Even Baseball Players Blog

Red Sox 2007 opening day in Missouri is only four days away. For a sneak-peak into the Sox Clubhouse, check out Curt Schilling's Official Blog: 38 Pitches.

In a March 18th post following a AAA game verses Louisville, Schilling said, "Typing this on the plane as we head back to Boston. Going to spend the off day with Shonda and the kids and get some things done at 38 Studios as well. The game today went well. 6 innings, 98 pitches, 74 strikes and I felt stronger in the 6th than I did in the 1st." This particular post was popular with viewers, receiving 120 comments.

Schilling, the right-handed starting pitcher for the BoSox is known for his good work-ethic on and off the field. This blog is just another example.

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Supreme Court: Your Labor Is Your Private Property

I just finished watching Aaron Russo's documentary, America: Freedom to Fascism. I can give no better recommendation than, watch it for yourself.

The film's site, FreedomToFascism.com offers an overview of the film:

Determined to find the law that requires American citizens to pay income tax, producer Aaron Russo ("The Rose," "Trading Places") set out on a journey to find the evidence. This film which is neither left, nor right-wing is a startling examination of government. It exposes the systematic erosion of civil liberties in America since 1913 when the Federal Reserve system was fraudulently created. Through interviews with U.S. Congressmen, a former IRS Commissioner, former IRS and FBI agents and tax attorneys and authors, Russo connects the dots between money creation, federal income tax, and the national identity card which becomes law in May 2008. This ID card will use Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) chips which are essentially homing devices used to track people. This film shows in great detail and undeniable facts that America is moving headlong into a fascist police state. Wake up!

Copies can be purchased online at their site, but even better is to view the approximate one hour and fifty-minute film on Google Video for FREE. A couple other sites of interest related to this topic include, Nontaxpayer.org, GiveMeLiberty.org and the IRS homepage at IRS.gov.

Paper Or Plastic?

New York Times Reporter, Jesse McKinley offers insight in to the removal of plastic bags in the United States second most densely populated city in her article, San Francisco Board Votes to Ban Some Plastic Bags.

Paper or paper?

That may soon be the only question heard at grocery counters across San Francisco, as the city’s Board of Supervisors cast a decisive blow in the paper versus plastic debate on Tuesday, banning non-biodegradable plastic bags in its large grocery stores and pharmacies.

The ordinance, believed to be the first of its kind in the nation, will remove standard plastic bags from supermarkets and pharmacies with sales of more than $2 million a year, said its author, Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi, who said his city was simply following a worldwide trend toward greener grocers.

“Scores of nations have already gone through this,” said Mr. Mirkarimi, citing similar laws in places including South Africa and Taiwan. “It’s really astounding the United States would be so late in the game to come online to do something that should be common sense.”

Indeed, in a famously liberal city where finding the moral high ground can take a lot of climbing, the plastic bag has been something of the perfect villain for San Francisco politicians, a combination of common litter and nascent environmental scourge, linked to issues like global warming and big oil hegemony.

To continue reading, click this link

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Spring Break Or Bust

The following excerpts from AP reporter Julie Watson's story, Cancún's New Beaches Now Eroding, may have you looking closer at those photos you snapped during your recent spring break trip across the border and possibly have you reevaluating next year's warm weather destination.

Cancún and Mother Nature are at it again.

Mexico spent $19 million to replace beaches washed away by Hurricane Wilma in 2005, but erosion has shrunk Cancún's sandy playground to the point where waves at high tide lap against some hotel patios.

To bring tourists pouring back after Hurricane Wilma, the ocean floor was dredged to rebuild 8 miles of beach, nearly double their prehurricane size, and hotels were refurbished.

Just a year after the grand refurbishment was completed, the beaches have shrunk again, from 100 feet to less than 70 feet at midtide in the tourist zone, and swimmers are forced to clamber down 3-foot drops in the sand level to reach the water.

Most sections of beach remain about as wide as before the hurricane hit, although some are less -- barely 30 feet wide -- and the sea is relentlessly munching at what's left, said biologist Alfredo Arellano, Yucatán director for the government's Commission for Natural Protected Areas.

