Tuesday, January 04, 2005
Random Notes About Nothing
Note #1: You know you're getting old when an athlete you remember as a fuzzy-cheeked youth is elected to the Hall of Fame in his sport. With Ryne Sandberg of the Chicago Cubs going into the baseball Hall today, I am ancient. I remember the day in 1982 when the Cubs acquired Sandberg, who was the unknown commodity in a trade involving several major league starters. Cub fans are always leery of having their pockets picked since the team traded away future Hall-of-Fame outfielder Lou Brock for pitcher Ernie Broglio (who won maybe one game for the Cubs) in 1962. On this day, fans were complaining about the trade on a talk-show I was listening to. But one guest on the show said, "Watch this kid Sandberg. He could be a good one." He was.
Note #2: I have to attend another going-away party for a former colleague tonight. I don't work at the company anymore, but they still invite me to these shindigs--although at the rate the place has been hemorrhaging employees since I left, pretty soon everybody I know will be gone. (Then I have no idea what I'll do for a social life.) This one is being held at a local chain restaurant called Quaker Steak and Lube, which is supposedly America's biggest, or largest, or best, or only, or some damn superlative, I forget which, motorsports-themed restaurant. Which would explain the truck chassis out front that looks like something you'd find up on blocks in somebody's yard. (Of course, for lots of motorsports fans, a vehicle up on blocks is like a birdbath is to other people.)
(BTW, what's up with "Quaker Steak and Lube"? That would be the worst business name in the world were it not for Fifth Third Bank, a handle of unsurpassed awkwardness, and one for which there is no rational explanation.)
Recommended Reading: Orcinus on the Washington governor's battle, and how Repugs have pursued the same strategies there as in Florida in 2000. This time, however, they're losing their minds because they're not getting their way. One reason is that the Republican secretary of state is unwilling to play partisan games like Katherine Harris did in Florida. Expect a primary challenge, son.
Note #1: You know you're getting old when an athlete you remember as a fuzzy-cheeked youth is elected to the Hall of Fame in his sport. With Ryne Sandberg of the Chicago Cubs going into the baseball Hall today, I am ancient. I remember the day in 1982 when the Cubs acquired Sandberg, who was the unknown commodity in a trade involving several major league starters. Cub fans are always leery of having their pockets picked since the team traded away future Hall-of-Fame outfielder Lou Brock for pitcher Ernie Broglio (who won maybe one game for the Cubs) in 1962. On this day, fans were complaining about the trade on a talk-show I was listening to. But one guest on the show said, "Watch this kid Sandberg. He could be a good one." He was.
Note #2: I have to attend another going-away party for a former colleague tonight. I don't work at the company anymore, but they still invite me to these shindigs--although at the rate the place has been hemorrhaging employees since I left, pretty soon everybody I know will be gone. (Then I have no idea what I'll do for a social life.) This one is being held at a local chain restaurant called Quaker Steak and Lube, which is supposedly America's biggest, or largest, or best, or only, or some damn superlative, I forget which, motorsports-themed restaurant. Which would explain the truck chassis out front that looks like something you'd find up on blocks in somebody's yard. (Of course, for lots of motorsports fans, a vehicle up on blocks is like a birdbath is to other people.)
(BTW, what's up with "Quaker Steak and Lube"? That would be the worst business name in the world were it not for Fifth Third Bank, a handle of unsurpassed awkwardness, and one for which there is no rational explanation.)
Recommended Reading: Orcinus on the Washington governor's battle, and how Repugs have pursued the same strategies there as in Florida in 2000. This time, however, they're losing their minds because they're not getting their way. One reason is that the Republican secretary of state is unwilling to play partisan games like Katherine Harris did in Florida. Expect a primary challenge, son.
