Steve at waterfront

Hello World

It's me, David. Long time no blog. Not enough to say or too much. Probably both. I hope everyone who may read this is doing good.

June 18 and rainy and cold (for June). Like it for sleeping but not for baseball. This supports Thomas Friedman's 'global weirding' theory.

Heading into a tunnel soon and then to pop up at 125th and Broadway. Bye for now.

Pitcher of Record

While Steve was the pitcher of record in yesterday's loss to Nottingham American Legion by the Princeton group, he and the team experienced the classic moral victory. Part of the story was the Princeton team going against a longtime rival whom they have never bested. Not since the 8 year old all stars nor any year since then as Steve played his way up through the years and into high school. Those names of Memo, Patterson, Chotkowski, and others ring in familiarity.

Not a small by-line of the game was Steve's first start of the 2009 year after pitching only 2 innings in relief for the Princeton High team who put their hopes (and losing record) on the arms of three "flame throwers" rather than to recognize and develop one of the most talented "pitchers" to come through the Princeton program.

Steve, a 17 year old with no real work at pitching this year was matched against a hard throwing 19 year old with one year of college pitching experience. How did it turn out? Well, carrying the lead, 4-3 into the 6th inning before giving up a lead-off double followed by a throwing error by the catcher on a bunt play resulted in runners on 2nd and 3rd with no outs at which point Steve was replaced and subsequently 4 runs scored.

Wait, let's stop there. Steve held a high-power offense of older players to 3 runs for 5 complete innings? With two innings of work during the entire spring season Steve threw 90+ pitches against the team touted to win the league this summer? I can also mention that he went 2-4 batting 3rd in the young Princeton teams line-up with the opposing team's pitcher receiving a designated hitter.

Yes, the team made solid plays, even a couple brilliant ones behind him. They played as well defensively and offensively as any Princeton team I have seen. But the Pitcher of Record for this game was Steve Etherton and I can't wait to see where he will go from here.

Birthday Sean

Waterway in Providence

This is a waterway in Providence, Rhode Island, that runs between the downtown area and the Brown University campus. The photo was taken at about 8:00 AM with the sun coming up over the hillside upon which the campus is located.

Image of Love

Art of love from two special people.

Name that auto

One sweet ride at parking garage. Can anyone tell the make and model?

Unusual Eats

Chicken pot pie in a taco shell.

Quote

"You take a step, then another. That's the journey. But to take a step with your eyes open is not a journey at all, it's a remaking of your own mind."

Quote from "Ender in Exile" by Orson Scott Card

Nice vehicle and is available as hybrid

Highlander

Ice Flow on the Hudson River

No, this is not Greenland or Antartica. This is the Hudson in January at about 131st Street in NYC.

Outliers, by Malcolm Gladwell

I just finished the latest Malcolm Gladwell book, "Outliers" and as with other MG books I very much enjoyed reading it. Gladwell has such a refreshing writing style and he certainly brings forward unusual thoughts and information. His theory about why southeast asian's are better at math than others is a very thought-provoking theory, basically having to do with the structure of numbers in the languages as well as attributing to the work ethic from the agricultural history of rice paddy farming.

That and other topics in the book were uncomfortable reading at times since it seemed bordering on racial/ethnic stereotyping but as usual Gladwell is well resourced and well thought-through. He also provides a detail of his ethnic background including Jamaican heritage and racial blending and this certainly lends credibility and sensitivity to the treatment of this subject.
As with other Gladwell books, Outliers doesn't offer easy and quick take-away's for everyday life. His stuff needs a little soak or percolation time to understand and incorporate into one's world view. As with Tipping Point and Blink, though, his theories and explanations are very capable of changing the way we think about things that are we think are very solid within that world view.

I recommend "Outliers" as required reading if you are seeking to expand your mind. See the side-panel Amazon link if you are wanting to run out (well, not run out but click through) to purchase the book. I get such a trivial amount from any transaction generated that way it is more a public service than a profiteering venture).

Enjoy that it is Friday and enjoy the weekend.