What I'm Reading 4.14; Stealers, Rec Services, Bishop Blogs, Hot Dogs and Speeding Tickets

I'm looking into training more consistently. And now that I'm in Muncie more, I thought, why not just use the facilities offered by the university, of which I should be granted access considering my completion of degree and several-thousand dollar debt to the school I pay, on time.

Wrong.

For the second time in as many days my Ball State ID was denied as I swam at Lewellen. The lifeguard pulled me aside and I did what I always do in intense pressure situations; improvise.

"Yeah, I thought it might," I told her. "But it's okay I'll just talk to them about it."

Who is them? I guess I was talking about the imaginary people who will wave a magic wand over my now-1.5-year-past-worthy ID.

But anyway, I called recreation services and asked how much it would cost for an alumni to use the 'facilities'. She said for alumni with alumni ID's (issued at the alumni center; last time I'm going to use the word alumni for a while) for $155 per year. Not bad I thought and what a great break for all those people, who spent years of their life studying and passing on the good word of Ball State.

Then I asked, after assessing how great of a deal alumni got, how much do people who aren't alumni have to pay?

"One-hundred-fifty-five dollars," she said.

So much for appreciation.

After all's said and done, as my Econ247 teacher always said right before I passed out unconscious from talks about the stock market and liquidity, I'm thinking about getting that alumni card and pass, if for nothing else, the satisfaction that they university still cares about me and wants me to be fit.

Well, maybe.

Anyway; what I'm reading:

Big Ben isn't so big anymore. I don't want to say I-told-you so, but I believe it's in order.

Pittsburgh is rooted in class; DUI's, marijuana and two sexual assault charges. Not bad for the team the league likes to root for and who, on numerous occasions added to their 'winning' tradition through the misfortune of others.

REDS WIN! 5-3 and it looks like they're just getting started!

Another 'terrible' earthquake. This time in China. As of this hour, 400 are dead.

Archbishop Timothy Dolan's blog. Good stuff.

(Sorry this post is so sporadic; it's reflective of my mind, today)

Driving cars all the time it's easy to see that American-made cars are junk compared to anything, any other country makes. Perhaps the market does figure out what is best; American made cars top list of worst-built.

A beautifully-written story on a terrible, terrible occurrence these days. I mean, I can't understand how people forget their kids in their cars but, I just keep in mind that caring for your children is your first priority - always. Sad.

Speeding tickets are up. My experiences are evidence of that.

So, Conan is going to TBS. Good news for them.

Record Store Day is this saturday. I'm sure a store deserves my patronage after years of piracy. Here's one great record store, I've been to.

Hot dogs at all the stadiums.

And, lastly I went to Dallas last weekend but missed this.

24th annual A Taste of Muncie is here! Read the preview and profile of one of the participating restaurants!

What I'm Reading 3.29; Baseball, Bombings, Barack and Baby Squirrels

Here I go again, more or less on my own; in seek of the ever-present career which has eluded me up to this point.

About a month ago a longtime friend (can you call someone you've known for 2 years a longtime friend?) let me into a secret about some potential part-time work at a newspaper. Yeah, that's right, those paper things people used to buy and read and gain insight into the world around them.

But, in my state; featured as the epitome for a lack-of-motivation and what not to do video, I brushed it off, only to come back to it now.

So tomorrow I'm beginning my journalistic journey anew at The Star Press in Muncie, working part-time and doing freelance. I'm excited and hope this is a breath of fresh air into a career path that, so far, has been a bit, so to speak; lacking.

Baseball is one week away and I know I'm excited how about you? The beloved Reds are looking fresh and young; something to embrace but who is this guy? President Barack Obama will throw out the first pitch opening day for the Nationals; at least they have something to get animated about in D.C.

An apparent suicide bomber killed 38 in a Moscow subway; it is unclear who is responsible at this hour.

A police-car-biting dog has to take obedience classes in a town I was in yesterday: Chattanooga.

Here is an interesting timeline of media layoffs; thanks C. Trent.

WSJ.com offers good insight into the benefits and costs of the health-care overhaul.

Ten stories 'you' should know about this years Final Four in Indianapolis. While we are the pinnacle of March Madness; how about those Butler Bulldogs?! Several Bulldog fans lined up for tickets this morning. Kravitz has a good take on the Bulldog's story.

And, last but certainly not least: a poodle plays foster mom to baby squirrels in N. Carolina.

Reds Game 5.7

Tonight I will be heading down US 27, then IN 101, then I-74 to the Reds game to watch the much hated Brew Crew in action against the good guys. The only good thing about the Brewers is the sausage race, and that's only in Milwaukee! SO you know what that means. . .

I will do my best to update this tonight as I know it will be a fun night full of Skyline, baseball and (fingers-crossed) no rain.

Follow here for the action, baseball and antics!

Reds!

I haven't said much about the Reds lately but they are playing the much-hated Brew-crew tonight.

I think they might be OK this year. If the pitching holds up they could have one of the best rotations in baseball. 

