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First-Rounders Duel, Johnson Talks Quintana, So Long For Now
Saturday saw the TinCaps go to extra innings against the Great Lakes Loons, and emerge the victors, 4-3, in the opener of a four-game series. Roman Madrid allowed a 10th-inning run but notched his 20th save of the season, helping Fort Wayne hang on an snap a three-game losing streak.
It was a treat yesterday to watch Great Lakes starter Julio Urias, a 17-year-old from Mexico, work for even just three innings. For a guy the Dodgers found while on a scouting trip to watch Yasiel Puig in Mexico, that's a pretty good discovery. The Loons starter has a limited innings count, and understandably so at his age, but he looked like he could easily dominate a Midwest League lineup if allowed to pitch a start of six or seven innings. He showed off a fastball consistently in the low to mid 90′s, a good changeup and a stellar curveball that has a late, downward break and was baffling to TinCaps hitters. Urias struck out five batters in three innings, only allowing two singles.
He began the baseball season as a 16-year-old, and mwltraveler.com did a little digging, finding no 16-year-olds having played in the Midwest League since at least 1990. As far as 17-year-olds go, three of them have pitched in the league since 1998, with one of them being Felix Hernandez, who saw three games with Wisconsin in 2003. It's entirely possible Urias could be here again next year, as he would be 17 for a majority of the season.
Today it'll be a battle of first rounders, with the TinCaps sending Max Fried to the hill against Dodgers 2013 first-round pick Chris Anderson. Anderson, a native of Minnesota, was taken 18th overall this year, five spots behind Fort Wayne's Hunter Renfroe. The Loons pitcher is only scheduled to go about three innings, or about 50 pitches, but no more. Coming off his college season at Jacksonville University (FL) where he threw more than 104 innings, he's just here to see limited action.
Speaking of Renfroe, we'll look to get an update on him today. He left yesterday' game in the eighth inning after being hit in the hand by a pitch. Tune in for our pre-game show at 2:45 today, as we'll talk with Jose Valentin to get the latest on Renfroe and what's happening in the TinCaps clubhouse. You can join me and John Nolan on The Fan 1380 in Fort Wayne and TheFanFortWayne.com everywhere else.
In today's TinCaps Report Podcast, John Nolan chats with Padres Minor League Field Coordinator Randy Johnson:
Here are a few selections from the chat…
On Gabriel Quintana and his defensive struggles at third base this season:
"Gabriel, most of the time, he doesn't use his feet as well as he should…He's got a very accurate arm. He's not the quickest guy out there and we've talked about maybe using him at first base or maybe second base in instructional league, but by no means does that mean we've given up on him at third base. He's got the actions you'd like to see, just not as consistent as you'd hope."
On how Johnson can help a player like Quintana improve during the season:
"The hardest thing you have to do with these kids is keep them confident and aggressive. Most kids when they're scuffling, and I had happen to myself in the past, you lay back on balls and you don't want the ball hit to you…Aggressive errors are OK, but when you're lazy and you're not getting yourself in position it's unacceptable. He's staying aggressive and he's trying hard. It's frustrating for the pitchers, I know, and it's frustrating for him. We almost gave up on him at third base three years ago, but we like the strides he's made as far as his technique. Hopefully next year he'll come in and have better confidence and start off better and we'll see a more consistent fielder in Gabe next year."
On what he's noticed different between the TinCaps in the first half vs. the second half:
"I never thought they'd play as well as they did in the first half. It was exciting to see and it was outstanding for them to get in the playoff like that. We expect them to be around .500. I think some of these kids are getting worn out. A lot of these guys it's their first real full year and it's taxing. It's a long season. Our starting pitching staff , pretty much all of them it's their first full year in baseball..You look around the field and a lot of the guys are in the same boat. It's hard to keep them focused, to keep them from burning themselves out. They all want to work so hard and occasionally you have to tell them to step back and sometime less is more."
On Friday the Phillies, who are 53-69 and 21.5 games out of first place, deicded to fire Manager Charlie Manuel. Matt Gelb, the Phillies beat writer for the Philadelphia Inquirer, wrote a nice tribute to the skipper, including this note on Manuel's linguistic adventures:
"Everyone laughed at the way Manuel said things. Brad Lidge had a hibiscus injury, not a meniscus problem. Domonic Brown did not fracture his hamate, he broke his ham bone. Martin Prado became Pardo, and we started calling him Don. That was Manuel's greatest trick. Humor is required to survive 162 games of baseball and six weeks of spring training. "You hear his country accent and think he's a little bit slow," Jimmy Rollins said, "but he's sharp as a tack."
Manuel once said he keeps five copies of Ted Williams' Science of Hitting in his house. Four are in bathrooms and another is in the den. Five more copies reside in a closet just in case a visitor has somehow never read the book."
Manuel was a Midwest League player at one time, starring for the 1967 Wisconsin Rapids Twins. He later came back to manage that team in its last season in 1983.
Double-A Baseball has already provided us with the one-pitch strikeout earlier this season, and now the Eastern League brings us the walk-off walk…sort of. As the New Hampshire Fisher Cats (Blue Jays) were attempting to issue an intentional walk to Reynaldo Rodriguez of the New Britain Rock Cats (Twins), pitcher Alan Farina winged an intentional ball over his catcher, allowing the winning run to score.
Click here to see the video (courtesy of Deadspin).
In case you weren't aware, a new sports television network, Fox Sports 1, launched yesterday morning. Some of the big news over the summer regarding who the network would have on the air was about the two anchors they hired: Jay Onrait and Dan O'Toole. The two used to do the Canadian version of SportsCenter together, and come with a long history of being a talented and funny duo. Much has been written about whether Fox Sports 1 can be a challenger to ESPN, when it comes to both live sports and highlight/talk shows, but only time will tell. However, FS1 released a "best of" video from the first show with Onrait and O'Toole last night, and it's pretty funny:
My favorite part comes at the 1:00 mark with the NFL promo. It's just so off the wall that it cracked me up. Hopefully more funny things to come from those two.
Electric Light Orchestra…take it away!
Thanks for reading. If you'd like to get in touch, you can reach me at email@example.com or on Twitter @MikeCouzens.
Up in Michigan, 17-Year-Old Pitcher, Umpiring
Greetings and salutations from Dow Diamond in Midland, Michigan. Tonight the TinCaps, who were just swept in a three-game set by the Bowling Green Hot Rods, open a four-game series against the Great Lakes Loons, the Midwest League affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Here's a field-level view of the ballpark, which is one of my absolute favorites to visit in the Midwest League:
Game time tonight is 7:05 p.m., as Walker Weickel faces Loons pitcher Julio Urias. This is an important series for the Loons, who were just swept by the Dayton Dragons, as they contend for a second-half playoff spot. Great Lakes is right now in the wild-card spot, 1/2 game behind Bowling Green, with just 16 regular-season games to play.
John Nolan and I will have the radio call tonight, with pre-game coverage on The Fan 1380 and TheFanFortWayne.com getting underway at 6:45.
Urias, who starts for the Loons tonight, began this season at the ripe age of 16, and has just four days ago turned 17. Here's a quick scouting report on him, courtesy of Yahoo! Sports, which was written before his recent birthday:
Urias boasts a fastball 88-92 MPH that has natural arm-side run. He's touched 94 MPH quite often and even touched 95 MPH in his June 11 start. He's 16!
His changeup might be his best offering. It's a low-80s pitch that is a weapon against right-handers. The great thing is, he isn't afraid to throw it to left-handers — something most lefties wouldn't do. He also has a breaking ball. It's been called a curveball, he calls it a slider, but whatever it is, it's effective. As he works in the minors, that pitch should turn into two pitches — a curve and a slider. The curve is a mid-70s pitch and the slider should be a low-80s pitch.
What's even more amazing about his stuff is he's doing it from a frame that doesn't scream "power pitcher." He's 5'11, 160 pounds (though, he looks a little more filled out than that) and, at 16, could grow more while in the minors.
Urias has gone no more than two innings in any of his last seven outings, and from talking to Loons Manager Razor Shines earlier today, I expect that to be the case once again. It'll be interesting to see what kind of an effect that has on the Loons bullpen, which as Shines told me, has been put into service a lot more often with dwindling innings counts for the team's starting pitchers.
A lot is made of umpiring at nearly any level of baseball, but after I had an extensive chat with Midwest League umpires Sam Vogt and Tim Hromada yesterday, I've really come to see their job in a different light. (Side note: A feature story on those two umpires, who were promoted to the Advanced-A California League yesterday, will be coming to this blog in the next few days.)
I was doing a little bit of bus reading today about umpiring, and came across a story on ESPN.com by Jim Caple, in which he goes to umpire school to try and learn what the job is really like:
Instructor Brent Rice discusses such finer points during morning sessions at a banquet room of the school hotel. You've probably never heard of Rice but there's a good chance you've seen him on YouTube. He had the unfortunate honor of being the home plate umpire when Braves minor league manager Phil Wellman had hisinfamous nut-out, burying the plate in dirt, crawling along the ground like a soldier and flinging the rosin bag at Rice as if it were a grenade. "How much was the dry cleaning bill for your pants?" another instructor asks Rice.
I feel a little bad about bringing that up because it wasn't his fault Wellman completely lost his mind. Plus, manager-umpire confrontations are such a small part of the game. Sure, there are arguments and ejections but they really are relatively rare. The key to avoiding them is knowing the rules and calling them authoritatively in a manner that lets the teams understand you know them.
Which is why we receive frequent tests each morning. "Write your name on the 'graded by' line," Rice tells us when we correct each other's papers. "Do not grade ahead, you are not that smart. Yet."
No kidding. I've covered baseball for 25 years and have seen more than 2,000 games at the major league level. I've watched countless others on TV. I know the game. And I get 20 percent of the questions correct on one test.
The article is certainly worth a read, and I hope to give you a better picture of what a Midwest League umpire's life is like in the next few days.
JJ Grey…take it away!
Thanks for reading. If you'd like to get in touch, you can reach me at firstname.lastname@example.com or on Twitter @MikeCouzens.
Renfroe, Byrnes, Wizards
The TinCaps committed six errors yesterday, coming within one of the franchise record, as they lost, 6-4, to the Bowling Green Hot Rods. The TinCaps will try and avoid the three-game series sweep tonight at 7:05 .
