Several times, he has reversed direction ← FREE KRAUT!

Several times, he has reversed direction 286

  1. In college, I played flugelhorn for the Generous Procrastinators
  2. Ugh.

  3. there is trade interest in Balfour
  4. Of course Pujols is backloaded!
  5. Might signing Madson to a 2y deal and shipping him out in July make sense?
  6. Jeezus, Marine Layer is all over the place on the redev-blowup thing. This is good news for John McCain Lew Wolff!
  7. Wolf confirmed moving south to new territory

286 thoughts on “Several times, he has reversed direction

  1. aardvark Dec 30,2011 7:51 am

    “I’d be lying if I didn’t say it’s exciting,” Bailey said by phone. “Everyone knows what direction the A’s are taking…”

    Translation: “thank god I escaped that shit show in Oakland. Thanks Billy.”

    • elcroata Dec 30,2011 10:26 am || Up

      Playing in Boston was a pleasure,” he said. “Fenway has so much history, the fans are so supportive and they get into the game. It’s tough to leave something like that, especially when it’s your first team. But whoever you’re with at the time, you’ve got to focus.”

      well, at least Reddick is equally enthused about the trade

      Because survival is insufficient
      • Future Ed Dec 30,2011 10:29 am || Up

        other than playing time, what is there to look forward to from a professional players point of view?

        PS josh, there were 4 WS won in the non historic facility to which you are moving.

        I have $5. No I don\'t.
        • elcroata Dec 30,2011 10:44 am || Up

          Knowing that you can strike out four times, commit three errors and trip on the dugout steps, and yet nobody will notice?

          Because survival is insufficient
          • Future Ed Dec 30,2011 10:46 am || Up

            no dugout railing, you can enter and exit wherever you please

            I have $5. No I don\'t.
        • DFA Dec 30,2011 11:20 am || Up

          He says nothing about the team winning there.

          In play, run(s)! Talk dirty to me gamecast, talk dirty. - Nevermoor
          • Future Ed Dec 30,2011 11:23 am || Up

            I think its implied by “history” that the A’s stadium does not have any.

            I have $5. No I don\'t.
            • WaddellCanseco Dec 30,2011 3:02 pm || Up

              Well in a couple of years it won’t.

          • jeepers Dec 31,2011 3:24 pm || Up

            Wouldn’t have much to say after this past September.

  2. ptbnl Dec 30,2011 7:59 am
    If this is His will, He's a son of a bitch.
  3. FreeSeatUpgrade Dec 30,2011 8:31 am

    6. That’s what happens when you don’t actually know what you’re talking about, and just pass on wisdom received from others. Examples: he lists “your municipality’s General Fund and school district” as a winner, which is utter crap. The reason the State did this was as a budget savings; there’s not a remotely equal amount of money going back to localities. What ML writes wasn’t true the many times the feds did it (sending formerly federal program responsibilities to states without the funds to run them) and it’s not true here either.

    He’s also taking an awful lot of vengeful glee at the Baseball Oakland folks for having their dreams crushed, which is unseemly.

    "Kraut will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no kraut."
    • linusalf Dec 30,2011 8:58 am || Up

      Until someone tells me otherwise I assume the ways and means to get VC are dead, but what about the Coliseum site? Isn’t the land already owned by the city/JPA and most of the infrastructure in place? Those were the things that ReDFuns were supposed to pay for. While the project wasn’t immune to the 86’ing of ReDfun the effects wouldn’t be as bad as VC or any other projects.

    • dmoas Dec 30,2011 9:49 am || Up

      Yeah, his slant there was a too over the top. He was definitely wearing his bias there.

  4. MikeV Dec 30,2011 8:41 am

    2.

    Sweeney said Boston manager Bobby Valentine and GM Ben Cherington told him they think his line-drive stroke is well-suited for Fenway.

    Since when does a LHB attempting to spoon the ball over the third baseman’s head = line drive???

    And I have to say: mikev is one of my favorite people on here -slusser.

    Thanks, and go As.

    • Future Ed Dec 30,2011 9:04 am || Up

      HE is going to develop a power. Just look at him

      I have $5. No I don\'t.
      • andeux Dec 30,2011 9:12 am || Up

        The power of slap-hitting?

        TINSTAAFK
      • Glorious Mundy Dec 30,2011 9:57 am || Up

        He’s too handsome NOT to hit line drives, if we’re being honest.

        • WaddellCanseco Dec 30,2011 10:03 am || Up

          He’ll be played by Brad Pitt in a movie

    • monkeyball Dec 30,2011 9:35 am || Up

      Scouting is overrated

      you better hope to God you don't show up in this little community, because you'll wish you had never come
      • Future Ed Dec 30,2011 9:40 am || Up

        If the A’s don’t employ a reverse giambi shift on him, its proof positive of a conspiracy to buy the red sox vote for moving to San Jose

        I have $5. No I don\'t.
  5. spwc2005 (G_S) Dec 30,2011 9:41 am

    Now that I’m not a partisan baseball fan anymore, I’m starting to think that the business model behind the pro game really really sucks and I hate it. It makes me wonder if baseball would be best played once a week, with one pitcher allowed per team, and no relievers except in case of injury.

    \"Weren\'t you already aware the Kay is already writing everyone\'s story? We\'re all just characters who believe we are real. Things make more sense now, don\'t they. Be honest.\"- DMOAS
    • WaddellCanseco Dec 30,2011 10:04 am || Up

      Why wouldn’t a crappy pitcher just fake injury? Isn’t the more effective way to limit rosters to 10 players?

      • spwc2005 (G_S) Dec 30,2011 10:06 am || Up

        10 players with one multi-positional sub.

        I like it.

        The players should also be celibate and live in a monastery the other six days of the week.

        \"Weren\'t you already aware the Kay is already writing everyone\'s story? We\'re all just characters who believe we are real. Things make more sense now, don\'t they. Be honest.\"- DMOAS
        • monkeyball Dec 30,2011 10:40 am || Up

          We’re getting Desme back!

          you better hope to God you don't show up in this little community, because you'll wish you had never come
  6. spwc2005 (G_S) Dec 30,2011 9:47 am

    K’s brilliant/insane thought of the day:

    A decent full-employment WPA-style program could totally be done for a trillion a year. If you cut the military’s balls off and absorb a couple of million displaced military people into the program, you could do it for 1.25 trillion.

    I call it my Paul/Roosevelt plan.

    \"Weren\'t you already aware the Kay is already writing everyone\'s story? We\'re all just characters who believe we are real. Things make more sense now, don\'t they. Be honest.\"- DMOAS
    • WaddellCanseco Dec 30,2011 10:03 am || Up

      What do we get for this $1.25 TT? A really good neighborhood watch?

      • spwc2005 (G_S) Dec 30,2011 10:11 am || Up

        Art, infrastructure projects, expanded social services, and the end of unemployment as we know it.

        Of course, my other brilliant/insane thought of the day is to hunt the homeless and poor for sport/reality TV filler.

        \"Weren\'t you already aware the Kay is already writing everyone\'s story? We\'re all just characters who believe we are real. Things make more sense now, don\'t they. Be honest.\"- DMOAS
        • sslinger Dec 30,2011 10:13 am || Up

          #Hunger Games

          • the llama Dec 30,2011 10:36 am || Up

            I just read that, and while I liked the first part from a trashy-pulpy scifi perspective, I can’t shake the feeling that I was reading a Twilight book toward the end.