Officials, developers, and investors foresaw erosion and are preparing for a long-term response. They plan a public-private fund for future beach restorations, and an artificial reef to help contain the sand. Meanwhile, sandbags line some beaches and large, clothlike tubes have been installed offshore.

But environmentalists see no point as long as hotels continue building at the water's edge and ripping out vegetation whose roots once helped to hold the sand in place. They are lobbying for a belt of native plants and walking paths to separate hotels from beaches, even in places already developed.

"The type of construction that is going on is causing the beaches to erode at a much faster pace," said Patricio Martin, director of the Quintana Roo chapter of the Mexican Center for Environmental Rights.

To continue reading, click this link

Gobble Gobble

Recently spotted: a turkey safely making its way across Route 116 in Amherst, Massachusetts.

This turkey was one of about a dozen forest turkeys, as they have been identified in the eastern half of the United States since 1817, that flew away after passersby began to get a little to close for comfort.

Step It Up 2007

April 14, 2007 has been declared, National Day of Climate Action, where rallies will take place across the country for climate change.

Check out what others are doing to Step It Up and see how you can make a difference too!

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Portfolio Made Easy With Google's Page Creator

Google seems to make everything easier these days.

Their Page Creator, which is still in an "early testing phase", assists any gmail account holder in establishing an online site to call their own. Page Creator can be used as an advertising tool for your company or even for yourself, where you can post your personal resume and and clips or even your favorite links.

Like Google, I am also in the "early testing phase" with regards to My Google Page, which is currently under construction.

Other services offered by Google Labs include the latest Google Code Search, Google Reader and an oldie but goodie, Google Video and the list goes on.

What will Google think of next?!

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Walter Reed Army Medical Center Spreads "Plague"

Follow up to Walter Reed Army Medical Center's Diagnosis, March 8, 2007 post, courtesy of Democracy Now!

Veteran Dies After VA Refuses Treatment For Days: As the Walter Reed scandal rocks Washington, what are the conditions at VA hospitals outside the Beltway? We look at the story of a 58-year-old Vietnam veteran named Willie Dougherty. He died in October after suffering two pelvic fractures. His family says he died because he was refused treatment by the VA. We speak with his widow, Jean Stentz, American Legion commander Harold Davis and Shay Everitt, the journalism student who first started investigating the story.

It's Getting Hot In Here...

Today, Wired.com featured AP Science Writer, Seth Borenstein's article, Could Crazy Technology Save the Planet?

This story is one to take to the water coolers (if people even use water coolers anymore) with its creatively advanced answers to the world's newest plague, Global Warming.

Just in time for Earth Day, The Massachusetts Daily Collegian will publish a series with regards to Global Warming, its affects worldwide and what YOU can do to help. Be on the look out for these engaging stories come mid-April.

Photo: www.churchofeuthanasia.org

Appetizer Crawl

• Dining on appetizers at a series of locations is a great way to spend an evening out with friends. Where do you recommend to begin and end a tasty appetizer crawl in Beantown?
  
  Here's what some good eaters recommended at CHOW.com ...
  
  
• Orinoco, South End: domino arepa (tortilla with beans and white cheese), Costello's, Jamaica Plain: chili cheese fries, Cambridge Common, Cambridge: boneless buffalo wings, Cafe Polonia, South Boston: wild mushroom soup with sour cream, Cronin's, Quincy: cajun chicken soup
• Silvertones: Goat Cheese Crostini, Neptune Oyster: Raw Bar (see photo), Eclano's: Rabbit Sausage, Antico Forno: Pizza with shrimp and smoked mozzarella, Cafe Paradiso: Expresso Martinis
• Scallion pancakes and dumplings at King Fung Garden, antipasto at Teatro, lobster pizza at the bar at Excelsior, tacos at Bonfire, white chocolate bread pudding at Parrish Cafe

Check out the forum: Appetizer Crawl! Who has the best starters? listed at CHOW.com for more tasty ideas!

