Welcome to the my Web site, v. XII. The blog is typically published Monday - Saturday. My primary topics tend to be the Nats, Penn State (esp. football), BeltwayLand, transportation, media, photos and more. The rest of the site gets updated as warranted and is noted on the blog.
Funny thing, I just mentioned this to my co-workers as I was typing and one of them goes "oh my sister was talking about that on channel 9." It turns out her sister is chatting about it right now on The Post's website.
Nats ticketing needs to get its act together - William World News
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Nats ticketing needs to get its act together
Up on the wrong end of the B/W Parkway, single game tickets are going on sale for the upcoming baseball season this Saturday*. Meanwhile, here in the Nation's Capital, our Washington Nationals don't even know when single game tickets go on sale. On Twitter, I asked new follower @NatsTix when they would be on sale:
Single game #Nats tickets should go on sale by the end of February. Once I get a firmer date, I'll let you know.
Yes, that sounds familiar compared to other seasons, but why wait? The official reason is they are still selling season tickets, but really, they can't do both at the same time?
I don't blame the @NatsTix and appreciate the outreach, but let's have it go both ways. In a sensible world, single-game tickets would be available before Christmas because; I'd like some of them in my stocking. The person I'm blaming, well...
KASTEN!
One of the three pillars that Stan Kasten talks about is customer satisfaction and I don't think waiting until a month before the season helps meet that criterion.
*Listen, I don't like sounding like the pucksandboots of the Natmosphere, but be a good Washingtonian and just don't buy O's tickets. That's a bad franchise owned by a really bad man. See previousrants.
As for the Arenas situation, I don't have a problem with NBA commissioner David Stern suspending Arenas indefinitely or the Wizards agreeing with it. The photo of him cocking his fingers to "shoot his teammates" shows that Arenas just isn't being serious about a really bad situation for himself, the Wizards and the league. I'll admit I laughed though, shame on me. Shame on the NBA for trying to hide the photo though.
Last night when I drafted this post, I had written in length about how in addition to appropriate punishment, Arenas badly needed counseling because he was not a malevolent person, he just sees the world very differently than most people. However, as more details emerge, I am having trouble believing that any more. Javaris Crittenton, the injured player that Arenas taunted, is alleged to have loaded his own handgun and cocked it after seeing Arenas had left the four unloaded guns in his locker. That isn't a good idea either, but I can see why Crittenton allegedly did it, what Arenas did is a serious provocation. I expect Crittenton to be charged too.
NY Post: Wizards Arenas, other teammate pull guns on each other - William World News
Friday, January 01, 2010
NY Post: Wizards Arenas, other teammate pull guns on each other
NBA gunpoint guards in standoff - NY Post Hey, now we know why the Washington Wizards (nee Bullets) are 10-20. Gilbert Arenas allegedly pulled an unloaded gun on teammate Javaris Crittenton during an argument about a gambling debt, according to Kendrick "Bookie Ball" Long a friend of Crittenton. Long said that Crittenton then pulled a gun out as well. Arenas denied the incident.
Well, that is a headache for D.C. sports and the NBA. Arenas' carrying in the locker room came out over Christmas, but the article above says that became known only after the incident.
I have some a little bit of skepticism about this whole thing -- why would a "friend" of Crittenton go off and tell a New York tabloid about this incident? Either Crittenton wanted him too or the dude is not a very good friend methinks. I am sure there will be a lot on this story over the next few days. I wonder if the Wizards would use this to void Arenas' monster contract?
Thankfully, no shots were fired and no one was hurt. If true, I'll be really disappointed because I have always like Arenas. He is the quirkiest pro athlete D.C. has had in a long time, if not ever. I am glad this did not happen when Abe Pollin was alive.
This is actually common knowledge. And it wouldn't have been Lynch's first attempt at sci-fi, either, because around the same time that Return of the Jedi came out, Lynch released his big-screen adaptation of Dune (which admittedly hasn't aged as well as Jedi).
# posted by Fritz :
Friday, December 11, 2009 8:34:00 AM
Rev. Sun Myung Moon has apparently gotten tired of not making money -- his Washington Times is giving up as a general interest daily newspaper after 27 years. Massive layoffs (40% is being mentioned) are on the way, probably 60 days from now. This is an about-face for the paper which as recently as three years ago had serious plans for getting its Web site into the "top 10" in overall traffic. That goal was never realistic though. Even a year ago, they were still pushing forward with the hiring of the John Solomon as managing editor. He left the paper last month.
The paper will follow The Washington Examiner model of circulation and be distributed free in certain zip codes, plus some "premium price home-delivery" and newsstand sales. The content will be the paper's bread and butter -- commentary from and for political conservatives. Local coverage and sports appear to be casualties of the reorganization and that is a real shame. Having two local sports sections available in town was great for sports fans and their Metropolitan section got some stories the Post did not. I'll have more on the sports tomorrow.
Despite the crazy man that owns the paper, The Wash. Times has been an important part of D.C. media for a long time and it will be missed.
Gotta hope (or wish) the Exam can find a way to fill the sports void. They'll never have a better opportunity.
# posted by Hendo :
Wednesday, December 02, 2009 9:45:00 PM
I'm addressing that in a post tomorrow morning.
# posted by WFY :
Wednesday, December 02, 2009 9:51:00 PM
Post a CommentNo Safeway I would not like to make a donation to breast cancer - William World News
Tuesday, November 03, 2009
No Safeway I would not like to make a donation to breast cancer
FRANCONIA, Va. -- Every time I go to Safeway, I'm asked if I want to make a donation to breast cancer. What are they doing donating to breast cancer? It sucks and doesn't need any help!
Oh, this is supposed to be an anti-breast cancer donation -- why didn't you say so?!
Remember the other week when I blogged about two guys jumping off of Key Bridge? I figured it was just a fun little post about a rather remarkable video that would be up a day and pretty much go away -- traffic analysis supported that theory by the way.
It turns out the story has not just gone away.
I received an email containing this:
Please remove your September 22nd regarding the YouTube video "Descending from Heights" from your blog ASAP!
