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Cup of Coffee: August 12, 2008

Yesterday, I gave the Twins permission to beat the Yankees. Apparently, that's all they needed.

This entry was posted by SBG on Tuesday, August 12th, 2008 at 6:18 am and is filed under Cup of Coffee. It is one of 3088 entries by the author. We are no longer accepting Letters to the Editor on this post.

68 comments to Cup of Coffee: August 12, 2008

  • Rhubarb_Runner
    August 12th, 2008 at 8:07 am

    bummer - Van Mil injured at the Olympics

  • meat
    August 12th, 2008 at 8:40 am

    CC to Banjo - I stopped by the Hiawatha Cyclery and picked up one of your messenger bags!- an excellent product indeed- My timbuc2 bag is about a decade old and beginning to fall apart- and your bag will be more than a replacement- the guys at the cyclery were very friendly- thanks for the heads up-

    • Banjo
      August 12th, 2008 at 9:40 am

      Thanks Meat!

      You know where to find me if you have any issues with the bag.

      • meat
        August 12th, 2008 at 10:12 am

        Why did you guys switch from your 'old' gray material to the 'new' black?

        • Banjo
          August 12th, 2008 at 10:24 am

          Oh... the "truck tarp" material in the colder climates becomes quite stiff in the colder temps and over time either cracks or shows fissure lines. We got a few returns and noticed some grumbling on the message boards about it. We had some cracking issues on the interior liner too. When Eric re-designed the shoulder strap we switched to ballistic nylon with a light gray interior. It wasn't really a quality issue as much as it was causing some negative "perceptions" about the quality. We have a lot of bags in the field used by hardcore users which are in decent shape even after a couple years of abuse. We have a very liberal return policy in the hopes that good customer experiences ultimately outweigh the the occasional serial product returner. I've even written a few checks to people who think they got duped into buying our product, or paying the freight back to the shop where they bought the product when they weren't happy. Bags are an inherently personal purchase and people can be really emotionally attached to their bags. We try and live by the product design philosophy of continuous improvement and rather than wait to make one large wholesale overhaul, we make corrections as needed by production run. Many times the changes are no noticeable to the consumer, but make the product more durable, functional or address a specific complaint about the design.

          Shesh..I'd better stop. Ask me what time it is, and I tell you how to build a watch.....

          • meat
            August 12th, 2008 at 2:45 pm

            Well, I was sold on first sight and after my commute all I can say is that the bag was worth every penny. At first I was a little skeptical of the left shoulder only design, but even on my short rides this week I have found that the bag stays in place considerably better than the timbuc2 I've used for ever. Come to think of it, I never had a complaint about my old bag until I started using your design.

            So with that review, I'll ask again if you need someone to promote your bags here in NM? There is quite a bike culture down here to be exploited supplied. I have no real credentials for being a bag rep, but I can talk a good game.

  • SBG
    August 12th, 2008 at 8:46 am

    Adam Everett, faker.

    Everett said his goal upon returning to the team was to prove that he finally was healthy. His shoulder had bothered him from the get-go. He called it a "stress reaction" in his right shoulder.

  • Suspended
    August 12th, 2008 at 10:10 am

    27 Years ago... IBM introduced the IBM Personal Computer - the 5150. There is one on sale on ebay right now for those of you interested in antique machines...

    • twayn
      August 12th, 2008 at 10:28 am

      Up until a couple of months ago I had one of these gathering dust in the basement. It was my first computer ever. I finally hauled it (and a van load of other obsolete/broken electronics) off to the recycling center in order to maintain domestic tranquility. But I kept the keyboard from that old Compaq and still use it on my secondary PC because they just don't make them with that kind of smooth, solid tactile response any more.

    • Dread Pirate Will Young
      August 12th, 2008 at 11:02 am

      Anybody else read IBM and the Holocaust?

    • nibbish
      August 12th, 2008 at 11:34 am

      A couple of years ago, I picked up an old Apple II from the local elementary school as they were throwing them away, along with the disks to some old classic MECC games (number munchers, etc). Great for a nostalgia kick. Not sure why, up until 4 or 5 years ago, there were schools that still had these things in use, though.

      I'm sure eventually I'll lose the battle with the wife, and they'll eventually be eBay'd off... but that day hasn't come yet.

      • Suspended
        August 12th, 2008 at 11:51 am

        I loved playing Number Munchers, it was one of my favorite games in school. That and Oregon Trail.

