to catch a foul ball at Rangers Ballpark (there's a great cross-aisle in the second deck, just in front of the press box…just like Miller Park), but so what? This type of fraudulent marketing is not only uncalled for, but it's downright insulting to ballhawks across North America. I think we should all boycott Taco Bueno.
As for my ridiculous shirt, there might have been a time when I actually thought it looked good, but now I only wear it to make it easier for people to spot me on TV…and hey, it worked! Check it out:
It happened in the bottom of the 8th inning (and thanks, BTW, to everyone who sent me screen shots). Nelson Cruz launched a deep fly ball in my direction, so I got up, scooted down the steps, weaved around a couple fans (without running into them, thank you), and made it to the corner spot at the bottom just as the ball was approaching. I knew it was going to fall short. I knew I didn't have a chance. Certain camera angles might have made it look like I missed it by six inches, but in fact it was at least four feet away from my outstretched glove. The only reason why I even bothered reaching for it is that I figured I was on TV, and I wanted to look more like a participant than a spectator. But yeah…no chance in the world to catch it. If the ball had been hit a few feet father, I would've caught it on the fly, and if it had just gone a few inches father, it probably would've landed in the gap and I would've been able to retrieve it with my glove trick. But instead, the ball hit the very top edge of the outfield wall and bounced back onto the field.
An inning before the near miss, I got my fourth ball of the day from White Sox center fielder Brent Lillibridge (not to be confused with Derek Lilliquist). It was his between-inning warm-up ball. I didn't expect a visiting team's player to toss one into the crowd, but when he looked up toward my section, I suspected that he was gonna let it fly, so I ran down to the front row and waved my arms. I quickly looked around to see if there were any White Sox fans. Maybe he was planning to aim for someone specific? Nope…just a sea of Rangers gear…so when he tossed it a bit over my head and five feet to my right, I didn't feel guilty about moving back to the second row and making a controlled lunge for it at the last second. Other people had reached for it too. It WAS just intended for the crowd in general, so I went for it and made the catch.
"Give it to the kid!" yelled someone in the third row.
"Yeah! Give it to the kid!" yelled another fan sitting nearby.
What kid? The kid who wasn't wearing a glove and hadn't even stood up to make an attempt to catch the ball?
There was another kid I was thinking about–a little boy who looked to be about seven years old–who'd been sitting between me and his dad in the 9th row. They were both wearing gloves, and his dad had been teaching him about baseball throughout the game. It was such a sweet scene, so when I got back to my seat, I held out the ball for the kid and said, "Here, I think you should have this. I got a few others today."
The kid's face LIT UP, and his jaw dropped in such an exaggerated way that he could've been a cartoon character.
"What do you say?" prompted his father.
"Thank you," mumbled the kid without taking his eyes off the ball. Turns out it was the first ball he'd ever gotten, so I pointed out a few things about the logo and explained the "practice" stamp on the sweet spot. That was definitely one of the highlights of my day.
Another highlight? Seeing a vendor eating ice cream while selling ice cream:
The game itself was fine. Nothing special. The Rangers won, 5-1, and as soon as the final out was recorded, I threw on my White Sox cap and rushed over to the bullpen and got coach Juan Nieves to throw me a ball. But he missed. Of course. He flung it carelessly and it sailed ten feet to my left. Thankfully he had another ball and was nice enough to under-hand it right to me.
As the last member of the Sox was packing up, I noticed that there was a lineup card taped to the wall:
I started to ask the guy for it, but he hurried out of the bullpen before I had a chance to finish my request.
There were still a few fans milling about. Three groundskeepers entered the bullpen and began working on the mound. I walked down to the front row and asked them if they could give me the lineup card. They ignored me. An old usher walked over and told me it was time to leave. I explained why I was still there, so he encouraged me to ask them again, but insisted (very politely) that I'd have to leave after that.
"Excuse me, guys–" I began.
"Can't do it," one of them snapped without looking up.
I headed up the steps with the usher…who then walked off and left me there. There were a few other employees walking around, but none of them approached me, so I took off my Waldo shirt (I had the plain white t-shirt on underneath) and put on my Rangers cap. I figured that'd make me blend in more. The groundskeepers kept working on the mound, so I took a seat in the last row and watched them. There was nothing else to do. My flight back to NYC was still 17 hours away, so as long as I wasn't getting kicked out, there was no reason to leave. I was hoping that the three guys would eventually finish up with the mound and then disappear…and that perhaps a different member of the grounds crew would wander into the 'pen. Sure enough, about 15 minutes later, the three guys covered the mound and took off. The bullpen was empty. This is what it looked like from where I was sitting:
I couldn't believe that I was allowed to just sit there, but this wasn't New York, so anything was possible.
Five minutes later, the sprinklers came on…
…and five minutes after that, a few other groundskeepers exited the bullpen in right-center and started walking along the warning track toward my side of the field. This was my chance! I waited at the back of the section until they got closer, then rushed down the steps and caught their attention at the bottom.
"Excuse me," I began, "I believe there's a lineup card taped to the wall in the bullpen, and if you guys aren't planning to save it, it would mean a lot to me if I could possibly have it."
They looked at each other like I was crazy, then flagged down another groundskeeper (who must've been their boss) and explained what I wanted and asked if it was okay.
"I don't give two *****," said the guy who then walked briskly into the bullpen, headed over to the lineup card, yanked it off the wall (which made me cringe, but thankfully it didn't tear), and handed it to me.
It was barely filled out, but that's to be expected from a bullpen lineup card. All that mattered was that it was official. It had a nice big "Sox" logo on the upper right. It had "5/3 @ Texas" written on the upper left in blue marker, and the Rangers' lineup had been written in as well, along with a few bench players' names at the bottom.
Moments after I got it, a couple other fans conveniently wandered down into the section, and I got them to take the following photo. I think you can tell how happy I was:
So yes, even though I lost more than an hour of batting practice, and even though I had a frustrating near miss during the game, it ended up being a great day. I can't wait to go back to this ballpark. Hugs and kisses to Texas.
• 128 balls in 17 games this season = 7.5 balls per game.
• 586 consecutive games with at least one ball
• 156 consecutive games outside of New York with at least one ball
• 3,948 total balls
• 15 lifetime lineup cards (click here for the complete collection, including the full-sized version of the one pictured here)
• 103 donors (click here and scroll down for the complete list)
• $20.38 pledged per ball
• $101.90 raised at this game
• $2,608.64 raised this season for Pitch In For Baseball
43 Comments
Carlos Quentin actually did throw me a ball last year and when he saw two kids with "In Quentin we trust" sign, he had the bucket boy toss him 2 balls and he walked clear across the outfield to give them the balls, autograph them, and talk to the fans for awhile. So, he isn't always a jerk.