These students are under threat of expulsion because of this post and the Casual Hoya blog post. I'm sure they appreciate the notoriety, but an administrator who follows Casual Hoya saw this and brought it to the attention of Student Conduct. The YouTube video is no longer accessible, and the Casual Hoya post and other blog posts have also been removed. It would greatly help if the post from your site was removed, as a Google search for the appropriate terms brings up your blog. Please remove this so these students don't get expelled.
That was an interesting email and obviously, I disagree that my blog or any other could be responsible for any expulsions; those unnamed jumpers knew what they were doing and put a bit of planning and production into their jump and video. However, having taken media ethics in college, I figured I would go beyond my initial instinct and think it through. I also presented the question to several other bloggers, friends, journalists, lawyers etc. -- people who have had formal ethics training. Most of them had similar sentiments to mine, though the other blogs did take their posts down.
After sending out that email, I did a little more research and discovered a fascinating fact. The sender of the email had the same name of someone who was famous in the 1800s for claiming to jump off the Brooklyn Bridge. What an amazing coincidence!
I will advise others though that trying to cover up something tends to have unintended consequences. We Love DC blogged about this as well.
Ultimately, I have gone with my gut instinct and left that post up. I feel I would be compromising myself if I removed it. It certainly has been a fun little exercise for a media studies major though.
Video: 2 guys jump off of DC's Key Bridge - William World News
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Video: 2 guys jump off of DC's Key Bridge
If your friend jumped off a bridge would you do it too?
Mr. Irrelevant found this video of two college-aged dudes wearing Burger King crowns jumped off the Key Bridge. Guido D'Elia would approve of the use of "Song 2."
Just because you can survive it doesn't mean its smart. Nice to know that you can survive it relatively unharmed. I'm sure these dudes are legends now though.
Loverro wants the Nats to spend a night in the box like Cool Hand Luke - William World News
Friday, July 17, 2009
Loverro wants the Nats to spend a night in the box like Cool Hand Luke
THOM LOVERRO - Franchise's new face has same blemishes - The Wash. Times Was Cool Hand Luke on TV recently? Loverro wants Nats players to spend a "night in the box" when they screw up. Frankly, there are no "Lukes" on this team -- well not since Robert Fick left, right? After six or seven beers Adam Dunn might make a good Dragline though. There are plenty of streets around Nationals Park that could use some paving though and well, let's not even talk about Lucille and Loverro in the same paragraph. Is Mike Rizzo The Man With No Eyes?
This is still better than most Dick Heller columns though.
I think I have to dig out my Cool Hand Luke soundtrack now.
Courtesy is a strong suit of D.C. area drivers and soon John Hinckley will be one of them - William World News
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Courtesy is a strong suit of D.C. area drivers and soon John Hinckley will be one of them
Road rage: D.C. drivers 6th most courteous - WTOP Uh huh. Four percent of those surveyed think ramming ones car into another is appropriate too, but apparently they always remove their hat before doing so. What gentlemen! Or ladies!
I'm mainly posting this obviously incorrect news as an excuse to put the Mr. Wheeler cartoon up.
In other motoring news...
Hinckley to Gain Driving Privileges, Longer Visits - The Post That's John Hinckley, Jr. would-be presidential assassin, not Mike Hinckley who was merely a bad Nats relief pitcher. I know the Reagans will not be happy (neither am I), but what about Jodie Foster?
Steroid anixety comes to D.C.: Alleged dealer names Caps, Nats - William World News
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Steroid anixety comes to D.C.: Alleged dealer names Caps, Nats
This morning Washington sports fans woke up to news that an alleged steroids dealer in Florida named the Nationals and Capitals as clients following his arrest. As Dan Steinberg notes of DC Sports Bog notes, the situation is being played up by the authorities for sensationalism.
This story is just starting and very little is actually known. We know from the Mitchell Report and other sources that past Nationals who have tested positive include Mike Stanton, Jose Guillen, Gary Bennett, Nook Logan and Paul Lo Duca, all thankfully not part of the organization. Current reliever Ron Villone was also cited, but he just joined the team. Frankly, that list (and the Nats record) is pretty good argument against using PEDs, isn't it? MLB has testing now and nobody on the Nats has been busted yet so I am not too worried about the Nats.
I don't know much about the NHL's testing though, so I don't know what to make of it.
I just assumed that the new Star Trek would be playing at the best theater in the area -- D.C.'s Uptown always gets the blockbusters, especially the space operas. Instead of showing Star TrekUptown has State of Play. I was really looking forward to going to Cleveland Park for this movie. I so rarely go to the movies that I like making it an event and going up there. What is AMC Loews thinking?
Post a CommentReally, I was joking when I suggested a Snuggie tailgate - William World News
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Really, I was joking when I suggested a Snuggie tailgate
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- When I saw these two women in do-it-yourself curly W snuggies, I just had to take a photograph. A while back I was joking on Facebook friends about a Snuggie tailgate. It turns out these Suzanne Igo of Manhattan Beach and Colleen Kennedy of Ashburn had the same idea and they executed it. Dan Steinberg of DC Sports Bog saw them too and got the whole story.
Stan Kasten should know better - William World News
Tuesday, April 07, 2009
Stan Kasten should know better
Stan Kasten Sings a Hymn to Philly Fans - DC Sports Bog Dan Steinberg keeps saying that the Nats will be a big draw once they start winning and I agree with him. Until that time being a Nats fan is going to be a tough road for those of us "true believers" who are just so damned happy that a team wears Washington on its jerseys. That being said, it would be preferable if those running the club would stop going out of their way to be embarrassing.
After a tough, but image enhancing spring, Stan Kasten has gone out and blown a lot of good will by taking a page out of the Abe Pollin playbook and marketed Nats Opening Day to another team's fanbase. In this case, he went on a Philadelphia radio station and plugged, unprompted Opening Day tickets to Phillies fans. I though Kasten was smarter than that -- pennywise, pound foolish. How about going on D.C. radio stations to shill tickets? Duh! Call it a hunch, but maybe the (potential) fanbase in your own neighborhood might be a better long-term investment. Doesn't Kasten realize that the franchise has been in disarray since the Montreal days and there is still a great deal of negativity surrounding the team. They have a lot of things working against them, so perhaps they ought not be chasing away the fans willing to pay for their poorly regarded product.