Photo: www.boston.com

Smart Mobs Highlights

I just realized how behind the United States was and currently is with regards to the cell phone and the additional services that mobile to mobile provides.

Smart Mobs: The Next Social Revolution, written by Howard Rheingold, who travels world wide to discover who has the latest and greatest technologically advanced communication equipment.

Did you know that...

• "The proliferation of tiny pockets in shirts and pants" is highly noticeable in Japan in order for keitai (mobile telephone) users to store their device.
  


• "In Japan, it is no longer taboo to show up late: "Today's taboo...is to forget you keitai (mobile telephone) or let your battery die.""
  


• "In Japan, young people are beginning to turn away from sites and applications that are officially endorsed by mobile operators and going underground... independent site Zavn.net has gained a sizeable audience and offline momentum with no promotion. The stories of Zavn.net are written in punchy, card-size chapters that are intended to be read on a cell phone."
  


• "Upon examining the reason for its success, it was discovered that only this particular model offered the symbol of a heart. Just the addition of a heart made a tremendous difference in sales."-DoCoMo, Japanese mobile telephone giant, introduces symbolic characters in text messages.
  


• "Finland leads the world in both Internet connections and mobile phones per capita."
  


• "...May 2001, the term "swarming" was frequently used by the people I met in Helsinki to describe the cybernegotiated public flocking behavior of texting adolescents."
  


• "The first text message was sent in December 1992 in the United Kingdom. By mid-2001, tens of billions of messages were being exchanged worldwide each month. By 2002, 100 billion text messages were being sent on the world's GSM networks each month."
  


• "Like data on the Internet, text messages are sent in electronic bursts of data, "packets," that find their own way through the network via "routers" that read the addresses on the packets and forward them."
  


• "Finland might be the world's foremost laboratory for mobile society, but it far from the only one in the Nordic countries. Stockholm, with more mobile phones per person than any city in the world..."
  


• "Before 2001, texting had become widespread in the Philippines, with up to 50 million messages exchanged each day. A 2001 San Francisco Chronicle story quoted a Philippines telecommunications company source: "Some Filipino teenagers can do it blindfolded. I can't do that-but I can text while driving.""
  


• "I took note when "373 million text messages were sent over the Orange Network (U.K. and France) in January 2001." I was not surprised to discover that one-fifth of the Italian population owned mobile phones, although I was slightly startled to learn that more than one person in right has a mobile phone in Botswana.""
  


• "Afghans in Pakistan were horrified by the ease with which young Moslem boys and girls, who would never have been allowed to be alone together, can now participate in virtual social relationships via mobile phone."
  


• "...adolescents, those ages fourteen to twenty, are often the early adopters of mobile communications and are among the first whose identities, families, and communications begin to change."

Photo: katapu.net

More Than A Feeling

Rest In Peace

BRAD DELP

June 12, 1951-March 9, 2007

Walter Reed Army Medical Center's Diagnosis

Doctor Walter Reed, U.S. Army Specialist, discovered the cause of yellow fever in 1900. On May 1, 1909, The Walter Reed General Hospital was established in his honor in Washington, D.C.

Nearly a century later, the Walter Reed Army Medical Center, the 1977 successor to WRGH, assists in the recovery process for military personnel injured both physically or mentally in the line of duty.

Unfortunately, this hospital has taken a turn for the worse. A series, The Other Walter Reed, published by the Washington Post, which began February 2007, reveals the major problems and conflicts going on inside the brick walls of the Walter Reed center.

Soldiers Face Neglect, Frustration At Army's Top Medical Facility-Part One, February 18, 2007- Power Points:

"If they can have Spanish-speaking recruits to convince my son to go into the Army, why can't they have Spanish-speaking translators when he's injured?" Morales asked. "It's so confusing, so disorienting."

"Maj. Gen. George W. Weightman, commander at Walter Reed, said in an interview last week that a major reason outpatients stay so long, a change from the days when injured soldiers were discharged as quickly as possible, is that the Army wants to be able to hang on to as many soldiers as it can, "because this is the first time this country has fought a war for so long with an all-volunteer force since the Revolution."