Rangers stadium looks like quite the park. I may never get there since I don't really like to fly, but it was nice to see the place via your entries.
I figured out what this park has Zack. This park has the charm of a minor league park while still managing to hold a major league game. Everything is lacks, it's all about fun, and there are kids everywhere it seems. Nothing flashy, just a simple, down-to-the-basics ballpark.
Apart from that, great entry. When I saw the ball going back to center field on ESPN, I knew I was gonna see a guy in a striped red/white shirt. I was hoping to see a guy in a striped red/white shirt scrambling across the batter's eye, but hopefully next time.
Hey Zackman….
That was a great entry. I loved the pics and NO RAIN. Finally, huh. I had two near misses on home runs tonight myself. I was about a step too late on Scott Hairston's HR to pick it up off the ground and Chris Iannetta's grand slam went right over my head. I was lined up perfectly, but it was too deep. A guy above us in the front row caught it. Rats! I did have a good day in BP though. The Rockies were hitting out 2008 All Star Balls, 2008 Washington Nationals Inaugural balls and regular balls. I got six total balls. 2 All Star, 2 Washington and 2 regular. That's a great day for me, trust me. Those were my first 08 AS balls and first Washington ones too. Nice additions to the collection. I gave one of the regular balls to a disabled young adult in a wheelchair. Big smiles all around. He didn't really understand about the ball though and he threw it at me at close range kind of hard. Thank goodness I was looking! I gave it back to him and he then threw it at another kid. His mom had to take the ball away from him. Ha ha. He looked like he was having fun. He just wanted to play catch. It felt kind of good to give that kid a ball.
Also, today is my birthday. Woo hoo. My mother in law and I share the same birthday so we always have a big family dinner outing/party with the family. There is a game again tomorrow, but I also have the dinner party. Hmmm? Solution? I think I'm just going to BP to snag some balls, then rush home and change for the dinner. Ha ha. Wish me luck. Thanks for the heads up about the good times to be had in Arlington. Great posts.
Oh yeah…. TC had a GREAT catch on a Todd Helton BP homer today. A thing of beauty.
Hey Zack,
Sorry about jetting before the game started, I had to get back home unexpectedly. Good to meet you, sorry about the weak BP, it's sometimes a goldmine.
Glad you got the lineup card. Happy snagging!
It was truly an honor getting to watch you in action the past couple days. I like what you have said about the ballpark, I guess I get spoiled 'cause I get to go so often. Thanks for being so cool with my daughter & I really hope we can do it again soon. Your new friend, Brian
P.S. — As for the autographs, Hank Blalock & Taylor Teagarden.
Excellent writeup. Man I cannot wait to get down to Arlington….God Bless Texas….
Mike in Detroit
(Snagged some nice HHHM Twins Comm balls last night…Rick Anderson has to be the nicest Pitching Coach in all of baseball…)
Nice road trip. If you had more luck down there, we'd be going for #4,000 in Baltimore together. Maybe now I'll have to talk Felix Pie into dumping a whole bucket into your bag on Thursday night….
See you tomorrow!
Zack –
Texas is a pretty cool ballpark. Of course the only time I was there was when Sosa was going for #600 so it was crowded both days I was there. Anyway, the big reason for my comment is the TACO BUENO comment. Did you go to Taco Bueno?? It is one of the best taco places EVER!!! To most it could be better than catching a foul ball, just not us obsessive geeks! ZACK does LA less than 2 weeks away!!
Baseballs 4 MADD
I am glad that I am not the only crazy ballhawk who has thought about attending a game and only staying for BP. (Due to family scheduling purposes of course….)
Mike in Detroit
i guess since im the auto expert here ill save everyone…the first one is hank blalock, and im 90% sure the second one is frank francisco, and if it is thats a terrible signature
sick lineup card btw…i just got one too! gotta love the minors
Totally awesome Texas trip and another great read, I bet it felt good to be left alone in the stadium without being told where you can go, where to you can stand, where you can sit, where you can eat, ok I think you get the picture. The Rangers Ballpark has always looked a great stadium to visit when I see it on TV, it's on my wish list along with AT&T Park!!
Stuart Jon
great entry!!!!!!!! i was watching the game and i have thought you catched the ball and it was a game ball homerun!!!!!! oh well next time,,,,are you ready for dodger stadium and catch a manny homerun ball
Zack, great recap! I need to get out to a Rangers game sometime!
Hear about this? People were turned away from last night's Red Sox-Yanks game because they were told there was zero chance of the game being played, and then at 9:20 they announced the game was back on, and they wouldn't let the people re-enter. Unbelievable! I hate the Yankees and their stadium with a passion!
Can you give W a little bit of credit today? I think my favorite part of your blog is all the pictures in places not ordinarily seen in stadiums. Unfortunately, many of my trips to stadiums occurred prior to the time I had a digital camera and as a result I have about 36 pictures from each trip instead of 500–and of the 36, you can only hope they came out decent enough once developed. As a result, my pre-digital stadium memories are far more limited–and not just because of the passage of more time.
Btw, that roller coaster is the Titan and on my lone trip to the Ballpark (evidently at the time A-Rod was alleged to be tipping and receiving tips on pitches), I spent the day before the game trying to ride every coaster at Six Flags.
One last reason to like the Ballpark–at least when I went was the restaurant in LF overlooking the field. I experienced a rain delay and had a nice 90 to 2 hour dinner with my friend at a table at the window. But what made things most incredible was that the beer cost less in the restaurant than it did at the concession stands! I was told this was because there restaurant was an entirely separate entity and could price at it desired–but I doubt I would get that discount at Yankee Stadium.
5 balls is good for a Sunday game, and congrats on the lineup card. That's too bad that ball didn't land in the gap. I'm sure the cameras would've taken interest in the glove trick.
The restaurant used to be Friday's Front Row Grill, but it's been gone for about 3-4 years. Then it was Rawling's All-American Grill until the end of last season, & now it's gone.
Now, this year, it is for the all-you-can-eat-seats, because they moved those sections to the upper porch in LF. All you eat chicken sandwiches, nachos, peanuts, hot dogs, & drinks for $34 & on non-premier Fridays they're $25.
howdy pardner-did you find HANKS HOMIES in arlington?they have a cool blog,blalocks bro s and hanks honies ..Thanx for the thingofbeauty PADRELEIGH, i just ran and looked up and it was right in front of my face the helton bp hr was a nat comm ball.The rox are always the best for bp ,.i have to miss the sf- pods game 5/21 jimmy buffett is here in so cal.will the streak end?every pods game since 1984 to 2009?………..adrian gonz is stuck on 99 homers asa a padre,trade bait?sea tix for rest of year?…..thats bizarre yankees wouldnt let fans in after rain delay..