Earlier today, I was going to ask why the Nationals were such a punchline when there are worse franchises in the sport, but now I won't be asking that any more.
The tone of this post was not helped by the fact the Nationals were down 8-0 in the fifth inning when I started it.
Perhaps Yogi Berra is not as transcendent as I thought - William World News
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Perhaps Yogi Berra is not as transcendent as I thought
I do not think I am suffering from the myopia of being the son of a former Yankees employee and grandson of a 161th St., South Bronx native when I say I was shocked to learn a co-worker was completely unfamiliar with Yogi Berra. I find it hard to believe that an American, one from the east coast even, could get through life this long (she is almost exactly two years younger than I) and not know about Yogi, even though she has no interest in sports. I thought Yogi was shared cultural capital in this country.
PENN STATE BEATS ILLINOIS AGAIN! - William World News
Friday, March 06, 2009
PENN STATE BEATS ILLINOIS AGAIN!
Lions battle to last second - The Collegian Talor Battle drove almost the full length of the court and hit the game winner with .3 second left as Penn State beat #23 Illinois again, 64-63. It looks like it was epic -- David Jones of the Patriot-News calls it a miracle comeback. The final rebound was grabbed by Jamelle Cornley, who had earlier left the game with what sounds like a dislocated shoulder. Did the students storm the court? You bet!
13,091 were there last night, but about 50,000 are going to claim that they were.
A win over Iowa this weekend probably seals a tournament bid, though a loss there can probably be made up for with a strong showing in the Big11Ten tournament.
I agree. Beat Iowa and its a lock. That could be a tough game, given the really short turn-around (how did the schedule makers give PSU a road game that TIPS OFF 41 HOURS after their previous one?) Iowa is tough at home too.
I "think" we are in now. Winning a game in the Big Ten tourney could be tough, especially if we end up playing Wisconsin.
# posted by TMBC :
Friday, March 06, 2009 8:20:00 AM
I could watch that all day! Go State!
# posted by Kevin McGuire :
Friday, March 06, 2009 9:35:00 AM
The Iowa game isn't just a win-and-in game. We're talking about revenge from football season!
Huck the Fawkeyes!
# posted by Brad Stratton :
Friday, March 06, 2009 4:27:00 PM
It will take a lot more than a regular season basketball win to make me forget football losses to Iowa. Penn State will have to defeat the greatest Iowa football team ever in Kinnick Stadium with the captains marching off the field with the daughters of the head coach and great-great-grandaughters of Nike Kinnick jumping into the arms of the senior co-captains, forsaking their Hawkeye heritage and pledging eternal devotion to Joe Paterno.
# posted by WFY :
Friday, March 06, 2009 4:47:00 PM
Well, seeing as how Bowden now has to forfeit 14 wins from the '06 and '07 seasons, that pledging thing shouldn't be all that difficult.
# posted by Muha :
Friday, March 06, 2009 7:48:00 PMPost a Comment
Report: Smiley Gonzales is a phony! - William World News
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Report: Smiley Gonzales is a phony!
Nationals prospect falsified identity - Sports Illustrated Remember when the signing of Esmailyn "Smiley" Gonzalez was the ballyhooed signing that was suppossed to be an example of The Plan working? Well, it turns out that 16 year old prospect is really named Carlos Alvarez Daniel Lugo and four years older than he said.
"This signing is symbolic of the Lerner family's and incoming club president Stan Kasten's pledge to become an industry leader in scouting and player development,'' Washington general manager Jim Bowden said at the time of the deal.
Nearly three years later, it certainly is a symbol, isn't it?
I think I'll be quitting Facebook over their new Terms of Service - William World News
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
I think I'll be quitting Facebook over their new Terms of Service
Revised TOS Gives Facebook Perpetual Rights to User Content - Marketing Vox The headline just about says it all. Frankly, Facebook is not that important to me and if they don't change these terms by COB Friday, I'm done with the service on Saturday morning.
Facebook has a rebuttal up, but I am not satisfied with it -- change the TOS if you really mean it, Zuckerberg.
Nats predicted to go 78-84 -- really?! - William World News
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Nats predicted to go 78-84 -- really?!
As noted by Chris Needham of NBC Washington, stats guru Nate Silver says the Nats are going to win 78 games.
Silver created a method of predicting baseball stats called PECOTA. Basically, it looks for players who've had similar careers, played similar styles, and have similar physical talents. Silver punches all in to his supercomputer, and it spits out likely stat lines for our favorite players.
Okay, that still strikes me as incredibly optimistic and I expect a big improvement this year. I would take it though.
The band and the bar cut ties after sparring last month over payment for a Saturday show at which three Phamly members performed in place of the usual four. According to an e-mail from Hesketh posted on a "Boycott the Phyrst" Facebook group, "As we were gathering our equipment to leave, the owner showed up at the bar, headed straight for [banjo player] Steve [McQuay] and shoved him. It then took two to three bartenders to break them apart."
The fight began after Phyrst management suggested paying the band less because not all of the band's members performed, according to the post.
Phyrst manager Mike Fullington said.
representatives from the Phyrst had no comment by press time Tuesday.
A statement released by the families of former Phyrst owner and band leader Ernie Oelbermann and Phyrst Phamly founder Terry Countermine said Saturday night "Phamly" shows are a Phyrst tradition and will continue with a new lineup. A new Phamly will resume the weekly Saturday sing-along this weekend.
Sounds pretty ugly, but I'd bet a beer at the Phyrst (if I knew when I would be able to complete the wager) that they reunite by fall semester.
I used to go to the first on occasion, in fact it was the first "bar" I went to in Happy Valley after my 21st birthday. Other than table wars (too fratty), I liked the place, but I probably have not been back since 2002 Homecoming.
Don't forget Blue/White 2006! When it was a torrential downpour and the Hammes, Basiles, Yuraskos, and company ended up watching the game at The Phyrst.