            • sslinger Dec 30,2011 11:06 am || Up

              Agreed.

              • the llama Dec 30,2011 11:36 am || Up

                Ok, not just me. The second part wasn’t bad enough to wreck the whole thing, though.

                • YonYonson Dec 30,2011 2:14 pm || Up

                  Yeah, a coworker recommended it to me. I didn’t care about the romance part at all. Then I saw the series next to Twilight and I was like WTF did you convince me to read?

                  "Ain't no man can avoid being born average, but there ain't no man got to be common." — Satchel Paige
            • batgirl Dec 31,2011 9:17 pm || Up

              I just finished it and I liked it. Though you’re right the romance angle was on the Twilight side. I have trouble imagining how they pitched it to the publisher. They fight to the death, yes, but it’s for kids!

              Also, I listened to it on audio book, and it’s read by the female shrink from Law & Order.

              • vignette17 Jan 1,2012 12:53 pm || Up

                I recently read them. I quite liked the first two, but found the third lacking. But unlike Twilight, the love triangle isn’t the focus of the books.

                • DFA Jan 1,2012 12:55 pm || Up

                  But is Pants the main character?

                  In play, run(s)! Talk dirty to me gamecast, talk dirty. - Nevermoor
                • vignette17 Jan 1,2012 3:29 pm || Up

                  I’m afraid I don’t quite get this reference.

                • batgirl Jan 1,2012 3:46 pm || Up

                  Me either. Listening to the audiobook, I couldn’t figure out the spelling of Peeta. I was going back and forth between “Pita” and “Peta” but I knew neither was correct.

                • vignette17 Jan 1,2012 4:58 pm || Up

                  I do like the name Peeta for a baker’s son…

                • batgirl Jan 1,2012 5:05 pm || Up

                  Me too. And I loved his special skills. And I adore the fact that Katniss is a female bad ass.

                • vignette17 Jan 1,2012 5:12 pm || Up

                  It was the attention to detail brought to the simple idea of a true “Survivor” that made me like it. The actual Hunger Games don’t start until half way through the first book. When the third book felt so rushed, I was disappointed.

                • DFA Jan 1,2012 5:19 pm || Up
                  In play, run(s)! Talk dirty to me gamecast, talk dirty. - Nevermoor
              • the llama Jan 1,2012 9:45 pm || Up

                I’m halfway through the second book now, and it’s keeping me reading. Just enough pulpy action for me; a little predictable in places; the romance thing is kind of working now that you see the pressure she is under.

                And yes, I quite like the sci-fi female lead without resorting to vixen-dom. Katniss is no Susan Calvin, but who is?

        • WaddellCanseco Dec 30,2011 1:29 pm || Up

          Can unemployed soldiers to all those things? Sculpt? Build Mag-Lev systems, care for abused children? Won’t their PTSD get in the way?

          • spwc2005 (G_S) Dec 30,2011 2:02 pm || Up

            The key is to make the jobs for the worst afflicted/dumbest/dreggiest of society into therapeutic/educational situations that they get paid to be a part of, as opposed to being patients or recipients or victims or parasites. Eventually, if people heal/grow/learn, they’ll provide more value in return and take up less social resources to keep them afloat.

            Either that, or fund the dregs of society on a “Street News” model. The hoboes get newspapers for free and sell them for money. My model though, would be called “Drugs For Dregs,” in which the CIA would give the hoboes drugs, which they could consume and/or sell for money. It would drive the prices down drastically and cut the cartels’ legs out from under them. If demand is too high to acquire cheaply from foreign suppliers, grow/make the rest here at home, taking people out of the unemployment line and putting them back to work. Yeah, it’s a subsidized program, but it could be offset through other savings elsewhere.

            Anyway, this is all silly, because we haven’t even decided what the hell our purpose is as a species yet, and we don’t know if we value our data, technology, and creations higher than we value ourselves. Call me back and/or send me to the ovens then.

            \"Weren\'t you already aware the Kay is already writing everyone\'s story? We\'re all just characters who believe we are real. Things make more sense now, don\'t they. Be honest.\"- DMOAS
            • FreeSeatUpgrade Dec 30,2011 2:20 pm || Up

              I really agree with the first paragraph here. Historically our fed jobs programs post-WW2 have done OK with people who go into them with some skill sets, like industries which have aged badly like car manufacturing or typewriter repair. But those programs have failed almost without exception to get employment for the hardest-to-serve (preferred euphemism for “the worst afflicted/dumbest/dreggiest”), because ultimately they’re always market-based…govt pays to train and serve, but then they still have to land a job with a private employer with little incentive to hire an ex-felon or homeless person.

              Hell, I’d have govt pay everyone to do almost anything in times of high unemployment. It just makes good economic sense.

              "Kraut will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no kraut."
              • WaddellCanseco Dec 30,2011 2:58 pm || Up

                Well it only makes sense if the output is useful. I refuse to believe that anyone is so drug infested and uneducated that they’re completely useless. I would insist on finding a use for them. I wouldn’t have the government subsidize useless tasks.

                • FreeSeatUpgrade Dec 30,2011 3:04 pm || Up

                  Neither I nor Keynes agree with you. While useful output would be nice and should certainly be a goal (roads bridges fiberoptics etc etc), the mere act of employing people, circulating their salaries into the economy and removing (some of) their drain on the existing social safety net, is a clear positive for an economy in recession. I sure hope the US tries a stimulus package one of these days.

                  "Kraut will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no kraut."
                • WaddellCanseco Dec 30,2011 4:50 pm || Up

                  I don’t know this “Keynes” person. Was she in the All American Girls Professional Baseball League?

                • spwc2005 (G_S) Dec 30,2011 5:34 pm || Up

                  Not even Annabelle Lee could strike her out!

                  \"Weren\'t you already aware the Kay is already writing everyone\'s story? We\'re all just characters who believe we are real. Things make more sense now, don\'t they. Be honest.\"- DMOAS
                • nevermoor Dec 31,2011 1:09 am || Up

                  Right. An improvement in policy would be to dump money out of helicopters. Anything better targeted that that would be an even bigger improvement

                  "There's never enough time to do all the nothing you want"
                • WaddellCanseco Dec 31,2011 2:16 am || Up

                  Wouldn’t this just cause inflation without increasing real wealth?

                • nevermoor Dec 31,2011 3:38 am || Up

                  Nope. People would buy, companies would produce, etc. etc. In an economy at its current state where “natural” inflation would be negative, you are not going to see the inflation you would at other times (and, in fact, people who have warned of inflation have uniformly been wrong since the crisis started). It would certainly “weaken” the dollar against foreign currencies, but that would be good too.

                  "There's never enough time to do all the nothing you want"
                • WaddellCanseco Dec 31,2011 7:16 pm || Up

                  Isn’t this basically what’s happening now, with the easy money policy. The only reason there’s no massive inflation is that there’s no demand for anything.

                  I believe in the old adage “You can’t push on a string”.

                  I’m not in agreement on a weaker dollar being good. It makes commodities more expensive for us and that’s bad for US businesses that need them to make things and for less well off people who drive cars and heat houses. The latter isn’t a big deal in California, but it sure is here.

                • nevermoor Dec 31,2011 7:59 pm || Up

                  Weaker dollar attracts money from other countries, while keeping internal prices unchanged. Exporting is a way to increase demand for domestic goods.