Sweet Zack! That's the best panorama you've made so far!
Texas seems pretty enjoyable fine sir. Your slick ways to retrieve that lineup card was very professional as well. Because of the rain ruining the tea party, apparently we will all be meeting up on Thursday at Camden Yards, not Wednesday. Sorry for the confusion brotha man. See you then, again. The 8th is Watch With Zack, not the 7th, right?
Good to know about Quentin. What's wrong with flying? It's fun! Wheeeeeee!!!
Yes, you nailed it with the minor league comparison.
Happy birthday, finally. Jeez…you were talking about it long enough. :-)
Awesome haul with all the commemoratives. That's what I like to hear.
Ahh, no worries. I was just glad to catch a glimpse of you. Hope we can snag together again soon.
You are too kind. But really…stop being spoiled and start appreciating what you got. I'm soooo envious of you for being able to go to that stadium whenever you want. You got Blalock right, but the second one isn't Teagarden.
Hopefully I can get a few more of those Twins commemorative balls the next few days in Baltimore.
Yeah, seriously. I had considered that. I needed to average 13 balls per game in Texas and Baltimore, and then I would've had it. Can't wait to see you.
No, I didn't make it to Taco Bueno. I gave my coupon to Frank.
You are correct about Francisco. Nicely done. Terrible indeed.
It felt so unbelievably good. And now it's back to reality.
A Manny homer would be incredible. Yes, I'm totally ready. Just bought my tickets today. TEN tickets. I'll be there with my whole family.
Please don't mention the Yankees again or I might throw up.
Yes yes, okay, fine, I give the man credit. The rain-delay dinner overlooking the field sounds great.
Yeah, but I'm not sure if the cameras would've seen anything more than my leaning over and dangling some string.
No Homies. I heard they're not around anymore.
No worries. Gary already filled me in on your plans. Thursday it is…and the WWZ game is on May 8th at Citi.
Hey zack its darron from st louis, i like the pitch in for baseball idea and hope it makes a lot of money. I have been to about 12 games and havent got a ball but i am starting to get better seats by getting to know the ushers.Last night i almost got hit with a foul ball but i was taking pictures instead of trying to catch a ball .it went about three feet above my head. My friend told me watch out and i was like the ball is already past but thanx for the warning : ). Then when ankiel hurt himself i went back to my seats to see what i could see from there becuase there was a fight on the third base side between a cards fan and a phillies fan. couldnt see much but ankiels fine so yea.
This ballpark wouldn't be as much fun to go to in August, I'm sure, but wow man, sounds like you had a blast, and as usual, great photos. It's a very photogenic stadium. Very, very underrated. I'm kinda over the whole brick facade/kelly-green seating, but it works for this part very well.
Yesterday was m,y birthday. back to back birthdays.
and Zack!
I was at nationals park for my birthday, and i know that you know about my moms friend on the astros. well he hooked me up! i got a miguel tejada bat, a pair of michael bourn batting gloves and two right handed hunter pence batting gloves (both righty cause he only wears one batting glove). It was crazy! and it was cold, rainy and both teams playing arent too good, so the attendance was literally, under 1,000 people at the first pitch, and about 500 at the games end. it was ridiculous. i took a video of the game going on, then a full 360 view of the seats with about 10 people behind the dugout. all during the game. it was SO empty. amazingly empty. i'll send you the video.
Great job Zack. Texas looks like a great park for snagging. Have you ever snagged at Tropicana Field? If so, can you give any tips? The ushers there are really aggressive and won't even let you stand in the 1st row during BP.. its very lame.
Yo Zack,
Awesome that you were in Texas. Sounds like fun. Arlington park looks nice.
Did you know that you're on the cover page of MLBlogs?? It's awesome! Check it out.
Awesome entry, that place looks so sweet. Nice due-diligence in getting the lineup card, that's SICK. I must say I could go without all the Yankee Stadium bashing, I was born into Yankee fandom, but I'm a bigger fan of baseball in general, and I can't really argue with the points made.
Caught you on TV when Marlon Byrd flied out to center. That is all I saw, as I was tired, and decided to sleep early, can't say I am a Joe Morgan fan either, that is another story.
Oh yeah, and like stlfan above said, you are featured on the mlblogs main page!
That's pretty cool. Sounds like you had a great Bday. Maybe next year we'll be in the same stadium in the same two days? haha.
Don't you hate it when your mom gets busted selling meth? Mr. DUI had a bad day.
What you need is some 'green' colored glove trick string. May not draw so much attention by the sec cameras….
Mike in Detroit
Solid day Zack. About Carlos Quentin, I got him to sign a card when he was with El Paso in AA in 2004 with the D'Backs. I had 3 cards I believe and he was doing 1 per, which is quite rare for a AA guy. He wasn't a jerk or anything, just seemed like he was going through the motions. I live in Dallas actually and am glad you had a good experience at the Ballpark. Nice work on the lineup card by the way.
Zack, which entrance are you using tomorrow night at the Orioles game? I will be getting there early since I'll be coming straight from school.
I am planning a trip to see the Angels play and there are 3 teams that will be in Anaheim while I'm there. The Orioles, the Rangers, and the Yankees.
I'd like to go see the Yankees, since I've never seen them in person, and LOATH them, but I'm afraid that it will be extra crowded (If Angel Stadium can get any more crowded … they sell out 80-90% if their games I think).
Any suggestions now who I should go see from a ballhawking stand point?
Phill in Utah
I want to guess that the two autographs you got on those ticket stubs are Hank Blalock (definitely) and Taylor Teagarden (just a guess).
As for Quentin…I'm a Twins season ticket holder and went to all 9 games that the Sox played in Minneapolis last year. I tried, as did many others, to get his attention and hopefully his autograph…no such luck on either. He ignored everyone inside the dome each and every game he played there last year. Same thing at the team hotel. I finally got him to sign a card for me inside the team hotel before the final game of their final series in town during the last week of the season. And he really didn't want to stop for me either but he felt compelled to as he saw me standing there talking with Griffey's chauffeur and Bobby Jenks. And what a beautiful graph it was…NOT! "CQ"…what a jerk.
Hey Zack…I doubt you remember me but I met you shagging balls during a game against Seattle in RF at Yankee Stadium on 9/5/07. Your Mom was with you and Ichiro was putting on a home run show like I've never seen before.
