At the Quarter Pole - MLB All Star Rosters

The Giants have played 40 games that means the MLB season is a quarter over; time for the first evaluation.

Let's over a brand new prediction for the postseason, my first since the season started.

AL East - Yankees

AL Central - Tigers

AL West - Rangers

WC1-Rays

WC2-Red Sox

NL East-Braves

NL Central-Reds

NL West-Dodgers

WC1-Phillies

WC2-Reds

Now the All-Star rosters.  Last year each league had 34 men, I'll decide they're doing that again this season.  That meant 20 position players and 10 pitchers.  When I do this at the 80 game mark (maybe the 60) I'll make sure each team gets a rep and I'll include 4 closers for each team, even though some will be undeserving of the slots. 

AL

C Wieters

    Santana

1B Konerko

     Gonzalez

2B Johnson

     Pedroia

     Kipnis

SS Cabrera

      Hardy

      Andrus

3B Lawrie

     Hannahan

     Moustakas

LF Willingham

      Joyce

CF Hamilton (MVP)

      Jackson

      Jones

RF Reddick

DH Ortiz

P Verlander (CY)

    Weaver

    Peavy

    Lowe

    Price

    Hernandez

    Sabathia

    McCarthy

    Darvish

    Vargas

    Hammel

    Rodney

    JJohnson

    Strop

NL

C Ruiz

    Ellis

1B Votto

      LaRoche

      LaHair

2B Infante

      Barney

SS Furcal

     Castro

     Lowrie

3B Wright (MVP)

      Headley

LF Braun

      Prado

      Cabrera 

CF Kemp

      Bourn

      McCutcheon

RF Beltran

      Bruce

P Beachy (CY)

   Hamels

   Zambrano

   Cueto

   Lynn

   Cain

   Gonzalez

   Kershaw

   Bumgarner

   Greinke

   Strasburg

   Halladay

   McDonald

   Rodriguez

The Weekly Tendown: May 6-12 2012(The Eagle Has Landed)

Dear Internet:




We bought new phones this week.

I hung onto blackberry after everyone else had jumped ship; historically, I tend to remain after the evidence suggests I should walk. But this week I cut the cord.  I've got, as it turns out, a mysterious Verizon discount of which I was previously unaware, and between that, combining our two lines into a family plan, and our being grandfathered into unlimited data, we're spending a solid amount less than were we for lesser phones.

We'll see how it goes. I'll take whatever advice anyone cares to offer.

126 is here. This is 127.

1. Shep Smith
The gay marriage soundbite that was most surprising this week wasn't Obama's, it was Shep Smith on Fox.

He's right.  Conservatives stand opposed to the minimum wage and social security and medicare and unemployment insurance.  Conservatives stand opposed to legal equality for African-Americans and women.

And they lose - and they'll lose here too.  Every single conservative criticism of Obama's stance on gay marriage is the modern day equivalent of segregation now, segregation tomorrow, segregation forever.

Shep Smith told that to the Fox Flock this week.  He's right.

2. Yikes

The Nuggets losing in Game 7 to the Lakers is not nearly the worst thing that happened to Chris Anderson this week.

3. Dog Bites Man
Shockingly, the Republicans screwed the Democrats on that debt deal this week.

4. Do You Have a Couple Hours?
Watch this documentary on evolution vs. intelligent design.

5. Romney Economics


Romney plans to increase military spending by 2 trillion dollars.

6. The Cooler Me
If you're a longtime reader, you've probably hit upon my fascination with other versions of me; several years ago I discussed a book idea where I'd track down people who, for all demographic intents and purposes, were me when I was headed off to college to see the decisions they made that diverged their paths from mine; my proposed title was The Road Not Taken.


Well, this road not taken was that book - as instead I've spent the past several years working seven days a week.  But in the current GQ - someone's picked up that ball.

7. Would You Like to Download a Free, Really Good Book About the Constitution?
You're welcome.


The reason the United States Constitution is the world’s most enduring written constitution is not simply the genius of fifty-five men who met in Philadelphia in 1787. Rather, it is the way that generation after generation of Americans has made the Constitution ours. The Constitution endures because its meaning 
and application have been shaped by an ongoing process of interpretation. That 
process includes both judicial interpretation and transformations in constitutional 
understanding pressed by political leaders and ordinary citizens throughout our 
history. Our Constitution retains its vitality because it has proven adaptable to the 
changing conditions and evolving norms of our society. Its words and principles 
still resonate centuries after they were written because time and again, as Justice 
Holmes urged, we have interpreted the Constitution in light of “what this country 
has become.”


 Americans of all backgrounds can wholeheartedly take an oath to 
support and defend the Constitution when they are naturalized, join the armed 
forces, gain admission to the bar, or are sworn into elective office not because of 
how our founding text was understood in 1789, or even in 1870, but because of 
how we understand it today.


8. Don't Get Scammed
Consider this clip.


9. Oh, I Have News
My lady friend fixed my computer.  It required a total scrub of my hard drive; it had been...maybe 8-9 months since I backed everything up, so it's not ideal, but I didn't lose my really important stuff.