                  And no, easy money policy is insufficient in the case of this crisis (for the first time since the depression), which is why more is necessary.

                  "There's never enough time to do all the nothing you want"
                • WaddellCanseco Dec 31,2011 8:09 pm || Up

                  1) It does not keep internal prices unchanged as long as energy and metals are largely imported. This affects food, transportation and manufactured goods

                  2) A weaker dollar does not attract money from other countries if it is expected to continue weakening. Nobody wants to invest in a depreciating asset. It’s only if it is expected to strengthen that it attracts investment

                • nevermoor Dec 31,2011 8:14 pm || Up

                  Not invest, buy.

                  If a US made widget costs $6, you’re more likely to buy that if you can get $6 for EUR 3 than for EUR 4. Regardless of what will happen in the future.

                  Fair enough on import-affected goods, but the flip side is that it gives national competition a leg up against those foreign imports, expanding demand for their products (which have a higher multiplier anyway since the purchase price is likely re-spent in country)

                  "There's never enough time to do all the nothing you want"
                • WaddellCanseco Jan 1,2012 10:49 am || Up

                  Hmmm….you’re talking basically about cutting prices on American goods and services. I agree you don’t want to price yourself out of the market, but I’d much rather our goods were the most desirable rather than the cheapest.

                  I don’t think Americans are all that good at being the mass market leader in low cost stuff. We’re a feisty, creative and independent minded bunch. We’re better at innovation than solid quality/low cost/mass market stuff.

                  It’s OK to cut prices in a recession I guess, but in the long run I don’t we’d be successful as the world’s Wal-Mart.

                  Plus we’re full of ourselves and believe in our own exceptionalism and all that.

                • nevermoor Jan 1,2012 4:00 pm || Up

                  All of this is current-crisis focused. Post-crisis I think we should reestablish a surplus by adding a tax bracket and removing loopholes.

                  "There's never enough time to do all the nothing you want"
                • WaddellCanseco Jan 1,2012 4:36 pm || Up

                  The trouble with the current crisis is that no matter how much we damage our currency the Euro goes one step worse. It’s hard to keep up with them.

                  You mean a higher tax bracket? I think that’ll probably happen. Removing loopholes is harder. People just love ’em. You’ll get a fight there. People seem to want to remove all loopholes except the ones they benefit from.

                • nevermoor Jan 1,2012 4:44 pm || Up

                  Obviously those are hard (there’s an entire party that cares more about not raising a penny more revenue than any other issue besides beating Obama), but they’re the right policy. And you’re absolutely right that everyone loves the loopholes they benefit from.

                  "There's never enough time to do all the nothing you want"
                • Soaker Jan 1,2012 5:21 pm || Up

                  Some cost basis reporting requirements tightened up starting today. That will help reduce the easiest cheating method available to the rich and the masses alike. The top rates on capital gains and qualified dividends are still 15% and raising them for 2013 requires nothing more than inaction by Congress, something they’ve been exceptionally good at. If they do further extend the cuts it’s up to a re-elected Obama to show a little backbone. It’s hardly a comprehensive solution to the deficits but it would make a decent dent.

                  What I discovered Blew. My. Mind. -- Pat Boone
                • WaddellCanseco Jan 1,2012 5:31 pm || Up

                  I think it’ll be tough to raise capital gains rates in an election year with high unemployment but you never know.

                  I don’t think there’s a consensus that the deficit is a worse problem than stagnation and unemployment.

  7. lenscrafters Dec 30,2011 10:23 am

    Yeesh, one 12 hour flight and a day of traveling later, I have ~800 unread comments to go through.

    • Glorious Mundy Dec 30,2011 10:35 am || Up

      First world problems.

    • spwc2005 (G_S) Dec 30,2011 10:55 am || Up

      Sorry for fouling Canada with all the Charter 77 garbage…

      \"Weren\'t you already aware the Kay is already writing everyone\'s story? We\'re all just characters who believe we are real. Things make more sense now, don\'t they. Be honest.\"- DMOAS
    • 5Aces Dec 30,2011 11:17 am || Up

      You should just demand Mike email you and give you a recap..

      Camelot sure fell apart, didn't it? -Steve McCatty
      • lenscrafters Dec 30,2011 11:29 am || Up

        Darn. Josh Reddick is an Oakland A now.

  8. the llama Dec 30,2011 10:37 am

    A hipster monk. What could be more DIY than an ascetic life of celibacy?

  9. JediLeroy Dec 30,2011 10:43 am

    az di bobe volt gehat beytsim volt zi geven mayn zeyde
  10. grover Dec 30,2011 11:23 am

    MB

    Remember that comment I made about the A’s and what they could spend on the 2012 draft? You asked me to expand on it and now it’s a 4 page monster, when would you like me to post it? I can save it for Monday or post it tonight to give folks something to talk about until DFA finishes his piece.

    Which I’ll probably disagree with and comment repeatedly on.

    • monkeyball Dec 30,2011 11:33 am || Up

      Whenever you like. I’m no CA. Not even an A.

      you better hope to God you don't show up in this little community, because you'll wish you had never come
      • grover Dec 30,2011 11:41 am || Up

        I was offering you a break from posting on Monday. It’ll be up in a bit.

        • monkeyball Dec 30,2011 12:10 pm || Up

          Appreciate the consideration. Srsly tho, we got no schedule, responsibility, hierarchy, or anything. I mean if someone wants to organize/impose one, they can, but whatevs.

          you better hope to God you don't show up in this little community, because you'll wish you had never come
          • grover Dec 30,2011 12:44 pm || Up

            Good points all.

            Not really feeling the need for an imposition at this time.

    • elcroata Dec 30,2011 11:36 am || Up

      I´ll flag you both!

      Because survival is insufficient
      • grover Dec 30,2011 11:42 am || Up

        E-mail me, biatch!

      • WaddellCanseco Dec 30,2011 1:31 pm || Up

        Can we flag people? I thought there were rules so therefore there can’t be any violations, but I guess since there are no rules you don’t need infractions to flag stuff. This post has been flagged for removal

        • andeux Dec 30,2011 1:38 pm || Up

          Yes, you can flag something by sticking a small flag on your monitor next to the offending comment.

          TINSTAAFK
          • JediLeroy Dec 30,2011 2:36 pm || Up

            Got a chuckle from me.

            az di bobe volt gehat beytsim volt zi geven mayn zeyde
            • nevermoor Dec 31,2011 1:10 am || Up

              Me too. ASVD.

              "There's never enough time to do all the nothing you want"
          • WaddellCanseco Dec 30,2011 3:00 pm || Up

            Hee. Although I was taken aback by the flag next to my comment. I feel like I’ve been branded with the letter F.

            • dmoas Dec 30,2011 3:15 pm || Up

              Looks like a P to me.

            • JediLeroy Dec 30,2011 3:15 pm || Up

              Sorry, that was me.

              az di bobe volt gehat beytsim volt zi geven mayn zeyde
            • FreeSeatUpgrade Dec 30,2011 3:19 pm || Up

              Are you kidding? This is an A’s blog:

              "Kraut will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no kraut."
              • WaddellCanseco Dec 30,2011 4:51 pm || Up

                That looks like the Braves’ A

                • FreeSeatUpgrade Dec 30,2011 4:59 pm || Up

                  Close. It’s Hawthorne’s.