Anyways I hope all is well. It looks like you've got life by the tail. Keep on blogging…I love reading your updates whenever I get a chance!
Zack…Pete here again. You are not gonna believe this. Right after leaving the above comment I flipped on the Twins-Orioles game on Fox Sports Net North and THERE YOU WERE!
It was right before play was to resume after the 2nd rain delay.
I snapped a few still shots off my TV and will send them to you if I can figure out your email address.
Word of caution: You might not like the pose the FSN cameraman caught you in during your 5 seconds of fame across the Upper Midwest. I kid you not…you were picking your nose! Unless it was a Jerry Seinfeld move…"it was scratch, not a pick". Too funny!
So if you want to see the "Zack Caught in the Act" photos from Camden Yards and you don't get them shortly it means I don't know where to forward them to. If that's the case please send me an email tomorrow.
I was at Camden Yards last night (May 6th) for the crazy rain-delayed/rain-shortened game. I'm not sure if I'll be able to get an entry up about it before I leave for the game later today (May 7th), but know that good stories await. I'm exhausted right now, so I'm only going to answer the comments with questions…
I've only been to one game there, and that was nine years ago so I don't remember much. All I can say is that the front row is highly overrated. It's easy to get players' attention from further back in the crowd, but that IS a stupid rule.
Yes, I saw the MLBlogs page just a little while before you told me…but thanks.
I'll be at the center field end of the warehouse…near the ticket windows and the "numbers court." You know…Eutah Street. I plan to get there around 4:30pm.
Probably the Rangers. They hit bombs, and when they're on the road, they're good about tossing balls into the crowd.
The second autograph is not Teagarden. Someone already guessed it…if you have time to scroll through the comments. As for the alleged nose-picking, I was actually biting my nails (which I do an awful lot). It's a gross habit, but hey, it's healthier than smoking. At least I wasn't caught with my hand down my pants, right?
Zack, what do you think of the Manny news? I know you are/were a fan of his.
I'm also wondering what you think of those video game balls people are talking about. Will you count them?
One thing you didn't mention is when you look across the parking lot, you see the monster that is the new Dallas Cowboys stadium.
The autographs are julio Borbon and Frank Francisco for future refrence.
The autographs are Hank Blalock and Frank Francisco for future refrence. nvm im stupid you easily know by now who they are but its Hank Blalock* not Borbon
Looking back at this now, I laugh seeing my friend (the vendor) eating the ice cream. Great picture


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#113841 - 10/18/03 02:11 PM A question of loot
Carpal Tunnel
Registered: 09/28/00
Posts: 2891
I recently read an article in the Journal the Montréal about a Québec/Canadian pharmaceutical chain (Jean Coutu) who was interested in buying a U.S. chain (Eckerds) for an amount written as 5G $.
I had absolutely NO idea what the G meant so I looked it up. I found out something quite interesting thing that I though you guys would be interested in. PLUS, I want to ask something to our overseas friends.
French and English use the same terms to describe several specific money amounts but some identical terms mean different amounts. Here is the list
French English .amount
Mille ..thousand 1,000
Million ...million 1,000,000
Milliard .billion .1,000,000,000
Billion trillion 1,000,000,000,000
Trillion ..quadrillion ...1,000,000,000,000,000
Quatrillion ..quintillion .1,000,000,000,000,000,000
To our overseas friends what terms do you use?
Oh, and the G, it stands for giga which stands for milliard/billion.
k = mille/thousand
M = million
G = milliard/billion
T = billion/trillion
P = trillion/quadrillion
E = quatrillion/quintillion
#113842 - 10/18/03 07:14 PM Re: A question of loot
Carpal Tunnel
Registered: 09/06/00
Posts: 2788
Loc: Seattle, Washington, USA
And here I thought that a "G" referred to a thousand dollars, as in "Give me a couple of G's and I'll plug this guy's yap." That's how they used to talk in the movies.
#113843 - 10/18/03 07:25 PM Re: A question of loot
Carpal Tunnel
Registered: 09/28/00
Posts: 2891
Me too. That's why I knew I had to look it up. 5g (five grand) was definitely not enough for Eckerds.
#113844 - 10/19/03 02:11 AM Re: A question of loot
Carpal Tunnel
Registered: 06/11/01
Posts: 2636
Loc: Caribbean
Was that just the Eckerds in Canada, or the whole shootin' match? Heck, if they wanted to buy Walgreens, I'd sell it to them for 1G. Of course they'd have to find me to get their money back when they found out that SIMC does not stand for "Substitute Investment Management Chairman"
#113845 - 10/19/03 09:24 AM Re: A question of loot
Carpal Tunnel
Registered: 01/18/01
Posts: 13858
During the Depression, when Prohibition made gangsters rich, they used slang "grand" for a thousand dollar bill.
So "G" was short for "grand".
#113846 - 10/19/03 09:28 AM Re: A question of loot
Carpal Tunnel
Registered: 09/06/00
Posts: 2788
Loc: Seattle, Washington, USA
Exactly. Tough guys like Edward Grand Robinson used it.
#113847 - 10/19/03 08:33 PM Re: A question of loot
Carpal Tunnel
Registered: 09/28/00
Posts: 2891
They're talking about Eckerds in the U.S. We don't have that chain here. Jean Coutu wants to expand their U.S. business after having tremendous success with the Brooks chain.
I don't think they have enough loot to buy up Walgreens - yet.
#113848 - 10/19/03 08:41 PM Re: A question of loot
Carpal Tunnel
Registered: 09/28/00
Posts: 2891
I know what you mean WWH and FS. We're just so used to the G standing for a grand/$1,000. but it is really meant to stand for a billion U.S.
My hubby - a chartered accounted - got me the list of accurate terms.
They are in capital letters. I'll skip the French versions to avoid confusion:
K = kilo = thousand dollars
M = mega = million
G = giga = billion
T = tera = trillion
P = peta = quadrillion
E = exa = quintillion
Even though G was the correct term to use in the article, I can't imagine why they would have used it since I, and everybody I asked, had no idea what they were saying.
Isn't the point of a newspaper to put across information. If they write in language that people don't understand, what is the use?
#113849 - 10/20/03 01:30 AM Re: A question of loot
Carpal Tunnel
Registered: 04/09/00
Posts: 3065
Loc: Jakarta
Bel, until certain people who shall remain nameless, but live to the South of you, got in on the act, English and French agreed.
thousand 10^3
million 10^6
thousand million 10^9
billion 10^12
trillion 10^15 etc.