"The best known of the Army's medical centers, Walter Reed opened in 1909 with 10 patients. It has treated the wounded from every war since, and nearly one of every four service members injured in Iraq and Afghanistan."

"The Pentagon has announced plans to close Walter Reed by 2011, but that hasn't stopped the flow of casualties. Three times a week, school buses painted white and fitted with stretchers and blackened windows stream down Georgia Avenue. Sirens blaring, they deliver soldiers groggy from a pain-relief cocktail at the end of their long trip from Iraq via Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany and Andrews Air Force Base."

"Shannon, who wears an eye patch and a visible skull implant, said he had to prove he had served in Iraq when he tried to get a free uniform to replace the bloody one left behind on a medic's stretcher. When he finally tracked down the supply clerk, he discovered the problem: His name was mistakenly left off the "GWOT list" -- the list of "Global War on Terrorism" patients with priority funding from the Defense Department. He brought his Purple Heart to the clerk to prove he was in Iraq."

Photo: www.narmc.amedd.army.mil

Michael Franti: Yell Fire!

Michael Franti's soulful beats and jump up and down-as you shake your dreads-performance rocked Northampton, Massachusetts' Calvin Theater in the fall and he continues to impress fans and gain new listeners daily throughout the world.

One Step Closer to You, Sweet Little Lies and Light Up Ya Lighter are some of my personal Franti favorites and fall at the top spot on my IPod playlist.

With the release of his album, Yell Fire! in 2006, in conjunction with the release of his DVD, I Know I'm Not Alone, featuring his 2004 trip to Baghdad, the West Bank and Gaza Strip, his popularity has sky rocketed and most importantly his message of peace during wartime has spread like wildfire.

Amazon.com's Spotlight Reviews:

I recently got the chance to check out Michael Franti and Spearhead's release "Yell Fire!" (2006). While I have heard some Spearhead's music in the past and enjoyed a few of their videos, I really had no clue about who they were. The group officially includes lead singer and songwriter Michael Franti, Carl Young (Bass), Dave Shul (Guitar) and Manas Itene (Drums). I came across them being a Hip Hop fan, their music spreads into many different genres though Funk, Reggae, Folk, R & B, Rap and Rock. Michael Franti's introspective singing and lyrics make him a notable artist. My favourite track's on this release are "I Know Im Not Alone", "See You In The Light" and the outstanding "Tolerance". The last of these three is the most powerful to me musically, an exceptionally deep track about love and life and choosing tolerance over violence. I read that Michael Franti was inspired by a trip to Baghdad, the West Bank and Gaza and can tell he really put that experience into his music. I will be truthful in saying I don't feel all of Spearhead's music, but the tracks where they shine for me are the hard hitting introspective and positive one's - music with a message. "Yell Fire!" is a release worth checking out.

Photo: SurfCore.co.uk

Walking On Thin Ice

These chilly New England days call for fun outdoor activities. Take caution when playing in snow and ice in low temperatures.

Ice Safety tips from LifeSaving.org
1. Use designated ice surfaces. Many communities have designated ponds for activities such as skating that are maintained by knowledgeable personnel. Designated ice should be regularly tested to ensure that it is thick enough and strong enough for recreational use.
2. Measure ice thickness in several locations. Local conditions such as currents and water depths can affect ice thickness. Consult knowledgeable local individuals. White ice has air or snow within it and should be considered suspect for recreational use.
3. Avoid traveling on ice at night. At night it is very difficult to see open holes in the ice. This is a frequent cause of snowmobile drownings.
4. Never go onto ice alone. A buddy may be able to rescue you or go for help if you get into difficulty. Before you leave shore, tell someone where you are going and expected time of return.
5. Stay off river ice. River currents can quickly change ice thickness over night or between different parts of the river.
6. Wear a snowmobile flotation suit or a lifejacket. Wear a lifejacket or PFD over your snowmobile suit or layered winter clothes to increase your survival chances if you do go through the ice.
7. Take safety equipment with you. Include ice picks, ice staff, rope, and a small personal safety kit in your pocket, which includes a pocketknife, compass, whistle, fire starter kit and a cell phone.
8. Avoid alcohol. Alcohol impairs your judgment and speeds up the development of hypothermia.
9. If you drive on ice, have an escape plan. Open your windows, unlock your doors, and turn on your lights to allow you to quickly escape from your vehicle.
10. Always supervise children playing on or near ice. Insist that they wear a lifejacket/PFD or thermal protection buoyant suit.

