Playoff Goatee

Before the team clinched the playoff spot, a few guys in the office wanted to grow playoff beards, that is no shaving until we win the championship or lose in the playoffs. Beards were overruled by the higher ups in the front office, but allowed the goatee. The last day to shave was Thursday. I can't say I'm a big fan of having facial hair, but how often does a person get the chance to grow a playoff "beard." I will need to grow it until at least September 5th. If the team wins, it may go as long as September 15th. I will be shaving as soon as our last game ends...I may keep the electric shaver in my desk. Hey, if I like it, it may become a Ryder Cup beard...I could paint it red, white and blue!

Atheist Prejudice

I often post bits on this blog because of a reaction to a post of Mark or Kevin's. After reading Kevin's creationist bit, I have decided to tell of an incident that happened to me (indirectly) at work a few weeks back (Note: I have discussed the use of the national anthem before sporting events in the past with brother Kevin, but that is a different subject for another time.)

I received a call from one of my workers wanting security in his section. After walking to the location, he informed me five guys did not stand up during the national anthem. They did not stand because they told him they were atheists (I don't know why atheism has anything to do with not standing for the national anthem...the pledge I can understand due to the reference of"under God," but that is beside the point). Anyway, the worker told a nearby vendor not to sell the beer to the guys because they did not stand for the national anthem. The vendor agreed.

I told the workers I can understand if they are ticked off, but we cannot refuse service or single people out if they are not creating a disturbance. They have every right to remain seated no matter how much others may find it offensive. To make a longer story short, the worker had asked for an officer in case "those god hating atheists come back to spew their anti-christ bullshit."Avoiding interjecting my opinion and viewpoint, I felt I handled the situation rather well.
First, it always tickles my funny bone when people call atheists god haters. Second, I guess atheists are truly the last "minority" in the country that it is ok to discriminate against openly. Recently in the news we have seen (D)Rep. Monique Davis of Illinois openly deny the rights of atheists. George H.W. Bush was once quoted as saying he doesn't know if atheists should be recognized as citizens because this is "one nation under God" (though this story may not be entirely true). I have seen numerous news reports of families of atheists run out of town because of nervous school boards and PTA's (though these are usually small suburban towns).

Why is an unsupported belief in a supernatural diety commonly accepted, even encouraged, but demanding evidence and reason to figure out why things are the way they are seemed as evil? I guess I'll never understand...

Sticking with Mark's Insect Theme

Last week, Beth and I ate at the Cracker Barrel on Blankenbaker Road and noticed this caterpillar outside in the flower bed chomping away on some tasty leaves. All I had was my cell phone camera and the image is pretty blurry. I say he was about 7-8 inches long and a good 2 inches around. He was by far the biggest caterpillar I have ever scene. One of the workers told us it had been there for a couple of weeks, eating everything in sight. I think it is an Imperial Moth caterpillar, but not certain. It was the closest ID I could find in the short amount of time I researched it.

Congratulations to Aunt Julie!

Congratulations Aunt Julie!!! In case anyone has not heard or received her e-mail, Aunt Julie got her first Hole-In-One yesterday. Welcome to The Club!

Now I know where I get it...

One More Hell Week to Go

The light is at the end of the tunnel...I just hope it's not an oncoming train. The Dave Matthews concert is this coming Friday. The coming week will be spent getting everything brought in , situated and set-up. I'm not sure how many hours I will put in this week, but I have the feeling each day leading up to the concert will be longer than previous. The Monday after the concert we begin an 8 game home stand, the second to last home stand of the year. I know Beth and I are happy it's soon coming to a close.

I have not been metal detecting in a long while and I really have the itch to go. No doubt Mark has a huge lead on me in the amount of loot he has found. I hope we can get out somewhere together soon for a hunt...maybe at dad's poker buddy Chuck's property across the river in Indiana.

I haven't played much golf either, but the last time out I shot a 69 at Iroquois while playing with Uncle Mark & Matt. Maybe I should just let the legend grow and not play until the golf trip. It seems I'm playing better now that I play less frequently. The trip appears to be headed back to Crossville, TN, a place we visited a few years ago, instead of Panama City. I think almost everyone is happy with this decision even though Pop is still pushing for Eastern Kentucky. I guess my next project needs to be the golf trip media guide. I usually start this several months in advance, but feel confident I can get one done in plenty of time. It gets tougher every year, so I guess I better start now.

Kevin's Greg Norman Comment

I thought the same thing when I heard Paul Azinger say that "golf had been unkind to Greg Norman." Come on Captain! If golf has been unkind to Norman, then it must want me dead.

The British Open -Greg Norman Kreacher Feature

For anyone who has seen the movie adaptation of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, I present the following picture comparison.

The State Motto Poetry Challenge

O.K...here are the guidelines I followed for this challenge. I used state mottos from all 50 states. The motto kept its integrity. I also did not add any other words other than what is in the motto itself. Here it is...

Wutsamotto U?

If you seek a pleasant peninsula,

look about you, I have found it!

While I breathe, I hope the life

of the land is perpetuated in righteousness.

Forward it grows as it goes,

ever upward, by and by,

let it be perpetual.

Mountaineers are always free!

Strength from the soil God enriches.

He who transplanted sustains nothing without
providence...

state sovereignty, national union,

wisdom, justice and moderation.

Liberty and independence.

Agriculture and commerce,

gold and silver...