On to other things…
Yesterday we aired the final regular-season episode of "The Leadoff Spot" our 30-minute magazine-style show spotlighting certain figures within the TinCaps and Padres organizations. Here are a few of my interviews from that show…
Padres General Manager Josh Byrnes:
TinCaps outfielder and 2013 first-round pick, Hunter Renfroe:
Since we're celebrating all things 90′s tonight, here are a few things you should pick up on your next trip to Parkview Field in The Orchard team store:
A Fort Wayne Wizards shirt (I've purchased one and eagerly await my first opportunity to wear it)
A Fort Wayne Wizards hat:
It's only appropriate that on 90′s Night we feature a former Wizards manager. In this interview, Mike Maahs catches up with former Fort Wayne Wizards Manager Gary Jones:
Barenaked Ladies…take it away!
Thanks for reading. If you'd like to get in touch, you can reach me at email@example.com or on Twitter @MikeCouzens.
Gotta Have Heart, Hablamos Ingles, A-Rod
In the top of the second inning Wednesday night at Parkview Field, it looked like it was going to be a long night for the TinCaps. They were down, 7-1, against Bowling Green, and Fort Wayne starter Matthew Shepherd was knocked out of the game after just one inning. But then, they scored three times in the second, twice in the sixth and again in the eighth, coming back to tie the game at seven. And after the game, someone used the phrase "heart" in describing the TinCaps comeback effort, which fell just short in extra innings as they lost, 8-7. The word "heart" reminded me of this song from the classic show, "Damn Yankees":
Side note: I was also in "Damn Yankees" in the Highlands Middle School production of the show in 2003. That was the high point, and also the end of my acting career. I think my high-pitched solo at the beginning of the show as old Joe Hardy might go down in the record books as one of the worst songs ever performed.
With the way the team has scuffled in the second half, there were more positives than negatives after the game. They erased a 7-1 deficit, got great pitching from the bullpen–especially the five innings from Colin Rea–and were never out of the game, although it would have been easy for them to feel that way.
Tonight the TinCaps host Bowling Green for the second game of a three-game set, and we'll have a special visit from former WWF star Sergeant Slaughter. It's also a Thirsty Thursday and there will be fireworks after the game.
Although it has been rare in the second half, Jose Valentin was a (mostly happy man) after the game last night:
"I think we lost the game in just one inning, the second inning…After that, I was happy with the way we played. (Colin) Rea went up there for five innings and gave us a chance. Our offense finally showed up…I'm very happy with the way we came back. We fought all the way but we just ran short," said Valentin.
Of his team's fight he said, "I'd like to see that more often…I'm happy with the way we swung, our approach at the plate was good."
Listen to his full post-game comments in today's TinCaps Report Podcast:
Playing in the minor leagues doesn't just mean an education in baseball, especially if players come from non-English speaking countries. In this case, the TinCaps players from Latin America–Jorge Guzman, Bryan Rodriguez, Miguel Del Castillo, Reynaldo Bruguera, Diego Goris, Gabriel Quintana, Luis Tejada, Luis Domoromo and Alberth Martinez, and Ruben Mejia–have been working on their English skills. Several times a month, the Padres pay to have an English teacher come in and work with the players, mostly on phrases that will be useful to them in baseball situations. Today was the culmination of their studies, as they recorded a video showing off their newfound proficiency to send back to San Diego.
The English language can be a big barrier for many players, and in clubhouses across baseball Latin American players will congregate with other Latin American players, and American-born players will hang out with other American-born players. I've seen, at times, one player–last year it was Adys Portillo, who was proficient in English–order meals for an entire group of Latino ballplayers at a fast-food restaurant because the others could not speak enough English, or do it with enough confidence, to get their intended message across.
I've done a few post-game interviews in Spanish this year, and even after having studied the language for seven years, I am still only at a conversational level. This is a small step for these players, that will hopefully make a big impact and make them more comfortable.
As if we haven't heard enough news about Alex Rodriguez and his 211-game suspension lately….believe me, I know. It's a tired story at this point. But….but, I ask you to read this Sports Illustrated story by S.L. Price which views Rodriguez's career holistically, even including a peek back at his 1994 season in the Midwest League with the Appleton Foxes. An excerpt, discussing his rehab assignments throughout the Yankees minor-league chain:
As he has throughout his tour—which has seen him suit up for Yankees affiliates in Tampa; Charleston, S.C.; Trenton, N.J.; and Scranton/Wilkes-Barre—Rodriguez declined to talk specifics about Biogenesis, PEDs or reports that he was considering a deal. On July 12, he met with MLB investigators on the matter, then didn't show up for that night's rehab start in Tampa. He says he can't waste time and energy now worrying about all he may lose, or the distance he has traveled down. Yet the fact is, Rodriguez, once seen as baseball's great clean hope, is now viewed as hopelessly dirty.
Others have come back from such stigma: Mark McGwire is the hitting coach for the Dodgers; Jason Giambi and Andy Pettitte, old teammates and admitted users of PEDs, are treated these days as elder statesmen. Rodriguez figures to be different—and knows it—but last week maintained the front of a blissed-out Candide. He insisted that he doesn't wonder, Why me?
"I never say that," Rodriguez said. "But maybe there are a couple chapters where I can become that person again. I'm not giving up. I have tremendous faith, and hopefully there's a couple more chapters to this book. And hopefully there's a happy ending somewhere. I have faith."
The closing paragraph perhaps sums up the entire Rodriguez deal perfectly:
Rodriguez's gift, his unprecedented completeness, was never really his; it's called a gift for a reason. Sports is a collective of time as well as talent. Six generations of baseball players and fans, billions of dollars worth of stadia and TV time, an infinity of minor and major leaguers working for untold lifetimes—all of it combined to create the game, the numbers, the interest and hothouse environment in which Alex Rodriguez was going to be the best.
People care so much about sports greatness because, deep down, they know that it's a reflection; something there belongs to them. We gave Rodriguez his chance. We urged him not to waste it. Cashman knows, better than anyone: We hate when we make so big a mistake.
Florida Georgia Line…take it away!
Thanks for reading. If you'd like to get in touch, you can reach me at firstname.lastname@example.com or on Twitter @MikeCouzens.
Back to Action, Life in Baseball, A Hundred Bucks Says…
After a much-needed day off, as the TinCaps had played 20 straight days without resting, Fort Wayne returns to action tonight at Parkview Field at 7:05. They welcome in the Bowling Green Hot Rods, a team they haven't faced since May 27. The season series is pretty even right now, tilting 5-4 in favor of the Hot Rods, a Tampa Bay Rays affiliate.
To get you caught up, here's the post-game recap with Kent Hormann and former Wizards pitcher Javi DeJesus from Monday's 8-5 TinCaps win over Dayton.
Fort Wayne's Matt Shepherd looks for his first win as a starting pitcher tonight, as he makes his seventh start of the season.
First pitch is at 7:05, and the first 1,000 kids 14 & under will get a free WebKinz doll as they pass through the gates.
Despite a TinCaps win on Tuesday, Manager Jose Valentin wasn't particularly happy, saying "Sometimes it's better to be lucky than good." Hear his post-game comments in today's podcast:
As you may have noticed either here on the blog or by coming to Parkview Field this season, the TinCaps have worn quite the wide variety of themed jerseys this season. Sean Morrison, the TinCaps beat writer for The Journal Gazette, wrote a feature story on the uniforms, which appeared in today's paper.
"The TinCaps have worn argyle, tuxedos, pink and the names of their fans in games this season.
There have been eight varieties of Fort Wayne's jerseys this season, said Michael Limmer, vice president of marketing and promotions, the most ever.
The team wore uniforms representing '50s Night, Turn the Park Pink, Prom Night, Military Appreciation/Superhero Night (same jersey for both nights), Social Media Night, '80s Night, Prostate Cancer Awareness and '90s Night.
Be it a quirky uniform change or the usual pinstripes, the looks have been well received.
"We kind of just sit back and look at our theme nights and kind of decide which ones would lend themselves best for a jersey," Limmer said. "Every single jersey we give away is one-of-a-kind. It was worn just that one time by that one player, and it came right off the player's back to the person that either won it or won the auction."'
And don't forget that this Friday is 90′s night, and the team will be wearing Wizards uniforms.
Over on MLBTRadeRumors.com, there's a good piece up by Ricky Benichak, who is a baseball operations intern with the Cincinnati Reds. He writes about his experiences working for the team and what his responsibilities include:
"If I had to identify what a normal day would look like, it would be something like this: update the statistics for our BATS video software, chart a game using that same software or capture pickoff moves to help our Major League coaching staff or players for an upcoming series, compile advance scouting reports, and work on research assigned to me by my bosses. I would say about 30-40% of my workload consists of research, some targeted by my superiors based on the needs of the team, some targeted based on my own interests. I have used that time to further look into the ROI of international players, waiver claim and DFA analyses, valuation of farm systems, and aging curves for defensive abilities."
It's good stuff, because it makes me realize how much there is going on behind the scenes with baseball, and that it's not just show up at 2pm, take some infield, take BP and then get ready for the game. Even when Padres GM Josh Byrnes was here last week, I asked him what he did during the day, wondering if he'd gotten out to one of Fort Wayne's many great golf courses. He said he hadn't played golf, and that his day was spent following up on the minor league teams, watching some of the Padres game and working on budgets for next year.
I think the best piece of information Ricky shares is about trying to make it in sports:
"It's also important that you have mentors. I had mentors when I went to college at the NYU Tisch Center where I studied sports management –- they helped me get opportunities that eventually led to me getting hired by the Reds. Not all of us have parents or friends in the industry, so it's important to build your network as soon as you can. It's as simple as sending an email or having a phone call. People love to talk about themselves and their experiences, and those who work in baseball operations are no different.
In pursuing an opportunity, a prospective employee should have the right mindset as well. It's in our nature to think big and expect big. When I was initially looking for jobs with teams, I had this grandiose vision that all 30 teams would be interested in me and my abilities. I couldn't have been more wrong, but there was a great lesson in that misconception. The reality is that you aren't looking for 30 jobs or even a dozen jobs, rather you are looking for one team to listen and value the contributions you may bring. Discouragement and disappointment are a part of the cycle in finding employment, but you must take it in stride, and remember the big picture."
Whether it in sports or any field, really, sometimes the best things can come from reaching out and sending that first email or making that phone call.