From the East To The West

If you're interested in traveling to La-La-Land, also known as Los Angeles, check out California writer Bill Karz's latest blog post at LA Nomad where he names L.A., "The Reality Capital of the World." This blog may encourage your possible trip or force you to cancel your flight.

Reality TV burst onto the U.S. scene in 2000 with CBS’s “Survivor” in Borneo. Since then, several reality shows have traversed the world on location. From “The Amazing Race” to “The Bachelor,” exotic locales have been showcased consistently. However, no destination has been featured more than the City of Los Angeles. NBC’s “The Apprentice,” starring billionaire Donald Trump, recently deserted New York in favor of sumptuous digs in Bel-Air and a haute hotel on the Pacific shoreline. Millions of viewers are currently watching “Apprentice” contestants strut their stuff on the chic streets of LA. Other reality TV shows capitalizing on LA’s industry leadership and expertise include Bravo’s “Top Chef,” filmed in the Downtown Arts District; MTV’s “Parental Control,” filmed in the Valley; Style Network’s “Clean House,” shot in the Valley; and VH1’s “The Surreal Life,” filmed in the Hollywood Hills. The reality is – reality TV is good for business. Reality TV episodes shot in LA soared 53 percent in 2006, accounting for nearly 40 percent of all on-location TV production. The LA entertainment industry supports some 240,000 local jobs and contributes an estimated $30 billion to the local economy. While reality shows don’t pack the economic punch of scripted shows (a typical 22-episode, one-hour drama costs close to $50 million, compared to about $7 million spent on a 10-episode reality show), the dramatic increase in LA reality production is definitely a positive trend.

Junior Three Way Please

It took me a while to figure out a forum that interested me enough to participate in by posting questions and reacting to others. As I sat at my computer sipping a chai latte and waiting for my everything bagel to toast, who knew that what I was looking for was right under my nose.

As my bagel completed the toasting process and went, "ding!" it came to me. Food. I discovered CHOW.com after an intense web search and haven't stopped posting and reacting to others since.

According to the About section of CHOW-For those who love to eat-CHOW is a new kind of food media. Not only is our subject matter different—about the parties you really want to go to, the meals you really want to eat, the gear you really want to have—but we deliver it to you in audio, video, and everything else the Web’s got to offer. Come to us for recipes, instruction, news, entertainment, discussion, and advice. And come often—we update the site daily.

This site, in a nutshell, is a food support system for those who love to dine out in different regions of the country. Being a Massachusetts resident, I couldn't resist inquiring about Boston and New England eateries to hear what other members of the Commonwealth had to say about some of my favorite hot spots.

The reaction to some posts is tremendous. Being a "forum virgin," I never expected the dedication that people put in to answering other's questions, let alone questions about where to find the best egg and cheese in town or places for good fondue.

After reading several posts and reacting to the best of my entree ability, I was ready to take a stab at it.

Being the North Shore Massachusetts girl that I am, I couldn't resist an entry about something many residents of Salem, Beverly, Danvers, Revere or Peabody enjoy at any time of the day, when it comes to quick and tasty eats. The roast beef sandwich.

There are so many possible ways and places to enjoy a roast beef, that I was curious just exactly how people across the state went about eating their beef and where.

I got just the answers I was looking for, some I did not expect, photos of sandwich favorites and actually learned the history of the North Shore's fascination with beef!