I direct the crossroads of America!

Our liberties we prize

and our rights we will maintain

to be rather than to seem.

The welfare of the people is the highest law.

Labor conquers all things...

virtue, liberty and independence.

Friendship, union, justice and confidence.

Industry, freedom and unity.

Hope.

Under God, the people rule by valor and arms.

We dare defend our rights, equal rights, by the
sword.

We seek peace only under liberty,

liberty and prosperity,

equality before the law.

She flys with her own wings

to the stars through adversity-

manly deeds, womanly words-

north to the future.

The star of the North.

United we stand, divided we fall,

all for our country.

In God we trust all things are possible

Live free or die with God,

Thus always to tyrants!

Response to Kevin's State Motto Post

First, I will let you know I have been working diligently on the State Motto Poetry Challenge and will have it up sometime this week. Second, I saw a motto for Florida I liked:

Florida: America's Wang!

"Contact" & Work

I have just started reading Carl Sagan's Contact and have been told the book is much better than the movie (as usual), but my biggest fear is the ending. The ending of the movie was horrible, but I am confident Sagan's will be much better. I have read some of his non-fiction (Cosmos & Billions & Billions) and have been impressed. However, I am more impressed with his fictional writing thus far.

I get the feeling the younger Ellie Arroway character (as well as the adult) sees and questions the world in a very similar way I do now. The questions she thinks of are weird to others, but are perfectly rational questions no one seems to want to bother with. Anyway, it looks promising.

I hope I get the chance to read some in the coming weeks. We are finalizing details at work in time for the All-Star Game and all the surrounding events. It will be a long week starting Wednesday. We then begin an 8-game home stand the day after the ASG. A couple of days after the home stand , we begin set-up for the Dave Matthews concert. Two days after the concert, we start another 8-game home stand. The good news is, the season is almost done at that point.

Another Question for Kevin's List

If Ernie Els, Retief Goosen or Tim Clarke become U.S. Citizens (and they may be), or any other South African, are they considered African-Americans?

Unfortunate Headline

Not to make light of this man's death, but I saw this headline on ESPN.com this morning.

NHRA's Kalitta dies in Funny Car crash

Richard Dawkins, Atheism & Politics

I have become a big fan of Richard Dawkins, James Randi, Sam Harris & Daniel Dennett, collectively known as "The Four Horsemen." Here is a clip of Dawkins discussing the view of theism, atheism & politics.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=saFIIgM2_co

I Knew It Would Be A Bad Day...

I knew it would be a bad day today when I dropped my car keys in my juice cup.

Lies or Ignorance

Here is another example of straight lies or ignorance (you be the judge) from the "Creation Science Association of Mid-America." The title of the group should say enough. What exactly is scientific about creationism?

Anyway, here is the new depressing newsletter from this organization.

http://www.csama.org/csanews/nws200807.pdf.


I'll post my reaction when I get a little more time.

2008 U.S Open - This Expert's Picks

U.S. Open expert here. I will predict the Top 5 finishers for the 2008 U.S. Open at Torrey Pines. I will tell you why my picks are as solid as a Ben Hogan knock down and why not only will I be dancing, but be within gimmee range. Even my brother Kevin couldn't pull this off. First, an expert like myself must develop the proper criteria, a rubric, for selecting the golfers feeling the heart palpitations on Sunday and those doing the "Samsonite Slide" Friday afternoon. I will also tell you why other criteria, though seemingly important, did not make my list for this tournament. Since every major is different, here is my list of criteria for the 2008 U.S. Open

1. Record at Torrey Pines - This is self explanatory. If a guy likes the course, you have to go with him, U.S. Open setup or not.



2. % of Fairways Hit - This is always key in The Open. Keep it out of the rough and you have a chance.



3. Putts per Green - This is important in every major, but must be factored in with fairways hit. Chipping and one putting every green for bogey won't cut it.



4. G.I.R the Last 3 Starts - I like to see who is hitting the irons well coming into the U.S. Open. This shows relevant confidence and an ability to work the ball, necessary to hit shots to tough U.S. Open hole locations. Those sick sadistic USGA-ians!



5. Scrambling - You won't hit many greens in an Open, even at a more forgiving Torrey Pines. You better be able to get up and down.

Some of the criteria I don't rely on and why:

1. Scoring Avg. - The U.S. Open means one thing...numbers in the black. " The best golfers can shoot an 85 in the U.S. Open." Every little mistake is amplified under these conditions. You must throw it out.



2. Driving Distance - Torrey Pines might be playing almost 8,000 yards, but you'll be hacking out each shot with a pitching wedge if you can't keep it in San Diego.


3. Money List - I don't care if you won $800,000 after shooting 22-under at the FBR Open. This ain't the FBR Open (buckle down J.B!)

Given this criteria, I will now present you with the order of finish in the 2008 U.S. Open. These golfers may be tied with one another or tied with other golfers I do not mention, but they will be there!

1. Phil Mickelson - It is his year to win this major at this course.

2. Tiger Woods - Bad knee or not, he loves this course. Maybe just a little too much rust to pull out the victory.

3. Justin Rose - This limey will again make a run at another major, but it won't quite happen... yet.

4. Stewart Cink - This steady player always performs well in The Open, but once again he'll come up short.

5. Geoff Ogilvy - This course suits his game and he has the experience of winning it.

DARK HORSE - Robert Allenby(if his irons are on...watch out.)

