Short-Sighted Brits
I found this in an article about eyesight and found the wording absolutely delightful. Poor short-sighted Brits......
Compass on Carmen Fusco - Dr's Prognosis
Q. Do you think that Lincoln and Armstrong are sincerely aghast about Leuke, or do you think they're just managing PC relationships?
A. I'm sure that they're sincerely revolted by the charges against Leuke.
And the fact is, that they've been doing corporate culture like this their whole lives.
Hey, a 4th-level didn't care about this org's mission. He's lucky he didn't get fired. That's their conditioning, in my opinion.
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The mistake they are making, in my opinion, is that they're forgetting that they're lawyers rather than baseball men.
When they have this kind of miscommunication with a real baseball man -- "Hey, that's over the line in the way you acquire talent" -- they ought to go back to Go, do not collect $200, and recall that they themselves are a bit lucky to be involved with these decisions in the first place.
For whatever reason, the ownership board in Seattle has seen fit to allow its two CEOs to cast themselves as baseball men. It's not like that in many other ML orgs. This fact should be kept in mind when the real baseball man dives into the ring and starts throwing knees and elbows in the talent free-for-all.
Poor form for spectators on the sidelines, themselves in safety and comfort, to hire a bouncer to clean out their bar and then take offense at the wristlocks that he puts on the guys with knives.
I mean, sure, it's Lincoln's job to manage the community mission. But you hire a bouncer to hit people.
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Q. Did the Mariners really want a bouncer?
A. I had been under the impression that the Mariners, sick and tired of the losing and the glide path from 3.2 attendance to 2.2 ----- > hired Bas Rutten to go win the talent fights.
So Bas gets in there and knocks the first three guys' teeth out, and right off the bat he's in trouble for doing his thing.
I think they wanted a bouncer, but didn't want any blood. You know what I mean? If you don't want Bas Rutten in your bar, don't call him. If you don't want Jack Zduriencik to turn you into the Milwaukee Brewers, then let Patty Murray run your team.
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Q. What, Lincoln doesn't have the right to show his fangs over an issue like this? Sodomy?
A. Sure, but if he'd asked my counsel, I'd have reminded him that he hired a bouncer, and that those guys are a different breed.
Go over the rules calmly. Z didn't do anything wrong here; it was an unfortunate situation but not a punishable one. Just re-clarify. That's what I'd have advised.
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Q. Maybe he did, and this was like a fourth offense.
A. Maybe. Like we said, we're reading between the lines - we weren't in the meetings. If the information is materially incorrect, so are my opinions.
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Q. Whither from here?
A. We imagine that Josh Leuke will be flushed long before he gets a chance to become a great reliever for the Mariners.
Zduriencik's position in Seattle remains to be seen. SSI is quite concerned about whether Capt Jack will be here for the long term, and if so, under what conditions.
The insider M's fan is given another thunderous kick to the man region, as to what this baseball team's priorities are. Carmen Fusco was a big part of this reeling effort to turn the Mariners' franchise into a real, Brewers-style franchise.
I notice that the Mariners are 55-90. They need to go 7-10 from here, in order to put another 100-loss season onto their resume. Are you, the hyper-educated Mariners fan, rooting for or against those 10 more losses?
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Q. Optimistic finish?
A. The Mariners had the same corporate culture when Gillick won 116 games.
It's not impossible to win with this "competitive ballclub and nice family night at the ballpark" culture. It's a handicap, not a death sentence.
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My $0.02,
Jeff
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Mark Zuckerberg is a Cocky Mo-Fo With Little Respect for His Facebook Users
Can you say cocky? Can you repeat it over and over and think about it every single time you use Facebook? That’s what you and every person (whether they be man, woman, child, or other) on the planet should be using as a mantra whenever logging onto Facebook because Mark Zuckerberg, the president and founding CEO of Facebook, thinks that you are a Dumb Fuck- to be fair to Mr. Zuckerberg, the capitals are mine, not his.
In a recent interview, Zuckerberg said that his millions of users (who transformed him from a measly pip-squeak Harvard undergrad into “Young Geek of the Century” and one of the richest dudes in the United States) were Dumb Fucks for trusting him with their personal information.
That may be true, but who is he to say it? Even the Google guys (who also recently had some privacy issues of their own) are smart enough not to tell their users what they actually think of them. Should all of the Facebook users start attending “Dumb Fucks, Anonymous” groups to commiserate and compare their feelings of betrayal and discuss their Facebook privacy concerns together? That probably won’t happen- if the past is any indication, they’ll more than likely just start a Facebook group to complain about it, which perpetuates the problem.