One of my favorite writers, Chris Jones (@MySecondEmpire) has a new story out today in Esquire about the new $100 bill. In this lengthy, but very interesting piece, he takes us through the process of how the dollar bill is made, an introduces us to its designer, Brian Thompson:
"On the back of the new hundred-dollar bill is one of Thompson's favorite magic tricks. There is an oversized 100 bordered in white and blue, printed in orange. This new feature is primarily to help the visually impaired — like the large purple 5 on the five-dollar bill — but it's also a secondary defense against counterfeiters. While the 100 looks entirely orange, closer examination reveals that it contains alternating lines of orange and green. Through some quirk of the optic nerve, our eyes pick up mostly the orange. It dominates, and casual counterfeiters might overlook or be unable to replicate the disappearing green."
I may never hold one of those $100 bills unless one somehow blows up through a grate in the sidewalk and I happen to be a beneficiary of circumstance, but I'm happy just reading this story and learning from Chris Jones, a master writer.
Read more: How Money Is Made – Making of the New Hundred Dollar Bill
John Mayer…take it away!
Thanks for reading. If you'd like to get in touch, you can reach me at email@example.com or on Twitter @MikeCouzens.
The Hit That Changed Maxx Tissenbaum's Career
This article by John Nolan appeared in Volume 5, Edition 10 of GAMEDAY.
The turning point of Maxx Tissenbaum's baseball career didn't come in the batter's box or on the infield dirt.
It happened at center ice.
"We were on the penalty kill and I received a pass, clearing the puck up ice," the 22-year old from Toronto recalls from a hockey game during his sophomore year of high school. "And out of nowhere, I got absolutely crushed."
Michael Del Zotto, who now plays in the NHL for the New York Rangers, knocked Tissenbaum to the ice with a blindside check.
Though a little woozy, the curly brown-haired Tissenbaum was fine. After all, he was a hockey player. His coach had no qualms about putting him back in the game for his next shift.
But after the game, Tissenbaum got blind-sided again. This time, though, it wasn't by any future NHL enforcer. It was by the coach of his travel baseball team, Jack Brown, who had been in the crowd to see him.
"I'm really glad I got to see you play the last hockey game of your career," Brown said to Tissenbaum.
Brown believed that if the shortstop on his travel team wanted to reach his goal of becoming a major league player, he'd be best served allowing his body a break from hockey's punishment.
"I was stunned. It completely caught me off guard," the 5-10, 185-pound Tissenbaum says. "But then I realized, he's right. It's probably not a good idea to have guys who are 6-6, 230-pounds taking runs at me just before baseball season starts."
So Tissenbaum heeded Brown's advice and put away the skates. Seven years later, and no longer fearful of center-ice hits, Tissenbaum is the TinCaps team leader in base hits this season. Fort Wayne's manager Jose Valentin has called him the team's offensive MVP. And to think, he may have been just one collision away from never getting to the Midwest League in the first place.
"I still love hockey, and it was tough to give it up, but baseball has always been my first passion," Tissenbaum says.
Circumstances helped make it that way. Malcolm Gladwell's 2008 book, Outliers: The Story of Success, points out that in hockey-crazed Canada, boys born in the first three months of the year have a far greater chance of moving up the sport's ranks than those born in April through December. It's a product of the country's youth hockey league cut-off date of January 1.
Tissenbaum was born in July. So the odds were never in his favor to become a professional hockey player in the first place. Tissenbaum's birth in Toronto in 1991, however, did come at the right time from a baseball standpoint.
The Blue Jays won the World Series in 1992 and 1993. Tissenbaum admits he was too young to remember either of those championships, but just a year or two later, before he was even in kindergarten, Tissenbaum was introduced to a VHS documentary on Toronto's '93 season.
"It was my first favorite movie. I'd sit there and watch it on replay for hours," he reminisces. "Then I'd go outside and try to make all the plays Robbie Alomar made or take a swing like Joe Carter and do his home-run trot around the bases to win the World Series."
Tissenbaum comes from a baseball family. His dad, Gerry, grew up playing baseball and his mom, Lisa, grew up playing softball. His younger sister Molly currently plays softball (and hockey) at Harvard. And perhaps most instrumental for Tissenbaum's development, his grandfather, Sheldon Taerk, is a longtime Blue Jays season ticket holder.
The combination of factors, plus an unyielding work ethic, led Tissenbaum to make the Canadian Junior National Team as a high school junior. That's the moment when the infielder says he thought he could make a career out of playing the game he loved, because, by his own scouting report, Tissenbaum isn't a standout talent.
"I'm the kind of player that grows on you with consistency," the left-handed batter says. "I can't hit the ball 600 feet, or run a 6.2 (60-yard dash), or throw the ball 95 miles an hour."
Hence, why Tissenbaum prides himself on his baseball IQ. It's an acumen he thinks he developed in part by spending 35-40 nights a summer at Blue Jays games with his grandfather. Since he was as young as three, they'd sit just behind the visiting team's dugout, which provided an up-close lens for learning. While most little kids were searching around for the nearest cotton candy vendor, Tissenbaum was studying the every movement of the big leaguers in front of him. From hometown heroes like Carlos Delgado to visitors such as Derek Jeter, Tissenbaum took notes and asked his grandfather for explanations about everything that was unfolding.
That background made for an incredible moment on June 11, 2009 when Tissenbaum received a phone call from the Blue Jays. Some 1,299 picks after Stephen Strasburg went first, Tissenbaum was taken by Toronto in the 43rd round of the MLB Draft.
"I was in the car when I got the call," Tissenbaum says. "I covered up the mic on the phone with my hand and whispered to my dad trying not to sound too overly excited. But I completely freaked out. It felt like 10 years of work and practice everyday finally paying off."
But Tissenbaum knew he wasn't ready to succeed yet in Minor League Baseball, so he didn't sign with the team he grew up watching and instead accepted a scholarship to play at Stony Brook University in New York. "Tiss," as teammates call him, helped lead the Cinderella Seawolves of the America East Conference all the way to the College World Series his junior year.
During Stony Brook's run to Omaha, Tissenbaum was drafted again. This time by the Padres, and this time, he signed. Now in his first full season of professional baseball, he's been a vital part of the TinCaps' success.
"I'd say he's been our MVP so far on offense," the 16-year MLB veteran Valentin says of his everyday second baseman. "Of all the guys, he's been my most consistent hitter throughout the year. He's a kid who has a good idea of what he's doing when he comes up to the plate — a better approach than most."
In addition to leading the team in hits, doubles, and games played at the mid-point of July, Tissenbaum is the only player on the team who has walked more times than he's struck out. It's a mark of his maturity, and an attitude to never give in.
"There were scouts in high school who told me I needed to play catcher because I wouldn't be fast enough to play infield," Tissenbaum says. "Then they told me I needed to be a corner infielder. So I'm proud of the fact that I'm doing it now at second and sometimes short."
The time in high school when Brown told Tissenbaum to give up hockey may be the only time in his life he's ever succumbed to a doubter.
"That pushes me, when someone says I can't do something or I'm not good enough to do something," Tissenbaum says. "It's something I've always secretly liked."
Five-Tongue Player
This article by John Nolan appeared in the Volume 5, Edition 5 of GAMEDAY.
First pitch is about an hour away at Parkview Field and TinCaps catcher Rodney Daal is biding time between batting practice and when he'll crouch down behind home plate.
Wearing a navy Padres-logoed, short-sleeved Under Armor top, the 19-year old is sitting down on the carpeted floor of the clubhouse's lounge area. Rodney's back is up against the beige wall with his legs extended to serve as a prop for his Macbook. With red Beats headphones on, he's laughing uncontrollably during a Skype session with a friend back home in Amsterdam. Rodney's speaking Dutch.
After saying "doei" (that's goodbye) to his friend on the computer, Rodney is now putting his TinCaps uniform on over his almost entirely inked arms, chest, back, and neck. Reggaeton music blares from the clubhouse speakers. As he rocks his curly-haired head back and forth, he doesn't miss a lyric. "¡Rompe! ¡Rompe!" Rodney's singing in Spanish.
Now suited up for the game, Rodney goes over to the locker of the night's starting pitcher to discuss strategy. "Let's get it," he says to end their chat. Rodney's speaking English.
In less than 10 minutes, Rodney has showcased his proficiency in three of what he says are four and-a-half languages he can speak fluently. There's also Papiamento — the Spanish-based creole language spoken in his dad's native Curaçao — and German. (German's the one Rodney says he's only half-fluent in after studying it in school.) Though stats indicate the average person speaks less than two languages proficiently, Rodney is a multilingual and doesn't think much of it.
"It's easy for me," Rodney casually says of his lingual versatility. "I just pick them up real quick."
And as a result, Rodney is the most cosmopolitan player in Fort Wayne this season. In a clubhouse that already has had players from seven different countries, the affable catching prospect can communicate, and laugh, with them all.
"I listen to Spanish music. I watch TV in English. When I chat with my friends, I talk in Dutch and Papiamento," Rodney says. "So I talk everything except German regularly."
It's that kind of constant immersion in languages that led Rodney to learn them in the first place. Back in the Netherlands, Dutch was what he heard and spoke most often. But while Rodney's mother Mieke is Dutch, his father Ritchie came from Curaçao — a country of about 140,000 off the Venezuelan coast. Ritchie taught Rodney Papiamento.
Even though it wasn't the common language in his house, English was simple enough for Rodney to pick up as a kid, too. Thanks to the reach of American culture in the Netherlands, Rodney watched Nickelodeon and MTV shows to enhance his English education in school. From a young age, he also developed an appreciation for American rappers like Tupac and Eminem.
Spanish, though, wasn't on Rodney's radar until he moved from the Netherlands to Arizona in 2011 to begin his professional career with the Padres' organization.
"I learned Spanish my first year after I got signed because I couldn't communicate with the Latin pitchers," Rodney says, recalling his difficulties catching for Genison Reyes in particular.
The Dominican right-hander, who was again teammates with Rodney on the TinCaps earlier this season, possessed a fastball in the mid-90s then, but couldn't speak English.
"Reyes threw so hard," Rodney remembers. "It was hard to catch him already. And then I couldn't communicate with him. It made it harder. When I went out to talk to him, I just couldn't explain things to him. I realized I had to do something, so that's what led me to learn Spanish."
Like with English, Rodney used music to aid his development in the language. He also relied on his Dominican teammates to answer questions he had about certain translations.
At this point, Rodney's relationship with his Spanish-speaking teammates is reciprocal. They continue to help him stay fluent in Spanish, while now he's often relied upon as a translator for them to interpret English. Whether on the field or dealing with media, the multi-lingual Rodney is a liaison.
