Saturday, April 8, 2000
I've made a few changes here and there. The Archives are now functional. Right now, there is some overlap between what's listed on the main page and what's in the archives because I accidentally added this week's entries to the archive, but I'm not ready to remove them from the main page yet.
I also joined the Webloggers Webring, so I added the code for the ring on the right side of the page.
My apologies to anyone who may have stopped by thinking I did an actual update when all I did was modify the template for the main page or the archive page.
Here's a link to an excerpt from a new book by Bob Costas titled Fair Ball. It's now on my list of books to buy.
Yes, he does criticize the richest baseball teams, and the Yankees in particular. For me, the idea that the Yankees have bought 3 championships in the last 4 years does take a little bit away from my enjoyment of it all. It would be much more satisfying if they worked their way to the top with great managing, shrewd trades, and a well developed minor league system. Instead, they've built a team by buying high priced free agents like David Cone, and trading prospects for disgruntled players in smaller markets like (as Costas mentioned) Chuck Knoblauch and Roger Clemens. Granted, Joe Torre is a pretty good manager, and they do have a good minor league system which makes the trades I've mentioned possible. But the only manager I've seen Torre clearly outmanage is Bobby Cox (who manages another large market team, the Braves), and the only superstars they have that came up through their farm system are Bernie Williams and Derek Jeter.
I'm still a Yankee fan, and I'm still happy they're winning, but I just wish there was more balance in the game, so the Yankees could earn their titles instead of buying them. Besides, more balance means a tighter pennant race. There's not enough stress in my life, I need more. *grin*
After my post the other day about politics, I got an e-mail from Kelly in Texas recommending a George W. Bush parody site, The Georgy Bush Project. It has a few song parodies you can listen to. (Or, if you've got a slow connection like me, read the lyrics.) It also has links to lots of other George W. Bush parody sites, some of which Bush has actually tried to shut down. Some people just can't take a joke.
I guess that this point I should throw in something positive to offset the anti-Bush sentiment, so here you go: Vote Nader.
I'm pretty sure I'm going to go to hell. There are two games that I've found that pretty much seal it for me. One is Dope Wars. It's a simulation where you deal drugs. Buy low and sell high. (No pun intended).
The other is called Furious George. This is actually a web based game. You guide a monkey that looks like Curious George all around the country commiting crimes. There's all kinds of crimes you can commit, from not rewinding a rented video tape all the way up to first degree murder. There are also some very funny crimes, but I'll let you find out about those.
Yes, I realize other webloggers may have linked to these a while back, but I didn't have a weblog then. I wish I could remember where I saw these first. I do try to give credit when I find something through another weblog.
Friday, April 7, 2000
The Blogger outage yesterday just totally threw off my routine. Oh well. If it makes Blogger work faster, I'll deal with one bad day.
This is so funny. Somebody has a page of Fisher Price Little People dressed up as famous characters. I think my favorites are Cancerman from The X-Files and Boba Fett. (found via GirlHacker)
Here's some great news that I didn't get around to posting yesterday. Leonardo DiCaprio will not play Anakin Skywalker. There is a God.
Everyone once in a blue moon, common sense prevails in a court of law. A lawsuit against makers of violent video games was dismissed. Of course, there will be appeals, but for now, this is good.
Some days, I have to work really hard to find links that can lead to good commentary, or at least a good sarcastic response. Some days, I stumble across an article like this, and no comments are necessary. Members of Twisted Sister endorse Al Gore.
Here's a joke that's probably offensive to religious fundamentalists. I figure the fundamentalists hate me anyway for being Catholic, and a lapsed one at that. (Found via David Chess)
I found the Kabalarians web site through Windowseat. They do name analysis. I analyzed the names of both my parents and my sister, and it wasn't very accurate. I did my first name, Philip, and it was so accurate it was scary. (It wouldn't do "P.J.", although it did analyze "PJ" rather unsuccessfully.) The only things I disagree with are that I generally don't strive to appear poised and confident (I can't pull it off so I don't even try), and writing does not come easily to me.
There was actually a different analysis for Philip with one L and Phillip with 2 L's, and the analysis for Phillip doesn't really fit me that well. I find this comforting. People are always trying to spell my first name with 2 L's. Obviously, they don't know how wrong they are.
As long as I'm borrowing from Windowseat, I forgot to mention yesterday that Laurel posted a link to an excellent essay she wrote over three years ago about former Twins outfielder Kirby Puckett. Kirby was unlike any other player I've ever seen, and it's a shame his career was cut short.
Thursday, April 6, 2000
After going a full day with no sports links, I'm going into withdrawal. Luckily, there is something newsworthy to link to. The 2000 NFL schedule is out. My team, the Jets, have it pretty easy. The only playoff team on their schedule (outside of the AFC East) is Tampa Bay.
I found the Yankee Fan Weblog. It's just getting started. (It's wierd to find a weblog newer than mine.) I wish I could link to it following a win. Oh well. You can't win them all.