                  "Kraut will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no kraut."
                • andeux Dec 30,2011 5:02 pm || Up

                  I always knew he was a slut.

                  TINSTAAFK
            • Leopold Bloom Dec 31,2011 12:07 am || Up

              K has been branded F by many an African-American youth riding mass transit.

              • spwc2005 (G_S) Dec 31,2011 12:31 am || Up

                if only it was emale rather than aggot.

                \"Weren\'t you already aware the Kay is already writing everyone\'s story? We\'re all just characters who believe we are real. Things make more sense now, don\'t they. Be honest.\"- DMOAS
                • dmoas Dec 31,2011 12:32 am || Up

                  Education these days… what do they know anyway?

    • DFA Dec 30,2011 11:39 am || Up

      Put yours up. Ill have mine ready to go Monday. PS I think there is going to be a lot less that we disagree on in this one.

      In play, run(s)! Talk dirty to me gamecast, talk dirty. - Nevermoor
      • grover Dec 30,2011 11:40 am || Up

        Sarchasm filter, reset to “subtle”.

        I’ll post this afternoon.

        • DFA Dec 30,2011 11:43 am || Up

          No I got the sarchasm… I was just saying that with regard to the recent trades and approach I don’t think were that different.

          In play, run(s)! Talk dirty to me gamecast, talk dirty. - Nevermoor
        • elcroata Dec 30,2011 11:48 am || Up

          spelling filter, reset to “avoid superflous ´h´”

          Because survival is insufficient
          • DFA Dec 30,2011 11:51 am || Up

            sarchasm

            In play, run(s)! Talk dirty to me gamecast, talk dirty. - Nevermoor
          • grover Dec 30,2011 12:07 pm || Up

            I’m a furry blue muppet… superfluous (note spelling) is what I do.

            • elcroata Dec 30,2011 1:17 pm || Up

              I always found misspelled comments about spelling the funniest thing there is. I have to say, I feel great as TCCC (The Chief Comedy Contributor)

              Because survival is insufficient
  11. JediLeroy Dec 30,2011 11:25 am

    Is Reddick worth even as much as Sweeney?

    az di bobe volt gehat beytsim volt zi geven mayn zeyde
    • doctorK Dec 30,2011 11:38 am || Up

      I like HRs much more than ground balls through the hole between SS and 3B.

    • DFA Dec 30,2011 11:39 am || Up

      not really? I mean probably insignificantly so.

      In play, run(s)! Talk dirty to me gamecast, talk dirty. - Nevermoor
      • Glorious Mundy Dec 30,2011 11:46 am || Up

        Even considering health and service time? That’s surprising to me seeing as how Reddick has already had some major league success.

        • DFA Dec 30,2011 11:52 am || Up

          Yeah, well SSS and yes from a we have more service time way for sure. I just don’t really care about which 1 WAR OFer it is. Reddick might OBP < 300.

          In play, run(s)! Talk dirty to me gamecast, talk dirty. - Nevermoor
        • lenscrafters Dec 30,2011 11:58 am || Up

          Reddick’s .243/.300/.449 line in 184 AAA games should be weighed more heavily than his small sample major league performance. It’s very difficult to see a COF worth playing full time with that kind of OBP performance in the minors.

          • Glorious Mundy Dec 30,2011 12:02 pm || Up

            That’s not a much bigger sample than his major league time, but the OBP is indeed a horrendous indicator. I’m hoping against hope that he can do the centerfield thing.

            • lenscrafters Dec 30,2011 12:08 pm || Up

              I was assuming you were only talking about the 87 games this year in which he hit .280/.327/.457, which would constitute “success”.

              But if we were to add the 60 or so MLB games in the two previous years when he hit abysmally, his career major league line of .248/.290/.416 is actually a rather clean translation of his minor league line.

              • Glorious Mundy Dec 30,2011 12:17 pm || Up

                Well, shit.

              • ptbnl Dec 30,2011 12:19 pm || Up

                https://youtube.com/watch?v=pWdd6_ZxX8c%3Frel%3D0” frameborder=”0″ allowfullscreen>

                If this is His will, He's a son of a bitch.
                • spwc2005 (G_S) Dec 31,2011 8:31 pm || Up

                  My wife and I are drinking White Russians right now.

                  She’s never seen the movie, though. I’ll rectify that some other night.

                  \"Weren\'t you already aware the Kay is already writing everyone\'s story? We\'re all just characters who believe we are real. Things make more sense now, don\'t they. Be honest.\"- DMOAS
                • ptbnl Dec 31,2011 8:34 pm || Up

                  I’ll bring it to the tailgate with Plastic Fantastic.

                  If this is His will, He's a son of a bitch.
                • spwc2005 (G_S) Dec 31,2011 8:51 pm || Up

                  Wow, that’s awesome. My wife and I thank you kindly in advance.

                  \"Weren\'t you already aware the Kay is already writing everyone\'s story? We\'re all just characters who believe we are real. Things make more sense now, don\'t they. Be honest.\"- DMOAS
                • DFA Dec 31,2011 8:35 pm || Up

                  God thats all I drank freshman year. ugh.

                  In play, run(s)! Talk dirty to me gamecast, talk dirty. - Nevermoor
              • dmoas Dec 30,2011 12:39 pm || Up

                Can we hope that there’s a 10% chance that last year is more in line with what he can do for us and a 90% chance he’ll be utter garbage that all the predictors indicate? I’m willing to hang my hat on that 10% for a half a season or so, mostly because I’ve got nothing better to do.

                • grover Dec 30,2011 12:48 pm || Up

                  Interesting footnote: Sickels predicted in his 2010 book that Reddick needed at least 500 AAA at bats to get the strike zone under control. Could 2011 have been an indication that Sickels was right? Worth a 10% chance, I think.

                • lenscrafters Dec 30,2011 1:21 pm || Up

                  Is that any different from AAAA players who put up shinier numbers in AAA their 2nd, 3rd, 4th, etc time through the league?

                • grover Dec 30,2011 3:19 pm || Up

                  Reddick was 24 last year in AAA, young enough that his improved strike zone numbers could represent real improvement and not just league familiarity.

                  I’m not glad the A’s pressed to get this guy but I won’t discount the possibility that some or all of his improvement was real. None of his numbers were so eye-popping as to scream fluke or sample size smokescreen.

                • lenscrafters Dec 30,2011 10:59 pm || Up

                  Right, I am not trying to argue that Reddick is an AAAA player.

                  My point is that it’s a knock against a player if said player comes with the caveat that they need a certain amount of time at a particular level before they can produce numbers. Obviously, it’s not as big of a demerit as if the player can’t produce numbers period, but it’s a knock nonetheless.

                • grover Dec 31,2011 12:00 am || Up

                  Why is that a knock?

                  Isn’t it implied when you send a guy to A-ball that he’s going to need a specific amount of time before he’s A) ready for a promotion to AA and B) need multiple seasons before he’s ready for the Show.

                  From my perspective, Sickels was merely citing (in his opinion) specifically what it would take before Reddick would be ready for the major leagues.

                • WaddellCanseco Dec 31,2011 2:18 am || Up

                  It’s a “knock” because it’s worse than not needing as much time.

                • lenscrafters Dec 30,2011 1:20 pm || Up

                  There’s an nth% chance of anyone becoming anything in baseball so yes, in lieu of any other options, that’s what we’ll have to hope for.