****Tune in tomorrow when I post my jackpot sheet***

Brian Likes His Evolution Spicy (A Response to "Kung Pao Evolution" by Kevin)

"The second law of thermodynamics is an expression of the universal law of increasing entropy, stating that the entropy of an isolated system which is not in equilibrium will tend to increase over time, approaching a maximum value at equilibrium." - A loose definition from the "scholarly" Wikipedia.

Some creationists state evolution cannot exist due to the 2nd Law of Thermodynamics. This is my favorite argument. They argue things should devolve over time in our closed system...so god must be the giver and designer of life. The key to the 2nd Law is the "isolated system" tidbit. Remember the huge, glowing orb that heats and lights the Earth? Yeah...it's called the Sun.

Also, I have a quibble with people who believe the Universe is not in chaos. Sure, some portions have some order. In a place as vast as the Universe, given enough time & due to natural laws...some order is bound to occur. They seem to forget the fact just about everything seems to be expanding at an increasing rate, stars are exploding, galaxies are colliding with on another and black holes are swallowing star systems like I down a bag of M&M's.

Let's narrow the focus, however, and just think about Earth. Our planet is periodically bombarded (on a geological time scale) by large objects from space. Tons and tons of new debris falls to the Earth every year. Our planet is blasted by X-rays & Gamma rays...even Stevie Ray, Ray Charles and Charlotte Rhea. And this is just a small example of what goes on on this "pale blue dot."

Yep...this is one orderly closed system he "created."

2nd Grader Commits to Kentucky

Heard this at work the other day...pretty funny.

http://wkdzsports.typepad.com/sportsbytes/2008/05/second-grader-c.html

"That's My Dad's Shootin' Car" - West Virginia voter

West Virginia's primary is tomorrow. An article on the Financial Times website yesterday about the state's voters proved Barack Obama to be correct. I have not decided on my vote as of yet, but this may help lead me in a certain direction.

West Virginia is seen as a major challenge, if not an impossiblity, for Obama to win on Tuesday because it has few African-Americans & few college-educated whites. "The state has the lowest college graduation rate in the U.S., the second lowest median household income, and one of the highest proportions of white residents, at 96 percent." After interviewing several democratic voters in the small town of Williamson, none of them said they would vote for Obama.

“I heard that Obama is a Muslim and his wife’s an atheist,” said Mr
Simpson [not to beconfused with Homer Simpson, who joined the NRA in 1998], drawing on a cigarette outside the fire station in Williamson, a
coalmining town of 3,400 people surrounded by lush wooded
hillsides.'

Several weeks ago while campaigning in Pennsylvania, Barack Obama made a comment about "bitter" small town people who "cling to guns or religion." Looking at Williamson, "[w]ith a gun shop on its main street and churches dotted throughout the town," Williamson is that kind of community referenced by Obama.

'"If he is the nominee, the Democrats have no chance of winning West
Virginia,” said Missy Endicott, a 40- year-old school administrator. “He doesn’t
understand ordinary Americans.”'

Aaaah, my dear Missy...I think he understands ordinary Americans very well.

quotes from :W Virginia keeps distance from Obama
By Andrew Ward
Published: May 11
2008 20:13

How Do You Spell Relief? Not I-s-r-i-n-g-h-a-u-s-e-n.

Just a quick post. The St. Louis Cardinals have been on a small winning streak despite giving up plenty of runs in the 8th & 9th innings the last few games. It finally caught up to them tonight. Izzy gave up 4 in the 8th to lose 4-3. This bullpen will not get us very far. Please hurry back Carpenter & Mulder...we need your stitched-upped, gnarled arms!

Where Art Thou, Dr. Zeus?

Was there ever a "Twilight Zone" episode where everyone, except the unsuspecting businessman in the fedora, seemed to regress, or de-evolve (devolve?) and before he knew it neanderthals were roaming the streets devouring stray dogs, looting butcher shops & doing Geico commercials? I feel like that guy(minus the snazzy fedora). Recently several states have started looking to pass "academic freedom" legislation that would encourage, or force, teachers in public schools to raise doubts about Darwin's theories & evolutionary biology as it pertains to human origins. Never mind there is no credible scientific evidence to the contrary(I am well aware Darwinian evolution is pretty much gone the way of the Dodo. Darwin wouldn't recognize modern evolutionary biology. He was simply the "father" of the theory of natural selection. Evolutionary Biology grew from this foundation, however most creationists miss this point). Will we start teaching alternative geographical "theories"? You never know...the whole damn earth just may be flat! How about alternative Mathematical theories? "2 + 2 = 4 is all well and good, but I feel I would be slapping God in the face if I didn't say it equals 7."

Most recent surveys across the United States show the majority of people don't believe in evolution (which tells me they do not understand it) and a god created us very much the way we are now. This includes people who are not really that religious. Is this the education system letting us down or the unfortunate, disgusting & powerful influence of theistic willful ignorance taught in the home? My guess is the latter. Whatever the problem, it scares the hell out of me. I think I'll go back to my cave before the dark swallows me, wonder where the sun went and throw feces at the wall until I feel better.