However, now those-who-shall-not-be-named have confused matters so that nobody knows what billion means anymore.
#113850 - 10/22/03 09:45 PM Re: A question of loot
Carpal Tunnel
Registered: 09/28/00
Posts: 2891
Aye andt it is very confusing here in Canada since English Canada has adopted the U.S. variation and French Canada stayed with the first.
So here in bilingual Montréal, Québec, we have both variations being bandied about.
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Pirelli is the fifth largest operator in the world in the tyre sector, and is the leader in "Premium" tyres, the high range segments with high technological content. Founded in 1872, today Pirelli counts 19 tyre industrial plants, in four continents, operating through a widespread sales network in over 160 countries around the world.
The Italian firm won the tender to supply tyres exclusively to the FIA Formula One World Championship from 2011-2013. In Pirelli's on-going motorsport history, its Formula One adventure is the latest chapter. The leading Italian company has been involved in motorsport competitions for more than a century, with the epic Paris to Peking road race its first win in 1907.
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text:
New Milk Message
By Health Day
Got kids? Then you've probably "Got milk" in your refrigerator, but how much should they drink?
A new study published in the journal Pediatrics followed more than 13-hundred children between the ages of 2 and 5...tracking the amount of cow's milk they drank each day.
Researchers used blood samples to measure Vitamin D and iron levels Parents were also asked about vitamin D and iron supplementation, time spent outside, skin pigmentation, body mass index and bottle use.
The conclusion? About two cups of milk per day will maintain adequate vitamin D levels in most children, but any more than that may cause another problem. The study found while milk increases vitamin D, too much can decrease iron levels.
The research also showed children with darker skin pigmentation need up to four cups in the winter months to maintain good Vitamin D levels.
As always, speak to your family doctor if you have questions about what's right for your children.
I'm Dr. Cindy Haines of HealthDay TV with the information you need to protect your health.
Most Popular
Monday, December 5, 2016, Watertown, NY


text:
Your Turn: Your Feedback On Anti-Smoking Ads, Car Chargers & More
The State Health Department's anti-smoking ads are back, but are they effective? Most of your messages this week are about that:
I love them. I don't think I've ever seen advertising so effective.
I have wanted to purchase a Nissan Leaf but cannot because there are no charging stations anywhere in the area. If you build it, they will come!
Awesome idea. They will learn more.
Saturday, December 10, 2016, Watertown, NY
On Wall Street


text:
Maritime / Cabana Seagrass Rug - Sage / Khaki
Product Info
- Click here to Order Custom Size, Shape and Binding Color
- 100% Natural Seagrass Rug, Earth Friendly
- Designed and Hand Crafted by Artisan Rug Maker. Imported
- 2" Wide Border, Mitered Corners, Non-Slip Latex Backing
- Naturally Durable
- Variations are part of the Natural Beauty of Natural Fiber Rugs
- Rug Pad Recommended (Sold Separately)
Maritime Seagrass Rugs are designed and hand crafted by artisan rug makers, these rugs still are a comfortable fit for any budget. Each rug is an individual work of art; variations in color are a natural part of their beauty and appeal.
More Info
- We recommend using Host Dry Carpet Cleaner for spills and accidents
- Do not pull loose fiber. Clip and remove the loose ends with scissors
Additional Information:
- Rug Care & Maintenance
- How to Make Rugs Lay Flat
- Tips for Selecting an Area Rug
- Natural Flooring Buying Guide
- Rug Term Dictionary
- Methods of Handmade Rug Construction
Please Note: The color may vary from the actual color of the rug due to different monitor settings.
Every Rug Needs a Rugpad
Great-looking rug August 25, 2016
"The rug showed up on time. The rug pad showed up a few days later, which was OK but would have preferred they come together. The rug is very attractive - I actually love the smell of seagrass - maybe thats strange - but the rug looks great and fits the room perfectly. Great value, I thought."
Yes, recommended to a friend.The boss July 19, 2014
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"I got a great price on this rug, but the quality is not what I expected at all. The weaving is really well done and is clearly done by hand. There are bumps where the seagrass is a bit uneven but its natural and is only obvious if your looking verly closely. I have had seagrass rugs multiple times before and never received something like this at such a good deal, the hand stitched on binding looks great too. I'm ordering more in the future."
Yes, recommended to a friend.Love them! July 11, 2014
"Rugs arrived quickly and were very well packaged. Love them, they look beautiful, feel great under foot and do not slip around. I will be back for more when we redo our upstairs floors."
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"I've had this rug before & over SEVERAL years and young children, it was stained and worn out. I loved it so much that I purchased the same rug again. Great rug for the price!"
You may also like


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In this exciting, new program, girls of all ages can learn more about how cooking and baking are based on some of the most basic ideas of science. Girls will determine the differences in chemical and physical reactions as they change sugar to delicious caramel candy, bake cupcakes, or even make a soda explosion! Older girls will experiment with chromatography and find out about the make-up of some of their favorite candy, while younger girls will learn about density as they create their own liquid totem. Each girl will leave this event with a book full of fun chemistry experiments to do both in the kitchen and all around the house with friends or family members.
Who: Girl Scout Daisies-Ambassadors
Cost: $10


text:
A new kind of service will now be growing in the La Crosse Public Library.
It's called "The Seed Library."
On Saturday staff held an open house to announce the start of the program.
To participate, people sign up and receive a couple different packets of seeds.
Then they are instructed on how to plant them.
Once the plants grow, people bring in a few seeds and put them back in the library.
"We are going to catalog them by genus and species eventually and have a catalog in a public area but that will be the second step. It's not hard to do but we need people that are committed to come in today and check out the seeds and come back and get them," said La Crosse Public Library Librarian Cindy Mischnick.
The seeds to get the program up and running are going to be supplied by "Seed Savers."
It's the third largest seed bank in the world and located just about an hour away in Decorah, Iowa.
The exchange's co-founder says she's happy to help plant a new program in La Crosse.
"It's a perfect storm for us because people are now wanting and appreciating the variety of seed and that's what we've been doing for 37 years is saving and collecting and distributing is the great part of it, keeping it alive," said Seed Savers Co-founder Diane Ott Whealy.
The library will hold its first seed orientation next Saturday.
Staff say you do have to call ahead of time in order to sign up to be part of the program.


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This is one of the books on my "to be read soon" list and you can find it FREE today on Kindle, by going HERE
I haven't read it as of yet, but I can vouch for how much work the author has put into editing it and getting it ready for our reading pleasure. If you are a lover of all things horror, here is a book that promises a good time!