                • dmoas Dec 30,2011 1:31 pm || Up

                  The deal still sucks and hope is in the sense that I hope a million dollars legally finds it’s way into my bank account, but I sure as hell don’t count on it.

              • WaddellCanseco Dec 30,2011 1:32 pm || Up

                FWIW, ZiPS has Reddick at 85 OPS+ in 2012

    • elcroata Dec 30,2011 11:45 am || Up

      He´s worth more, especially if the “K” lands on the triple-letter square

      Because survival is insufficient
      • Einstein on the Beach Dec 30,2011 6:04 pm || Up

        It’s all moot, no proper nouns allowed!

  12. doctorK Dec 30,2011 11:37 am

    Is anybody curious about the inner workings of a precinct during the Iowa Caucus? I went to one in 1988 and would love to make a post about it (say next Tuesday) if there’s any interest.

    • DFA Dec 30,2011 11:40 am || Up

      yes

      In play, run(s)! Talk dirty to me gamecast, talk dirty. - Nevermoor
    • Soaker Dec 30,2011 11:55 am || Up

      Yes. We have the NV Democratic Caucus coming up on 1/21. As it’s noncompetitive I don’t think it’s much more than a recruiting center for campaign workers though. I could have changed registration to GOP but didn’t think I could stand it.

      What I discovered Blew. My. Mind. -- Pat Boone
    • monkeyball Dec 30,2011 12:11 pm || Up

      Absokrautly!

      you better hope to God you don't show up in this little community, because you'll wish you had never come
      • spwc2005 (G_S) Dec 30,2011 12:52 pm || Up

        I’d tap read that.

        \"Weren\'t you already aware the Kay is already writing everyone\'s story? We\'re all just characters who believe we are real. Things make more sense now, don\'t they. Be honest.\"- DMOAS
      • doctorK Dec 30,2011 12:55 pm || Up

        Alrighty, then. Expect a post on this Monday night.

    • nevermoor Dec 31,2011 1:12 am || Up

      Even if they aren’t… do it anyway. We’ll talk about clown porn in your post pretty much no matter what.

      "There's never enough time to do all the nothing you want"
      • dmoas Dec 31,2011 1:13 am || Up

        Fuck, who could possibly turn down the chance to talk about clown porn?

  13. JediLeroy Dec 30,2011 12:36 pm

    Nice bowl win for BYU.

    az di bobe volt gehat beytsim volt zi geven mayn zeyde
    • Soaker Dec 30,2011 2:20 pm || Up

      I know their decision to go independent in football was all about television rights. Under the current bowl system with all the fixed conference affiliations independence, unless you’re Notre Dame, means settling for table scraps, in this case the invisible Friday morning game.

      Welcome to the West Coast Conference. It’s a fun brand of basketball. BYU with its alumni base and big arena seems pretty far out of scale though. I can’t see them finding long-term financial satisfaction there.

      What I discovered Blew. My. Mind. -- Pat Boone
      • WaddellCanseco Dec 30,2011 3:01 pm || Up

        I wonder why they couldn’t do something with the Big 12

        • Soaker Dec 30,2011 3:23 pm || Up

          BYU took $$$ to sell its home game rights to ESPN. To get them to walk away from that deal would require some sweetheart provisions in the agreement with whatever conference they were joining. The Big 12 already has an issue with that with the University of Texas and probably doesn’t care to have to give special treatment to a second school.

          What I discovered Blew. My. Mind. -- Pat Boone
  14. doctorK Dec 30,2011 12:42 pm

    Heh – Iowa State has a Woody.

  15. ptbnl Dec 30,2011 3:33 pm

    We had an impoverished/between-homes friend house-sitting while we were away. When we got home last night we found that we no longer had any laundry detergent and that our bed now has a very nasty stain on the mattress that is hard to identify because any odour has been masked by a liberal application of cedar oil.

    What’s the protocol, Emily?

    If this is His will, He's a son of a bitch.
    • linusalf Dec 30,2011 3:39 pm || Up

      whisky tango foxtrot.

    • the llama Dec 30,2011 3:46 pm || Up

      Stop being so big-hearted.

    • MikeV Dec 30,2011 3:48 pm || Up

      Laundry Detergent – sure, whatever. Dude probably had a shitload of laundry or something.

      Mattress Stain – ok, we have a problem here.

      And I have to say: mikev is one of my favorite people on here -slusser.

      Thanks, and go As.

      • ptbnl Dec 30,2011 3:52 pm || Up

        I’m assuming the two are related (since the sheets aren’t stained).

        If this is His will, He's a son of a bitch.
        • MikeV Dec 30,2011 4:00 pm || Up

          oh.. DUH. Washed the sheets 600 times.

          Yea, um.. There’s an issue there.

          And I have to say: mikev is one of my favorite people on here -slusser.

          Thanks, and go As.

    • dmoas Dec 30,2011 4:19 pm || Up

      Damn liberals.

    • FreeSeatUpgrade Dec 30,2011 5:26 pm || Up

      I dunno…any stain that required that much attention by a (presumably) not terribly responsible houseguest probably derives from something more foul than you’d care to rest yourself upon for the remainder of the mattress’s life.

      But baking soda is magic. Try scrubbing with a damp rag, maybe add some vinegar for foaming action, then blow dry.

      "Kraut will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no kraut."
    • monkeyball Dec 30,2011 7:57 pm || Up

      Unfriend Bloom on facebook

      you better hope to God you don't show up in this little community, because you'll wish you had never come
      • Leopold Bloom Dec 31,2011 12:09 am || Up

        [sigh]

        IT WAS COCKTAIL SAUCE, OKAY?! I FELL ASLEEP EATING SHRIMP!

  16. dmoas Dec 30,2011 4:37 pm

    MonkeyBloomBait. The hybrid has been stolen!

  17. FreeSeatUpgrade Dec 30,2011 5:01 pm

    Hey Bloom, when’s Deadwood Ep 2 gonna write itself? Ima gonna rewatch it and prepare.

    "Kraut will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no kraut."
    • Leopold Bloom Dec 31,2011 12:10 am || Up

      this weekend. maybe tonight but more likely tomorrow.

      • Leopold Bloom Dec 31,2011 12:10 am || Up

        trying to decide how and what to do about **.

        • grover Dec 31,2011 12:18 am || Up

          My last post was to wish Taj a happy new year.

          Seems as good as any to finish with.

          • MikeV Dec 31,2011 12:22 am || Up

            Damn.

            I feel bad.

            And I have to say: mikev is one of my favorite people on here -slusser.

            Thanks, and go As.

            • Leopold Bloom Dec 31,2011 12:46 am || Up

              I’m definitely quitting the front page/mod thing. I think I might give it up completely. Though I thought the last exodus was going to be mine as well…

            • grover Dec 31,2011 12:49 am || Up

              Got no cause to.

              • MikeV Dec 31,2011 12:52 am || Up

                I know — and like I said elsewhere, I’m fully aware that I’m not the reason for the exodus. I just don’t like being the catalyst, even.

                Not that it will matter in the long run, though. I’m just as happy at FK as I ever was at the OC.

                And I have to say: mikev is one of my favorite people on here -slusser.

                Thanks, and go As.

                • dmoas Dec 31,2011 1:03 am || Up

                  Wow. Blez really is Billy Beane based on reading his latest comments on there. Even worse, he actually thinks this is about you.

                • MikeV Dec 31,2011 1:04 am || Up

                  Yeah, basically.