Well, I downloaded the new Netscape 6 Preview Release 1. I hope those buttons (Back, Forward, Stop, etc.) are skinnable. I didn't really get a chance to play around with it much to see how stable it is. I'll write more about it tomorrow.
Ever get the feeling you're being watched? Hubble spies a 'glowing eye' in space. It's nice to know that the Big Eye in the Sky is sort of blue, just like my eyes. Those pink streaks almost make it look bloodshot, which is also similar to my eyes since I don't get enough sleep.
A co-worker of mine got DSL installed yesterday and was asking around about where to get MP3s. I told him to check out Napster. He came in today and said he was up until about 1 AM downloading songs. So, what have you done to piss off the RIAA today?
I found another weblog today called Heaven, Hell, or Hoboken. When I hear names like that, it makes me wish I could have come up with something better than Cluttered.
Anyway, Rob's got a good sense of humor (in case that wasn't obvious from the name) and has some good technology related links, so he's earned a spot in my daily routine.
Wednesday, April 5, 2000
Everybody should have a theme song. Mine would have to be It's The End Of The World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine) by R.E.M. I heard it on the radio as I drove to work this morning. It actually put me in a good mood.
Hitachi to Unveil New 37-Inch Plasma Display Monitor. I need a bigger desk. Never mind that the price is $17,450. So I'd have to sell my car, big deal. (Found via Dr. Dobb's news)
I've tried to avoid saying anything about politics, since it's usually too depressing. However, I found an article via Bird on a Wire about a poll that says Gore could be hurt more than Bush by a third party candidate. I was also surprised by Ralph Nader's showing in the poll, 5.3%, while Pat Buchanan only got 3.3% of the votes. I would imagine that a lot more people know about Buchanan's candidacy than Nader.
I actually cast a write-in vote for Nader back in 1996. I just couldn't vote for any of the other candidates with a clear conscience. I'm seriously considering voting for him again this year. There's part of me that hopes that he does well, but part of me worries that a good showing by Nader puts Bush in the White House. While I can't support Al Gore, I'd much rather see him win than Bush.
One thing that factors into my decision (even though it shouldn't matter) is that Bush will win North Carolina. I'd put money on it. Democrats have been very aggressive in going after the tobacco industry, and there are still a lot of people in the state who depend on tobacco to make a living. Unless Bush makes some John Rocker type statements about Charlotte, he's got North Carolina wrapped up. Because of the electoral college (don't get me started about the electoral college) Bush will get all of North Carolina's electoral votes. Therefore, in my mind, it doesn't matter who I vote for.
Like I said earlier, politics is too depressing.
Do we really need all this bandwidth? I really think it comes down to this: What do you use the web for? If you just use it for e-mail, chat, and looking up information, you'll be fine with a dialup connection. If you're constantly downloading files, listening to music, or even watching video over the internet, then DSL or a cable modem is the way to go. I've chosen a cable modem. (Although I'm stuck with a dialup connection while I'm in Georgia...grrr...)
After reading that article, I remembered seeing this news about broadband AOL. I'm not really sure that the average AOL user really needs broadband. Of course, the massive marketing machine of AOL will convince people who don't need high speed access that they do need it. I shouldn't be surprised by this, considering the pending AOL-Time Warner merger.
Personally, I think most of the people on AOL who decided they needed broadband have already switched to DSL or a cable modem by now. I'm guessing most of the ones who are left haven't switched because they're in an area where they can't get broadband service, and I doubt AOL will be able to bring broadband to any areas where it was previously unavailable.
I think this is a big shift in philosophy for AOL. AOL has always aimed for more casual internet users. Broadband is generally aimed towards power users. I'm not saying all AOL users are dummies, just that different people use the internet in different ways. Not everybody drives a sports car or an SUV. Likewise, not everybody downloads hundreds of files every week.
Well, I finally broke down and registered a domain name. I had to go with cluttered.org, since cluttered.net (my first choice) was already taken. It will be nice to have a short URL once I get everything set up.
If anyone can recommend a good web hosting service, let me know.
Tuesday, April 4, 2000
The baseball season is off to a fine start. Yankees 3 Angels 2. I only got to see the first two innings before I went to bed. Stupid West Coast road trips. *grumble*
Michigan State won the NCAA Tournament. I actually picked the winner right. Woohoo! I saw Michigan State earlier in the year, and I knew Mateen Cleaves would lead them really far into the tournament, so that's why I went with them.
I finished in the 85th percentile in the Yahoo Men's Tournament Pick 'Em. (That's their name for it, not mine.) The prediction that I'm most proud of: I picked Seton Hall to upset Temple.
I noticed several weblogs (GirlHacker, Medley, and The Other Side, to name a few) talking about hoarding the new dollar coins. I'm guilty of it too. I have 2 coins that my Dad gave me back in February, and I still haven't used them. I've never received one as change, and I've never seen anyone else use one. Kind of like reverse peer pressure...nobody else is doing it.