Why is everyone picking on the lovable Wistfell family today?
Is it the fact that their four-year-old daughter Eva has developed telepathic abilities and she's messing with everyone's heads?
Rob and Amelia Wistfell take Eva to Venice Beach so they can relax and enjoy their Saturday. Throughout the day a variety of random encounters with irritable and confrontational strangers ruins their good mood. Rob and Amelia have no idea why. Eva is too young to understand what is going on herself. The family returns home with their tails between their legs.
They hope to put their disastrous day behind them by taking a relaxing evening stroll through their neighborhood. During their walk, a final confrontation escalates into outright violence. Will the Wistfell family fall prey to their assailants? Or will their assailants get more than they bargained for? What role will Eva's strange powers play? Where do her powers come from anyway?
Find out in Night Walk by David Hudnut–Description from Amazon.com


text:
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The National Weather Service in La Crosse says recent snowfall and rain have increased the chances for flooding, but the risk is still within the normal range.
The frost is still in place because of the cooler temperatures, in some areas between one and two feet deep. That means any snow melt is running off into the rivers and streams which has already caused them to rise. "We've seen rises anywhere from a foot or two up to four or five feet in some places, still within the bank flow, now seeing any flooding anywhere yet, but that's already happening with these warm temperatures that we've had," said NWS Meteorologist Mike Walvaert.
Snow melt north of us will affect how much the Mississippi rises, but we won't see the effects until mid-April at the earliest.


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7AC Technologies, Inc.
Air conditioning is a very large contributor to U.S. and world energy consumption. Heating and cooling costs for commercial and industrial buildings exceed 25 percent of U.S. primary energy consumption (cooling alone accounts for 4.5 Quads out of 40 Quads) and typically accounts for almost half of a building's operating costs. Air conditioning is also a significant cause of grid instability with cycling compressor motors turning on and off, and causing load issues on hot summer days. Conventional air conditioners improve efficiency only marginally every year and retrofitting older rooftop units does not result in significant energy savings.
Conventional AC units use a lot of power for dehumidification rather than sensible cooling. 7AC's Liquid Desiccant Air Conditioner (LDAC) systems lower the operating costs of commercial buildings for heating and cooling by 50 to 75 percent by using a strong saline solution (a desiccant) for moisture removal. A waste heat source can then be used to re-concentrate the desiccant. The LDAC unit seamlessly replaces existing rooftop HVAC systems and has less than a 1 year payback period when powered with natural gas or with a small conventional chiller. When waste heat is used (e.g. from Solar Thermal, Industrial processes or the rear of PV modules), heating and cooling costs reduce to essentially zero with a payback period of much less than one year, excluding the cost of the thermal delivery system.
The initial costs for the 7AC LDAC are very similar to a conventional HVAC system. Replacing an HVAC unit happens every 15 years on average and first costs are very important in the decision process. The 7AC LDAC has however a much lower energy consumption and since an HVAC unit's annual energy costs are almost the same as the cost of a new unit, the payback period of the LDAC system is usually measured in months. This will help building owners to pro-actively replace their older HVAC units, rather than waiting for them to fail. It also enables Energy Service's Companies (ESCOs) to carry LDAC products as part of an energy retrofit.
The 7AC liquid desiccant technology works by simultaneously dehumidifying and cooling incoming air. In a conventional HVC system, air is cooled to the saturation point and overcooled so that the moisture is removed to the desired humidity level. The air is then often reheated so that it enters the space at a comfortable temperature. Liquid desiccant systems have been installed for many years, but suffer from two disadvantages: they heat the air as it is being dried since it is usually an adiabatic process, and they have risk of desiccant getting airborne and transported into the building, which can lead to corrosion issues. The 7AC membrane plates simultaneously cool and dry the air and the membrane (licensed from NREL) prevents any of the desiccant from becoming airborne. Simultaneous cooling and dehumidification is a significantly more efficient process. This approach saves between 50 and 75 percent of energy as compared to a conventional HVAC.
7AC's 10-ton LDAC removes the annual Green House Gas (GHG) equivalent to that of 2 cars, and double that if supplemented with a waste heat system. If 10% of the global market used LDAC technology, this would remove 22 million metric tons of GHG or 3.7 million cars annually.
Teknikem is developing a chemical blend platform technology invented by the Y12 National Security Complex that is known as RonJohn. RonJohn is a safer, more eco-friendly alternative to dangerous chemicals and processes used to strip paints and adhesives from parts and equipment. RonJohn is not toxic, not flammable, not carcinogenic but is biodegradeable and very effective on many plastics, paints, and adhesives. Market segments and channels are being developed including the military, aerospace, shipping construction/maintenance, ground transportation, general industry, and consumer retail.
Vorbeck Materials, based in Jessup, Md., is using a Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL)-developed method for building tiny chemical structures to greatly improve the performance of lithium-ion batteries. Lithium-ion batteries are rechargeable batteries that are widely used in portable devices such as laptops and power electric vehicles. Vorbeck is using PNNL's method to develop better lithium air and lithium sulfur batteries. The new material in Vorbeck's batteries stores twice as much electricity at high charge and discharge rates as current lithium-ion batteries, and creates increased battery capacity and a longer cycle life.
California Lithium Battery (CaLBattery), based in Los Angeles, California, is developing a low-cost, advanced lithium-ion battery that employs a novel silicon graphene composite material that will substantially improve battery cycle life. When combined with other advanced battery materials, it could effectively lower battery life cycle cost by up to 70 percent. Over the next year, CALBattery will be working with Argonne National Laboratory to combine their patented silicon-graphene anode material process together with other advanced ANL cathode and electrolyte battery materials.
TrakLok, Inc., based in Knoxville, Tenn., intends to use an Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL)-developed, technology for tagging, tracking, locating and communicating with cargo containers and trailers in transit. The ORNL technology provides an avenue to meet increasing requirements for shipping containers to be "smart boxes" that can be tracked electronically. TrakLok uses GPS technology and satellite communications as part of its tracking and warning capability and international container locking technology to protect against container tampering, theft, vandalism and smuggling. Shipments can be tracked through a web-accessible, information technology-based global tracking system to provide real time visibility of cargo.
Borla Performance Industries, based in Johnson City, has an option to license a novel, nano-pore membrane technology from Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Combining this innovation with Borla's exhaust technology will lead to a low cost, unique exhaust system that will double as an energy neutral device to recover and reclaim clean water from engines powered by diesel, gasoline or natural gas. Military and commercial applications include transport and stationery power plants, marine, cars and trucks.