# posted by Fritz :
Wednesday, January 14, 2009 8:42:00 AM
Of course -- the Phyrst family wasn't there though.
# posted by WFY :
Wednesday, January 14, 2009 8:50:00 AM
Milton Bradley on Bowden's radar; Paker Bros. apparently unavailable - William World News
Friday, January 02, 2009
Milton Bradley on Bowden's radar; Paker Bros. apparently unavailable
Nationals in serious pursuit of Bradley - nationals.com Why? Bradley is a malcontent/misanthrope and the Nats already have 37 outfielders. Getting another one won't exactly make the others easier to trade for quality either, no?
# posted by Hendo :
Friday, January 02, 2009 1:03:00 PM
Bowden is not trying to sign those guys.
Yet.
# posted by WFY :
Friday, January 02, 2009 1:06:00 PM
Post a CommentYou are on thin ice with me Blogger - William World News
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
You are on thin ice with me Blogger
Here is the problem. If you are seeing this post, they have fixed it -- at least temporarily.
I am leaning towards moving to a real CMS, but have been advised Joomla isn't great for blogging. What about Drupal? I would hate to put the effort of upgrading everything for just WordPress.
Customs officials searching the bags of an African man who flew into Dulles International Airport on Friday discovered three charred monkeys in his luggage, as well as deer meat and dried beef, U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials said yesterday.
While it is very odd and possibly concerning, the monkey meat found in someone's luggage at Dulles Aiport means at least one thing -- a replay of Mike O'Meara's classic "Monkey, its what's for dinner" ad.
The Star Wars Holiday Special at 30 - William World News
Friday, November 21, 2008
The Star Wars Holiday Special at 30
Happy 30th "Star Wars Holiday Special"! - starwars.com The RSS teaser said: "A whole week commemorating the 30th anniversary of "The Star Wars Holiday Special" starts today."
Why?! Its awful, even worse than Star Trek V.
If you get the chance to watch this, don't! Not even to speculate on how much booger sugar a certain actress must have snorted before singing the Life Day song.
Penn State elms in grave danger - William World News
Friday, November 07, 2008
Penn State elms in grave danger
Disease threatens to wipe out Penn State elms - CDT The stately, century-old elm trees on Penn State's campus are in danger of falling victim to elm yellows. The disease, spread by the elm leafhopper insect, has no cure. According to a University Relations, the prospect of losing what is perhaps the nation's largest strand of elms is very real if not likely.
This saddens me tremendously, I really enjoyed the elms on the Allen Street Mall between the University Gate and the Pattee library. I admired them from my favorite spot in front of Carnegie building and really hope they can be saved. Over the years I have given to the Class of 1996 Elm endowment, but I fear it won't be enough.
Snubbed in D.C., Gillick basks in glory of Phillies parade - William World News
Friday, October 31, 2008
Snubbed in D.C., Gillick basks in glory of Phillies parade
Thom Loverro: Hey, Nats fans: Gillick could have been yours - The Wash. Times In 2004, Pat Gillick openly campaigned for the Nationals GM job, but was not even interviewed for the job at a time when MLB owned the team. Gillick instead took the Phillies job and well, right now he is in a parade on Broad Street in the city of brotherly love. Whether MLB (remember, Bud Selig thinks we could have a flagship franchise here) did not interview him due to incompetence or fear of upsetting the cowardly Peter Angelo$ is unknown. What we all know too well is MLB hired a GM with a track record of 1 playoff appearance in a decade, an affinity for toolsy outfielders, scrap heap pitchers, segways and leather pants. Unfortunately, Nats fans are still stuck with this GM, Jim Bowden, because ownership likes him kissing their butts.
Huh? AC/DC on music distribution - William World News
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Huh? AC/DC on music distribution
He's also concerned about the concentrated power of iTunes. "I get scared when one big monster rules music. Maybe I'm a bit daft and old-fashioned, but I see shades of George Orwell."
-- Brian Johnson of the band AC/DC. The only retail outlets carrying the album are Wal-Mart and Sam's Club.
Yeah this is senseless to me. Why limit the buyer's choices to purchase the album? AC/DC is clearly stuck in a time when they really did mean something.
# posted by Kevin McGuire :
Tuesday, October 21, 2008 1:00:00 PM
Oh LawdBabyJeebus,
Please fulfill my satirist's secret wish that WalMart one day will re-name some advertising peridiocal of theirs the "Big Saver".
TWH MofP of the WWN
# posted by Anonymous :
Wednesday, October 22, 2008 10:21:00 AM
The candidate's brother apologized. The worst part about all of this is some McCain campaigners stopped by yesterday and I had not heard the news yet. Oh that would have been fun.
Yeah. I tried to order ESPN GamePlan for today's (friday's) Ole Miss vs. Mississippi State Game. They said "are you sure the game is today? it is listed for tommorrow". I said, "YES! I'm looking at it right now on the ESPN website!!. Incompetence. They were nice on the phone, but they had no clue had to get the game delivered to me. I could even press "info" on channel 701 and see "Mississippi vs. Mississippi State", but they still couldn't order the game for me. Terrible.
# posted by Bert :
Friday, November 28, 2008 4:24:00 PM
Nationals 'miserable' on, off field - The Wash. Times Team in crisis According to this article, Ted Lerner is way too involved in running the franchise and is nickel-and-diming everything.
"Clearly, every decision of any significance is made ultimately by Ted," a city official familiar with the Lerners' baseball operation said. "The decision-making and the whole approach starts at the top and remains at the top. And I don't think anything is going to change significantly as long as Ted is running the team."
Ultimately, this story just confirms the suspicions of many.
Stan Kasten does not have the control he was expecting and may be leaving; others have already. None of this comes off as surprising at this point, but is still incredibly disappointing nonetheless. Obviously, what needs to happen is Lerner and his sons need to back off and let the baseball people run things. You almost feel sorry for Kasten.