        However I picked up Oregon Trail for my phone recently, and it dumbed it down quite a bit. No more worrying about oxen and clothing and bullets and parts... took out some of the fun stuff... but you still get to go hunting... and now fishing... but not as fun as the original...

        • AMR
          August 12th, 2008 at 12:12 pm

          Number munchers... yeah!
          But I hated word munchers... Flag and Bag have the long-A sound in them when I say them, dammit!

          Also enjoyed pick-a-dilly-pair as a second-grader (musical memory).

          • Beau
            August 12th, 2008 at 4:25 pm

            Loved number munchers! I downloaded it a while ago, though, and played it on an emulator and didn't find it quite as entertaining as I did back then.

            I also remember that we also got a half hour to play Oregon Trail, and the game would take about 45 minutes to win. Frustrating.

      • Rhubarb_Runner
        August 12th, 2008 at 12:03 pm

        MECC was some serious progressive thinking by Minnesota. Wish they'd followed it up on the college level a lot more; Silicon Prairie would have been more of a reality.

        I recently found a 1980 MECC plaque and hung it in my office. It was for a game I wrote that took 1st in the regional programming contest. Never took it to state competition, because at that point I was off to college, and apathy/entropy were setting in.

        • greenmachine
          August 12th, 2008 at 1:08 pm

          Sounds like the state messed up that decision, if this information is accurate:

          "The state of Minnesota spun off the company as a private corporation in the late 1980s. It was bought by a venture capitalist for $5 million, who sold it less than a year later to The Learning Company for $250 million.

          MECC's offices in Minnesota closed in January 1999."

    • davidwatts
      August 12th, 2008 at 4:36 pm

      Number and Word Munchers were my favorites back in the day
      then Oregon Trail, and then later on Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego?

  • AMR
    August 12th, 2008 at 12:13 pm

    I found myself in Minneapolis last night, on Lake street, and bought 3 bottles of Mexican coke. They're in the fridge right now.
    I think I'll drink one while watching the Olympics tonight.

  • Rhubarb_Runner
    August 12th, 2008 at 12:14 pm

    btw, boss -- you're giving the Twins permission to beat the Axis of Evil again tonight, right?

  • Suspended
    August 12th, 2008 at 12:19 pm

    SBG... If you would be so kind as to give the Twins Permission to win tonight as well, it would be well appreciated. Seeing as how it did work so well yesterday.

  • SBG
    August 12th, 2008 at 1:21 pm

    Just for the record: Michael Phelps's nine gold medals << Carl Lewis's nine gold medals.

    • brianS
      August 12th, 2008 at 1:39 pm

      Huh? How so?

      Phelps' victory last night in the 200 free was sick. He broke (his) WR by 0.9 seconds (0.87 percent). That's just crazy.

      When Carl Lewis broke the WR in the 100m in Seoul in 1992, he lowered it by 0.01 seconds (0.10 percent) while trailing the cheatin' Ben Johnson.

      I'm not a huge swimming fan and I am a fan of track and field, but Phelps is awesome.

      • SBG
        August 12th, 2008 at 1:45 pm

        What would you rather have, a swimming gold medal or the 100M gold medal? I'd give up 10 swimming gold medals to win the 100M dash. I'd certainly take Michael Johnson's double in the 200/400 over 10 or even 15 swimming gold medals. That was super-human. Swimming records are broken all the time, which suggests that we haven't really yet gotten to the human limits for swimmers. OTOH, breaking the 100M record is a big damned deal. Plus, Lewis won the long jump four times.

        The pool of athletes competing in swimming is a lot smaller than that in track and field. He might be great and everything, but I'd much rather have accomplished what Lewis did.

        • Rhubarb_Runner
          August 12th, 2008 at 1:56 pm

          Which would you rather have, a World Series ring playing for the Twins, or a World Series ring playing for the Yankees? Depends on which team you prefer, but it's still a WS ring. Personally, I prefer running (hence, the nick), but that relay performance the other night tops any 4x100 sprint relay that I can think of off the top of my head. Swimming/Track are equal in my mind. And both pwn basketball.

          • SBG
            August 12th, 2008 at 2:10 pm

            The proper analogy here is would you rather be on a World Championship baseball team or a World Championship Curling team. Give me the World Championship in baseball, and you can have 20 Curling world championships.