Ruben Mejia, who's in his third season as a pitcher for the Padres after moving to the U.S. from the Dominican Republic, speaks English rather well. Still, he says he appreciates having Rodney around to avoid potential confusion.
"When we don't understand (pitching coach Burt Hooton), Rodney tells us what we need to know," Ruben says. "And if someone (who can't speak much English) has an interview, then he helps them with that, too."
Whether it's a mound-visit from "Hoot" or manager José Valentín (who's also a dual-speaker in Spanish and English), Rodney regularly translates the instructions for the entire defense.
Ironically, though, Rodney's teammate Walker Weickel points out that the most important language Rodney knows isn't English, Spanish, Dutch, Papiamento, or German.
"It's nice that he's able to speak five languages, but really, the only language he needs to speak as a catcher is sign language," says the 19-year old pitcher. "So as long as he knows that, then he can work well with pitchers."
But Weickel, who grew up in Florida and occasionally pitched to primarily Spanish-speaking catchers in showcase tournaments, also acknowledges that Rodney's communication skills are a benefit to the staff. As is his personality.
Earlier this season after the TinCaps clinched a berth in the Midwest League Playoffs, it was Rodney who stepped into the center of the team's celebratory circle and danced like he was in a club, not a clubhouse. Perhaps fittingly given his propensity for tongues, on Star Wars Theme Night at Parkview Field, it was Rodney who easily delivered the best Chewbacca impersonation on the video board.
And while no one understood him then, his dialogue with pitchers throughout the season has come across crystal clear.
"I think communication is a big part of the game, especially for a pitcher and a catcher," Rodney says. "They have such a close relationship, it's essential."
Catching Up With A's Starting Pitcher and Fort Wayne Native Jarrod Parker
Editor's Note: Last Wednesday, John Nolan drove down to Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati, where the Reds were hosting the A's. After the game, John caught up with Fort Wayne native turned Oakland starting pitcher Jarrod Parker.
John Nolan: What comes to mind first when you think of your time growing up in Fort Wayne playing baseball?
Jarrod Parker: Just fun, being a kid, learning the game. At that age, baseball's just a game where you have fun and try to learn as much as you can about the game. You figure out if it's something you want to pursue — playing more, traveling in high school. I think what I remember most is having a blast at the ballpark with friends and family.
JN: Who were your baseball role models in Indiana given that it's not a state known for producing much major league talent?
JP: My grandpa was my first little league coach. That's something I'll always cherish. I had a lot of great coaches coming up through high school and travel ball — Kelby Weybright, Mark De La Garza. Those guys were pretty influential on my career in building me into who I am today. Also, growing up playing with my brother — my dad was always around and coaching, too. They're my biggest coaches and critics even to today.
JN: Did you go to Wizards games as a kid?
JP: Definitely. We went to at least one a year, if not more. I can remember when Vince Faison was there playing. He took the time out of getting ready to play a game to come talk to us. That's something that I always remember. Being around the ballpark, you see kids that come to the game to have fun, and they look up to us. I try to remember to be like Vince.
JN: What's your best memory from your days playing at Norwell High School?
JP: Winning state. The team accomplishment is what was important. I had a blast playing with those guys. Going undefeated was another accomplishment we achieved. To win as many games as we did in those couple years at Norwell was a pretty cool thing.
JN: This year's Norwell team also won the state title. Did you keep track of the team and its star player Josh VanMeter, who was recently selected in the fifth round of the draft by the Padres?
JP: Yeah, I did. I actually was watching the state game on my phone to keep up with that. And I was texting Kelby, keeping in touch with Coach Weybright all the time. When Josh was drafted I sent him a text to congratulate him and told him anything he needs, to let me know.
JN: Anything you'd like to say to your fans back in Fort Wayne?
JP: Keep cheering us on. It's a long season and we appreciate all the support.
Walk-Off Win, Saves and Slams, Minor League Markets, DL Check-In
Four-game losing streak…over!
The TinCaps picked up their ninth walk-off win of the season on Sunday with a 4-3 victory over the Dayton Dragons.
(If any readers of the blog speak Spanish, feel free to critique my interview with Goris. Email me at email@example.com. Also, messages written over Parkview Field via the vapor trail of an airplane are also acceptable.)
Diego Goris provided the theatrics with a single to left field, scoring Alberth Martinez. It was the third walk-off hit of the season for Goris. Tonight at 7:05, the TinCaps and Dragons close out their three-game series. It's a U.S. Foods Family Feast Night with $1 popcorn, pizza, soda and hot dogs, so come to the ballpark hungry.
John Nolan sat down with Manager Jose Valentin yesterday for the radio broadcast's Sunday chat with the skipper. They discussed why the team had trouble over the four-game slide, the addition of first-round pick Hunter Renfroe, Valentin's relationship with Padres GM Josh Byrnes and Sr. VP of Baseball Operations Omar Minaya, and about the evolution of Zach Eflin:
In his second game in a TinCaps uniform yesterday, TinCaps outfielder Hunter Renfroe not only hit his first Midwest League home run, a towering shot over the 376-foot marker in left-center, but he also made a spectacular catch up against the wall in right field to end the eighth and leave a runner at third. This photo below is 36 pictures stitched together:
Renfroe leapt to get the baseball, it bounced off his glove and went straight up in the air, and then he steadied himself and caught the falling baseball. In two games, a very small sample size, Renfroe has made a very good first impression in Fort Wayne.
Street & Smith's SportsBusiness Journal just released its rankings of the top Minor League markets in the United States, and Fort Wayne checks in at a solid #7. The cities ahead of Fort Wayne are:
1 – Toledo
2 – Rochester, N.Y.
3 – Hershey-Harrisburg, PA
4 – San Bernadino County, CA
5 – Springfield, MA
6 – Syracuse, NY
Here's what was written about Fort Wayne:
■ Teams (first season): Midwest League Fort Wayne TinCaps (1993), ECHL Fort Wayne Komets (1952), NBA D-League Fort Wayne Mad Ants (2007)
■ Venues (year opened): Allen County War Memorial Coliseum (1952; renovated 2002), Parkview Field (2009)
Baseball and hockey have long been institutions in this city, also known for being the final resting place of Johnny Appleseed. It was local pride in the folklore legend that spurred the 2009 rebranding of the Midwest League baseball team, now named for his peculiar headgear. The team also opened $34 million Parkview Field the same year as part of a downtown revitalization project. TinCaps average attendance has been around 5,600 fans a game since then after drawing 3,702 fans a game in their last season at their prior home, Memorial Stadium.
As for the ECHL Komets, they have played hockey in the city since 1952. Local fans especially showed their love for the team this past season, which was the first for the club in the ECHL after moving from the CHL. The team drew 7,583 fans a game at Allen County War Memorial Coliseum, an average that was tops among all ECHL clubs.
Despite a population growth rate of only 2.8 percent over the past five years, the market's overall attendance count for its teams increased 13.8 percent.
The only true negative for Fort Wayne, the No. 1 market in our survey in 2007, has been its inability to support an indoor football team. The CIFL Fort Wayne Firehawks folded after the 2010 season. It was the sport's fourth attempt to break into the market.
While it's nice that Fort Wayne is ranked seventh, I think its spot should probably be higher on this list. Reading the rankings, it appears that these were done from afar, rather than from gaining a taste of each market. I'm not asking SBJ to fly to all of these places and go to a game at each venue, although that would make the rankings better, but I can't imagine they've got an idea of how passionate Komets, Mad Ants, and TinCaps fans are.
The metrics used among all cities seem to be attendance, unemployment rate, population growth rate, and things along those lines. Perhaps a more proper title for this list would be "Top Minor League Markets as Analyzed by an Economist".
TinCaps infielder Maxx Tissenbaum has been on the disabled list for a week now with a shoulder injury he suffered diving for a ball in Fort Wayne's most recent series with Lansing. He posted a new blog entry today, available here, and wrote about the fear that comes along with the uncertainty of injury as a professional athlete:
I immediately knew something wasn't right, recalling the feeling I had when I hurt my shoulder the same way during my Junior season at Stony Brook. I kept moving it, swinging it, lifting it up and down, doing any form of the chicken dance to keep it from stiffening up and preventing me from finishing the game. I iced it down after the game, headed home and hoped for the best, waking up the next morning to a splitting pain, and basically no range of motion. Standing with my arms hanging at my side, I could move my arm about 5 inches away from my hip before it felt like it hit a wall, one that included a brutal pain. My immediate thought scared the hell out of me, I didn't remember ever having pain like this before, I remembered the dead, heavy arm sensation but never the pain. My first thought as I rolled around in bed that morning was the worst case scenario. What if I'd torn something, needed to get it fixed and would be done for the year? I really did fear the worst. Nothing changed for a couple of days which made me even more worried.
You can find Maxx's writing at Maxx54Padres.Wordpress.com.
We venture from the prose of Maxx Tissenbaum to a quick selection about writing I found last week that I particularly enjoyed. This comes from Simone Gorrindo, the wife of an Army Ranger, in her entry on velamag.com:
It's a private act with public consequence, and it's only in that private moment that I can actually figure out what it is I really mean to say. Speech has always felt to me insufficient, and I feel this more than ever in a world where I am so evidently out of place. Writing allows for a deeper, unspoken connection between reader and writer, and why shouldn't that be the case in this particular community? The act may be done in isolation, but at the end of the day, it lives, very firmly, in all of the worlds out there, literary or otherwise.
As a broadcaster, I cannot say that I find speech insufficient because without it I'd be out of a job. But I do agree with Simone in the sense that putting words on paper allows for a "deeper, unspoken connection between reader and writer" and that it allows us to better get our thoughts across. Even when I prepare for a broadcast, there are nuggets and facts and numbers that I have printed on paper in front of me or on the computer screen to my left, but I still like to write them in my scorebook anyway. I feel that the information resides somewhere deeper in my brain once it's been transferred from pen to paper. Even when doing basketball broadcasts, there are innumerable stats that can be kept on a spotting chart, but I like to write them all by hand so that the most important ones linger with me.
This quotation, in part, is a good explanation of why I like to keep this blog. It helps me give a better connection with fans, friends, family and whomever else wants to read, as I share what might not always make it on the air.
Even though I don't usually prefer live music to studio-quality stuff, Red Rocks Amphitheater in Colorado makes me change my mind sometimes.
Mumford and Sons…take it away!
Thanks for reading. If you'd like to get in touch, you can reach me at email@example.com or on Twitter @MikeCouzens.
