mstar1

I heard a good interview with Joe on NPR yesterday. It was good to hear him again ( don't hear enough of him out in these parts). The way it sounded was similar to any employment situation that goes on too long--some in fighting and maneuvering, with some discomfort during the last few years. Nothing that doesnt happen in any big company. It wasnt sensational by any means.... ..I heard about the 1 year offer by the Dodgers which IMO might be a good deal for Manny. Play another year then do the free agent thing again. The market is bound to be livelier next year --He could sign on with the Yankees as DH then after they lose Damon and Matsui if nothing else. Boras is going to have to get off his 4 to 6 year kick, its not going to happen---I'm surprised the Giants havent made more of aplay for him

Here you go ClayJay My friend Mary Lou covered the song. Here is her version. She's cuter than either Betty OR Veronica

Its not like this is the first time that this has ever happened... Many presidents have made their way into the comics, its at the discretion of the writers not the president.

I just read this morning that Manny finally got a contract offer There’s no word yet on whether Manny will accept a 99.8% pay cut to move from Los Angeles to picturesque Worcester...so I'll assume he's mulling it over I know its a joke but it actually got me thinking: what type of numbers would Manny produce if he decided to sit out of MLB for a year and play a season of low level independent minor league ball Id put him at about 75HRs .430 185 RBI --somewhere in that neighborhood

Not a bad idea-we could go "Hi-TEK" and he could call the whole game on a mini baseballproof blackberry installed in the catchers shin guards while he's out romping with Heidi Watney I know you want to let one of em go NOW, (advantage Red Sox). One of either Salty or Teagarden isnt really going to get alot of plate appearances before the trading deadline unless they move one of them to DH, which would probably be a smart move...otherwise Salty's trade value isnt going to go anywhere but down if he is rotting on the bench for most of the season.. If thats the case by July I'll have a case of ShamWows and the ghost of Mike Timlin ready to ship to Texas for our catcher of the future...

It all depends on what you want Tom...I dont think you're going to get Buchholz or Bowden for Salty--plus with Tek signed we have a little more breathing room, a year to work it out (if necessary) and right now you need immediate pitching more than we need immediate catching. I think it gives us a leverage point Im still holding out for Teagarden by the trade deadline besides---you still owe us a favor for Gagne

Thunderation-- Beppe Gambetta and Dan Crary

speaking of driving... every once in awhile I'll get in some traffic jam on a highway---crawling along, crawling... crawling... for 5 10 15 minutes... then...after awhile for no particular reason it opens right up unexpectedly and Im immediately back at 65--there was no accident to pass no road work no anything--the jam just suddenly disappears---whats that all about?

I like the idea of the painters and artists that was mentioned above Hieronymous Bosch, William Blake--people that were already either visionary, completely nuts or very high Dante's a little dark but would be fun to pick his brain, Whoever wrote Revelation-- Don Juan Matus-the Yaqui Indian in the Carlos Castenada books Taliesin-the last great Celtic Shaman--maybe he could turn me into a raven really -- anyone with an active imagination.... I wonder what Gandhi would be like if he was ripped

I mentioned years ago on some thread that in the early 70's I got stoned with Muddy in between sets at the old Pauls Mall in Boston. It wasnt really a 'one on one' with him but about 15 people stuffed into a closet sized bathroom with about 8 joints going for about 20 minutes For some reason ( ) I dont remember what we talked about, although I do remember that Muddy's stuff was by far the best.....real deal Acapulco Gold... which for me was rare and an instant mega high--- the second set was amazing......

Yea if anyone should get it it should be him--although Im surprised that it didnt make the move to the new place. I caught the video of various staff people carrying the World Series trophies across the street a few days ago.. as far as I saw no one slipped on the ice (which has been brutal on us Northerners--I kerplunked on my arse --myself yesterday). Sox re-signed Varitek today--so unless he has a bounce back year I'll have a year of great gamecalling and and also a year of groans watching him coming to the plate and curses watching him miss a fastball by 18" with men on base. I might have to install protective glass in front of my TV to protect it from hurled objects

I do a lot of work for that company (J. Wippell of Exeter England)...Not in the vestments but in stained glass. I know the designer-- each one is designed specific for each individual clergy or specific event and handmade--They're not for me but the craftsmanship is amazing--hand embroidery and all that type stuff---some of them are incredibly pagan looking and straight out of Harry Potter or some wizard dream. Its not for me--(Im not a church guy) -but I think it looks better than the plain drab robes of years past. If anyone wants one or one of those big old funky hats I can probably get you a discount