Integrated Dynamic Electron Solutions, Inc., based in Belmont, California, uses Dynamic Transmission Electron Microscopes (DTEM) to enable imaging of nanoscale objects, such as proteins, thin films and nanoparticles at unprecedented time scales and frame rates. By utilizing a laser-driven electron source, DTEMs are able to produce short bursts of electrons that can form an image with nanometer resolution in as little as 10 nanoseconds. This enables observation of dynamics in material systems that play an important role in a wide range of energy technologies, including battery electrodes, petroleum catalysts, solar cell materials, and organisms for bio fuel growth. Integrated Dynamic Electron Solutions uses technology developed at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.
Element One, based in Boulder, Colorado, has created the only available coatings that change color when detecting hydrogen and other hazardous gas leaks, either reversibly or non-reversibly, to provide both current and historical information about leaks. Element One's patented gas indicators and sensors use catalyzed thin films or nanoparticles of a transition metal oxide to create very low cost sensors for use in industrial and consumer environments, greatly reducing the potential for undetected leaks and their cost and safety implications. This technology is also being integrated for use in refineries, industry gas and fuel cells systems and was developed using technology from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory.
SH Coatings, based in Dallas, Texas, employs Super Hydrophobic Coating (SHC) technology that protects power systems by preventing ice accumulation on power lines in ice storm threatened areas and contamination of power lines from salt on the coasts. In order to successfully utilize and commercialize the SHC technology for this application, tools to apply the coating onto new and existing lines must be developed. SH Coatings is developing these tools with the help of technology from Oak Ridge National Laboratory.
Iowa Powder Atomization Technologies, Inc. (IPAT), based in Nevada, Iowa, is using gas atomization technology developed at Ames Laboratory to make titanium powder with processes that are ten times more efficient than traditional powder-making methods — significantly lowering the cost of the powder to manufacturers. The powder form of titanium is easier to work with than having to cast the metal — where manufacturers melt and pour liquid metal into molds — particularly given titanium's tendency to react with the materials used to form molds. Titanium's strength, light weight, biocompatibility and resistance to corrosion make it ideal for use in a variety of parts — from components for artificial limbs — like those used by wounded veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan — to military vehicle components, biomedical implants, aerospace fasteners and chemical plant valves.
SynchroPET, based in Shoreham, New York, is a start-up biotech firm with the next generation of PET Scanners, which have superior imaging capabilities to what is currently available on the market today. SynchroPET's technology was developed at Brookhaven National Laboratory and it enabled SynchroPET to miniaturize the typical PET Scanner while improving its image. SynchroPET's technology can be paired with an existing MRI machine for a simultaneous image. These advances will accelerate the creation of new pharmaceuticals to treat cancers, and Alzheimer and Parkinson's diseases. SynchroPET currently has four prototypes built, and each have been used by researchers from labs in New York.
Umpqua Energy, based in Medford, Oregon, is using an Argonne National Laboratory technology to develop a system that allows a gasoline engine to operate in an extreme lean burn mode in order to increase gasoline mileage. One negative side effect of a lean burn engine, whether powered by gasoline or diesel fuel, is an increase in the amount of harmful gases released to the environment. The company expects to both increase fuel economy and simultaneously reduce emissions with its system.
US e-Chromic LLC, based in Boulder, Colorado, will use electrochromic technology developed by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) to create a new thin film window material that reflects sunlight on demand, making windows more energy efficient while reducing cooling costs for consumers.
Woodmont Enterprises, based in Nashville, Tennessee, is creating a top-coat solution moisture barrier product for oriented-strand board (OSB), an engineered wood product formed by layering flakes of wood, by using technology developed at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. The primary focus is to create a moisture barrier on OSB during transportation and after installation. One net benefit to moisture protected OSB after installation is mold resistance.


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The 'F' word
The recent surge in public male feminism is bittersweet
By Ellen Snortland 05/30/2013
The "F" word — "feminist" — is now hip and worthy of men's attention. Really? Wow!
I recently received a spate of links from several women via email and Facebook about a Fall 2012 TEDx talk by Dr. Jackson Katz about the need for men to step up and address male violence and aggression. The women were all excited about what they perceived as the Second Coming of feminism and were almost jumping with joy while proclaiming "the men are here, the men are here!"
Katz isn't alone. Similar sentiments are popping up all over the Web. All of a sudden, men are apparently coming out of the woodwork, burning their metaphorical bras and taking on "the man" as the real F-word … Feminists!
During this year's International Women's Day on March 8, Sir Patrick Stewart of "Star Trek" fame went public in New York City as an impassioned advocate for Ring the Bell, a global initiative for ending violence against women, man by man, promise by promise. Sir Patrick said, "Every nine seconds, a woman is assaulted or beaten in the United States." While I was buoyed that a man was finally saying this in a hugely public way, there's a better way to say it: "Every nine seconds a man assaults or beats a woman." Paxton Quigley has been saying for years, "Have you ever noticed that news hides a rapist's responsibility in rape? We say, 'She was raped,' which is passive language. We need to be clear about who's doing what to whom."
Nonetheless, Ring the Bell is gathering promises from 1 million men with notable and very "macho" proponents: athletes, musicians, politicians and more. Could we finally have the allies so many of us have been longing for since 1963, when Betty Friedan came out with "The Feminine Mystique?"
I must admit this recent surge in public male feminism is bittersweet. Yay! More men have gotten the gender justice memo. Boo! Countless female feminists have had to deal with serious backlash crap for decades — dealing repeatedly with the same issues, putting out the same fires, unable to make progress because we were discredited at almost every turn and denied access to even public conversations. We've been deemed ridiculous and dangerous, sometimes in the same breath. Pat Robertson famously blames feminists for every ill on the planet.
There have always been serious men at our sides. Feminist men have the same type of PR problem that thousands of us fabulous feminist females have had for a long time. Male feminists didn't just "happen." You simply didn't know about them because the über-masculine, anti-feminist men who dominate the mainstream media — let's call it "manstream media" — don't consider women newsworthy unless it involves a "cat fight" of some kind, or they view (usually younger, good looking) women as an accessory for the older news anchor with "gravitas."
Frederick Douglass, the famous 19th-century orator and freed slave, was also a feminist, as was economist and philosopher John Stuart Mill. George Bernard Shaw aligned himself with women's rights, as did "Wizard of Oz" author L. Frank Baum. All of these notable men were "branded" once they took up the banner of gender equality. The "boys club" didn't like their stances one bit. As John Stoltenberg so eloquently put it, "The core of one's being must love justice more than manhood." The celebrity men of yore, just like today, already had enough importance to withstand ostracism from the biggest gang on Earth, the Cult of Masculinity.