A Rain Delay, 17 Innings & A Cold

Thankfully our home stand is over and I now have 4 days off to recover. Not only was our 5 game stretch at home cold, it was also longer than any other 5 game stretch I've ever worked. Saturdays game went 13 innings...which we lost. Sundays game was longer than normal, but we also has a booster club luncheon afterward. Monday's game was the killer. We new rain was coming, we just didn't know how much. The rain delayed the start of the game by only 40 minutes. After the rain, however, the temperature dropped into the low 40's with 20-30 mph winds. We then proceeded to play 17 innings of baseball until our first baseman was forced to pitch and gave up 2 runs breaking a 2-2 tie. I got home a little before 2 am. I woke up Tuesday morning feeling like I swallowed a pin cushion, dizzy and worn out (to many people that would have meant a good night). I suffered through our 11:05 am Education Day game today knowing I could go home and rest soon after. I now have 4 days to rest and hopefully feel better before Derby Day.

More Cincy Trip...

The Mysterious Blood Gutter

After gathering my keys and stuffing my wallet in my back right pants pocket, I hoisted my back pack over my shoulder and stepped out the door for another day of work. I turned from locking the door, it's black paint chipping exposing the gray metal underneath, and strode toward the top of the steps. Before taking the first step, I looked down to find an extremely large pool of blood on the second step from the top. My first thought was blood, but it was only in the one spot. I didn't see a trail of smaller drops leading to our neighboring apartment or further down the steps. I then second guessed myself and thought someone had spilled a red drink or dessert. After closer inspection, I knew it was blood. I stepped over the pool and went down a few steps. I turned around and looked up at the gutter. There was a red streak on the outer edge of the gutter directly above the pool. The blood was no longer dripping, but it appeared extremely fresh. It was very red and had not yet taken on the brownish rust color. I figure it must have been a raccoon, possum or squirrel that had cut itself, maybe on the gutter. I'll keep you updated if I see any animals with fresh stitches.

One Disappointed Geology Dork

It seems all of Louisville and the entire Ohio Valley were awakened by last weeks 5.2 earthquake west of Evansville on the Indiana-Illinois border. That is everyone except Beth & I. I have long wanted to feel an earthquake (except for the concrete and wood beams falling on my head). When I am finally presented an opportunity, I sleep through it like I was on a NyQuil bender the night before. I have not asked a single person yet who did not feel it. I have a friggin' link to the USGS on my blog and I am the only person I know who consistently reads books on Geology...but I stay asleep. CRRAAAAAAAAAAP!

Anyway, the ballpark had its share of minor damage. The quake created a little ripple in center field which the grounds crew had to sand, tamp down & re-sod. We watched the surveillance cameras when we came into work and you can definitely see them bouncing around. One even picked up a tree trembling in the parking lot. It is easy to tell a tree moving due to wind compared to a tree being shaken. All in all, very interesting for my first earthquake experience...I just missed out on the actual shaking. CRRAAAAAP!

"The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time"

I remember Mark reading this book not too long ago and decided to pick it up at Half-Price Books while selling a few stinkers. I figured it would be a short, quick read while I decided what I really wanted to read next. I can't say it's the best book I ever read...not even top 20. However, it is a unique and interesting book. Assuming the point of view created by Mark Haddon (the author) is correct, it gives an interesting perspective from the viewpoint of an autistic person. The funny thing is, I found myself identifying with Christopher (the main character). Sometimes all a person wants is white noise and be left to their fancies.

Things are Going to Start Happening to Me Now!

http://www.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/gallery?Site=B2&Date=20080414&Category=SPORTS07&ArtNo=804140810&Ref=PH&Params=Itemnr=13

Miscellaneous Thoughts

First, I hope any Hoosiers reading my drivel don't take it seriously. Having numerous wonderful family members who reside or were born in the Hoosier State, it is more of a friendly jab than anything else.

Second, what is up with the twitching. For the past year I feel my muscles have taken on a life of their own. It's not what it sounds like...I'm not ready for the Cougar 3000 (see Seinfeld for reference). I often have muscle twitches taking place in my back and in my arms and legs. Last week, I encountered a weird fluttering of my left eardrum. It wasn't loud, just odd. I noticed it made the sound when I rubbed the top of my head (don't laugh...I couldn't make this up). I used some ear drops and it seems to have helped. It is the ear with which I have had past trouble. Last night, a new and even more bizarre twitch developed. It felt as if someone was gently bending the top of my right ear in short, quick little pulses. No muscle in that part of the ear...just cartilage and nerves.

Based on these experiences, I have formed a theory when it comes to people who experience "ghosts" touching them. Most of these little episodes do feel as if someone is poking on the muscle (or "bending your ear"). It is completely possible many of these ghostly encounters could be debunked and written off to no more than a twitch. Or maybe it's a small toad or a dwarf living in my stomach. Oh well...I guess I'll go see the Barber for a good bleeding.

A Pirate Looks at Forty (Cents)

I haven't had the chance recently to get out and detect much, but this is what I have found the past couple of weeks. It's not much, but I have not gone to any interesting places either. You've read about the bottle cap and the salamander and the rest is mostly pennies, dimes & quarters (I have found very few nickels...not really sure why). I have found a few tokens (one to The Park & another with the skull & bones-the back has a treasure chest. I thought this was funny because it represents all I want to find in a cheap little kids coin...except for the bones). I did find my first foreign currency in a Canadian cent. It's not a big deal, but it's somewhat of a milestone in my short detecting-life.

Is 40 Days & 40 Nights Too Much to Ask?