Somebody screwed up: BTN overflow channel on Comcast not working - William World News
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Somebody screwed up: BTN overflow channel on Comcast not working
ARGH! None of the Big Ten Network overflow channels are showing a picture, meaning that we cannot watch the Penn State vs. Temple game that is going on right now. I called Comcast and they are aware of it, in fact the rep said, "Penn State?" when I mentioned the game was not on.
I'm kind of annoyed that Penn State is not the regular telecast here anyway since it is about 215 miles away from here and Temple is even closer. BTN proper went with OSU vs. Troy instead. I don't believe either school is within 450 miles of here.
I will be calling Comcast's billing dept. for a refund on Monday.
The telecast finally came on with :29 left in the first half. I'm eager to get an explanation of what happened.
# posted by WFY :
Saturday, September 20, 2008 3:39:00 PM
We had a similar problem during the 1st game vs. Coastal Carolina. That PSU game was on the ONLY overflow channel that wasn't working. Fortunately in our area today, they had the PSU game on the main channel so there were no problems. You didn't miss anything in the first quarter. I did call Comast to complain that day and it took them most of the first half to fix the problem.
# posted by The Maryland Bureau Chief :
Saturday, September 20, 2008 4:32:00 PM
Why are you staying with Comcast? Comcast could not be any worse even if they declared 'screw the customer' was their official business slogan & philosophy. Go get a dish! I did, and I am never making complaints (except when heavy storm clouds knock out reception for 10-15 minutes.
# posted by SoloVita :
Saturday, September 20, 2008 5:35:00 PM
solovita: The triple-play is a pretty good deal and they have been pretty reliable overall. I barely watch TV, so I'm not sure if getting the dish when I still need phone/internet is cost effective.
FIOS, on the other hand...
# posted by WFY :
Sunday, September 21, 2008 7:53:00 AM
i followed comcast's troubleshooting tips.
i lost all digital channels, including btn and overflow channels. i then had to wait around for a rep to come out. they said they woud be there between 12-3.
they arrived at 5. i missed the game, and wasted my afternoon.
in short, i hate comcast, and cannot switch due to not being able to have a dish on my townhouse.
# posted by jd :
Sunday, September 21, 2008 12:35:00 PMPost a Comment
Pa. dentist apparently responsible for medical waste in Avalon - William World News
Friday, September 05, 2008
Pa. dentist apparently responsible for medical waste in Avalon
A fishing boat rocked against a dock yesterday at Dr. Thomas W. McFarland's scenic Shore home. But the Wynnewood dentist apparently has been doing more than jigging for flounder.
McFarland turned himself in to Avalon, N.J., police on Tuesday in connection with the dumping of needles, cotton swabs and other medical waste into the waterways, several news organizations reported.
What this Pennsylvanian is alleged to have done gives the whole Shore and state a black eye. If this guy is convicted, I hope he spends a long time behind bars; Rahway would probably be a good spot. Oh and if he had done this the week I was up there, I would have sued him.
Penn State defensive tackle Abe Koroma, defensive lineman Maurice Evans and tight end Andrew Quarless will not play Saturday against Oregon State, Joe Paterno said on the Nittany Lion Hotline tonight, adding cornerback Willie Harriott has been removed from the team.
Police said they found on Tuesday a small amount of marijuana at a Nittany Apartments residence, whose most current residents are Quarless, Evans, Koroma and cornerback A.J. Wallace, according to a search warrant. No charges have been filed in the incident. Police have said they are still trying to determine who had possession of the marijuana.
Basically, there was a noise problem the cops came and asked to search the place, the residents said no so the cops got a warrant. In doing so, a little bit of weed was found, probably not enough to get anybody convicted, BUT any is way too much for a football letterman to have in his apartment, no? They may not have even known, but they choose to make a lot of noise that the cops get involved.
Overheard: Henny's to be sold, demolished - William World News
Monday, August 04, 2008
Overheard: Henny's to be sold, demolished
STONE HARBOR, N.J. -- I was surprised to hear the rumor that Henny's, now in its 77th summer, may not see a 78th. Apparently, the land is for sale and a potential buyer has been found. The new buyer would knock the venerable Stone Harbor institution down and replace it with a hotel.
When I was a kid Henny's had honey-dipped fried chicken that I thought was out of this world. When I started going back to Avalon/Stone Harbor, I was kind of disappointed they did not have it. Henny's has been Yurasko favorite for most of those 77 years, it will be sad to see it go if this rumor is accurate.
On Saturday evening, Erica and I were watching the Yankees vs. Red Sox game on FOX. Joe Buck and Tim McCarver were talking about Boston starter Tim Wakefield's rookie season with the Pirates when he won two NLCS games against the Braves. Of course, those wins merely prolonged the inevitable for Pittsburgh as they lost in game 7 when Francisco Cabrera knocked in Sid Bream to win the NLCS. McCarver then added it was the most famous hit in Atlanta sports history.
Tim McCarver hasn't said anything intelligent...EVER.
One Henry Aaron does disagree, but everyone in Pittsburgh knows that Barry "I don't do 'roids" Bonds didn't get the ball to the cutoff guy cleanly (maybe because he didn't hustle like you're taught way back in Little League), allowing Bream to make it home.
Funny how it's easy to blame State College's own Stan Belinda for leaving one out there to hit, but it makes more sense that Bonds drug it out.
# posted by Muha :
Monday, July 28, 2008 7:18:00 PM
Police say they received the 911 call from the victim himself, who said he had been attacked. Police responded to the 100 block of Maple Avenue in the town of Vienna shortly before 3 a.m. Officers say the victim suffered from life threatening stab wounds and was given first aid to control the bleeding until rescue crews arrived on the scene. It has been reported that the victim was stabbed inside the Inn's restaurant.
Yikes, hopefully the employee will recover and the assailant will be brought to justice.
After Penn State Police took Daniel Costenbader (junior-electrical engineering) into custody, he admitted to making the false fight report -- and to causing the damage to the building -- all while wearing a stolen football helmet.
Before he called police at 3:15 a.m., an intoxicated Costenbader chased tackling dummies in the practice field, damaged property in the Lasch Building wearing a Penn State football helmet and picked up the Alamo Bowl trophy and various equipment, according to court documents.