Granted, the privacy concerns of Facebook are serious and should be addressed, but that doesn’t mean every user is a Dumb Fuck. Couldn’t any financial institution say the same thing?
Or is Zuckerberg warning his users in advance that we should all run for cover because he is going to sell our stupid Facebook statuses to the highest bidder? Is he going to use our pictures for a collage? Or is he really finally stating that every friendship that we have will be recorded and spread and used for advertising purposes (which it already is anyway?) What is he planning on doing with the information? Is this a warning that Beacon- the service that recorded our each and every purchase- is making a come-back despite protest from users? Is Zuckerberg not rich enough already?
What do you think about Zuckerberg? Does he have the right to call his users Dumb Fucks? What do you think? Let’s talk about it here- in a non-Facebook forum for a change. Oh, and if you like this article, please click the Facebook “Like” button.
Made in Sweden - "Love & Other Crimes" (Video)
This song, a Lee Hazlewood cover, from a group of Swedes is hardly recognizable - or at least, I didn't catch on the first time around. Either way, it's odd to think about the impact Hazlewood had in that country as a result of his stint there - but that's how good a song writer the guy was...This is an psych take on his work. Good despite any reservations one might have.
Japan Apologizes to American WW2 - POWs?
Government Apologizes; Companies that used Slave Labor Silent.
Yesterday in Tokyo, the Japanese foreign minister, Katsuya Okada, said to an American group of six former World War II prisoners of war, "I offer my deep, heartfelt apology for the inhuman treatment you suffered."
90-year-old Lester Tenney, a survivor the Bataan Death March in 1942, and leader of the POW group's, said, "he welcomed the government's apology but still seeks recognition from the private companies that 'used and abused' prisoners in their mines and factories, often under brutal conditions." Mr Tenney said, "At no time have we gotten from these private companies just a letter. These private companies have kept quiet for 65 years. It is an insult, because by their keeping quiet they are hoping we will die off.'"
After surviving the death march, Mr Tenney was taken to Japan and forced to work as a slave laborer for Mitsui Mining Co. — now Nippon Coke and Engineering Co. This company and others, if they are doing business in America, need to be exposed, and their customers need to be informed of the companies' horrible mistreatment of American World War Two POWs.
Ebay Motors - $10 eBay Coupon - Just for Listing!
Who says there is no such thing as a free lunch? Whether you actually plan on selling your car - or if you just want to just take advantage of this offer - you can get your own "free lunch" in the form of a $10 eBay coupon. Just think of all the crap you can buy with that - errr - I mean great stuff! The whole process is super simple - just list your car (including the VIN number), add photos (if you want) and sit back while you get your free car report (why the VIN is needed), $10 coupon, and maybe even a buyer for your beat up jalopy!
I know, I am so excited I used the word jalopy! In case you are not sure what that means: Jalopy (also clunker or hooptie) is an old, decrepit, unreliable and often nonfunctional car which has limited mechanical abilities and is often rusty or dented or in an unmaintained shape. A jalopy is not a well kept antique car, but a car which is mostly rundown or beaten up. Thank you Wikipedia!
So the only other stuff that is worth a mention here is: You must list your first vehicle with eBay Motors free Local Classifieds by September 27, 2010 to receive the $10 eBay coupon. Local Classifieds is a great place to sell motorcycles, trucks, boats — even off-road vehicles! It is like an electronic form of the old "newspaper" classifieds - but more fun - and with thousands of more people who can see your junk.
Ebay has even helped you out with your motor listing decision by provided you a side by side of them versus craigslist - you can get all this and more: Free Listing, ad includes free Vehicle History Reports, ad includes up to 24 free photos, and everyone's favorite - Advanced search features, plus your free $10 coupon - try and top that craigslist! I guess CL can just stick to what it does best - helping stalkers meet potential homicide victims via "Missed Connections". Oh, it's funny because its true.
So get that rust bucket off the lawn and onto the world wide web! You can sell it and even get yourself a little added extra in the form of a coupon. This offer will expire by the end of this month so hurry up and get it done fast so you can use that coupon (and possible money from the sale) for Holiday shopping! You can have your free lunch now - and maybe even eat it, too.
Blizzard Baby Boom
An unhappy event leading to blessed events.
That epic blizzard last February that struck the East Coast, paralyzing America's capitol city, did more than dump snow and ice on the town. And did more than cause people to have to spend more on their fuel bills, and to make mad dashes to the store to stock up on food and essentials. It did more than cause people to miss days at work, and to strain their backs shoveling snow and scraping ice. It brought some couples closer together -- rather close together. It gave everybody a lot of free time and some couples used that time productively? Reproductively.
