JimH5

Terrific article by Doug Glanville. I'm a new fan.

I agree that's an absurd number. None of the Hall of Famers signing in Cooperstown are charging more than that, with most being far below. Molitor is $59, Sutton is $40, Fingers is $30. Braun's at the zenith of his popularity, and he may get a few bites at that price, but you've got to have a pretty special item or some urgency to justify that fee.

Pedro = Cool tomter38 = Extremely uncool I'm guessing there is a way to prevent this clown from registering under another username. And it was totally appropriate to ban him for this behavior. Enough with the pandering.

Rita's rocks. Italian Ices are terrific at bargain prices.

If there's a buzz about Sonic, then there are going to be a lot of disappointed people. Just make sure you're near a bathroom, as I have found Sonic to be a fine laxative. There's a burger chain called "Five Guys" that is very excellent. Very limited menu, but awesome burgers and hand cut fries. They have free buckets of peanuts inside their stores. I have eaten there in Maryland and New Jersey. I love In N Out Burger. Chick-Fil-A is okay. Not sure if they're still using styrofoam cups, which seems odd. I went to a chicken wing chain called Zaxby's when I lived in Jacksonville. It's a little upscale to be lumped in with typical fast food chains, but they do have a drive through. Good stuff. Another place was called "Whataburger", but it was disappointing.

I have a security system installed by Able Security. No complaints. A couple of motion sensors, sensors on all the points of entry, two keypads, and a control box that makes a wireless call to the security company whenever the thing is tripped.

I would check with Kevin Keating of www.qualityautographs.com He's a major dealer (probably the single best dealer in rarities) and he might have a customer interested in the Tiefenthaler ball.

I'm a big fan of playing World Music for little ones. Music from South America, India, Africa, etc. Give the kid some exposure to other cultures early on.

This is a very compelling interview with Omar Minaya by Mike & the Mad Dog. It's really worth the listen, and some evidence that Minaya lives in an Omar-centric world. http://www.wfan.com/episode_download.php?contentType=36&contentId=2684689 Russo is pretty relentless, and keep in mind that WFAN is the Mets flagship station.

Fair enough JoeHova. . .I usually get chippy when I sense racism, sexism, or other -isms in other people, so I should face the music when I deserve it. I did mean it somewhat jokey, but I hate the use of blue type, and even so, I should have been smart enough to not be sexist and think it was funny, because it wasn't. And while I offer a full retraction of my comparison of men's and women's senses of humor, I will say that I like the thinly veiled jokes that people make about the Yankee pitcher's name. I just don't know many women who would actually waste the time to think up funny ways to drop Wang's name into a fake headline.

Omar Minaya and the organization are under quite a bit of heat. Tune in to WFAN.com today and listen to the grief they get. And it's all deserved. Minaya was somewhat of a golden boy, but he really handled this poorly.

Rotoworld.com said it would be more like 10 weeks. . . And the headlines are funny every time I read them. Wang out of action for six weeks Wang reduced to a limp Wang unable to perform Whether you're 12 or 112, you'll find that stuff funny, which is why men are funnier than women.

I don't know your budget, but I've stayed at the Hudson a few times, there's also a Marriott Courtyard in Manhattan. . .And the weirdest place I've stayed there was the Gershwin hotel. It was very odd, but okay on the budget, and we emerged unscathed.

I guess with the MLB logos, they're trying to reach out to men, so maybe perhaps they're okay. But this just seems to be the kind of thing that 5 years from now, everyone will look back with shame on the memory of owning a pair. Also. . .Where does your foot perspiration go? With any amount of sweat (and I sweat a LOT), It seems that it would be a little slippery & funky inside there.

Rent is horribly depressing. There are so many other shows to consider. . .I've never heard a single bad word about Jersey Boys. If your group doesn't have a specific show in mind, visit the TKTS booth on Times Square to get tickets at discounted prices. And don't be shy about seeing something Off Broadway either. Lots of good ones. Altar Boyz, Avenue Q, I Love You. . .Now Change, Stomp!, Gypsy, Lion King, Spamalot, Mamma Mia. . .Blue Man Group I really enjoy live theater, but if you're only going to see one show, and especially if you're going to pop for $120 a seat (or whatever), I'd pass on Rent.