In anticipation of the heavy rains forecasted this week in the wake of last weeks deluge, I thought it appropriate to republish my poem...

Metallic Garden Globes & the Fiberoptic Tee Pee
The great Iroquoian river erodes
carving Ken-tah-ten
dividing the land of tomorrow
from land of native men.
North of the muddy ribbon
parasitic towns emerged
oh' only if tomorrow
had purged this festering scourge
Now the lights of winter
cast bleak shadows on our face
as we gaze o'er the river
and ponder wasted space
Glaciers past devoured, scoured
a once proud pristine land.
Now our hope lies with rain drenched skies
to use what is close at hand
Oh river, oh river swell thee wide
depths deadly deep
quicken your current, reclaim your road
and from us Hoosiers keep.

("Ken-tah-ten" is Iroquoian, translated as Land of Tomorrow)

Smallmouth Salamander

Since Beth was in Lexington Tuesday night with Mary Kay, I decided to head over to Charlie Vettiner Park and do some detecting. I headed toward a huge open field I was sure would yield few finds, but do to a lack of recent research, I was basically out for the fresh air. One lone tree stood in the middle of the field. I searched around it for a few minutes and got a hit on something that ended up, like I expected, to be a piece of aluminum. However, in digging for it I came across this ugly little cuss a few inches down. In my limited searching of the web, I think it is a smallmouth salamander.

The picture on top is from the web, the one on the bottom taken with my cell phone. It's blurry, but the toes are identical to the "web specimen." He's lucky I didn't slice him in two. I gently buried him back under the tree. Hopefully he will survive the ordeal of being dragged from hibernation. If anyone thinks this is a different critter, let me know.

I also found $.37 in clad. Besides Mr. Slimy, the neatest find was a Coca-Cola bottle cap. Usually, bottle caps are a nuisance, but this was different. It was obviously off an actual glass Coke bottle. It was in great shape except for the edges being bent in. The top was shiny and looked new. It read "Instant Winner" & Coca-Cola in the famous script underneath. I turned the cap over and I saw the familiar blue-green rubber disc with writing underneath. It was good for (1) Free Admission to an Early Bird Matinee at Champs Roller Dome at any participating Louisville or Lexington location. Unfortunately, I'll have to keep my skates in the closet. The expiration date was 10/31/84. DAMN IT!

(I'll post pictures when I get more booty)

I GOT YOUR MILK MONEY KID!

I finally got out on Saturday afternoon to metal detect. I headed over to Long Run Park and poked around finding only a couple quarters, a dime, a few pennies and a Canadian cent. I headed to the playground before I left and found a little change there, too...just some kids milk money. It is much more pleasant to hunt and dig in this weather. I hope to get out more soon even though baseball season is here. At least I'll have some Fridays and weekends to get out. I will post a picture of everything I have found since my last picture, but I want to take a few more trips first.

Baseball, Dave Matthews & the Raging Rash

First, I have deleted my sports blog. It seems everyone I have talked to has said they don't read it. I guess I was just writing it for myself. That should be enough, but I'm selfish and want people to read what I write. So if it is important enough to me, and I think someone may find it interesting, I'll continue to put it on this blog.

Baseball season has started and we are busy at working getting ready for our opening day on April 11th. We have a lot to do and short time to do it. Also, for the past 3 weeks I have been the go to guy for Dave Matthews concert questions. They will be here August 1st, 2 weeks after the All-Star Game leaves town. When it comes to the ASG, I have been put in charge of the operations at FanFest (the 3 days leading up to the game). So my plate is full and they keep dishing out helpings.

My beautiful wife had a reaction to a medication this weekend and her skin turned polka-dotted. It was really bad from head to toe (literally) and she has been miserable trying not to scratch. If she laid down in some pink flock, you couldn't finder her. She has some stuff to help get rid of it and now it's just a waiting game.

Birthday Season Snow

Here are the pictures of this past weekends snow storm from our balcony.

Weather is Fine for Derby Time!

The snow is melting and Derby is only a matter of weeks away. Place your bets, place your bets...

St. Pius Cornhole Tournament

Last Saturday Kevin & I played in the St. Pius Cornhole Tournament. This was my first year playing, but Kevin has played a few times. The tournament distance was 33' hole to hole, 3 ft longer than I'm used to. However, I did get a chance to practice and when it came time for the tourny, I felt ready. Kevin played really well for the most part and was pretty much responsible for us winning the games we did. I felt I tossed better than the results showed...just like in golf when you strike the ball better than you score. I had so many I felt were dead on, but just a little off on the distance. We won the first match against a team we had no business beating, but Kevin got hot and they played poorly. It was the same team that won the whole sha-bang last year. The second game we played Sparks' friend Nate and his sister. We ended up beating them twice...once in the first round and once in the losers brackets. It was double elimination...so we were solely responsible for knocking them out. Our over all record was 3 & 2. The two games we lost were not really close although we made a run at the end of them. I hope to redeem myself next year..............until then!

Snow at the Ballpark

Here are a couple of pictures I took today at Slugger Field around noon.