As couples were reported saying to their doctor: We were too close. We were bored. We didn't have anything else to do.
The Associated Press reports, "Nearly nine months after the Washington region was walloped by a blizzard, doctors are preparing for a bumper crop of babies." See the video.
Amazingly normal.
Kevin McCarthy, R.I.P.
The star of one of my favorite sci-fi movies of all time has died.
For those who are science fiction fans and haven't seen the original version of the; 1956 film, Invasion of the Body Snatchers, I have one question: What are you waiting for? It is one of the most important science fiction films ever and is a genuine movie classic. It stars the Actor Kevin McCarthy, who plays a bugging (bugged-out) doctor, who tries and fails to save his friends and neighbors from a being replicated and destroyed.
Mr McCarthy starred in many films and was a regular on television for many years. He died Saturday. He was ninety six years old.
The Associated Press noted, Mr McCarthy "consistently won praise for his acting during a long and busy career, his most lasting fame came (from) Invasion of the Body Snatchers. In the 1956 film, he vainly tried to warn residents in his small town of the evil pod people from outer space who were quietly taking over the personalities of everyone on Earth. His frantic shouting of 'You're next!' to those in approaching cars became so well known among science-fiction fans that he was often asked to spoof the role. He more or less did that in the opening minutes of the 1978 remake, which starred Donald Sutherland as the hero menaced by the pod people."
R.I.P. Kevin McCarthy
Chocolates Sweeter Than Kisses?!
In the last few weeks scientists have just gone wild. They've told us men how to dance to attract ladies. They've told us that our chubby brethren are better in bed. Now they are saying that chocolates are 'better than kissing'.
So they are telling us not to bother to learn how to give the lady a proper kiss, just give her a box of chocolates?! She will appreciate it more?! To forget mastering the art and the skills of foreplay and to just stack up on boxes of chocolates? Can one imagine -- that in the golden age of movies, the leading man, the dude who won the girl, would not have been the best kisser, but would have been the one with the biggest box of chocolates? Or that Juliet would have said to Romeo --"Quit with the poetry, where are the chocolates?" Or that Quasimodo, with a box of chocolates, would have out scored Casanova?
Quote the BBC News -- "When it comes to tongues, melting chocolate is better than a passionate kiss, scientists have found. Couples in their 20s had their heart rates and brains monitored whilst they first melted chocolate in their mouths and then kissed. Chocolate caused a more intense and longer lasting "buzz" than kissing, and doubled volunteers' heart rates. The research was carried out by Dr David Lewis, formerly of the University of Sussex, and now of the Mind Lab."
This doctor says that a buzz from chocolate lasts four times as long as the most passionate kiss. Four times longer? Can a man compete with a box of chocolates?
Psychologist Sue Wright said: "Chocolate contains phenylethylamine which can raise levels of endorphins, the pleasure-giving substances, in the brain. It also contains caffeine which has a stimulatory effect on the brain.This would explain why chocolate can give people a buzz, and why people can become addicted to it."
What does this new study mean in the practical world? Answer: The chocolate makers are going to sell a whole lot more chocolate.
Gaga Got The Wins; West-Swift Took The Night
Lady Gaga Wins Big, But It's The West and Swift Show
Lady Gaga won eight MTV Video Music Awards (VMA) in Los Angeles, last night, and that was/is big news in the music industry. But last night, the show belonged to the drama/soap opera, the saga of Kanye West and Taylor Swift. They were both nominated for awards, neither won, but both performed on stage and their performances took the night. Stole it away from Lady Gaga, and that is worth gaga-ing about.
Last night's theme was redemption for last year's uber dissing of Ms.Swift by Mr. West. Last night, Mr West dissed himself, calling himself a "jerk." Ms. Swift did not disagree, graciously.
Mr.West has apologized for last year's VMA incident when he stormed the stage and interrupted Ms. Swift's acceptance speech for best female music video. At last night's VMA awards, he and Ms. Swift performed separate songs that spoke to the issues involved.
Mr. West in his song, "talked about the obnoxious behavior that has too often overshadowed his musical talent." From the Associated Press --
"I always find something wrong; you've been putting up with my (expletive) for too long," he sang, before launching into an unprintable chorus, which included the line: "Let's have a toast to scumbags."(Mr West) derided himself as a jerk; (Ms. Swift) told him he wasn't as bad as his misdeeds. He gave a sarcastic ode to his boorish behavior; she sang of an opportunity to grow from a very public stumble.
Well, public confession, forgiveness and redemption are as American as is the Bible and are always good for business and careers. In one year, West and Swift came full circle at the VMA show, and that was good for the show.