                  It’s making it quite a bit easier to not worry about being banned, that’s for sure.

                  And I have to say: mikev is one of my favorite people on here -slusser.

                  Thanks, and go As.

                • dmoas Dec 31,2011 1:08 am || Up

                  There have been a few times I considered going back, but while that wasn’t the initial reason I left, it’s probably a huge part of why I’m not likely to go back. He’s basically let **** kill the site and it’s pretty clear based on those comments that the status quo is just peachy with him.

                • DFA Dec 31,2011 1:27 am || Up

                  who is going to create compelling content?

                  In play, run(s)! Talk dirty to me gamecast, talk dirty. - Nevermoor
                • dmoas Dec 31,2011 1:29 am || Up

                  Now? No one.

                • nevermoor Dec 31,2011 1:35 am || Up

                  But will anyone over there notice?

                  "There's never enough time to do all the nothing you want"
                • grover Dec 31,2011 1:37 am || Up

                  Yep. And the PT Doctrine will spread like wildfire.

                • DFA Dec 31,2011 1:38 am || Up

                  PT Doctrine?

                  In play, run(s)! Talk dirty to me gamecast, talk dirty. - Nevermoor
                • monkeyball Dec 31,2011 8:04 am || Up

                  PT Doctrine:

                  1. Everyone is entitled to their opinions, and to have them validated; rational critique of an opinion constitutes a personal attack

                  2. If the mods don’t like you, you’re FKed

                  you better hope to God you don't show up in this little community, because you'll wish you had never come
                • DFA Dec 31,2011 1:38 am || Up

                  I mean the largest A’s blog on the net had what 300 comments about the team moving to SJ getting “approved”? The place is dying

                  In play, run(s)! Talk dirty to me gamecast, talk dirty. - Nevermoor
                • MikeV Dec 31,2011 1:45 am || Up

                  yeah but there’s like 1,000 comments (and, uh, 50 recs?) about the blogfather being a power abusing tyrant!

                  And I have to say: mikev is one of my favorite people on here -slusser.

                  Thanks, and go As.

                • WaddellCanseco Dec 31,2011 2:20 am || Up

                  It’s pretty sad to watch

                • Leopold Bloom Dec 31,2011 2:23 am || Up

                  It’s even sadder to implicitly endorse with your name on the letterhead.

                • nevermoor Dec 31,2011 3:38 am || Up

                  He has no idea what goes on.

                  "There's never enough time to do all the nothing you want"
                • Leopold Bloom Dec 31,2011 7:02 am || Up

                  …wait, I thought he was Toonces, not Towlie…

                • grover Dec 31,2011 8:45 am || Up

                  NM

                  You referring to Toonces or Blez? It’s an apt statement for both but at least Blez has the excuse of not being around all the time to bear witness. Toonces is just oblivious to the damage he causes.

                • nevermoor Dec 31,2011 4:40 pm || Up

                  Blez.

                  "There's never enough time to do all the nothing you want"
                • WaddellCanseco Dec 31,2011 7:18 pm || Up

                  Blez can just make the adminstrator take the fall whenever he wants. He’s already given him the dreaded vote of confidence.

                • grover Dec 31,2011 1:08 am || Up

                  Don’t tempt me I’m in withdrawl!

          • monkeyball Dec 31,2011 8:02 am || Up

            My last post was a gratuitous kick at the body lying in the street

            you better hope to God you don't show up in this little community, because you'll wish you had never come
            • grover Dec 31,2011 8:50 am || Up

              You know I didn’t sit down intending for This To Be My Last Post! When I hit send it just clicked for me.

              I got to bash the guy, talk about prospects and finished with a kind word. That pretty much sums up my time in the Old Country!

            • stm72 Dec 31,2011 9:48 am || Up

              yes it was and i bet it felt good

  18. the llama Dec 30,2011 5:11 pm

    What do you call the carrier you use to protect your weasel from electromagnetic waves while you go to work?

    • the llama Dec 30,2011 5:12 pm || Up

      A ferret-day-cage.

    • monkeyball Dec 30,2011 6:32 pm || Up

      AT&T?

      you better hope to God you don't show up in this little community, because you'll wish you had never come
    • monkeyball Dec 30,2011 6:37 pm || Up

      Why haven’t the extremes of the US political spectrum, from Nugent to Kennedy, been able to solve our reliance on foreign petroleum products?

      you better hope to God you don't show up in this little community, because you'll wish you had never come
      • andeux Dec 30,2011 8:27 pm || Up

        Also works as a reply to ptbnl’s query.

        TINSTAAFK
  19. Leopold Bloom Dec 31,2011 2:40 am

    Okay, Mikey, I got an Android.


    ..
    .

    Now what?

    • monkeyball Dec 31,2011 8:05 am || Up

      Did you get one with lady parts, boy parts, or both?

      you better hope to God you don't show up in this little community, because you'll wish you had never come
      • spwc2005 (G_S) Dec 31,2011 9:57 am || Up

        Did you really have to ask?

        \"Weren\'t you already aware the Kay is already writing everyone\'s story? We\'re all just characters who believe we are real. Things make more sense now, don\'t they. Be honest.\"- DMOAS
    • MikeV Dec 31,2011 9:11 am || Up

      Um… I recommend Handcent SMS instead of the default messaging app. You’ll also need to go into the settings of your regular messaging app and turn OFF notifications, or else you’ll get 2 popups or whatever anytime you get a text.

      I use Skyfire for my web browser – a lot of people also use Dolphin HD. The built in browser is OK, but the two I listed are much better.

      Dunno if you have Swype or not, but it’s kinda cool to play with. I use “Swiftkey X” as my everyday keyboard.

      Oh, and install the Amazon App Store. They give away a paid app for free every day, sometimes it’s worth it to check out whatever they’re giving away.

      Also stuff like Netflix, Hulu, etc are good. Also the funnest game evar is called “Alchemy”

      And I have to say: mikev is one of my favorite people on here -slusser.

      Thanks, and go As.

      • grover Dec 31,2011 9:21 am || Up

        And I have no FKing clue what anything you just said means.

        My cellphone has actual buttons.

        • MikeV Dec 31,2011 9:25 am || Up

          HAHAHAHAH LOSER.

          Actually my favorite part of having a google phone is that it’s got google maps (and, thus, Navigation) built in. I don’t need a Garmin or TomTom or whatever, I can just use my phone for nav.

          And I have to say: mikev is one of my favorite people on here -slusser.

          Thanks, and go As.

          • dmoas Dec 31,2011 11:20 am || Up

            I’ve only tried to use it a couple of times, but I didn’t like the android’s navigation. TomTom was far superior to what I was getting and didn’t require me to give up my phone for the process.

            • Future Ed Dec 31,2011 11:24 am || Up

              the phone fumbly for navigation, and my google navigation has a weird ass way to get me to alameda, and i imagine a lot of other places, but its better than having 2 things.

              I don;t care for things

              I have $5. No I don\'t.
              • dmoas Dec 31,2011 11:25 am || Up

                One stays in my car, the other my pocket. Everything has it’s home.

                • Future Ed Dec 31,2011 11:30 am || Up

                  hmmmm, interesting. Tell me more

                  I have $5. No I don\'t.
                • FreeSeatUpgrade Dec 31,2011 11:55 am || Up

                  Not the preferred approach for street-parking SF dwellers. When I was shacking up with the future Mrs Upgrade in the Mission I got so sick of replacing windows I just left my truck unlocked and empty with glovebox open.