Too Much of a Good Thing

I realized the other morning Beth & I have been watching too many episodes of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. We are currently in season 5 of the DVD collection (season 4 is a bootleg from Singapore...but that is another story). Anyway, I dreamed the other night numerous family members & myself were at mom & dad's house during the evening. The house was "pre-finished basement" and the coal bin was still there. However, the coal bin was was reinforced with metal locks and steel walls. Apparently the reason for this upgrade was because Oz (Seth Green), the werewolf from Buffy, was using it to lock himself in during full moons. I remember walking around the outside of the house and hearing the bangs coming from the basement hoping he would not get out. I am sure there is more detail to the dream, but I have forgotten most of it. I hope it is not a premonition. But if I actually believed that, I definitely need to take a break.

The Sliding Rocks of Racetrack Playa

It is this type of phenomena that makes me so skeptical of reports of crop circles, alien spacecraft & ghosts. So many quirky little things like these happen in the world, but usually have a very simple explanation (even if that explanation has not been proven). The world is full of paranormal activity and the simplest answer is usually the correct one.

http://geology.com/articles/racetrack-playa-sliding-rocks.shtml

The Bread Paradox

I noticed in the cupboard this morning we only had a few slices of bread left. As I sat down on the couch to eat breakfast, the "Weather Hunter" on Fox 41 news mentioned a winter storm warning for Louisville. Great. Now if I stop and get bread, and only bread, it will look like I am one of "those" people wigging out about the weather ("If we don't get bread, we will all die!!!") If I don't , no sandwiches or toast for lil' Beth & Brian until after the snow moves on (thank god we don't need milk...I'd have to move out of the city). If I go before the snow, I will feel the urge to buy a lot of stuff we don't need to cover the fact I am in there to get bread. The only solution I forsee is if I go in the middle of the storm to get the bread and show my true manliness as well as satisfying the situation of needing bread. If I had a breadmaker....

screw it.

Updated Detecting Finds

As promised, I will continue to post what I have found metal detecting. At the end of the year, I will post a picture of everything I find. Anyway...here is what I have found since the last update.



Midnight Magic

Lunch Break Today

I went to Frisbee Field in Cherokee Park today at lunch. In the short time I was there, I found 4 pennies. A 1971, 1980, 2002 & 2007. The '71 is in excellent shape. It is the perfect penny. 1980 was in good shape, but a little blotchy. 2002 was barely readable and corroded. 2007 looks like it had been in a garbage disposal (Metro Parks tractor most likely). The newer it is, the worse it looks. Any way, I am getting better at listening to the detector and knowing when I have found something worth digging.

Union Forts in Louisville Area

Bingham Park between Franfort Ave & Brownsboro Road was the site of Fort Elstner, a Union camp during the Civil War. Here is more on it according to Wikipedia:

Civil War defenses of Louisville (1864-65)
See also: American Civil War fortifications in Louisville
Around 1864-65, city defenses including eleven forts, which were ordered to be constructed by Union General Stephen G. Burbridge, formed a ring about ten miles long from Beargrass Creek to Paddy's Run. Nothing remains of these constructions.[17] They included, from east to west:

Fort Elstner between Frankfort Ave. and Brownsboro Road, near Bellaire, Vernon and Emerald Aves.
Fort Engle at Spring Street and Arlington Ave.
Fort Saunders at Cave Hill Cemetery.
Battery Camp Fort Hill (2) (1865) between Goddard Ave., Barrett and Baxter Streets, and St. Louis Cemetery.
Fort Horton at Shelby and Merriweather Streets (now site of city incinerator plant).
Fort McPherson on Preston Street, bounded by Barbee, Brandeis, Hahn and Fort Streets.
Fort Philpot at Seventh Street and Algonquin Parkway.
Fort St. Clair Morton at 16th and Hill Streets.
Fort Karnasch on Wilson Ave. between 26th and 28th Streets.
Fort Clark (1865) at 36th and Magnolia Streets.
Battery Gallup (1865) at Gibson Lane and 43rd Street.
Fort Southworth on Paddy's Run at the Ohio River (now site of city sewage treatment plant). Marker at 4522 Algonquin Parkway.
Also in the area were Camp Gilbert (1862) and Camp C. F. Smith (1862), both at undetermined locations.

The one on Goddard Ave is interesting and I would like to research it more. Bingham Park is the only other one I would actually feel safe going to. I'm not sure how much foreign soil has been dumped to create this par, but it may be worth an investigation.

View Larger Map

Scary Politics

I know it is wise to stay away from politics and religion on personal blogs. You may end up offending friends or family. Plus, blogs of this nature are a dime a dozen. However, I can't help but post and bring attention to these subjects when they collide. I am writing about Mike Huckabee. I have started to think he is losing his momentum and would likely lose if he drew the GOP nomination anyway...but just for kicks, let's look at what he said in a recent speech.

http://www.richarddawkins.net/article,2130,Huckabee-Wants-A-Faith-based-Constitution,Crooks-and-Liars

This should scare anyone, including the religious.

AAARRRGGGGHHH....TIS BOOTY I BE LOOTIN'!

Well, I haven't had a chance to get out recently to hunt for more pennies, but I hope to get out at least a little this weekend (maybe mom & pop's front yard). Here is a picture of what I have so far.

3 quarters (the one on top is a Delaware), 2 dimes, 7 pennies (including a 1926), a McGregor zipper thingy, 2 chunks of misc. metal, 2 toy cars and a pot metal airplane wing (upper left corner). The airplane wing has the 5-point star inside a circle. I think there maybe a picture of Mark & Kevin on their birthday playing with toy planes in the backyard. I want to find it and see if it is part of one of those planes.
I will keep updating what I find (and Mark, I will respond to your e-mail or talk to you soon about Otter Creek...it sounds a little strange to me).