The Notebook: Mallex Smith's Pen Keeps Him Ahead of the Game
Saturday's game followed the same script as the two games before it for Fort Wayne–acquire lead, lose lead, lose game. Dayton opened the three-game series at Parkview Field Saturday with a 7-6 win over Fort Wayne, extending the Fort Wayne losing streak to four games both overall, and in their season series with the Cincinnati Reds affiliate. Here's how things have played out the last few days for the TinCaps:
Thursday: Take 1-0 lead on Diego Goris' inside-the-park home run, lose, 4-1.
Friday: Take 1-0 lead in the second inning, go down, 5-1, after two innings, lose, 7-6.
Saturday: Take 4-2 lead after two innings, lose, 7-6.
Will today be different? That's the hope for the TinCaps with Zach Eflin on the mound. He has far and away been the team's best pitcher in the second half, and ERA-wise has been the best in the Midwest League since May. Despite a 6.06 ERA in April, Eflin has the lowest ERA (2.20) among active starting pitchers in the Midwest league since May. Only Dylan Floro of Bowling Green, who was promoted to Advanced-A yesterday, had a better mark at 1.91. In Eflin's last start, facing Lansing, he gave up just one hit and allowed only two baserunners over seven innings.
First pitch today is at 3:05 at Parkview Field, and it's guaranteed to be another beautiful day for baseball. I've been sitting in the press box this morning with my window wide open, and it feels fabulous. Radio coverage begins today at 2:45 on The Fan 1380 and TheFanFortWayne.com. You can hear Manager Jose Valentin on our pre-game show around 2:50. Kent Hormann and I will have the TV broadcast on XFINITY 81, getting underway at 3:00. We hope you'll join us.
It has long been said, or perhaps better, written, that the pen is mightier than the sword.
In the case of TinCaps outfielder Mallex Smith, the pen may just be mightier than the bat. At worst, it is a complementary device that is crucial to his success both at the plate and on the basepaths. At best, it is a tool that separates him from the majority of his contemporaries.
Heading into play today, Smith is tied for the league lead in stolen bases with 51, and for the second half he has raised his average 13 points, from .255 to .268. The 20-year-old from Tallahassee, Florida, has learned a lot this year from the three former Major League Baseball players on Fort Wayne's coaching staff, but he's also taken to teaching himself a thing or two about the game.
No matter which of the 12 Midwest League dugouts Smith has visited this season, he's kept with him a marble notebook, an information repository most popular in elementary school classrooms across the country. But for Smith, it's not the look of the notebook that matters or the connotation that comes along with it, it's the information inside that fuels his thought process while he's on the field.
"(Keeping the notebook) started when I was in Arizona for the Arizona League when I first got drafted (in 2012). I got hurt, and I was recommended to do it. When I got hurt, I was bored. I was sitting there watching the game and I wanted to keep myself all the way focused in on the game while I was hurt. I tried to keep notes on everything that everybody did, from position players to pitchers and catchers to relief pitchers, but that got to be a little too much because it's hard to keep up with everything," Smith said, sitting on a worn wooden bench in the visitor's dugout at South Bend's Coveleski Stadium.
Smith was out with a twisted right ankle, suffered on an over-slide into third base. It was his father, Michael, a former wide receiver at Florida A&M University, who told him keeping a notebook might be a good idea to keep his head in the game.
"From then," Mallex said, "I noticed when I tried to keep up with the game and keep notes, I made the game slow down for the next time I faced that team."
The elder Smith kept notes when he was younger, too, but not for his football-playing days. Michael Smith once worked at a grocery store, and it was there that he was trying to get a leg up on his competition. Instead of the gridiron, it might have been the gardening aisle.
"He worked at Winn Dixie," Mallex said. "When he got a job there, he was one of the last people to get hired, so he had to get taught where everything was, so he was pretty much playing catch-up with everybody. He ended up getting transferred to a new Winn Dixie that was just opening, so nobody knew where anything was. So he said on his first day, he showed up extra early to go down each aisle and note where everything was and to know where things were in the stock room so that when people needed things, he was able to help them out.
"My dad always told me you want to keep notes on everything you do, especially when it's your job. Partly because it keeps you one step ahead. You start seeing the same guys over and over again, so it's a smart thing to remember what they tried to do to you last time. Now, instead of you trying to adjust to them, they're trying to adjust to you."
Mallex will go to his notebook both before and after at-bats, using a blue pen to note things like "Best to just play with his head and make him keep his attention on you," about Lake County lefthander Ryan Merritt.
Hear Smith describe what he writes about in his notebook:
Of Lansing's Roberto Osuna, he wrote:
"FB (fastball) 1st pitch
CH (changeup) 2nd pitch both times
great guy to steal on
CH is a floating pitch not much movement"
Although TinCaps Manager Jose Valentin has been critical of his team at times this year for failing to make adjustments, Smith has defied that trend with his approach: study before the at-bat, making the physical actions habit.
"I think, just from watching him, he'll ask me a lot of questions," said TinCaps hitting coach Morgan Burkhart. More than anyone else. He's keeping notes, so he's definitely doing what he can to put himself in the best situation…. He's putting every effort in that he can to go out and be successful."
Burkhart also keeps scouting reports on opposing pitchers, which he shares with Smith and any other player that wants to try and gain an edge.
"I feel like every time I go up to bat and I have something down on the pitcher, I'm ahead of him. Especially if I've seen him multiple times, I've got a jump on him. I already know what he's about to do to me before he knows what he's about to do to me," Smith said.
Saturday was a long day for Hunter Renfroe, the newest member of the Fort Wayne contingent. The 13th overall pick in this year's draft was added to Fort Wayne's roster yesterday afternoon, and made his TinCaps debut going 2-for-4 in front of a crowd of 8,009 at Parkview Field.
His day started at 3:40 a.m., where he woke up in Eugene, Oregon, flew to Portland, Oregon, then to Indianapolis, and finally to Fort Wayne. Here's approximately how much time he spent in the air yesterday:
Eugene to Portland: 40 minutes
Portland to Indianapolis: 6 hours (no, thank you)
Indianapolis to Fort Wayne: 40 minutes
So, that's almost 7.5 hours spent on airplanes yesterday, not to mention the amount of time spent lugging through airports and traveling to and fro.
"It's the same mental approach at the plate and know that even though I did wake up at 3:40 in the morning, just go up there and have energy and compete my heart out," Renfroe told Greg Jones of The Journal Gazette. "I am trying to meet everybody and fit in and get to know them."
Renfroe went 2-for-4 with an RBI and also made a couple nice grabs in right field, getting used to his new terrain. He didn't arrive in time for batting practice, which runs between 4:00-5:00 for the TinCaps, so he really had no practice before the game got started.
Once again today, Renfroe is in the lineup hitting third, and is scheduled to play right field.
In today's TinCaps Report Podcast, Manager Jose Valentin says, "Overall, it was a well played game. Overall, I don't think our approach at home plate was good enough. (We) swing at too many first pitches, bad pitches, chasing a lot of bad pitches. I don't think (our plan was good). No focus, no concentration at home plate. We scored four runs in the second inning and then we got shut out until the ninth and then we scored two…We've just got to keep playing hard, keep playing hard and we'll see what happens."
In case you thought baseball's hidden ball trick was only attempted in little league, think again. It happened to Juan Uribe of the Dodgers last night:
Nice work by both the Rays and umpire Angel Hernandez being on top of the play.
The Hidden Ball Trick–perhaps coming to a Midwest League stadium near you. Hey, if MLB players fall for it, who's to say a minor league player wouldn't?
I've never not been happy to say this…Katy Perry, take it away!
(You're definitely going to be hearing this song on the radio soon…and a lot of it)
Thanks for reading. If you'd like to get in touch, you can reach me at firstname.lastname@example.com or on Twitter @MikeCouzens.


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Quick Jump Daily Digest
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Is Apple Hitting Below The Belt? "Mean-Spirited" New Ad |
Listed in: Tags: advertising, apple news
This is followed by a discussion on the many advantages of the Apple computer over the PC. Both come to the conclusion that Macs are "better" than PC's.
Being one who winds up using both platforms for different purposes, I find this particular ad offensive on a number of levels - mainly the stereotype of "stodgy middle-aged men." It is quite apparent that the target demographic is the young urban hipster - which is ironic, since in today's America, a vast majority of the 20-30 age group are struggling for mere economic survival, and are probably not thinking about the purchase of a new Mac - which tend to be far more expensive than a comparable PC - anytime soon.
In any event, every "young hipster" is (barring illness or accident) going to wind up being middle aged at some point. In fact, with a falling birthrate, the U.S. - like Canada - is rapidly going "gray." Within the next fifteen years, persons aged 50 and older will make up a majority of the U.S. population. Apple (and other corporations) would do well not to alienate this particular demographic, who are wielding increasing amounts of economic and political power.
This said, it's actually not bad, as far as the "art" of advertising goes. It doesn't necessarily make me want to rush out and buy a Mac, however. But - perhaps it will do it for you. Check out the ad for yourself at the Apple Website.
This story sucks? This story rocks! |
so what? —
2006-06-20 06:43
I've seen many of the different commercials, and I liked them. I don't even have a mac and I don't find it offensive. The commercials were entertaining, informative, and humorous. But thats just my opinion :)
bradon is an idiot... —
2006-06-20 07:05
Brandon: Nobody cares about your stupid opinion. People who like these ads are moronic hipsters who don't understand anything and follow path that the media tells them to follow. Get in line you lemming. Get a life.
Metaphors people, Metaphors —
2006-06-20 07:07
The ad isn't saying, "I use a Mac" and "I use a PC." It is merely pitting the "personalities" of the computers against each other. While PC's tend to be more for the business user, while a Mac tends to cater to creativity.
To call this ad offensive is the result of this country becoming to concerned about their feelings. What ever happened to "What doesn't kill you only makes you stringer?" Everyone has become overly sensitive, get over it and move on. I'm sure anyone can find something offensive in everything. What's next, calling the "walk" & "Don't Walk" signs offensive if they depict a man walking, since they neglect those who cannot walk. Grow a tougher skin.
To call this ad offensive is the result of this country becoming to concerned about their feelings. What ever happened to "What doesn't kill you only makes you stringer?" Everyone has become overly sensitive, get over it and move on. I'm sure anyone can find something offensive in everything. What's next, calling the "walk" & "Don't Walk" signs offensive if they depict a man walking, since they neglect those who cannot walk. Grow a tougher skin.