Original Post:

What's Your Ideal Beef? Please indulge us with your favorite way to eat a roast beef sandwich. I am simple North Shore beef-eater and stick with a "Junior 3 way"-mayo, sauce and cheese. How about you? Any new topping suggestions?

Favorite Responses:

-I like it the way Harrison's in North Andover does it: Roast beef, sauce, and cheese on a buttered onion roll. Simple, basic, and delicious!
BTW, why is it that so many towns north of Boston have food joints with signs out front that say "roast beef and seafood"? You don't see that very much west or south of Boston, but go to Malden, Wakefield, Melrose, Stoneham, etc., and every other block has a roast beef and seafood place.

-I love Mike's Roast Beef in Everett - lettuce, mayo, and extra sauce

-There are a couple of "histories" of Roast Beef on the North Shore that have been published and tell some of the story. I wouldn't be entirely surprised if someone pops up and says there is an oral history (which would be interesting), but for a starting place here is an article from the Globe: http://www.boston.com/ae/food/articles/2005/11/02/bull_market/

-I like Billy's Roast Beef & Seafood in Wakefield- barbecue sauce and american cheese.

-Nick's Famous Roast Beef in Beverly is absolutely perfect. Warm, shaved, rare roast beef, with the perfect sauce, a little bit of mayo, and a slice of slightly melted American cheese all on a toasted bun-- it doesn't get much better. LoGrasso's restaurant in Rockport, MA used to do gourmet sandwiches for lunch, but they have unfortunately stopped serving lunch. Anyway, their "Ragin' Cajun" sandwich was an enormous bulkie roll with the best warm, Italian roast beef with a hot sauce/barbecue sauce mixture, blue cheese dressing, lettuce, sliced tomato, and red onion. I would dissect the sandwich and add some Cape Cod chips for a nice crunch--- I'm getting hungry just thinking about all this food!

How and where do you like your roast beef sandwich? Check out the forum: What's Your Ideal Beef? at CHOW.com and post a delicious response.

National Tell Someone About Your Favorite Blog Day

Everyday, someone tells someone, who tells someone else about a cool blog to check out while surfing the internet.

I learned about bOINGbOING.net thanks to longtime blogger Kirk Israel and was later reassured of this blog's perks from online mastermind and professor Scott Brodeur.

So let's call today, National Tell Someone About Your Favorite Blog Day, by sharing with a friend a fun and informative blog.

Photo: www.nap.edu

Your Blog Is Waiting For You

The University of Massachusetts Amherst's Office of InformationTechnologies hopped on the blogging band wagon February 20, 2007 and introduced "Blogs at UMass Amherst-Beta."

According to their news archives, "OIT is pleased to announce our new blogging service – Blogs at UMass Amherst. All UMass Amherst faculty, students, and staff can create their very own UMass Amherst blog. Just go to http://blogs.umass.edu/, log in using your NetID and UMail password, and start blogging."

Those planning on acquiring a UMass blog need to be aware of the Acceptable Use Policy that must be followed at all times when posting.

The policy includes some of the following guidelines: The University expects all members of the community to use computing and information technology resources in a responsible manner, respecting the public trust through which these resources have been provided, the rights and privacy of others, the integrity of facilities and controls, state and Federal laws, and University policies and standards.

Take caution when blogging or posting. You never know who is reading!

Hungry? Why Wait

Burlington, Vermont has a lot to offer. Friendly people, lots of snow, fine breweries and when it comes to cuisine, the options are endless. Church Street's Red Onion is a small cafe with a lot of flavor. Avoid reading the menu and go right for Red Onion's Red Onion sandwich. You won't be disappointed.

Making Footprints In The Valley

The Norwottuck Rail Trail Online offers foot, bike, ski and blade travel advice for those visiting the Amherst, Northampton, Hadley and surrounding towns. Take advantage of these fifty-degree New England days and explore the Valley.

If you look closely at the photo above, you can see the W.E.B. DuBois Library and the rest of the UMass campus as seen from the top of Mt. Norwottuck.