      • Diggity Dino
        August 12th, 2008 at 2:00 pm

        I'd have to agree with Brian. Although the Seoul Olympics were in 1988.

        For the record, Lewis's golds are:

        1984 - 100M, 200M, 4x100, Long Jump
        1988 - 100M (World Record after removing Ben Johnson), Long Jump
        1992 - 4x100 (World Record Set), Long Jump
        1996 - Long Jump

        His most impressive feat is the fact that he won gold in 4 straight Olympics. Wiki didn't tell me if any of the 1984 golds set WRs, but only 2 of his others did..

        Phelps has won:
        2004 - 400 Medley (World Record), 100 Fly (Olympic Record), 200 Fly (Olympic Record), 200 Medley (Olympic Record), 4x200 Free, 4x100 Medley (World Record).

        2008 - 400 Medley (World Record), 4x100 (World Record), 200 Free (World Record).

        So far, Phelps has set 5 world records (and set 2 other olympic records), and has won golds in a total of 8 events. That is just dominance.

        • SBG
          August 12th, 2008 at 2:22 pm

          There are some fine points to be made here. First of all, they don't have a 100M dash, 100M backward dash, 100M skip, and 100M walk. There's just the 100M. Second, when everyone is breaking swimming records, that leads me to believe that those records aren't exactly mature vis-a-vis track and field records.

          • Diggity Dino
            August 12th, 2008 at 2:56 pm

            That is a good point. However, while it might be a little early for full speculation, Phelps could possibly get twice as many golds as Lewis when it is all said and done.

          • SBG
            August 12th, 2008 at 3:21 pm

            Red Sox acquire Paul Byrd for a PTBNL or cash. I wonder if Billy is still out there "looking" for someone.

          • meat
            August 12th, 2008 at 3:55 pm

            those records aren't exactly mature vis-a-vis track and field records.

            That's just too easy to pick on, Track and Field, or Athletics, has been around a long ass time (at least as far back as Greeks invented running). Modern swimming events have been around since 1860-1880 (according to WiKi) when the first indoor swimming pools were constructed and associations for competitive swimming were formed in England. So yes, swimming records aren't as mature as athletics’ records. But that doesn't mean that Carl Lewis >> Michael Phelps.

            The guy has dominated his events and killed his competition, and to boot he seems to be a down to earth kid who loves the B-More Ravens. No need to say that he is < or > than anyone else. Except maybe Nick Punto. I'm just sayin'.

            • SBG
              August 12th, 2008 at 4:08 pm

              I didn't say that Carl Lewis, human being >> than Phelps. I said his accomplishment was >>. Part of the argument to the contrary was that Phelps had set all these records, to which I respond, well yes, but swimming records aren't as mature as track records. Furthermore, I've learned that pool design has improved, which helps guys go faster. Yep, he's dominant, no question. But is it more impressive than winning gold medals in the absolute glamor events of the Olympics, namely the sprints and long jump? I say no, but that's my opinion. Guess what tomorrow's poll is going to be about.

              • Diggity Dino
                August 12th, 2008 at 4:10 pm

                Guess what tomorrow's poll is going to be about.

                I'm guessing by the time of the poll, they won't be tied anymore.

              • meat
                August 12th, 2008 at 6:01 pm

                I didn't say that Carl Lewis, human being >> than Phelps.

                Either did I. I should have pointed out that I saw Mr. Lewis talk once, and he too was a nice guy.

                Furthermore, I've learned that pool design has improved, which helps guys go faster.

                So what if pool design has come a long way? Shoe design has come a long way too. The LZR Racer swim suit has gone a long way towards making guys and gals faster in the pool too (even one of the US coaches expected every record to fall at the Beijing games). Which should be pointed out, not to defame swimmers as inferior athletes, but instead to highlight the fact that technical improvements have shaped the competition in every sport, not just swimming.

                But is it more impressive than winning gold medals in the absolute glamor events of the Olympics, namely the sprints and long jump?

                I know that this is a matter of opinion. I respect that your opinion lies in the camp that it is more impressive to win in the glamour events. It's my opinion that both of these guys are great in different ways. Both have preformed at the top of their games, succeeded in setting records and seem to be nice enough guys.

                What bothers me is defining the 'glamour' events as inherently more important. IMO, the Olympics are a gathering of athletes who participate in sports that aren't universally celebrated (ie baseball, soccer, football, etc) in order to celebrate those athletes who compete in these sports. So, in my mind, the best sprinter = the best curler = the best basketball team = the best archer ... , hence the no need to say he is < or > in my previous reply.