10. I Have Other News
I'm off the job market.

I'm moving to the university level, full time online position.  Solid salary bump.  Probably, it'll be awhile before I reference it in this space.  I spent a portion of virtually every day for about 8 months since I got adjuncted at my current place banging my head into the wall looking for a full time spot.  There are some negatives to the new position - they are outweighed.

So, to where should we move?

I have the ability to support the house entirely remotely.  My thought is we go someplace with a lower cost of living, hunker down, and live our lives.

I start in mid-June.  I won't miss a paycheck.

That's all for this time.  I'll be back next time.  If there is a next time....

Your pal,

Jim

The Weekly Tendown Apr 29-May 5 2012 (Guess Who Doesn't Have a Computer?)

Dear Internet:

The Giants trailed for 42 consecutive innings this week and we lost our best player for the next couple of months.

Kuip had the right idea.

125 is here. This is Tendown 126

1. Thursday
Here was my Thursday.

I teach 3 four hour classes on Thursday, it's a 15 hour day and I haul all I have up the hill.  That's normal. I don't sleep well Wednesday nights, this Thursday I was up at 4 AM.  That's also pretty normal.

I added to that this Thursday a computer that wouldn't start.  I've since taken it to the shop; it looks like a hard drive fail.  It's a 5 year old PC that was on the medium/low end at the time, so that means I (1) need a new computer and (2) currently am using one which is not mine.

I have two hours in between my first and second classes; I live 40 minutes away so I never go home, but my lady friend had a weekend trip that began Thursday so I was on dog duty, meaning I drove home, then drove right back.

I had an out of nowhere meeting with the Dean Thursday, as I had a student complaint.  I've got a couple hundred students at any one time, and yes, essentially any time any one of them complains, that means a meeting.

I also had an unexpected performance observation from an associate dean Thursday; I say unexpected as if there were any other type, but at my place of employ scheduling observations isn't thought to be professional courtesy.

After getting home, taking care of all of the animals, and eating for the first time all day, I locked up, readied for bed, and took one last trip to the garage to throw some trash away...

And heard the door lock behind me.

At 10:30 PM, I had been up for more than 18 hours and now I was locked in the garage.

I don't want to say what state of undress I was in, but it wasn't cute.

I' m not particularly handy, but after a quick call to my lady friend, it turns out there's a not particularly difficult way to break into my house.  It involves a screwdriver.





Sort of a good news (I didn't die in my garage) bad news (basically anyone can break into my house, come on over) situation.

2. So, I Don't Have Any Tendown Links
Here's how the sausage gets made; I read stuff throughout the week and collect, sometimes I use it that Sunday, sometimes I save for a future Sunday when I might get stuck for material.  All of that's on my computer that does not work.

So, I have not much for you this week.  I've got job news - I got a call from the online job, agreed to a couple of changed circumstances and was told I'd be hearing from personnel some time this week.  I still haven't received an offer, but am not sure what would have to happen not to get one.  I didn't hear about the one remaining community college job that's sitting out there, but they should also make a decision this week.  I recognize I've been saying this for a couple of months, but I should, once again, have a full time position the next time you read Tendown.

3. Watch This Speech
This is the first lady giving the commencement at Spelman last year.

I'd like you to watch, consider the essential message and ask yourself what is it about the Obamas that causes such a visceral dislike from a Tea Party sized percentage of the electorate.

4. Ad Hominem
I teach critical thinking and am always looking for ways to explain cognitive biases.

Here's a billboard from this week.




One assumes Kaczynski also believes that Tuesday follows Monday, that doesn't make it untrue.

5. Ric Grenell

Mitt Romney had an openly gay security spokesman.  Now he does not.  And you already know why.

6. David Barton
Professional Christian liar David Barton did another Daily Show shot. He lied.

7. I See 4 Star Matches


I went four on Brock/Cena, the booking as dumb as it could possibly be.

I may have seen other four star matches since last we spoke...but, maybe I haven't mentioned...I don't have a computer.  I was planning on finishing Mania weekend, I had blocked off yesterday for, among other matches, Richards/Elgin, but this did not happen.  I now need both a computer and a new phone.  That's a lot to do at one time.

That's all I'm doing this week.  There was a pastor, I think in North Carolina, who advocated beating the gay out of your children, and I know its North Carolina that has a referendum coming that would limit marriage between a man and a woman as the only domestic unit the state will legally recognize - but you can find those stories on your own if inclined.  If you aren't watching Mad Men already you're unlikely to start because of something I say - and you should be watching Girls.

Okay, I'm done.  That's all for this time.  I'll be back next time...if there is a next time...

Your pal,

Jim

2011-2012 All NBA Teams

Using the niftiest of advanced metrics, here are the 3 All-NBA Teams for the just completed NBA season, and then the additional 20 best players in the NBA this year.