Misinterpretati on. —
2006-06-20 07:12
I think the two people in the ad are ment to be metaphors for a PC and a Mac and not necessarily the actual users of PCs and Macs. Macs always look hip and are designed very well not overlooking any small detail neither on the hardware nor on the software department and so the hip guy is repping the Mac. On the other hand, most PCs are just dull metal boxes with maybe some ugly plastic faceplates and mediocre design at best with an unsecure, alway in your way, operating sytem. Thus, the other non-hipster is fitting for a PC metaphor. Call me bias, since I indeed am a Mac user. However I would switch to Windows in a heartbeat if they could up-one on Apple. I don't see that happening.
#2 is a lemming. —
2006-06-20 07:35
Please shut up dude. Im sure you're following the crowd on that whole 'let's not follow the crowd' tip. You have to be smart enough to know what messages are media string pullers and which aren't. I think those ads are realistic... Im not a 'monoric hipster' as you put it and no doubt have more brains than you. Please analyze what you're gonna say before you say it and be able to back it up. You did neither.
Offensive? —
2006-06-20 07:45
How is this comecial offensive? I agree with MadHatter's interpretation. Infact the people in commecials say they're computers not the users. The writer of this post must have broken the commercial down really hard to find it offensive.
issues? —
2006-06-20 07:55
Get over it, its a commercial and as someone who also uses both platforms... it still comes down to games. My mac is simply more fun to use for my work then my pc is. If I could get my games on the mac then my pc days would be gone
#7 I agree. —
2006-06-20 08:03
Games are most definately an advantage that PCs have over macs. Should you want to have the advantage of a PC and a Mac, you could always run Windows on a Mac either via Boot Camp or Parallels. I would recommend the latter. And if all you're gonna do is game, the money is better spent on cheaper PC hardware... or if aesthetics are important as well, then a Mac is an all trick pony.
mac vs. pc —
2006-06-20 12:15
i like ctrl-alt-del's take on these comercials: http://cad-comic.com/comic.php?d=20060513
um —
2006-06-20 13:22
does anyone remember the old lemmings apple ads? with the business men lining up to jump off the cliff? that was the only apple ad where they ever insulted the user. they insult the hardware not the people, unlike sandisk with their iDont bull*****.
offensive? —
2006-06-20 13:35
hahaha, if you get offended by something like this then you know you're a nerd.
Realistic —
2006-06-20 14:46
I find the ads quite humorus. I mean seriously everything in the ads is realistic. You have the cool looking Mac and the dull PC. For the people that dis Macs and hate them in a heart-beat probably haven't even tried one. I bet I could switch 6 out of 10 PC users to Mac if I forced them to use a Mac for a month, and then let them decide if they wanted their PC back. You can't hate something you never tried.
"Mom, skiing is dumb and for dumb people!" "Have you even tried it?"
"Mom, skiing is dumb and for dumb people!" "Have you even tried it?"
wow. —
2006-06-20 19:26
Jesus Christ! Post the original article for God's sake! This was Dugg about a week ago. Now I know why you guys are banned from Digg.
lmfao. LMFFFAO. —
2006-06-21 03:22
Oh no! THE ADS ARE SO MEAN! What oh what shall we ever do! I think I'm going to cry! Oh my!
I piss on this ad —
2006-06-23 09:37
These ads are not offensive..just stupid. There are plenty of pc's that look just as good if not better then macs. The statements made in this ad make apple sound very ignorant about what people need a computer to do. Apple has the right to make themselves look stupid. Besides everyone knows linux is the real deal.. shizzle
righty —
2006-07-19 05:35
a mac is a PC...PC isnt a brand..PC stands for personal computer...Mac is a PC..because its a personal computer..a machine running linux is a PC...apple are idiots.
the comparison should have been 'im mac' and 'im windows'
the comparison should have been 'im mac' and 'im windows'
wrong —
2006-07-21 10:28
the term pc has for a long time reffered to a windows machine so i think you have non been paying attention so it is not apple that is wrong but you that is wrong

subset: commoncrawl


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Five things we asked Santa Clause to Bring MMA in 2012
Yes, Santa Clause is coming to town tonight and don't let those bah humbug types tell ya differently. We caught up with the jolly one just days before the busy day to talk shop and of course who's been naughty and nice. Try as we did, MMA Valor landed on the side of nice and before we let Santa return to the North Pole we had a few things to add to his list.


text:
Current regimens for treatment of Helicobacter pylori infection. | |
MedLine Citation:
PMID: 9604443 Owner: NLM Status: MEDLINE |
The aim of treatment of Helicobacter pylori is eradication of the bacterium from the foregut. Treatment is difficult because of the bacterium's habitat and acquired resistance to commonly used antibiotics. Dual therapy, the 2 week combination of omeprazole or ranitidine bismuth citrate and either amoxycillin or clarithromycin, eradicates H. pylori in 50-80% of patients. Classical triple therapy is commonly associated with side effects, is highly dependent on patient's compliance, and is significantly less effective in the presence of metronidazole-resistant strains of H. pylori, where eradication may be 50%. One week, twice daily, proton pump inhibitor (PPI)-based triple therapy regimens eradicate about 90% of H. pylori and are associated with mild side effects. Second line regimens include 7 days treatment with omeprazole and 3 times daily amoxycillin and metronidazole or a PPI-based quadruple therapy regimen. In some cases, the bacterium defeats all attempts at eradication. |
A Harris |
Related Documents
22151793 - Photodynamic therapy for actinic keratosis in organ transplant patients. 21768563 - Vacuum-assisted closure therapy for reconstruction of soft-tissue forehead defects. 22151793 - Photodynamic therapy for actinic keratosis in organ transplant patients. |
Publication Detail:
Type: Journal Article; Review |
Journal Detail:
Title: British medical bulletin Volume: 54 ISSN: 0007-1420 ISO Abbreviation: Br. Med. Bull. Publication Date: 1998 |
Date Detail:
Created Date: 1998-06-23 Completed Date: 1998-06-23 Revised Date: 2005-11-17 |
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID: 0376542 Medline TA: Br Med Bull Country: ENGLAND |
Other Details:
Languages: eng Pagination: 195-205 Citation Subset: IM |
Kent and Sussex Hospital, Royal Tunbridge Wells, UK. |
Export Citation:
APA/MLA Format Download EndNote Download BibTex |
MeSH Terms | |
administration & dosage Antitrichomonal Agents / therapeutic use* Clarithromycin / administration & dosage Drug Therapy, Combination / therapeutic use* Helicobacter Infections / drug therapy* Helicobacter pylori* Histamine H2 Antagonists / therapeutic use* Humans Omeprazole / administration & dosage, therapeutic use Proton Pumps / antagonists & inhibitors* Ranitidine / therapeutic use Stomach Diseases / drug therapy*, microbiology Treatment Outcome |
Chemical | |
Reg. No./Substance:
0/Antitrichomonal Agents; 0/Histamine H2 Antagonists; 0/Proton Pumps; 26787-78-0/Amoxicillin; 66357-35-5/Ranitidine; 73590-58-6/Omeprazole; 81103-11-9/Clarithromycin |
From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine
Previous Document: Clinical practice--breath tests.
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text:
Are you keeping up with STATter911.com on Facebook? You will find more fire & EMS news & videos by clicking here & choosing "like".
When we talk about PG County or PGFD we are referring to the jurisdiction bordering Washington, DC. But this video is from the other PG County, Prince George County, Virginia. This dash-cam and helmet-cam video is from DisputantaVFD and was shot at a structure fire on Saturday. Here's the description with the video:
01/26/13, at 0120 Disputanta VFD was dispatched First Due to a residential fire on Pumphouse Rd. Snow and Ice covered roads delayed response of Fire Units. Other units from Prince George VFD, Carson VFD, Burrowsville VFD assisted. Also PGEC Medic 8-1 (career)
The Engine and Tanker from Disputanta VFD arrived within 13 mins of Dispatch.
All occupants had exited the structure upon arrival.
The Fire Critic also posted this video.
Do you want to sell a rig? Click HERE to find out how with SellFireTrucks.com.
Also on STATter911 …
- Helmet-cam video, fireground audio: House fire in St. Mary's County, MD. – December 13, 2012
- Dash-cam, helmet-cam, radio traffic: Southern MD large garage/workshop fire. – March 24, 2013
- Early video: House fire in Escondido, CA. – September 30, 2013
- Early video & fireground audio: Busy night in Gary, Indiana with at least four simultaneous house fires. – July 31, 2012
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from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
- adj. Following one of various practices of having relationships with multiple partners, with the knowledge and consent of all involved.
- adj. Having personal beliefs regarding relationships that are compatible with polyamory, regardless of one's experience or current practices.
The term dates from the 1960s or earlier, a hybrid of the Greek poly for many and the Latin amor for love. (Wiktionary)


text:
What is an MFA worth? SPOILER: Nothing
Some particularly gag-inducing lines:
We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all writers are NOT treated equal; that some are undeservedly endowed by their university or publishing house with a certain level of haughty privilege; and that in the literary world we are entitled to a Byline, Publication and pursuit of an Audience.
And this:
This small press is in direct opposition to the mentality of our current cultural climate, both in the mainstream world of slick televised "reality" and pop music made by machines with pre-disintegrated The Tyrant's Foe, The People's Friend.components, easily sold and easily reproduced ad nauseam, to the large press of university magazines staffed by editors publishing grant recipients, workshop geniuses and other university magazine editor's obscure verse designed to puzzle and stymie the very people poetry is supposed to affect most.
Meanwhile, their daddies cough up another $40,000 in tuition a year while they suffer for their art.
Added bonus: More puking:
fringeLIT is an online literary journal devoted to up and coming writers with vision and skill. We publish work demonstrating raw energy and timelessness. We want work that is alive. This is a venue for serious writers frustrated with the tastes of the academic literary establishment.
I know one of the guys who regularly writes for this publication — I went to college with him. He started a year after me and is now close to going on his sixth year. His parents pay his tuition and he takes all of 12 credits a semester and then complains to everyone he knows about how hard school is.
Related posts:
1. A message for conservatives. Re: "Fairness Doctrineâ€Â
2. Bloggasm Interview: Daphne Gottlieb


text:
Marc by Marc Jacobs
Stripey Mademoiselle Danger Crossback Maillot
Fashion legend Marc Jacobs introduced his diffusion line, Marc by Marc Jacobs, with a spring 2001 runway show. He has gone on to win seven CFDA awards including Womenswear Designer of the Year, Accessories Designer of the Year and Menswear designer of the year.