And you know what the cut-man says about pitching. . .

What I'm Reading 4.10

As greener pastures await and the grass outside follows suit, the news seems to come more plentiful.

The pirate saga continues and the Reds finally won just as the 'other' pirates head down the Ohio to Cincinnati.

First for the ridiculous news of the day: a man and his nephew got into a sword fight in Indianapolis and in the middle of the scuffle the grandma of the boy was fatally wounded. Both 'boys' were sent to the hospital with wounds. I didn't know the Indianapolis Renaissance Festival was this week.

A Navy SEAL helped police nab the suspects who shot and killed the war hero's dog.

Apple sized hail and a tornado were too much for this house and for parts of Arkansas.

A man was stabbed in a hotel room by a friend for flatulence while eating.

Here is an incredible slideshow of pictures of the funerals and remembrances of the Italian earthquake victims.

LA Angels pitcher Nick Adenhart died in a hit-and-run wreck, hours after pitching. It is a very sad story about an up-and-coming star for the Angels.

Why NOT to convert to Judaism.

The U.S. and the pirates are sending more ships to the standoff.

And, Not Tiger but Chad Campbell? The leader of the Master's is Mr. Campbell.

Opening Day

Lineups for today's game: NY Mets v. Cincinnati Reds, April 6, 2009

Mets
Jose Reyes ss
Daniel Murphy lf
David Wright 3b
Carlos Delgado 1b
Carlos Beltran cf
Ryan Church rf
Brian Schneider c
Luis Castillo 2b
Johan Santana p

Reds
Jerry Hairston Jr. cf
Darnell McDonald lf
Joey Votto 1b
Brandon Phillips 2b
Jay Bruce rf
Edwin Encarnacion 3b
Ramon Hernandez c
Alex Gonzalez ss
Aaron Harang p

Well despite everything, the fact I've not been around for a while, and the most coveted day of the year, I'm back.

Today is opening day and I'm going to devote this post to mostly baseball.

Did you hear Carlos Zambrano thinks the Cubs should build a new stadium? Another reason for me to hate Zambrano. And today he is recanting what he said. (sigh) Take away Wrigley and that would leave nothing desirable about the Cubs, and I'd root for everyone against them, including the North Korean Baseball team. . . if they had one.

The Findlay Market Opening Day parade in Cincinnati is about to commense and it is strange, I've still never been. And here is a Mets blog fantansized by the event and covering it live.

On Redleg Nation, the comment section on Opening Day.

The Reds have a new 139 by 38 LCD HD scoreboard. Price tag: $10 million. How's that for stimulating the local economy.

Here is a nice story by Jerry Krasnick at ESPN.com about the Reds' young nucleus. It is a very good read.

Stud.

What I'm Reading 11.20

The Ball State Cardinals closed out an exciting game with a Nate Davis to Briggs Orsbon TD pass, last night against Central Michigan University, to move the fightin' Card's (as Letterman puts it) to 11-0.

And now: my soapbox. This morning I made my 40-mile trip to Muncie and upon arriving in the AJ building I pick up a Daily News - even though I hardly ever read the articles.

First off, there is a young man who covers the football team and has for a couple years. He has fallen into a good situation, as the team has been successful this year, and at 11-0 I guess it is too much to ask for a decent game story.

I want to tread softly because I know he is a fellow amateur but, after several game stories I think he would take the time to not dribble editorial comments throughout his stories.

And to you that say: well, Nathan I'd like to see if you could do better, I say: I absolutely and unequivocally could. I know football, I could report on it and I could develop story ideas - daily- about interesting parts of the team.

To him: just report the game, be creative but don't tell me that Ball State has had 10 straight blowout wins because what's blowout to you, may not be blowout to me.

I enjoy reading what happened at the game not what you thought about it unless, it is on the editorial page.

Next:

I have continued reading and am now half through Twilight. The movie is coming out tomorrow and there is a lot of anticipation from people across the world.

Besides drawing close to the weekend, I'm drawing close to the 200th post on this blog. If anyone has any ideas for the 200th post, please let me know.

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Today is the Great American Smokeout, you should quit today. I have.

Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano was named as the new director of Homeland Security.

The history of the flag is rather interesting, read into it.

The Somali Pirates (sounds like a baseball team) are causing more to go up than the price on their heads.

Some people are predicting the death of the iPod but here are 50 fun things to do with your, obviously, archaic mp3 player.

When I was at the Star Press, I would laugh at the stories that constantly rolled through their Web site from the AP feed. Here is one I discovered this morning. He will get only soup from now on.

Crude oil prices fell to below $50 per barrel as demand is its lowest in 23 years, according to Bloomberg.

SPORTS

Mike and Mike in the Morning on ESPN Radio were talking about Adam 'Pacman' Jones this morning and about reinstatement, again. For those not in the know, Pacman was 'given' a 'bodyguard' hired by the Dallas Cowboys, to basically keep him in line. Pacman then got into an intoxicated altercation with his 'bodyguard' at a hotel and Pacman was suspended, again.