Be Afraid. Be Very Afraid.

I cannot help but search for and watch videos like this. Maybe I am trying to convince myself that these people are joking and using satire. But alas, I am afraid no. This sends nausea inducing chills through my body and I still cannot keep from watching. Is there a word for this? Masochist?

http://www.godtube.com/view_video.php?viewkey=9bede653e94468ff8df1

Metal Detecting

I received one of the coolest gifts ever this Christmas, a metal detector from my parents (the coolest Christmas gift was my niece Jill a few days before in 2005). I have logged several hours with it now and am becoming more comfortable. I have spent most of the time in my parents yard, but have also briefly been to frisbee field in Cherokee Park and up around Hogan's Fountain. So far I have found exactly a dollar in change. My first find was a 1977 quarter in my parents backyard (pictured below). I also found a 1926 wheat penny back there, too. Besides coins, I have found to chunks of metal I want to identify before I discard, a wing of a toy airplane, a McGregor jacket zipper, two metal toy cars. I plan on keeping the blog updated on my various finds with more pictures to come.

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYBODY!!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!

UK Basketball

For anyone who reads this blog and is a big UK Wildcat fan or is just plain dumbfounded by the reaction of some UK fans to the current basketball season, let me be the voice of reason.

• Tubby Smith is a good basketball coach. However, he was never going to keep UK at the Top 10 level. Top 25, maybe.
• Gillispie is not playing with the same guys Tubby had last year. Morris is gone, Meeks has been hurt & Jasper has not played a game this season and probably won't.
• Our 2 star seniors are mediocre to good.
• One of our best Freshmen and "future stars" elected to transfer6 games into the season.
• Our best player, and freshman, Patrick Patterson did not play against Houston due to an ankle injury.
• Our best players off the bench are Jared Carter, Perry Stevenson & Michael Porter!!! You can't win alot of games with that.
• With that being said...it is still disappointing so far, but anyone who understands the game won't panick until 2 or 3 years from now if things haven't improved.
• I predict Kentucky will play much better this year if they can get a full healthy starting 5 in Bradley, Crawford, Meeks, Jasper & Patterson.
• Gillispie will have several Top teams in the next 5-8 years. Just be patient.

Know Your Local Geology!!! The Tabler Quartet

Mark & Kim's house also lies atop Louisville Limestone from the Middle Silurian. However, just off to the east you will find Waldron Shale indicated by the narrow gray strip & Laurel Dolomite (pink). Both of these are also Middle Silurian. The orange is the Drakes Formation (Upper Ordivician). The small brown area east of Edgeland Road is fill. I am curious to know what the fill is...gravel?

"Drakes Formation (0d).-The Drakes Formation consists of four members: Rowland, Preachersville, Bardstown, and Saluda Dolomite Members. The Rowland and Preachersville occur in the eastern part of the Outer Bluegrass region, and the Rowland, Bardstown, and Saluda occur on the west side. The Drakes Formation is composed of dolomite, limestone, mudstone, and shale. Dolomite, dolomitic limestone, and mudstone are most abundant and are commonly composed of silt-sized grains, are sparsely fossiliferous or unfossiliferous, partly laminated, and locally mud cracked and ripple marked. The Bardstown Member, which makes up only a small part of the total Drakes, is composed of fossiliferous limestone in irregular or nodular beds thinly interbedded with fossiliferous or sparsely fossiliferous shale. The Drakes Formation generally ranges in thickness from 20 to 150 ft. In south-central Kentucky, it is locally cut out by the unconformity at the base of the Devonian rocks."

Know Your Local Geology!!! The J-Town Foundation

This is a map of our neighborhood in J-Town just off I-64 & Hurstbourne. Though fairly boring, the interesting thing about this is our apartment lies right on the edge of Sellersburg/Jeffersonville Limestones(Middle Devonian) indicated by the dark blue and Louisville Limestone(Middle Silurian) indicated by the light blue. Obviously with all the development and parking lots, you cannot notice anything. But I imagine if you were to follow the contact boundary, you would find signs somewhere in the region.

Know Your Local Geology!!! The Highlands/Tyler Park

Here is my Mom & Pop's neck of the woods. I never really thought about the change in elevation surrounding my parents house until now. I just saw the backyard as a great sledding hill and the street provided hours of vehicular entertainment during snow and ice storms. Now, I get to see a map of "what gives?" Our street sits atop Sellersburg and Jeffersonville Limestones(Middle Devonian - Upper Devonian), but just to the south, overlooking Tyler Park, you see Louisville Limestone(Middle Silurian). This would be the steep cut we see in the alley behind the house (when I think of all the times I slid down that hill, I never realized I was falling back in time!!!). Once you get to Castlewood, you have entered Lacustrine deposits from the Wisconsinan-Quaternary period. Knowing this, I can now picture a huge lake engulfing Tyler Park and across the lake you could yell to people who live up on Summit Avenue. I never realized my parents owned lake front property.

Know Your Local Geology!!! Nelson Co.