Ever heard of John Stoltenberg? Probably not. He has been a proponent of gender justice for decades, and I love this quote: "If you ain't caught shit, you ain't done shit." His classic books, "Refusing to Be a Man: Essays on Sex and Justice," "The End of Manhood: A Book for Men of Conscience," and "What Makes Pornography Sexy?" never made any bestseller lists. Barely reviewed, Stoltenberg put himself into a feminist "ghetto," where the mostly female citizenry is minimized, ridiculed and, worse, ignored, which means the rest of us aren't even aware of so many missing voices in the gender conversation.
Stewart has been speaking out against family violence for a long time. The most recent James Bond, Daniel Craig, starred in a PSA for gender equality. Sir Richard Branson of Virgin is also a vocal advocate. Most of us don't know that. What is it going to take to wake up the decision makers in not only news organizations but entertainment, where there is a veritable blacklist of feminist voices, whether female or male? As long as masculine stories and pursuits are considered universal and women's merely "chick flicks," the culture of pathological masculine gender-based violence (GBV) will persist. Men who won't put themselves in women's shoes dominate the public discourse, and as Frederick Douglass said, "Power concedes nothing without a demand. It never did and it never will."
The fight for human rights requires the demand factor. Women who demand are deemed bitches and cranks; easy to ignore. Since studies have shown that people of both genders listen more closely and seriously to humans with penises — the platinum card of human organs — maybe these modern feminist guys can make a big difference.
I have another F word for that … Finally!
DIGG | del.icio.us | REDDIT


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On January 25, CBC Radio 1's Ontario Today's Gardening Phone-in with Ed Lawrence focused on the management of urban trees and the need for stronger by-laws to protect them.
Guelph activist Diane Hurst was not only able to call in to talk to Ed, she also managed to get us a copy of the audio to put up on the website.
Well done, Diane!
Listen to the segment:
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> hey anon, wanna give your opinion?
2 new threads. 1 new replies.
#3 - plainarcane **User deleted account**
Reply +73 123456789123345869(05/03/2013) [-]
If you actually watched the movie you'd know that they had no other choice but to take the mines.
#140 to #3 - anon id: cbf34fcb
Reply 0 123456789123345869(05/04/2013) [-]
Blatantly untrue, at least in the movie. The decision was between Moria and the Gap of Rohan, the problem with the Gap being that it took them "too close to Isengard". But seeing as they eventually fought the Uruk-Hai anyways, without Gandalf, that ended up being of little concern.
But yes, I imagine if Gandalf had mentioned the armies of goblins and the giant fire demon then Frodo might have chosen the Gap.
But yes, I imagine if Gandalf had mentioned the armies of goblins and the giant fire demon then Frodo might have chosen the Gap.
#106 to #3 - erethilful
Reply -2 123456789123345869(05/04/2013) [-]
If you actually think logically, you'd know that they would use those birds to fly into mordor.
#48 to #25 - elielentir
Reply 0 123456789123345869(05/04/2013) [-]
where's Luthien?
#172 to #118 - elielentir
Reply 0 123456789123345869(05/04/2013) [-]
Yeah sorry about the hand...
#7 to #3 - Awesomenessniss
Reply +31 123456789123345869(05/04/2013) [-]
If you actually read the book you'd know that even better.
#53 to #7 - clockworkmage
Reply +1 123456789123345869(05/04/2013) [-]
Every time someone reads the original book, Christopher Tolkien murders a son as tribute to the Sun god.
#143 to #53 - Awesomenessniss
Reply 0 123456789123345869(05/04/2013) [-]
Totally worth it.
#39 to #7 - ninjastarthrow
Reply +4 123456789123345869(05/04/2013) [-]
No one read the books. I have four friends who enjoy LoTR but I'm the only one who ever read them all. Not gonna lie, The Hobbit was my favorite.
#122 to #39 - cyanidesandvich
Reply 0 123456789123345869(05/04/2013) [-]
i haven't "read" the books, but i listen to the unabridged audio-book whilst playing WoW
#76 to #39 - joehue
Reply +7 123456789123345869(05/04/2013) [-]
#66 to #39 - bulbakip
Reply +2 123456789123345869(05/04/2013) [-]
#58 to #39 - matterhornnn
Reply -1 123456789123345869(05/04/2013) [-]
Hobbit wasn't part of the LoTR series, ******. I mean ninjer.
#181 to #58 - ninjastarthrow
Reply 0 123456789123345869(05/05/2013) [-]
Yes it is. He almost just went with The Hobbit.
#103 to #84 - elielentir
Reply 0 123456789123345869(05/04/2013) [-]
Perhaps he means that the Hobbit is not a part of the Lord of the Rings universe but that it's the other way around. The Lord of the Rings is the sequel to the Lord of the Rings so it would be the Hobbit universe. Then again the first things Tolkien wrote about the Tolkien universe was written in about 1917 way before the rest and parts of that story made it in the Silmarilion so it would be the Silmarilion universe.
#105 to #103 - ljxjlos
Reply +1 123456789123345869(05/04/2013) [-]
Well, to me it´s kinda the Tolkien-Universe, I mean, most of his works played in the same space, in arda, so Silmarillion, The Children of Hurin, The Curse of Feanor, The Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings all belong to the same Universe. But I might be arguing about nothing because I´m tired as hell, so just ignore me:D
#107 to #105 - elielentir
Reply 0 123456789123345869(05/04/2013) [-]
I agree especially because there are so many unfinished stories that were never completed by him or his son. These untold tales will forever be a part of only Tolkien's mind, his "universe"
#108 to #107 - ljxjlos
Reply 0 123456789123345869(05/04/2013) [-]
Yeah, I´m pissed everytime I think about how much more awesome Stuff he could have given us, if he lived longer...as douchebag-ish as it sounds, it´s true. Do you have the Unfinished Tales books? If these stories would have been perfected and finished...goddamnit.
#173 to #108 - elielentir
Reply 0 123456789123345869(05/04/2013) [-]
I'm reading it again right now and even this is just a selection of his notes
#176 to #173 - ljxjlos
Reply 0 123456789123345869(05/04/2013) [-]
Sorry, if I misunderstanding what you´re saying, I just came home from a party, but does that in any way opposite what I said? Especially because it´s just a selection of notes, short stories and letters, it´s making me sad that those ideas won´t be used in another big story/book/whatever.
#179 to #176 - elielentir
Reply 0 123456789123345869(05/05/2013) [-]
No i agree with you completely