So this morning, Mike Greenberg silenced the program and caused me to nearly swerve off the road with laughter, as he distinguished between a bodyguard and a babysitter. He said Pacman's 'bodyguard' was really a babysitter:

"A bodyguard protects you from others," Greenberg said. "A babysitter protects you from yourself."

(It was funny to me, because it is true)


Ocho Cinco is NOT active tonight and according to Brad Johansen it is due to Chad missing a team meeting after over sleeping. So it goes.

Coco Crisp was traded to the Kansas City Royals for RP Ramon Ramirez. Reports are, the Reds were close in acquiring Crisp but didn't want to give up a bucket of balls for him.

Brady Quinn is already hurt - I have to change my lineup, again. So it goes. Oh and the Browns GM sent an email response to a fan that included an (expletive). OH NO!

Mike Mussina retired after winning 20 games. I want to look into players from all major sports who have retired after having a very good or their best season - this may have been Mussina's.

What I'm Reading 11.17

Beginning my day I always scan the headlines to see what has happened - overnight or abroad.

My most read sources for all types of information include:

MSNBC.com - U.S. and world news
WSJ.com - U.S. and world news
NPR.com - Hourly news summaries and world news
Telegraph.co.uk - Daily Telegraph, London newspaper site for UK and London news
BBC.com - World news
Pal-Item.com - Local News
Thestarpress.com - Muncie local news
ESPN.com
Cnn.com
Redlegnation.com - Cincinnati Reds news and comment
The Lot D - C. Trent Rosecrans Cincinnati sports blog
mlbtraderumors.com - baseball transaction news site

And that is just in one sitting. I often look at all types of sources for news but do not rely much on the information of blogs unless it is a blog that has broken a huge story.

Considering that:

Today I awoke to see that Barack Obama may have to give up his trusty BlackBerry.

And speaking of president-elect Obama, Catholics may have to repent if they voted for him.

The Onion reports the Obama win may have caused a massive void in Obama's most ardent supporters.

The Washington Post takes a look at The Onion and how it came to be what it is.

The Chicago Tribune takes a look at the revival of live albums. I don't know, I've never been a huge fan, but there are a couple I have listened to religiously. Thanks to C. Trent for the heads up. This one, this one and this one I have listened to a lot.

Albert Pujols won the NL MVP. He deserved it hands down. I'm surprised Kosuke Fukodome didn't win though.

Christmas is just around the corner and I will place a few gift ideas in each post - for me or for people you want to actually buy gifts for, if there is such a thing. Like this one.

Mr. Bill, the former SNL turned commercial character might make a good gift.

I just found this story after reading some about The Troubles in Belfast, Northern Ireland and throughout the UK.

OH MY JOSH!

Last night was one of the greatest scenes of athleticism I have ever seen.

Josh Hamilton offers came through my phone from my fellow FCBL owners as fast Hamilton placed balls 500 feet from the plate.

I sat in awe, mouth gaping open watching the heroic feat as it unfolded in front of me. To think that someone could hit 28 HR in one round would be only a dream, one that Hamilton himself claims to have had.

The night did not end as it seemed it would, as Hamilton was all tuckered out at the end allowing Justin Morneau the opportunity to win, even though Hamilton will be the one remembered from this night for years to come.

"Oh My Josh," ESPN had as its headline last night after the first round echoing the same reaction as the fans that sat watching what seemed to be the second coming for a few minutes.

Today I am going back to the fair before checking in for the night to watch the All Star game I have been complaining about.

One thing is for sure however, Hamilton won't be hitting 28 HR tonight. :(


Oh and read my blog.

I'm officialy ready for the disapointment of football

Simply put, the Reds are done again before the All-Star break.

I will not watch anymore, I will not watch anymore. . . .

Brennaman vs. Cubs

According to Hal McCoy Marty Brennaman the voice of the Cincinnati Reds will have added security tonight in Chicago and throughout the week. This comes as a result of the fallout from Cubs fans in regards to Brennaman's comments calling Cubs fans "the most obnoxious in all of baseball" after they threw a dozen baseballs on the field following an Adam Dunn home run April 17.

(Hal also scooped ESPN by about 10 minutes on the Cubs trade; they acquired Rich Harden from A's)

This comes in a long line of conflict between Cubs fans and the outspoken-long-time broadcaster. According this site some 'people' took it upon themselves to edit Brennaman's Wikipedia page adding a fake death that took place on this date, the opening game of the Reds series against the Cubs.

Lifting my opinion from this matter, the fact that there has to be more security for Brennaman shows a lack of confidence in the actions of Cubs fans. I would have to say that their fans tend to be more raucous and outspoken. I don't specifically see this reflect in loyalty as I consider fans from baseball cities like St. Louis and New York to be much more loyal and knowledgeable in terms of baseball and have had a much better history of winning.

This should make for an interesting series to say the least.