Having driven Hwy 245 between I-65 & Bardstown on numerous occasions, I have become interested in the noticeable change between Limestone and Shale in the road cuts as you enter into Nelson Co. I have decided to compare the local underlying geology of the places our families live. This is a map of Tom & Peggy's neighborhood just outside of Bardstown. Their respective neighborhood lies atop New Albany Shale and Beechwood Limestone (member of Sellersburg Limestone). This was deposited between the Middle Devonian & Upper Devonian slot on the Geologic Time Scale. The surrounding area in purple is Laurel Dolomite located in the Middle Silurian time frame. The hills to the west, plainly seen from their home is the Borden Formation(Lower Mississippian) which is more erosion resistant Limestone and part of the same series of formations of Muldraugh Hill near Ft. Knox.

More to come...

2007 RedsFest

This past Friday & Saturday, three co-workers and myself stayed in Cincinnati to work RedsFest at the Duke Energy Center. We had a booth set up with ticket and All-Star Game information. We also sold ASG hats, baseball cards and game worn jerseys. It was fairly successful and we had plenty of interest. The event was huge. Numerous vendors and sponsors were set up as well as interactive games and simulations for kids and adults. The biggest draw of course was the autograph sessions. Thousands of people lined up through the mazes of pipe and drape with memorabilia in hand. Each day when the doors opened, it was a stampede of red & black, baseball bats, duffle bags, memorabilia and over-weight guys in Barry Larkin jerseys as fans of all sorts sprinted for the head of the line. The Reds new manager Dusty Baker, Marty & Thom Brennaman (radio), Wayne Krivsky(GM) and numerous other current Reds were on hand to answer questions from fans. I also saw George Foster at a booth signing autographs for charity. I wish I would have had the George Foster bat Mark, Kevin, Steve & I had when we were little. I think we still have one in mom and dad's basement.The event was done very well. The displays were very interesting and the memorabilia stores would make and sport fan nostalgic (my favorite was a big framed picture of Nolan Ryan holding Robin Ventura in a headlock punching him in the face, signed by Nolan Ryan). I will always be a St. Louis Cardinal fan, but this event made me realize how much I used to love the Reds. I think it has rekindled some of my fanhood.

Think Snow...or Else!

Think Snow!!!!

Well, it's almost mid-December and I have not personally seen a single snowflake. I think perhaps the snow gods were miffed because the leaves stayed on the trees so long this year due to the draught. Just like Calvin & Hobbes, we must appease them. So...do your part. Burn some leaves or do a snow dance. Go dismantle a snow plow or poor cement into a salt truck's dispenser! Think snow!!!I find it odd that Calvin's parents sort of look like my parents...hmmmmm.

Colorado Pictures (1998, 2000)

These are some of the pictures I had from Colorado when Jeff, Adam and I went out there. I put them to The Mountains Win Again & Escaping by Blues Traveler. They have been my favorite band since I first heard them while living in Colorado. It was one of the best experiences of my life and I guess I associate them with the Rockies. One of my friends at the YMCA of the Rockies (where I worked) was a big fan. I had heard of them, but never listened to them. I saw them on SNL while out there (we only received 2 stations) and a week later we went to see them in Denver at the Paramount Theater. We bought standing room tickets for $20 right in front of the stage. This is when John Popper was ginormous and all the original band members were still alive. They are still great in my opinion and John Popper's solo stuff is pretty swanky.

A Loss of Curiosity

For the past month, as I have written previously, I have been reading Cosmos by Carl Sagan. It has a few concepts it brings forth causing me to do further reading elsewhere before I can continue on with the book. This is why I have only read 180 pages in a month. Keep in mind, this book was published in 1980, so many things have come to pass in the world of science since Sagan finished this book. It makes it that much more interesting to read his insight. I came across one paragraph I found particularly interesting. He writes about how great it would be to send a roving vehicle to Mars to carry out advanced experiments in imaging, chemistry & biology. "Prototypes of such rovers are under development by NASA." writes Sagan. He goes on to write:

"Public interest in such a mission would be sizable. Every day a new set of vistas would arrive on our home television screens...[a] billion people could participate in the exploration of another world."

Sagan, C., Cosmos. Chapter 5: Blues for a Red Planet. p. 108.

The two rovers he spoke of, Spirit & Opportunity, have been on the Mars surface for nearly 3 years now. When they first landed, there was some hype. These two little rovers have out performed and lasted longer than anyone thought possible. They are still going to this day. But where is the hype now. We don't see the pictures on TV every night or hear stories on the rovers. This is just an example. It seems very few people take an interest in new things or even attempt to ask questions, much less seek the answer ( during a discussion, I actually had somebody I work with ask me if I thought there were other suns in the Universe).

Anyway, I hope to finish the book in the next week. I will then start "Don't Know Much About History: Everything You Should Have Learned in School, but Didn't" or something like that.

Cool Picture

I came across this picture a few days ago. It is now being used as my desktop wallpaper. It is a picture taken from one of the Mars rovers of Earth. It just makes you feel so small and insignificant. Wait...we are small and insignificant. It is weird to imagine that every person who has ever lived; every war ever waged, all of man's accomplishments and dastardly acts of horror; disease; the hustle and bustle of industrialization; mountains; vast oceans; plunging canyons; every species of plant and animal; and all of our fears and worries take place in that little dot. This is just one little dot in billions and billions of dots (maybe more). Some people take comfort in religion and faith...I take comfort in knowing we are nothing special and just a freckle on the gigantic eternal ass of the cosmos (I bet Sagan wishes he had thought of that line!).

(The speck in the upper right hand corner is just a blown up image of Earth, though it's hard to tell in this format).