- Self: 82% nylon 18% spandex
Lining: 76% poly 24% spandex
Padding: 100% poly - Hand wash cold
- Adjustable criss cross shoulder straps
- Lightly padded cups
- Modeled in size S. See fit guide for model's dimensions.
- Revolve Style No. MARC-WX44
- Manufacturer Style No. MJ77302


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I think I can, I think I can, I think I can.......
The downward spiral
October 24, 2002, 03:44:16 AM »
Hi All,
I've travelled further on the downward spiral. My left knee is now so horrible Im out of school. I have spent the last four days in bed with the icing machine with the few exceptions of crutching myself to the washroom and back. Thats it. Im feeling quite horrible, and my T2s are not helping much anymore. I'm now just making it through day by day. I can't think of how Im going to get through a years wait till my scope, but I guess I'll manage.
Life can sure be hard sometimes.
Anyways, I am not able to check my email or IMs as often being as Im almost always in bed. So if anyones wondering where I've went, thats where.
I hope everyone else is having a better time with there knees! Here's to better days!
(((hugs))) to everyone
ps, double (((hugs))) to you Linds. I know you're in a big rough patch too.
7 yrs of knee troubles (maltracking, maybe plica).
Finally found wonderful OS(#4)!
Diagnostic scope+biopsy schduled for sept 23,2003
Chronic joint pain,subluxations,microtraumas...
Posts: 4100
Liked: 1
worry about what you can change!
Re: The downward spiral
Reply #1 on:
October 24, 2002, 06:00:57 AM »
Hey Rhea, you'll come around. I know that you will... :-/ I know this sucks right now, I am in the same boat, except, I am not quite bed ridden. However, it's better to take care of yourself now. Maybe you should look into some better pain managemet. They are sending me back to Physio to try and get this knee under control . It's totally out of control right now and I am loosing muscle tone in that right leg..faster than you can say..it.
:oit sucks..jill is going to be mad, but it hurts so much, I didn't want to go back. But now I know they are going to make me
Take care and I will talk to you soon
BIG HUGS, wiht super hero pain relieveing powers.
Take care
1997 Scope RK
2002 Scope and hematoma evac RK
May 06 Fall from Horse, partial ACL tear and meniscus injury, Tibial plateau injury
2007 Scope, Plica Excision and Debride LK
2009/2010- Possibly Ankylosing Spondylitis?
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I guess you can't teach an old quad new tricks
Re: The downward spiral
Reply #2 on:
October 24, 2002, 07:35:27 AM »
Rhea, I am so sorry to hear how bad things are for you. I wish I could visit you and cheer you up. I think of the changes that have come over you in the past 8 months and I hate it! I'm trying to think of a way to make you smile Rhea. Ok hows this? Hello, If any of Rhea's uncaring Dr.'s are reading this post, you may not know this but you are supposed to CARE about your patients and help them above all else. (((HUGS))) Theresa.
L ACL Recon. L lat. meniscus tear 1991, R Dislocated 1996, R ACL partial tear, MCL tear 08/01, R Chondroplasty 2/14/02, R Lateral Release-Medial Reefing-Chondroplasty 12/3/02.
Re: The downward spiral
Reply #3 on:
October 24, 2002, 12:48:28 PM »
Cheer up rhea its a bad patch abd we all know how you feel I too have spent the last 2 days in bed my knee collapses everytime i walk on it but have no idea why.
These horrible times seem insumountable at times but we are all here for you
love H xxx
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glad to have my knee back again
Re: The downward spiral
Reply #4 on:
October 24, 2002, 04:21:57 PM »
Dear Rhea--
It makes me so sad to think that you, who have cheered so many of us when we have been down, are now down yourself.
What can we do to help?
Do you think that I might be possible to get Dr Fowler to do the scope sooner?
I am sending you all the positive vibes that I possibly can
Take care, Rhea, we all need you!!!
Mary Jane
plica excision 05/01, followed by OATS 09/02
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Re: The downward spiral
Reply #5 on:
October 24, 2002, 05:09:17 PM »
You can't spend a year in bed and not using the leg waiting for your scope. You have to keep your quads as strong as possible, or recovery will be next to impossible from any surgery, especially bigger ones. By laying in bed and not using it (crutches) your quads are going to start to waste away, which will in turn make your tracking worse, and pain worse. A vicious cycle, I know, but you have to do something now, before it gets worse.
You could go back to PT and try and strengthen your quads which might help your tracking and pain. PT might also have some other suggestions for pain management. Worth a shot. If you were not comfortable with your old PT, investigate other ones in the area. I live in a very small town North of Toronto and we have 3 PT clinics alone, so I am sure there are other ones you could go to. If you still don't find one you like, you can find out some exercises that can strenthen your quads and do them religiously every day. I know they hurt, but they do help your tracking.
If that is still not an option you have to contact Dr. Fowler's office and let them know you can't wait a year and you either need to bump your scope up to a much sooner date, or else you need to see the Dr. again for some more suggestions by him on how to live through the next year. If he can't see you or can't move up your appt (considerably), then I would consider seeing someone else. He might be good. But if he isn't available and able to see you in a reasonable time frame, you are just going to do more damage to your knees, and a lot of damage is not reversable! So maybe consider seeing another doctor. Maybe Dr. Fowler could even refer you to another one with a shorter waiting list. Just ideas to keep in mind. I waited so long to get my knees looked at that by the time I did, the damage was done. I really wish I had of done something even 6 months sooner, probably would have made a difference!
Keep these things in mind, keep your head up and do your best to make it to school when you can, and if you can't make it there, study from home. Education is everything in life.. without it, it is hard to get anywhere great. Best of luck. Think positive. Be assertive and tell the Doctor what you need.
Keep us in the loop on how it is going.
Lateral Release along with patella cleanup and bone spur shaving - Early September 2002 - Had a blood clot (DVT) as a complication.
TTT, Scope, and LR in mid June 2003.
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Re: The downward spiral
Reply #6 on:
October 24, 2002, 05:30:04 PM »
I agree whole heartedly with AC. You cannot spend a year in this condition! By the time you get to surgery, your muscles won't be able to recover.
Call OS office and keep calling until they come up with another option to that kind of a wait!! There are MANY qualified OSs out there, and it may be time to find an alternative.
Keep your chin up and start nagging someone!!! LOL
7 arthroscopies on both knees since 1991; many torn menesci and plica syndrome; TTT 5/23/02 for maltracking patella. Screws removed on 4/16/03!!!
Heather M.
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Re: The downward spiral
Reply #7 on:
October 24, 2002, 08:52:01 PM »
You said you were waiting for your diagnostic scope and that was next September. You also said Dr. Fowler thought you needed a TTT, which is open surgery....is he going to do the TTT at the time of the scope if it's necessary? That wasn't clear.
If not, you definitely can't wait 2 years to get this taken care of!!!
I've been told by a 2nd opinion doctor that I need a TTT as well, and believe me, I just want to get it over with. I'm walking with one crutch again because I can't take the pain and popping otherwise. I can't imagine doing this for the next year....there has to be a better way.
You've shown how very creative and persistent you can be in getting the very best out of Canada's public health system (even diagnosing and referring yourself to the best of the best!) That took guts and determination, and those two things will see you through to getting a solutin for your current situation, too.
You are probably having a flare, and we all know how miserable those are, but is it possible to start pestering Dr. Fowler's staff (very nicely)? I think you could get in a lot earlier, especially if you have an appointment and Dr. Fowler sees the state you are in.
Take care of yourself and try to get some rest. If all else fails, you might want to seek some formal pain management assistance, because it can make the waiting more bearable. There is no honor or dignity in this kind of suffering, it just plain hurts!!
Scope #1: LR, part. menisectomy w/cyst, chondroplasty
#2-#5: Lysis of adhesions/scar tissue, AIR, patellar tendon debridement, infections, MUA, insufflation
#6: IT band release / Z-Plasty, synovectomy, LOA/AIR, chondroplasty
2006 Arthrofibrosis, patella baja
Posts: 3680
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Re: The downward spiral
Reply #8 on:
October 24, 2002, 10:09:09 PM »
Rhea: There's not much I can say that hasn't already been said. Just wanted to let you know you're in my prayers. Hope this flare-up quiets down soon. (I think the changing weather must make things worse. My knees are killing me today, even the "good" one!)
Torn quad tendon repair & VMO advancement 4/99, MUA with LOA 10/99, Patella baja and arthrofibrosis, LR & medial release & LOA 5/01, LOA & chondroplasty 6/03,TKR on 11/06, MUA 12/06. From perfect knees to a TKR in 7 years, all from a fall on a wet floor...and early undiagnosed scar tissue.
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ER nursing rules !!!
Re: The downward spiral
Reply #9 on:
October 24, 2002, 10:50:01 PM »
Hey Rhea,
I can't believe you have to wait another year to get a scope
! Jee, how lucky are we over here, on some days you even don't have to make an appt to see the OS, when you need a scope you have it done in the next 3 weeks or so. Boy am I lucky I am not in the US/Ca for that matter, although USA OS'es probably know more about the latest techniques (I have a good OS b/c he goes to the US regulary to knee conferences etc.). Anyway, I hope you will see the light at the end of the tunnel sooner than expected. As for the rest, I do agree you can't stay in bed waiting for your scope. Do quad exercices, and do something about that health care system! It sucks!
(((((Hugs))))) to you Rhea and everyone who is down at the moment. Seems a lot of us are going through a difficult time now.
Greetz Helena
Bilat patellar malalignment/PFdysplasia
00/06/83 L wrist #
11/12/00 L knee LR + chondroplasty
21/08/02 L knee TTT
02/03/04 L knee stretched PCL
11/09/07 L ankle dislocation/medial avulsion #
25/05/09 L ankle medial avulsion # AGAIN!
05/06/13 R ankle dislocation
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Re: The downward spiral
Reply #10 on:
October 24, 2002, 11:36:18 PM »
Hey Rhea
Im sorry things are so bad just now. Hang in there, you have to feel better soon. I agree with all the advice above. You really need some concrete support now, in terms of pain management and being bumped up the waiting list if at all possible. You are way too young to be bedridden cos of your knee!
Virtual hugs Rhea
04/07/02 RL - patella tendon realignment, LR and meniscus trimmed. RSD set up home shortly afterwards....typical.
Posts: 804
Liked: 0
I think I can, I think I can, I think I can.......