                  One morning I got in my truck to head back to Oakland and got about a block before I saw in the rearview mirror a guy sitting up and looking confused, after apparently having spent the night under the camper shell in my truck bed.

                  "Kraut will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no kraut."
                • ptbnl Dec 31,2011 12:12 pm || Up

                  What drives me nuts is when you don’t replace the radio, and leave the empty glove box open, and leave the doors unlocked, and some dumbFKer still breaks a window to get in.

                  If this is His will, He's a son of a bitch.
                • Future Ed Dec 31,2011 1:04 pm || Up

                  trof.

                  I had a wing window broken out of my truck once and the only thing they took was an am transmitter I had to broadcast my walkman to my am only radio.

                  I have $5. No I don\'t.
                • dmoas Dec 31,2011 12:16 pm || Up

                  See, that’s all your fault, being in the city and all. I also stuff it under the seat out of sight.

                • monkeyball Jan 1,2012 8:18 am || Up

                  /spwc

                  you better hope to God you don't show up in this little community, because you'll wish you had never come
                • spwc2005 (G_S) Jan 1,2012 10:20 am || Up

                  If only I could apply your “get paid to contract two” plan to my genitals.

                  \"Weren\'t you already aware the Kay is already writing everyone\'s story? We\'re all just characters who believe we are real. Things make more sense now, don\'t they. Be honest.\"- DMOAS
                • dmoas Jan 1,2012 10:47 am || Up

                  Is that tuck rule?

                • doctorK Dec 31,2011 1:34 pm || Up

                  I was never as happy as when daughter #1 decided to get rid of her car after moving to the Mission.

                • DFA Dec 31,2011 7:23 pm || Up

                  I live in a worse area (folsom triangle) and have had good luck for two years, but the ex had her clean nothing in it car broken into

                  In play, run(s)! Talk dirty to me gamecast, talk dirty. - Nevermoor
                • dmoas Dec 31,2011 7:31 pm || Up

                  I used to have a friend who lived in the city. Had her car stolen twice, the second time it was just driven around the block and just left there leaving her stranded.

                • grover Dec 31,2011 7:35 pm || Up

                  Folsom triangle? Never heard that one before.

                • DFA Dec 31,2011 7:41 pm || Up

                  micro neighborhood basically mission and s van ness

                  In play, run(s)! Talk dirty to me gamecast, talk dirty. - Nevermoor
                • spwc2005 (G_S) Dec 31,2011 8:35 pm || Up

                  the little part that juts out by highway 50, where the outlet mall is.

                  \"Weren\'t you already aware the Kay is already writing everyone\'s story? We\'re all just characters who believe we are real. Things make more sense now, don\'t they. Be honest.\"- DMOAS
                • DFA Dec 31,2011 8:36 pm || Up

                  outlet mall?

                  In play, run(s)! Talk dirty to me gamecast, talk dirty. - Nevermoor
                • spwc2005 (G_S) Dec 31,2011 8:56 pm || Up

                  Folsom Factory Outlets.

                  I was making a suburban Sacramento geography joke.

                  \"Weren\'t you already aware the Kay is already writing everyone\'s story? We\'re all just characters who believe we are real. Things make more sense now, don\'t they. Be honest.\"- DMOAS
                • grover Dec 31,2011 8:47 pm || Up

                  You in Sac?

                • Future Ed Dec 31,2011 8:56 pm || Up

                  she is

                  I have $5. No I don\'t.
                • spwc2005 (G_S) Dec 31,2011 9:34 pm || Up

                  aww… you’re so sweet!

                  Yes, I live in Rosemont, three doors down from where Bed grew up and less than a mile from where JediLeroy used to live.

                  \"Weren\'t you already aware the Kay is already writing everyone\'s story? We\'re all just characters who believe we are real. Things make more sense now, don\'t they. Be honest.\"- DMOAS
                • grover Dec 31,2011 10:47 pm || Up

                  Orangevale.

                • doctorK Dec 31,2011 7:42 pm || Up

                  She was racking up large amounts of parking tickets, and finally found out it had been towed when she parked a few inches into a no-parking zone. That’s when she decided enough was enough.

          • monkeyball Jan 1,2012 8:17 am || Up

            Yeah, google maps when in an unfamiliar (and reception-friendly) locale is the bomb

            you better hope to God you don't show up in this little community, because you'll wish you had never come
        • spwc2005 (G_S) Dec 31,2011 9:59 am || Up

          I’m holding out for a foldable pocket tablet unit.

          2014?

          \"Weren\'t you already aware the Kay is already writing everyone\'s story? We\'re all just characters who believe we are real. Things make more sense now, don\'t they. Be honest.\"- DMOAS
      • Leopold Bloom Dec 31,2011 12:29 pm || Up

        Um…can I just send it to you?

        • DFA Dec 31,2011 12:32 pm || Up

          No… but I hear you can email him if you want your phone to work.

          In play, run(s)! Talk dirty to me gamecast, talk dirty. - Nevermoor
      • oblique Dec 31,2011 12:57 pm || Up

        Just to endorse a bunch of this:

        I use Dolphin HD for my browser, and Swiftkey X for my keyboard. The Amazon store is good, but also kind of evil – you get stuff for free, but it’s quite clunky about updating apps, and apparently there’s some questionable strong-arming of developers going on. I use it anyway.

        I also installed an app called Zedge for a ton of themes and ring tones.

        Also, you can use it to make phone calls!

        • MikeV Dec 31,2011 1:10 pm || Up

          Oh yea, Zedge is fun too.

          And I have to say: mikev is one of my favorite people on here -slusser.

          Thanks, and go As.

      • dmoas Dec 31,2011 10:07 pm || Up

        Speaking of techy shit, I’m looking for a new wireless router, any suggestions?

        • Leopold Bloom Dec 31,2011 10:30 pm || Up

          …um, I’d ask you.

          • dmoas Dec 31,2011 10:42 pm || Up

            I was hoping mikev would pipe in on that one.

            • Leopold Bloom Dec 31,2011 11:11 pm || Up

              he’s off doing something else, I suppose.

              • dmoas Dec 31,2011 11:23 pm || Up

                The bastard.

                • Leopold Bloom Dec 31,2011 11:24 pm || Up

                  he might be answering emails.

                • Soaker Dec 31,2011 11:26 pm || Up

                  He and Slusser are sipping champagne and whispering sweet nothings in each other’s ears.

                  What I discovered Blew. My. Mind. -- Pat Boone
                • dmoas Dec 31,2011 11:27 pm || Up

                  Oh shit. Well, that might be the last we hear from mikev. Bloom’s gonna death penalty him.

                • Leopold Bloom Dec 31,2011 11:27 pm || Up

                  NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                • dmoas Dec 31,2011 11:27 pm || Up

                  If not, he’d better. Or else I’m banning him from… um… nothing.

        • MikeV Jan 1,2012 1:11 am || Up

          http://www.smallnetbuilder.com/wireless

          WAY more thorough than I could be.

          And I have to say: mikev is one of my favorite people on here -slusser.

          Thanks, and go As.