Its a good read-- I love the wording about Fenway great writing-I couldnt have said it better-I dont know many who could anyway-- Its good to see Cards fans were hard at work during the snowstorm yesterday---- EDIT: I dont know why my picture wont post--its supposed to be THIS ONE opening day must be getting close

I just learned John Updike died. Maybe I should post this in the In Memoriam thread, I know he was a great writer of novels and essays but I will always remember him best for his famous essay, "Hub Fans Bid Kid Adieu", It is his first-hand account of Ted Williams' last game as a Red Sox one of the first real baseball essays i read and one that sticks with me still FULL ESSAY IS HERE I still get a chill down my spine and a tear in my eye when I read his account of the last at-bat... Good Stuff

There was alot of talk about Vermont seceding during the Bush years, and of course HRH Sarah Palin and her husband the former potential first dude were involved with the Alaska secessionists. My personal favorite are those who have 'successfully' seceded such as Robert Ben Madison, a 13 year old resident of Milwaukee, who declared his bedroom the The Kingdon of Talossa on December 26, 1979. Since then the nation has evolved and grown. It has a king , a cabinet, a parliament, constitution, flag, national anthem, national opera and a football team--even an official language (Talossan of course) All the things you'd expect from a nation. Like any nation its not without its problems. in 2004 some citizens seceded from the Kingdom, forming the secessionist Republic of Talossa on June 1, 2004. There are aton of "micronations" scattered around the country. I even toyed with the wholke idea myself (for about 5 minutes) about 10 years ago.. Mstaristan? maybe... I might do it but I'd have to decree Emperor Norton as our national patron saint ARTICLE--"Its Good To Be King"

Im pretty sure that they are... There was some big woopdedoo in the 70's or 80's how TWI was going to lose its nonprofit status for misuse of funds. VP of course blamed it on "the adversary". Maybe someone else knows the details on that, I know I never heard the real story just a few well washed snippets through the grapevine. One of which was that they kept a bunch of lawyers busy for quite awhile ( is that within the realm of "biblical teaching research and fellowship"??) <_< Non profits may have to open up their books to the state by law but transparency to donors is another aspect altogether though.

WorldNetDaily will proclaim anyone an "expert" as long as they adhere to their extremist political views There was an interesting article about him in The Nation a few years back.. :unsure: <_< --consider the source

The last painter left some spots of paint on the upper rotunda windows...

About 1977 I was driving with a bunch of people through the desert in Arizona. I picked up some guy hitching and drve him for a few hours to a crossroad where he wanted to get out. It was pretty bleak out there--like the moon--no cars, no buildings, no signs of civilization... I let him out and drove off --about 3, 4 maybe 5 miles down the road I rode through a pack of wild dogs-about 50 or 60 of them that were sort of jogging in that direction. It was a fairly sinister looking sight that I had never seen before....all those dogs.... I got outvoted on turning around---It would have been a pretty good hike for those dogs to reach him. I dont even know the guys name but Ive always wondered if that guy was OK--Hope so I wonder what hes doing now. Every once in awhile I wonder about these people who I crossed paths with just once and where they went

I dont know what they do now, I know in my time (late 70's and most of the 80's) about once ayear someone would say on some tape or during some teaching that 'any advanced class grad could examine the books' or something like that...I dont know anyone who ever took them up on it, it sounded to me like that claim was mostly for show. I do remember someone asking a question about finances to the Board of Trustees at a Rock of Ages question and answer period in front of a few thousand people who got yelled down very sternly by the Board for even daring to ask. That was sometime in the late 80's There were no written financial reports similar to the ones that you'll find in most church lobbies that I ever saw. In my experience it was all very secretive, our job was to send it in and not question them, If anyone questioned we werent "trusting God"

Wow thats amazing-- Ive been playing with the picture for about 10 minutes-Im not a photo or tech geek but the detail is mindboggling does anyone know anyone who was there?--It looks like you could find and I identify just about anyone who was there

It cracks me up everytime I look at it.... Have the stRangers signed another injury prone pitcher yet? Sheets? -- I like him but it sounds like the same risky pattern they fall into a lot

I'd love to--I just read something that rated Ned Colletti dead last as a GM....It shows.... they need to replace him and soon... It certainly looks like a no-brainer from here that Manny was built for the Dodgers.....

I set the DVR so I'll be catching those shows later this week meanwhile --since its the middle of winter and theres not much to keep me occupied--Here is my new favorite baseball fight video--does anyone know wth is goin on? Im not up on my Korean customs---but I sure like 'em---

Ill sneak over the exgf's house and do that, we may be closer to opening day than yesterday but Im full bore in the middle of the winter blues--opening day just cant come fast enough for me....