Re: The downward spiral
Reply #11 on:
October 25, 2002, 02:27:29 AM »
You guys are all so wonderful. Im still feeling terrible, but I can't tell you how nice it was to log in here and read all of your beautiful messages. Thanks for cheering this old bodied' gal up.
You people mean so much to me. I don't know how I could get through this without you all. Thank you.
I am still doing horridly. Mom got me into the car last night for a quick spin. First time I was out of the house in 5 days. Mr. lefty is no better. I am not up to going to PT, but am doing the excersises I can tolerate (leg lifts ankle pumps, and stretches) to keep up my muscle tone. Its missery, but what can one do? My mother phoned the clinic yesterday and they said they were sorry, but there are 500 people ahead of me on the cancellation list, and the people who are going in for surgery now have been waiting over a year. If this continues on for much longer Im going to get her or maybe my GP to tell them its an emergency. Maybe I'll be in there quicker. I see the rheumy Nov. 6th and I am hoping hoping hoping that once my RA is taken care of, maybe I can battle the whole knee thing better. The rheumy I see is (I think) at the arthritic and *sports medicine* campus of this hospital. Maybe the rheumy could get me in to someone fast? Who knows...its hard to say.
I've got to go lye down again. I just wanted to say thank you everyone so much. Your support helps me "keep on truckin".
Thanks again. I hope everyone is doing better soon!
ps, My OS first wants to do the scope to confirm exactly what my problem is, although they suspect maltracking. If its something that can be fixed with the scope he will fix it, but if I do need the TTT he'd schdule that surgery later.
7 yrs of knee troubles (maltracking, maybe plica).
Finally found wonderful OS(#4)!
Diagnostic scope+biopsy schduled for sept 23,2003
Chronic joint pain,subluxations,microtraumas...
Posts: 4100
Liked: 1
worry about what you can change!
Re: The downward spiral
Reply #12 on:
October 25, 2002, 02:48:40 AM »
Hey Rhea,
everyone is right that you definately need to keep that leg strength up, what about those 300 leg raises that Fowler wanted you to do each day!
I know it's tough, but you are tough too, and if you get some strength back, your knees might feel a little better...Maybe.
The whole waiting list thing sucks, but it's life...I mean for all those other people they could be in just as much pain as you. You could try the it's an emergency thing..but if it's not life threatening, it isn't an emergency. Unfortunately with our health care system...waiting periods exist. :-/
I hope that you are feeling better soon Rhea, I totally know where you are coming from, I am gimping around, going to be spending tommorow lieing low.
Tkae care and talk to you soon Girl
Hugs and Healing
PS I think you need to get some pain management going, it's the only thing that is going to get you through this next yera
1997 Scope RK
2002 Scope and hematoma evac RK
May 06 Fall from Horse, partial ACL tear and meniscus injury, Tibial plateau injury
2007 Scope, Plica Excision and Debride LK
2009/2010- Possibly Ankylosing Spondylitis?
Posts: 804
Liked: 0
I think I can, I think I can, I think I can.......
Re: The downward spiral
Reply #13 on:
October 27, 2002, 04:42:28 PM »
Well Im in my 8th day of this wonderful knee agony. The RA in my shoulders, elbows, wrists, and fingers is crying out for attention because of the brief crutch usage each day. And now my right knee is starting to follow the left. Not nearly as bad, but its wanting to follow. I've decided that after I get my RA under control (rheumy Nov. 6th) I'm going to go to our local pain clinic and see what can be done for the knees. These T2s are about as good for pain as smarties. All I can say is thank goodness for my ice machine. My mom has become an ice machine filler upper pro. I've emailed all of my teachers about my situation so maybe I won't fall behind to much. I don't know how much work I'll be able to do. Its hard to do much other than lay in bed crocheting to pass the time hoping tomorow will be better.
:-/Hmmm maybe tomorow will be better. :-/
Hopefully we will all have better days soon.
(((hugs))) to everyone.
7 yrs of knee troubles (maltracking, maybe plica).
Finally found wonderful OS(#4)!
Diagnostic scope+biopsy schduled for sept 23,2003
Chronic joint pain,subluxations,microtraumas...
Forum Faithful
Posts: 249
Liked: 0
User's Text
Re: The downward spiral
Reply #14 on:
October 27, 2002, 07:12:46 PM »
I am so sorry you are having such a tough time. I think we have all had those really bad patches when all you want to do is dig a big hole and curl up in it. Hang in there. This, too shall pass. I think you were given some great advice. Maybe you could have your GP or rheumy dr. help with managing your pain during this year, maybe some stronger medication for emergency days like now, or electrical stimulation, and even visualization techniques. I know there were days when only my ice would help and I had it on 24 hours a day. There are going to be uphill days and downhill days this year- here's hoping that the rest will be downhill.
LR on left knee 8/01, LR & Chondroplasty on right knee 1/02.. had OATS procedure 9/26/02. Possible torn meniscus in left knee, but battling breast cancer, so knee is on hold!
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text: Re: KeyIDs and Key Fingerprints1997-10-16 22:12:31Hi Hal, Well I really have to say that I don't like this. It basically blows months of work in the area of keylookup optimization techniques that I have developed for my products. Due to the uniqueness of the keyid in a given keyring and the exposure of the keyids in both encryption & signature blocks I have been able to greatly improve PGP performance both on the client and sever. I think that perhaps you have undervalued the "hint" feature of the keyid. Key Server Identifiers & URL's are of only limited use (communicating to the keyservers). Variable KeyId's blow KeyId uniqueness out of the water. should id 123456, id 5456, & id 456 be considered three unique keys or two unique keys ?? How will PGP match sig block & encrypt blocks to the appropriate key when due to the reduced key size that match is ambiguous?? Test every possessible key?? I see very little justification for increasing key matching & message processing times. Then we have two golden rules: - KISS: Keep It Simple Stupid - Don't fix what ain't broke There are only 2 cases where KeyID exposure is a problem and this is only in the encryption block: -- BCC's: I have discussed my solution to handleing BCC's in an automated encryption system both on the mailing lists/newsgroups and with several of the PGP staff. Any e-mail message that contains BCC's a separate message needs to be sent to each BCC recipient and encrypting it with only the key for that recipient. -- Anonymous Posts: any "hint" provided in the encryption block is a decrease in security. For such messages all identifying information needs to be stripped from the message including the keyID. Sorry but if Phil is interested in going this route then he needs to show that the benefits of doing so outweighs the cost of implementation. Right now I see the benefits as very low and the costs very high. In <199710170059(_dot_)RAA00944(_at_)s20(_dot_)term1(_dot_)sb(_dot_)rain(_dot_)org>, on 10/16/97 at 07, Hal Finney <hal(_at_)rain(_dot_)org> said: Another thread pointed out the difference between keyIDs and key fingerprints as ways of referring to keys. Currently, keyIDs and key fingerprints are defined somewhat differently for RSA keys than for newer keys. The RSA definitions are a legacy for backwards compatibility, while the new methods have improved properties. With RSA keys, the keyID is the low order 64 bits of the RSA modulus. It turns out that it is trivial to generate keys which match a target key's low 64 bits, hence a keyID is not at all a unique handle for referring to a key. (This is sometimes referred to as the "dead beef" attack, after someone demonstrated that they could generate a key with a keyID whose low 32 bits were 0xdeadbeef.) In most cases, keyIDs are not used in a context where this forgeability is a problem. The most common use of a keyID is to help find a signature or decryption key. It can be thought of as a "hint" to point the software to the right key. However only one key will actually work to decrypt or signature-verify the message. If the hint turns out to be ambiguous, it can still be useful. (We anticipate adding other kinds of key-finding hints in the future, perhaps URLs or key server identifiers.) The RSA key fingerprint is intended to be more difficult to forge. It is an MD5 hash on the numeric data of the RSA modulus and exponent. However it turns out that this is not completely immune to forgery, as the hash value is not sensitive to where the modulus ends and the exponent begins. You could have different keys with some modulus data moved to the exponent, and they would have the same RSA fingerprint. These problems were solved in the new keyID and fingerprint algorithms introduced in PGP 5.0. They apply to the non-RSA keys, presently the DSS and ElGamal keys. The fingerprint is still a hash over the key data, but this time the entire public key packet is hashed. This includes length fields which make it effectively impossible to have two keys which hash to the same fingerprint. Furthermore, the fingerprint hash function is changed from MD5, which is now suspected to be weak, to SHA-1, a newer, larger, and more secure hash. The new fingerprints are therefore 20 bytes long compared to 16 bytes for the old ones. KeyIDs for the new keys are defined to be the rightmost 64 bits of the fingerprint. The only way to generate two new keys with the same keyID would be to keep trying at random until two of them happened to match, a much more difficult problem. Phil Zimmermann has suggested that we generalize the keyID concept to allow it to be variable length. Rather than fixing it as a 64 bit substring of the fingerprint, we would make it a variable sized substring. (Phil would also prefer that it be a left substring rather than a right substring, for readability.) This allows the software to be flexible about how specific it needs to be when it refers to a key. For most purposes, the 64 bit keyID is about right. To be completely specific, the keyID could be expanded to be the full 160 bits of the fingerprint. An interesting case arises where you might want the keyID to be smaller. In some contexts it is a privacy leak that an encrypted message contains the keyID of the key which can decrypt it. In that case you might want the keyID to be just a few bits long. (You'd probably want it to be a few bits rather than zero bits, because the recipient frequently has more than one decryption key. Leaking a few bits of keyID doesn't significantly hurt privacy, since there would still be a very large number of keys which would match. But it will simplify the decryption process, since it will generally still allow a single decryption key to be tried.) Doing this would allow us to merge the two concepts of keyID and key fingerprint into one variable-sized keyID. The actual number of bits shown would then depend on the context in which it was used. It would be interesting to hear if there are other cases where being able to vary the size and specificity of the keyID would be appropriate. Are there any sizes besides small (about 3 bits, perhaps), medium (64 bits), and large (160 bits) which seem useful? Hal Finney hal(_at_)pgp(_dot_)com hal(_at_)rain(_dot_)org -- --------------------------------------------------------------- William H. Geiger III http://www.amaranth.com/~whgiii Geiger Consulting Cooking With Warp 4.0 Author of E-Secure - PGP Front End for MR/2 Ice PGP & MR/2 the only way for secure e-mail. OS/2 PGP 2.6.3a at: http://www.amaranth.com/~whgiii/pgpmr2.html ---------------------------------------------------------------