Couldn't he have at least stolen the Land Grant Trophy?
Oh.
Stinkin' playcalling/Morelli!
As for Costenbader, just leave my university. Now.
Why does Jim Bowden think Cristian Guzman is worth $8 million a year? - William World News
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Why does Jim Bowden think Cristian Guzman is worth $8 million a year?
It turns out that being the token All-Star for the Nationals is the way to GM Jim Bowden's heart. Last year's All-Star, DH Dmitri Young*, cashed in for $5 million a year, despite being a overweight diabetic. Young is now on the DL because his blood sugar is out of control. Hopefully he can get that straightened out because that is scary stuff. It kind of proves that spending $5 million on him was perhaps an uneccesary risk.
This year, Cristian Guzman, yes that much-maligned Cristian Guzman, was rewarded by Bowden with a 2 year, $16 million contract. Seriously. This two the player that was regarded as a major bust for several seasons at $4 million.
Now, I am no sabrmetician (or whatever a stats lover is called), but a quick look at his baseball-reference.com page last night produced these numbers.
It is just a coincidence that the most recent pull from baseballreference broke down so neatly. Guzman played 142 mostly awful games in 2005. Since then, he has played exactly 142 more games over parts of the last two seasons. A bum shoulder kept him out of all of the 2006 season. His bad shoulder is certainly part of the reason for being so awful in 2005, as was the fact that he was um, blind -- he got laser vision correction before 2007. That being said, his numbers in the last 142 games are pretty good, but the guy still swings at the first pitch he sees after the previous batter walks on four pitches an awful lot. He is not much of a fielder either, so I got to wonder what Bowden is thinking? Is the market for shortstops really $8 million a year? I cannot help but think that this is an incredibly irresponsible decision. How can this work with THE PLAN of developing within and spending money on free agents when the team comes closer to contention? It just does not make any sense to me. How could Stan Kasten, architect of THE PLAN sign of on this one? Since nothing happens without his stamp of approval, I don't think we will get our wish.
Guzmán, the team's lone all-star this season, had wanted a three- or four-year deal, he said, but was receptive to something shorter in large part because of sympathy. His first three years with the Nationals had been wasted by injuries and underperformance. Said Guzmán, "They had to pay for a player who was not on the field every day."
Guzmán was "sensitive to what we went through with his last contract, the four years where he was hurting for the most of it," Bowden said. "He gave back to the club by signing a two-year deal and he knows on the free agent market he gets the four years."
Asked about the length of Guzmán's contract, Bowden said: "We preferred two. We went through four years of injuries with Cristian. We didn't want to have another contract and all of a sudden we have injuries again."
Nothing like doubling someone's salary to make them sympathetic. Methinks Bowden just got grifted. You have overpaid Cristian Guzman twice Jimbo!
We got some papally-named infielder I ain't never heard of in return. Is this good? Well, here's how I look at it: Jim Bowden seems committed to spending his time exploring, like a tracksuited Magellan whizzing around on a Segway, novel forms of bad behavior. Every minute he dedicated to exiling Giant Jon to the desert was a minute he wasn't stealing money from Dominican teenagers, so whatever the outcome from a practical point of view, morally the trade's a winner.
I will miss the big guy though, it was entertaining having the tallest player in the majors ever on the roster, even more so than having the only two Marlons at one time. In fact, much more so, Rauch was solid out of the bullpen.
The Guzman deal may not make much sense, but apparently the Rauch trade was more Rizzo than Bowden. With what Arizona is doing right now, you can't complain too much about the Nats trying to import as many people from the Diamondbacks as possible.
# posted by Caps Nut :
Wednesday, July 23, 2008 10:09:00 PM
I'm also willing to give Rizzo the benefit of the doubt on the player acquired, but wonder why Bowden could not get more. Actually, I am not wondering that, I'm just frustrated with Jimbo for about the last four years.
# posted by WFY :
Thursday, July 24, 2008 11:10:00 AM
This was a Collegian editorial? - William World News
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
This was a Collegian editorial?
Suggestions for stellar scene setting - The Collegian I read this editorial, which is the centerpiece of any opinion page, making fun of LaVar Arrington for reopening the old Sports Cafe as the new Linebacker U. bar and wondered what the point was and the overall appropriateness of it in general. It would be one thing if it was just a bad column with a byline, but an editorial?
Well, this is what to expect these days. It's more important to be as crude and unprofessional as you possibly can (take a look at most modern MSM outlets for proof, no matter where you sit along the aisle) than it is to be truly objective and try emphasize a point.
Besides, why be critical of the Animal at all? He's trying to give back to the community as an entrepreneur. But then again, I forgot that there's something wrong with you if you try to create and run your own business. Has to do with that EEEEEEEEVIL corporate mindset.
And we have a family friend on staff at the Commu...er, Collegian. Needless to say, I'm a little disappointed, because she can do so much better.
# posted by Muha :
Thursday, July 17, 2008 5:03:00 AM
I don't get the Daily Collegian = Daily Worker arguments, but this was a pointless editorial.
# posted by WFY :
Thursday, July 17, 2008 8:45:00 AM
Post a CommentBowden, Rijo in hot water with FBI? - William World News
Federal authorities and Major League Baseball are investigating Washington Nationals general manager Jim Bowden and special assistant Jose Rijo for their possible roles in a growing financial scandal involving the signing of players from the Dominican Republic, several sources familiar with the probe told ESPN.
Anyone implicated could face felony fraud charges, sources familiar with the investigation said. Numerous MLB employees in the United States and the Dominican Republic are under suspicion in the probe, which allegedly involves the skimming of signing money allocated for Dominican prospects. Bowden, a 23-year veteran of MLB front offices and a general manager on and off since 1992, is the highest-ranking official known to be under investigation.
Bowden is denying any wrongdoing. Here are the follow up articles and blog posts:
It is really frustrating when your team just doesn't get it - William World News
Monday, June 16, 2008
It is really frustrating when your team just doesn't get it
Nats Confront Indecency - DC Sports Bog, washingtonpost.com The Nats are cracking down on shirtless guys now?! Who cares? Wasn't Stan Kasten suppossed to be the "big picture" guy?