  20. JediLeroy Dec 31,2011 8:46 am

    In memory of my Grandpa, who used to sing this to me when I was a kid, and who passed away early this morning:

    ” frameborder=”0″ allowfullscreen>

    az di bobe volt gehat beytsim volt zi geven mayn zeyde
    • grover Dec 31,2011 9:03 am || Up

      You’re having a tumultuous end of the year. I’m sorry to hear about your Grandpa.

    • 5Aces Dec 31,2011 9:06 am || Up

      Man, everything happens at once…sorry for your loss.

      Camelot sure fell apart, didn't it? -Steve McCatty
    • MikeV Dec 31,2011 9:12 am || Up

      Damn. RIP, Grandpa.

      And I have to say: mikev is one of my favorite people on here -slusser.

      Thanks, and go As.

    • ptbnl Dec 31,2011 9:17 am || Up

      Condolences. I can only hope that it was a good passing.

      If this is His will, He's a son of a bitch.
    • spwc2005 (G_S) Dec 31,2011 10:00 am || Up

      Condolences to you and your family.

      \"Weren\'t you already aware the Kay is already writing everyone\'s story? We\'re all just characters who believe we are real. Things make more sense now, don\'t they. Be honest.\"- DMOAS
    • Future Ed Dec 31,2011 10:20 am || Up

      he produced at least one great gradson and a gaggle of great great-grandkids.

      He must have been proud

      I have $5. No I don\'t.
    • DFA Dec 31,2011 10:39 am || Up

      Im really sorry dude. That kinda stuff is really hard, but the best part about grandparents is the stories and those live on forever.

      In play, run(s)! Talk dirty to me gamecast, talk dirty. - Nevermoor
    • FreeSeatUpgrade Dec 31,2011 10:39 am || Up

      Sorry amigo. I’ve no doubt that the strength of your wonderful extended family will sustain you through this and all things.

      "Kraut will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no kraut."
    • Leopold Bloom Dec 31,2011 12:27 pm || Up

      Sorry JL.

    • JediLeroy Dec 31,2011 12:47 pm || Up

      Thanks, guys. He’d been suffering from dementia for the last few years, and had forgotten all but two or three of his family members. It was definitely his time. While I’m sad to see him go, I’ll always remember him fondly. I was lucky to have wonderful grandparents who were close to me.

      az di bobe volt gehat beytsim volt zi geven mayn zeyde
      • 5Aces Dec 31,2011 3:30 pm || Up

        This is the best way for it to be, especially if he was suffering from disease, etc.

        These are always awkward for me. I lost all of my grandparents by the time I was in the 6th grade and didn’t get to have near the memories I’d have liked (my papa actually took my to my first A’s game). So when I hear about people who are losing them in their late 20’s and 30’s I can’t imagine the feeling, and at the same time have that little nagging jealousy.

        Having that close family is something you can’t replace..

        Camelot sure fell apart, didn't it? -Steve McCatty
        • ptbnl Dec 31,2011 3:34 pm || Up

          Aging grandparents are one of the drivers for traveling so much with Lily.

          2 weeks before my father died we managed to get over to London. They spent their last afternoon singing songs and eating ice cream together, which will likely be her abiding memory of him.

          If this is His will, He's a son of a bitch.
          • 5Aces Dec 31,2011 6:20 pm || Up

            It’s nice to get a good memory. My mom went several years ago in rapid fashion. We brought the kids over knowing that she was probably going to hospice within the next day. She had spent the previous 24-36 hours in very bad shape, but when the kids came for about an hour she was her old self. I will never forget that little time, and I dont think they will either.

            Camelot sure fell apart, didn't it? -Steve McCatty
            • Soaker Dec 31,2011 6:28 pm || Up

              My father’s mother lived to 99. She had said, years earlier, “We’ve lived too long” (Grandpa made it to 96).

              I hadn’t seen her in a couple of years; she was in a rest home near my father in Florida. I went to FL for a visit and went with Dad over to the home. She was a lump in the bed, in diapers. I think she possibly recognized me but she couldn’t speak. With my presence the scene was too much for my Dad, who started crying. She died maybe 2 weeks later. I have a lot of great memories of my grandmother but unfortunately that one was the last one and it’s pretty prominent.

              What I discovered Blew. My. Mind. -- Pat Boone
              • nevermoor Dec 31,2011 8:01 pm || Up

                Yeah. That’s a tough situation.

                My grandmother was hit by a car 11 months ago, and it would have been absolute chaos if she had not been 110% clear about her wishes.

                Since we are on this subject: all of you should write down (in several places and to several people, on paper) what you want to have happen in various medical circumstances. It saved my mom a lot of heartache in a difficult time.

                "There's never enough time to do all the nothing you want"
                • WaddellCanseco Dec 31,2011 8:05 pm || Up

                  Yes my mother was in a coma last year, and her husband had to decide what to do. He started making funeral arrangements. She recovered and yelled at him.

                • nevermoor Dec 31,2011 8:15 pm || Up

                  Yeah. Whatever it is you want, be crystal clear about it on paper. And do it today.

                  "There's never enough time to do all the nothing you want"
                • ptbnl Dec 31,2011 8:27 pm || Up

                  Ouch!

                  If this is His will, He's a son of a bitch.
                • Future Ed Dec 31,2011 8:58 pm || Up

                  we were required to do that in my wills class.

                  Write (and execute if you wanted) a advanced directive

                  I have $5. No I don\'t.
                • the llama Jan 1,2012 9:51 pm || Up

                  in several places and to several people, on paper

                  and FK

                • 5Aces Jan 2,2012 8:20 am || Up

                  I place Bloom in charge of all decisions for my books…

                  Camelot sure fell apart, didn't it? -Steve McCatty
                • Leopold Bloom Jan 2,2012 4:37 pm || Up

                  YAY!

                  I LOF BOOKS!

    • doctorK Dec 31,2011 1:35 pm || Up

      Sorry for the loss, but at least you have good memories of him.

    • WaddellCanseco Dec 31,2011 7:20 pm || Up

      My condolences JL

    • batgirl Dec 31,2011 9:29 pm || Up

      Awww. My thoughts are with you. My 91 year old Grandpa came out to CA and spent 2 weeks with us in November and it was wonderful.

    • monkeyball Jan 1,2012 8:22 am || Up

      Sorry to hear that (and sorry for being a day late seeing it).

      John Sayles sings a filk of that song in Eight Men Out.

      you better hope to God you don't show up in this little community, because you'll wish you had never come
    • the llama Jan 1,2012 9:56 pm || Up

      Major bummer. Really sorry to hear that. While we were up in PDX we visited my GMiL, who is in a rest home with dementia. She surprisingly had a very good day and was even lucid at times. The sight of her great grandchildren brought tears to her eyes. I had a long talk with llama 1 about how children have a gift of making the elderly happy. It made me miss the 3 of my 4 GP that have passed away.

      I’ll never forget one of the last talks I had with my GP. He was coming in and out of sleep, sitting on his rocking chair and watching CNN. At this point he would sometimes forget which (of the the 15) grandsons I was and he would occasionally talk nonsense. I asked him what he thought of Ahmedinejad – he was great fan of politics – and he mumbled something unintelligible. Then I asked him what he thought of Kim Jong Il. His face snapped to me, his eyes met mine, he got that ultra-lucid look and yelled, “KIM JONG IL CAN GO TO HELL!”

    • No Broader Work (PDXAthleticsfan) Jan 3,2012 11:41 am || Up

      Sorry to hear about that.

      A soliloquy of fresh-sounding ideas which would probably be disastrous.

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