At my disposal in my role at WANdisco is the profound knowledge of my colleague and cultural sage, Rob.
Asking about the point of the All-Star game in Baseball, he explained about mid-season breaks, and the rest of his answer was worth republishing:
Anyway, back to the All-Star game. Until the 90’s the American League just played other American League teams and same with the National League.
Only the Allstar game and the World Series had players from each league playing each other. So the All-Star game is the best players from the first half of this season for the AL playing the best players from the NL.
Players used to select the starters and the manager of each team (the manager from the previous year’s 2 world series teams) picked the reserves.
Now, fans vote the starters and it’s a big popularity contest. SOmeone like BigPapi would go even if he’s not playing the best
But, it’s an exhibition.
Means nothing…. UNTIL
ALLSTAR GATE! 1998 or 1999.
The game went 13 innnings and both managers were trying to get everyone into the game. They are real sensitive about using pitchers too hard because the last thing they want is an injury in this exhibition
So, after 13 innings, the managers didn’t want to throw the current pitchers anymore and had run out. The commissioner was in a box down by the field and the umps went over and they called the game a tie!
We are Americans. We don’t do ties. That’s for Canadians and hockey and the rest of the world and futbol
HUGE Uproar. So the spineless commissioner then changed it so that the home field in the world Series (7 game series one team hosts 4 times the other 3) goes to the league winning the allstar game.
Silly. Thanks Rob
I’ve wanted a projector forever but always thought a decent one (as I would want) is out of my price range. A new passion for baseball, plus cheap Sky+ HD, plus the impending world cup had me looking again though and to my surprise I find they are now MUCH cheaper than I remember. I missed a £350 special on Ebuyer, so instead went hunting Ebay. And I found the ideal candidate, an Optoma EP1691, which I won. £500 worth of new projector for £300. I hoped.
However, on plugging it into my Sky box or PC, what I get is a horrible yellow blob where there should be nice colours (blue maybe?).
Oh dear 
I’ll talk to the seller and see what happens.
My favourite week of the year is the one I spend without electricity, heat or petrol anywhere to be found.
I’ve been sailing on the Norfolk Broads pretty much every year now for 20-odd years.
We first took the plunge and hired a Percy Hunter boat about 5 years ago, having previously hired numerous different sailing craft, many of which were ruined by the addition of mod-cons like engines, showers, radios and heating.
The Hunters have been beautifully maintained in their original 1930s condition and even the new boat added a couple of years ago was built to exactly the same design without any modern day enhancements. They sail a lot better than anything else on the broads too.
On looking for some good links to explain to prospective crew members what they might be letting themselves in for, the yard sent me these, most of which don’t appear on their website. So I’m putting them here for my reference and yours:
And if you fancy a place on my crew, a very moderate fee may well secure it for you.
Went to the launch party this evening.
The beer selection really is exceptional and I hope to god they can keep it in the same condition as it was tonight past the first few weeks. We work in the Electric Works opposite and the immediate area is so desperate for a proper beer house / after work stop-off that this is a godsend.
The setting is very traditional and it’s certainly got loads of character - reminded me of some of those impressive Victorian city centre boozers in Liverpool. On the downside I found the seating arrangement pretty uncomfortable and didn’t get the impression I’d want to hang around too long chatting.
The big downer though is that they were playing god awful music and in a big high room with terrible acoustics it’s just a waste of time. Mind you it was a party and maybe they’ll not bother with music normally. I hope not cause it’s got real potential otherwise.
I don’t know if they are planning to do food. They had some on tonight but it was just party food (very good mind you). I really hope they can knock out some good grub as well as the beer. The area is completely crying out for a decent Friday afternoon lunch spot and I’m sick to death of M&S salads.
Banksy classicness
Over the years I’ve had loads of ideas for projects and it’s no big deal that I haven’t acted on any of them yet. When people do such a good job without me, I really don’t mind. The reality is whatever I do build I’ll be wanting all the building blocks I thought of.
As much for copying later on for my own model, but also because the underlying project is something I think works so well and every company should do, I’m highlighting Uservoice.
Good work chaps. Another thing I don’t have to worry about when the time comes and I need ya.
Ian
While researching Picante de cuy (Guinea Pig with spices), which I’m determined to cook and eat sometime, I came across a recipe for Braised Cat. Unfortunately, this breaks one of my rules about eating meat, as I know what I feed my cat on, but it’s all useful information in a recession.
Tasty cats can be cheezeburgers?. From http://catrecipes.com/recipes/index.html
So, the story quickly:
- I order Oreilly’s Subversion book from Amazon. I have just started working for WANdisco who sell a Multisite and replication solution for Subversion.
- I didn’t ask initially, but when I do my boss is happy to pay for it on expenses, so I just need a VAT invoice.
- I go to Amazon website to print one to PDF so I can claim it (no paper here nosiree)
- “You can’t print an invoice from the Amazon website, but if you contact us we’ll send you one”.
Honestly… It’s true.
I mean. I just don’t get this. They are going to post me an invoice, at their expense, so I can scan it in?
WTF.
Someone just pointed out this page about me. It’s odd that I don’t ever remember doing this, although it’s certainly my somewhat over egged writing style.
How very bizzarre.
585v7
Unbranded on the left, the o2 branded on the right.