RF Elijah Dukes has been on thin ice ever since becoming a National. Last night, following Lastings Milledge home run, Dukes and Manny Acta got into it in the dugout wiht players coming between them. After the win, Dukes pulled back on a post-game high five with Acta, who was not amused.
This seems like an odd decision by someone with a zero tolerance policy as Dukes. Will the team say they have had enough or bump him up to double-secret probation? I'm sure there will be much discussion about this in the Natmosphere and beyond which is very unfortunate, because it will overshadow the Nats improbable come from behind win. How improbable was it? Prior to last night, Washington was 0-35 when trailing after 8 innings.
Friday tabs made the same New York Climbs pun - William World News
Sunday, June 08, 2008
Friday tabs made the same New York Climbs pun
Both tabloids had the same idea for the cover -- New York Climbs in a gothic typeface similar to the old gray lady's flag (not masthead, as it is mistakenly called). I appreciate the Daily News one more because it included the definite article.
The force was with Arwel Wynne Hughes on March 25 this year, however the courts took a very dim view of him using it on two Star Wars fans.
He donned a black bin bag for a cape and confronted Barney Jones with the metal crutch while Mr Jones and his cousin Michael were being filmed playing with lightsabers.
Hughes, who has a chronic alcohol problem, jumped over a garden wall in Holyhead, North Wales, and bellowed "Darth Vader" as he assaulted the Star Wars obsessives, who were shooting a documentary to promote their Jedi Church which was formed last year.
Please, please, please let this video find the way to YouTube.
On Friday, I got an email from nationals.com titled "See your Nationals play at Camden Yards next week" offering me a chance to buy tickets for upcoming series in Baltimore. While Camden Yards is certainly an attractive ballpark (though the seats don't all face the field) and about 90 minutes away I will not be going. Long-time readers of the blog know what is coming -- don't go there. Not now, not next week, not ever. No Washingtonian should attend any Orioles game so long as Peter Angelo$ or his heirs own the O's and the Nationals do not control their own broadcasting rights. Giving an additional subsidy to Angelo$ would be akin to "providing aid and comfort to the enemy."
As a reminder of the problem, here is an excerpt of last year's list of grievances against Baltimore's most cowardly millionaire and his pathetic franchise:
Angelo$ was the only owner to vote against the Expos relocating to Washington.
Remember how most of us couldn't watch the Nationals regularly for two seasons? That was Angelo$ doing. Angelo$ and MLB made a corrupt bargain to put the Nats TV rights in the hands of someone who had an interest in limiting the ability of a "competitor" to succeed. Thomas Boswell accused Angelo$ of trying to "kill the baby in the crib." This cost the Nationals from getting full media exposure during the crucial first year which could have sold more tickets and contributed to the D.C. treasury.
He is duplicitous and hypocritical -- remember when he said "there are no baseball fans in Washington D.C. that's a fiction." If that is true Petey, why you "need" the TV rights. Also, take a look at his past rhetoric for use of the term "monopolists." Isn't it something how he forgets that he sought to retain his monopoly of baseball in the Chesapeake Bay watershed.
The production values of Malevolent Angelo$ Sports Network -- players being named incorrectly, poor A/V fidelity, and treating the Nats like the visiting team on their own network. Malevolent Angelo$ Sports Network screwed up a Penn State telecast last season too.
He has recklessly thrown money away (see Belle, Albert; Ponson, Sidney), but now finds it more convenient to blame Washington for his inability to compete with the Yankees and Red Sox. This is the basis for his subsidy argument when in truth 15 years of bad franchise management got his team where it is now, not having another team 35 miles (and 90 minutes away on game nights) to the south.
It has been said Angelo$ wanted to by mayor of Baltimore and governor of Maryland. Clearly the people of that city and state knew better and are not falling for his "look, it stuck it Washington, so you should love me" actions. Washingtonians shouldn't have to suffer because Baltimore had to the good sense not to empower him from the ballot box.
In short, Angelo$ has wielded his disproportionate power to keep the Nats from fully realizing the potential of their market for petty, personal reasons and to keep himself from having to work hard. The Nats can not realize their full revenue potential because they have to subsidize Angelo$' mediocrity. Do you really want to reward that kind of bad behavior?
Though I can't dispute anything here, I'm still boycotting the Nats rather than the Orioles. Part of it is family history -- my mom's side of the family is from the Eastern Shore. Part of it is that I can usually keep my opinion of a team separate from my opinion of the owners, as plenty of Redskins fans might also tell you. (The number of Orioles implicated in the Mitchell Report bothers me a little bit more than Angelos.)
But the truth is I probably won't see either team this year, just as I didn't last year. And that's because the manner in which the Nats came to Washington soured my impression of MLB in general. They extorted hundreds of millions of dollars from a municipality that can't even tell its schoolkids where they're supposed to go for class. I simply can't support that.
Bottom line is that there's something unsavory about both teams. How much tolerance we have for it is sure to depend from person to person.
# posted by bdure :
Tuesday, May 13, 2008 7:57:00 AM
Neither MLB or the District distinguished themselves during the negotiation. That being said, I think it winds up working out very well for D.C. because a lot of the money coming in will be from suburban fans, money that would have been spent elsewhere. Additionally, the development going around the ballpark is quite impressive. The schools could learn a lot from the way the construction was managed (on time, on budget) and just well might. Allen Lew, the chief executive for the Sports Commission, moved onto lead the school system upgrade last year.
# posted by WFY :
Friday, May 16, 2008 12:26:00 PM
Post a CommentFour captains? Five captains? Scirrotto? - William World News
Defensive end Josh Gaines (Ft. Wayne, Ind.) and safety Anthony Scirrotto (West Deptford, N.J.) were named the defensive captains. Center A.Q. Shipley (Coraopolis) and wide receiver Derrick Williams (Greenbelt, Md.) were named the offensive captains.
In addition, linebacker Sean Lee (Pittsburgh) will serve as an honorary captain in 2008. Lee suffered a serious knee injury earlier this month that will likely keep him off the field this season, but he is planning to return for the 2009 season as a fifth-year senior.