He mixes everything live, and has a lot more music to sort through than with records because of a computer's storage capacity. I'd say his job may be more difficult than a turntable guy because of that. Not to mention, Gillis usually sets up in a place where the crowd is all around him. So he not only has to mix live, he has to mix live within a few feet/inches of his fans. So besides being old, I'm also too quick to judge. If he does his thing live, right next to people, and can concentrate on his sound, produce good mixes, and think a few songs ahead with a big catalog--then he's masterful. But in the clip, it doesn't look like he's even wearing headphones. Does he have an earpiece? Does he do it all visually? Now I'm starting to be capitvated.

When you go see a DJ at a show, it's not like you're at a traditional concert ... The main purpose is to dance. The real talent is the beatmatching and reading the crowd to see what kinds of things will make them dance harder and go crazy. I do understand that part. . .intimately. During my college days and for awhile afterward, I worked as a DJ at the nightclub in the Brookfield Marriott (1982-86), and then at the Sheraton on Brown Deer Road (1986-87), and then managed the nightclub at the Clock Tower Resort in Rockford in 1987 & 88. I don't bring that up for any reason other than to say that I know what the DJ's purpose is (or used to be 25 years ago). I guess there's just so much about the 2008 DJ world that is foreign to me. . .The concept of a DJ having any sort of celebrity or following seems very strange. Back then, the only guy who would have had any name recognition might have been Jellybean Benitez, and even then, if you'd have shown his picture to 100 Milwaukee clubgoers, he might have been recognized by 5. Same thing with the "traveling DJ featured at a show". Most of the good ones, locally anyway, were employed by nightclubs, and once in awhile on Sunday nights, there might be a contest where guys would show up with their record bags and do half-hour sets. But to fly someone in specifically to perform for a show? It just wasn't done, because everyone was fairly anonymous. And often, DJs were behind smoked glass, sort of hidden away from a crowd. In that clip, he's clearly an attraction, and the star of the show. It seems weird. And the adopted monikers of today's DJs is peculiar. Nobody back then, except the emerging guys in rap, would invent a name and go by that. And of course, the technology is so different. Like, how much of this guy's "show" is spontaneous and produced on the spot vs. just showing up and punching a button to play something he produced and recorded earlier? With vinyl records, you have to use your hands and ears constantly--and there's a real danger in butchering your mixes. Do you have to do that with digital stuff? He's moving around so much in that videoclip that it seems like it would be impossible to cue up the next song, adjust pitch control, etc. And, it seems that with looping and sampling, a modern guy would really be able to produce and record almost any sound. With records, you had Side A and Side B, and could do some trickery, but for the most part, if it was recorded at 116 BPM, you had to play it somewhere around there. Plus, to use a laptop as a musical instrument seems kind of goofy. It could be the same machine that he uses for TurboTax, and he's got 1000 people in a euphoric frenzy. . .it looks odd. Anyway, that's what seems strange to me.

I'm old. That video clip seems to be the most absurd thing I could imagine. People are genuinely that excited about this guy and his tunes? At least with records and turntables, there's a visual, tangible thing to watch. He's just rocking out over his laptop, under the bright lights, to the adoration of the crowd. . . I'm laughing and shaking my head at the same time. Old.

He seemed like a very genuine, funny, friendly sort of guy. This is very sad news.

If you're suggesting that Manny Ramirez isn't comparable to Hank Aaron, Willie Mays and Roberto Clemente--I'd say you're right. But you're setting the bar extremely high, and he's still plenty good to be in the Hall of Fame. A couple of guys who should fare well in their comparison to the legends are Greg Maddux and Pedro Martinez. You'll also get good consideration for Mariano Rivera as being an all time legend.

Mine's grouchier Well, FTJ, you must have gotten the freebies, because I've not gotten even a hint of a response from the ticket office. I'm sure it's just a matter of time. Miller Park is a big place. . .I'm sure they can come up with some more--Have I mentioned? You guys ROCK!

I hope the ticket office staff is on this thread right now, and that they decide to comp a few July games to the poster who's got the grouchiest looking avatar. . . You guys rock! PS--I'd really like to be on the aisle. . .and maybe a couple of parking passes, too.

Very sad news for Janesville, and hope that those affected will be able to find work nearby.

For the fries helmet. . .maybe $25. . .

True. . .I had forgotten about him. Pollack was also incredibly talented.