1st Team
C D.Howard
F  L.James (MVP)
F K.Durant
G C.Paul
G R.Westbrook

2nd Team
C A.Bynum
F K.Love
F B.Griffin
G D.Wade
G J.Harden

3rd Team
C A.Jefferson
F P.Gasol
F. P.Millsap
G K.Bryant
G T.Parker

And now the next 20 best players in the NBA for 2011-12.

16.G.Monroe
17.M.Gortat
18.D.Nowitzki
19.T.Chandler
20.R.Anderson
21.J.Smith
22.L.Aldridge
23.J.Noah
24.M.Gasol
25.T.Duncan
26.P.Pierce
27.C.Anthony
28.T.Lawson
29.C.Boozer
30.K.Garnett
31.D.Granger
32.A.Iguodala
33.S.Nash
34.R.Gay
35.J.Johnson

The Weekly Tendown April 22-28 2012(It's still Saturday to me)

Dear Internet:



I didn't have AJ Jenkins in my Top 100.  If he has a better NFL career than Coby Fleener I invite Trent Baalke to criticize me in the most embarrassing of fashion.  But to my eye, this pick was error.

I was cool with the Oregon back in the second.  I was cool with trading out of the third.

That's where the draft ended for me; I had a pretty intense out of town job interview that resulted in my going full draft blackout until Saturday, when I watched the first three rounds.  Right after I finish this, I watch 4-7.  I didn't even get to put up my NBA Playoffs prediction post before the games started, but my boldest pick was a devastating knee injury to Derrick Rose.  Someone will let me know how that turns out.

124 is here. This is Tendown 125

1. Take Tuesday Off
Tuesday is May 1; the Occupy movement is having a general strike.  You can go here to see links to various activities planned across the country.  We don't have strikes anymore. This is from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

One of the reasons the corporate class keeps draining money from education and social services and fights so desperately to keep health care from being treated as a public good is that it maintains our dependency on our jobs - and one of the consequences of a host of decisions enlarging corporate control over our lives (like permitting random drug and lie detector tests, for example) is we believe in the all powerful nature of our bosses.  We do what we're told.  We are employed at-will, without pensions, for increased hours at flatlined wages, and are fed a constant diet that any action that might minimize the impact of that all pervasive, all powerful corporate control over our lives is fundamentally anti-American.  You cannot live in the United States in the 21st century without being slapped in the face by the truth - every single message by the right wing serves the end of the plutocracy.  Conservatism is an ideology whose function is to make your life worse.  That seems excessive, it is not.  The older I get, the more of the world I'm exposed to, the uglier - the more duplicitous, the more authoritarian, the more vicious, the more nakedly designed to pick your pocket I recognize conservatives to be.  I do not view the right with good humor.  They lie to you from cradle to grave.

2. Religious Offender Registry
I don't have any interest in how many sex offenders live in my neighborhood.

But - the next place to which I move, I'd really like some listing of how many of my neighbors are likely to come to my door to attempt to engage with me in some discussion about Jesus.  I also have a neighbor with a flagpole, up which he hoists both a New York Giants and a Philadelphia Eagles flag, usually depending upon which of them won that week.  This is offensive to me and I don't want to live near people like that.

3. 20 Years Ago Next Month...Er, Two Months Ago.
For the past couple of months, periodically its popped into my head that I was coming up on having graduated from college 20 years ago.  I haven't had a lot of time to bathe in how old that makes me, but whenever I've considered it I've very quickly shuddered at how May, 2012 was just around the corner.

Except, here's the thing.  I graduated a term early, in February of 1992.  Meaning more than 20 years ago.  It came and went and I missed it.  I will not, however, miss turning 500 months old, which is now only a few weeks away.

4. 10 Television Shows Canceled After One Episode
I watched Quarterlife.

5. The Economic Recovery
Did you know the economy had recovered?
It's true.  And 93% of the gains have been captured by the top 1%

6. Voter Suppression
The right has spent the past couple of years passing laws to limit voting.



-8 states passed voter ID laws in 2011.  One in 4 African-Americans do not have government issued photo ID.

-5 states passed laws to reduce early or absentee voting, African-Americans disproportionately take advantage of early and absentee voting.

-6 states passed laws to restrict voter registration drives; African-Americans are twice as likely to register to vote through registration drives as white voters.

-Of the five states with the highest rate of voter turnout in 2008 - all of them introduced legislation to make it harder to vote.

That's the right wing.

7. Wage Theft.
60% of low wage employees are ripped off every week - by their employers.

8. The Piece You Have to Read This Week.
From the Atlantic - about the military industrial complex.

9. What Do You Suppose is the "One Mission in Life" for Liberals?
Apparently, to abort children.  I'd better get to work.

10. Don Draper=Howard Johnson's





You know, not a destination, but a tacky stop you make on the way to a destination.

We walked into 1966 wondering how long Don would keep Megan around, after this week, it's clear it's the other way around.

And watch Girls - its second episode was outrageously good.

That's all for this time.  I'll be back next time.  If there is a next time....

Your pal,

Jim