Do they really need four captains? Remember when it was just two and occasionally a special teamer like Maurice Daniels? Also, Scirrotto has no business being captain after the happenings of early April 1, 2007.
What has happened to my alma mater's football team? - William World News
Wednesday, April 09, 2008
What has happened to my alma mater's football team?
On the right is yesterday'sCollegian. The highlighted areas are stories about the legal problems of current and past Penn State football players.
Just off of the top of my head, here are Penn State football players, current and former, who have had legal problems over the last year or so.
Anthony Scirrotto Chris Baker Chris Bell Austin Scott Knowledge Timmons Tyrell Sales Phil Taylor
This is MAJOR problem and like it or not, Joe Paterno is going to be held accountable for the actions of his players by the university. These arrests, more than anything else, may mean the end of his career after his contract expires. Something is very wrong with this team and clever ideas like cleaning a section of Beaver Stadium are not fixing the thuggery problem that is running rampant. Yes, Paterno has kicked Bell off for good, but what has he done about Anthony Scirrotto? Nothing yet. Too much is going on and he can't blame the media or Old Main for it. Working at home is not going to make this go away either.
Penn State football has been falling short of its potential on and off the field for several years with 2005 now looking like an abberation. Too many players are getting in legal trouble and big wins are rare. The Grand Experiment to win with well-rounded football players is in the rear-view mirror right now. With each new incident, the thought of seeing someone other than Paterno roaming the sidelines becomes less shocking and more welcome.
Paterno needs to stop picking fights with Old Main and the media and start figuring out why his players can't keep their noses clean. The university does not owe him (or his assistants, who are complicit with the direction of the program) a job. If Paterno is willing to let his standards slide, the university should find someone who will commit himself to success with honor. If they have to go outside the program to do it, so be it.
The tipping point for me was the September game vs. Michigan.
Look, JoePa is the greatest, but there comes a time for everyone to move on. He wants respect for all he's done, and for good reason. But the University has tolerated a lot as well. Major college programs don't keep coaches who have 4 out 5 losing seasons ('00-'04) and don't consistently beat their rivals (Michgan or Ohio State). The off-the-field stuff is even worse, because it reflects poorly on the entire university. And the working from home thing is ridiculous. We'd all like to work from home--get to the office! I don't think Joe will be coaching in '09.
# posted by The Maryland Bureau Chief :
Thursday, April 10, 2008 8:10:00 AM
The real reason Starbucks is closed right now - William World News
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
The real reason Starbucks is closed right now
Starbucks is closed right now (Seattle Times) so employees can "be trained in creating the perfect shot, steaming the milk and all the pieces that come together in a drink." Not just the local Starbucks, all Starbucks. Seems a little odd doesn't it? The truth is more disturbing:
STATE COLLEGE - A Lansing, Mich., TV personality named Hondo Carpenter took the Jordan Center court two hours before Michigan State's game at Penn State and pre-taped his postgame opening. It went something like this:
"Welcome to the Northwestern of the East where, before 6,000 fans, the Spartans whipped Penn State."
For the record, there was an announced crowd of 11,159 fans, some of whom rushed the court after Penn State won by nine. Final score: 85-76.
About once a year, Penn State shows signs of life and beats a men's basketball good team. That happened yesterday when Michigan State came to town.
Now build on it cagers! The season doesn't have to be a total loss, you have a winning record and can still make the NIT.
Pop Candy alerts us that Alexandria, my current home, is the most romantic city in the United States of America according to amazon.com. My previous location, Arlington is #9 while Washington D.C. is #11. The Ombudsman works in the #2 city, Cambridge, Mass.
While Old Town Alexandria and the roof of Riverhouse in Arlington have their advantages, I never thought of either place as particularly romantic. I would have expected San Francisco (#15) to be higher and that New York would be on the list.
It has been suggested that perhaps the criteria amazon.com uses, "sales data of romance novels, relationship and sex books" indicates a lack of romance. Seeing that we're lumped in with Cambridge and Ann Arbor supports that statement -- what do Cantabs and Wolverines know about amore anyway?!
Schrag on Dulles-Tysons Metro situation - William World News
Friday, January 25, 2008
Schrag on Dulles-Tysons Metro situation
This morning, I asked Zachary Schrag, assistant professor of history at George Mason University and author of The Great Society Subway: A History of the Washington Metro, if he had any comments on the letter FTA chief James Simpson sent to Governor Kaine about the Dulles-Tysons Metro extension. Dr. Schrag responded:
In June 2007, James S. Simpson told the APTA Rail Conference, "we have one shot at building these projects; so we need to build them right and we need to build them to last. Perhaps by thinking big again, we can develop the kind of national consensus we need to assure that we get the kind of cities, and nation, that we want, and find the resources to pay for them." Remarks: James S. Simpson, Administrator, Federal Transit Administration, APTA Rail Conference, June 4, 2007
I find little of that approach in his January 24 letter to Governor Kaine. What does Simpson think Tysons Corner should look like a century from now? What does he think Loudoun County should look like a century from now? Unless he explain what kind of metropolitan area, and what kind of nation he wants, I don't see how he can evaluate the Dulles Line proposal.
Not surprisingly, a Post editorial wonders why the FTA took so long (after many millions of dollars were already spent) to announce its intentions. It also raises the question of how much administration ideology played a part (The Post) in the FTA's handling of the Dulles corridor Metro.
These recent developments are bad news for Northern Virginia and greater Washington D.C. There has been failure at just about every possible level along the way. Hopefully, this is just a setback, albeit a large one, to bringing mass transit to the 17th largest business district and 16th busiest airport in the country.
Tysons-Dulles Metro in jeopardy - William World News
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Tysons-Dulles Metro in jeopardy
Dulles Rail Project Verging on Collapse - The Post The details are still emerging, but it appears the Silver Line linking West Falls Church to Ashburn via Tysons and Dulles is in serious jeopardy. The Federal Transit Administration is very reluctant to provide $900 million in funding for this much needed project.
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