On another coin collecting note, I finally got a Delaware quarter. All I need from last year is Georgia. Considering I'm currently (temporarily) working in Georgia, you'd think I would have one by now. I haven't seen any 2000 quarters. In fact, other than one 2000 penny and the 2 dollar coins, I haven't seen any 2000 coins. It's a massive government conspiracy, I tell you.
I was checking the referrer logs, and somebody found me through Looksmart by searching for "sports journals." I think starting tomorrow, people expecting a lot of sports links are going to be disappointed. College basketball is finished. I don't follow the NBA. With the Rangers not making the playoffs, I probably won't pay much attention to the NHL until the Stanley Cup Finals. And after Opening Day, baseball really doesn't get exciting until late August.
It's nice to know that, according to today's Jon Carroll column, people have trouble using their turn signals in the San Francisco area. It's not just a Southern thing. (Yes, I have managed to work Jon Carroll into my daily routine. You can teach an old dog new tricks.)
I'm in a better mood today. The Yankees are 1-0, it stopped raining, it's gotten colder (for me, this is a good thing), and I bought The Phantom Menace on video. (FYI, I waited until my lunch hour today to buy it, instead of going out last night at midnight.)
(Hold on a sec while I put on my fireproof suit.) Phantom Menace was not that bad. No movie could have lived up to that much hype. No, it wasn't as good as Star Wars or Empire Strikes Back. But I enjoyed it. It was worth going to see at 12:40 am on Opening Day. (A rabid crowd helps the atmosphere.)
If it makes you feel better, I thought The Matrix was a better movie, and derserved to beat Phantom Menace in all those Oscar categories.
According to this BBC article, Surnames have been found in DNA. Of course, they specifically mention my last name, Smith, as a probable exception. Figures.
I'd like to welcome all the visitors from Windowseat. I've gotten a few more hits since Laurel linked to me. Thanks.
I envy Laurel for getting to see the Twins on opening day (even though they lost). While the Yankees are my favorite team, I've always liked the Twins. It's probably because of Kirby Puckett. Man, he was fun to watch. I even rooted for the Twins in the 1991 World Series in spite of the fact that I was surrounded by Braves fans. (OK, I was pretty quiet about it, but that's normal. I'm an introvert.)
I've been using a lot of parentheses today, haven't I?
Monday, April 3, 2000
I've had an awful lot of sports related posts lately. Maybe I should just rename this thing "The Cluttered Bleachers" and forget about everything else.
So I got a mention in Ghost in the Machine. Kevin called me a "basketball-mad Carolinian." For the record, since I was born in New York and spent the first 15 years of my life there, I consider myself a New Yorker. (Not that I'm mad about being called a Carolinian.) And this week, I happen to be baseball mad.
By the way, Ghost in the Machine (excellent name) is one of the few other weblogs I've seen that actually covers sports.
Finally, something that has nothing to do with sports. Today I found the SubHonker Filter, a customizable weblogs checker. It makes keeping track of other weblogs so much easier. Of course, the fact that I need to use this probably means that I read too many weblogs.
It's been a slow, dreary day. I overslept (stupid time change) and missed breakfast. Every time I read something on the web today, I think to myself, "Is this for real or is it a belated April Fools joke?" Not wanting to link to something that's really a hoax, I skip it. That doesn't leave much to put in here.
You've finally caught me on a bad day. Well, last week was better. Hopefully, tomorrow will be better too.
Sunday, April 2, 2000
"People will come, Ray."
"They'll come to Iowa, for reasons they can't even fathom. They'll turn up your driveway, not knowing for sure why they're doing it. They'll arrive at your door, as innocent as children, longing for the past. Of course, we won't mind if you look around, you'll say, it's only $20 per person. They'll pass over the money without even thinking about it, for it is money they have, and peace they lack."
"They'll walk out to the bleachers, sit in their shirt sleeves on a perfect afternoon. They'll find they have reserved seats somewhere along one of the baselines where they sat when they were children and cheered their heroes. And they'll watch the game, and it'll be as if they dipped themselves in magic waters. The memories will be so thick, they'll have to brush them away from their faces."
"People will come, Ray."
"The one constant through all the years, Ray, has been baseball. America has rolled by like an army of steamrollers. It's been erased, rebuilt, and erased again. But baseball has marked the time. This field, this game, is a part of our past, Ray. It reminds us of all that once was good, and it could be again. Oh, people will come, Ray. People will most definitely come."
--Terrance Mann (James Earl Jones), "Field of Dreams"
Tomorrow is Opening Day for baseball. (I'm trying to forget those two games in Tokyo last week.) It should be a national holiday. (The Yankees shouldn't have to start the season on the West Coast for the third year in a row either.)
I think that monologue by James Earl Jones is just perfect for the beginning of the season. Everyone starts out with an identical record. (Again, trying to forget the two games in Tokyo.) Everyone is in first place. The possibilities are endless.
(Yes, I transcribed the whole thing myself, so blame any errors on me.)
Last update
6:10 pm EDT
Apr 08 2000
About Cluttered Cluttered Archives
Weblogs That Inspire Me:
Medley
Now This
Windowseat
E-mail: [email protected]