            • Diggity Dino
              August 12th, 2008 at 4:09 pm

              Without having heard Phelps sing, I am pretty positive from a musical perspective, Michael Phelps >>> Carl Lewis.

          • ubelmann
            August 13th, 2008 at 12:01 am

            First of all, they don't have a 100M dash, 100M backward dash, 100M skip, and 100M walk.

            I was thinking the exact same thing yesterday. Aren't the olympics supposed to be about "faster, higher, stronger"? What's the point in doing a bunch of races with restrictions on what stroke you can use? I'm sure that it's useful to do backstroke sometimes, but it's also useful to run backwards sometimes. I find the extra races fun, but I am a HUGE sucker for races. If I happened to pass a random HS track meet on the way home from school one day, I would probably stop by to watch some of the races.

            Honestly, I think the whole personal medal count focus is ridiculous. I mean, I love track and field, but even in track, there are a ton of events (does there really need to be an 800M if there is a 400M and a mile--and for the record the 800M was my best event in HS--and does there really need to be a 5K and a 10K?) and while it's certainly impressive to win in multiple events, there's no reasonable way to compare multiple medals in one sport to multiple medals in another sport. In fact, I propose replacing the phrase "like comparing apples to oranges" with "like comparing swimming gold medals with track gold medals."

        • brianS
          August 12th, 2008 at 2:33 pm

          Although the Seoul Olympics were in 1988. whoops.

          clearly, Carl Lewis was a pussy for not running the 100, 120m HH, 200, 400IH, 400 and 4*100 and 4*400 relays.

    • AMR
      August 12th, 2008 at 4:23 pm

      <Bad analogy>
      I think the issue is more Koufax vs Maddux (to grab to from the current Pos Poll).
      Would you rather be the absolute, complete best over a short time?
      Or would you rather have your successes more spread out?

      Also, as Phelps has technological advances, so too did Koufax (the mound height).
      </bad analogy>

  • Jeff A
    August 12th, 2008 at 3:05 pm

    Keeping up with the ex-Twins:

    Atlanta outrights Corky Miller off its forty-man roster.
    Boston organization places Dave Gassner on the seven-day disabled list.
    The Yankees both sign Chad Moeller and outright him off their forty-man roster. I don't really understand that one, but it was on the baseball america transactions page.
    Toronto activates Shannon Steward from the fifteen-day disables list and releases him.

    • AMR
      August 12th, 2008 at 4:07 pm

      Did Moeller want to retire as a Yankee?
      MLB equivalent of the one-day contract?

      • Jeff A
        August 12th, 2008 at 4:29 pm

        I'm also not sure which came first, because baseball america doesn't list them by time, but lumps a week or so's transactions together. It could be that they outrighted him off the roster, and then re-signed him to put him back on the roster or something. As I said, I really don't know what was going on there.

  • Algonad
    August 12th, 2008 at 3:16 pm

    I turned down a friend's wedding invitation in Chicago and told him that the reason was that I couldn't be in the same room as a happy White Sox fan. Is that wrong of me?

  • twayn
    August 12th, 2008 at 3:54 pm

    White Sox start a series with Kansas City tonight. One has to wonder if There Will Be Blood.

    • greenmachine
      August 12th, 2008 at 4:05 pm

      We can only hope so! I know it's not right to wish for brawls in sports, but I confess I am a big fan. Hopefully my glee would run out before sport degenerated into a vicious spectacle of death, but till then I'm always secretly rooting for Farnsworth to charge the batter's box.

    • AMR
      August 12th, 2008 at 4:10 pm

      Can I mention that the Royals have the best road record in the Central?

      • Suspended
        August 12th, 2008 at 4:22 pm

        Although it is a Night Game tonight and Bannister is pitching

        I Split G GS GF W L S CG SHO IP ERA H R ER HR BB IBB SO HBP
        +-+------------+----+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+------+------+----+----+----+---+----+---+----+---+
        Day 21 20 0 11 3 0 1 0 124 4.14 123 59 57 10 36 1 63 4
        Night 37 36 1 10 17 0 1 0 211.1 4.73 219 120 111 25 72 3 117 10

        • brianS
          August 12th, 2008 at 6:37 pm

          what the hell kind of pitcher does worse at night, when it's harder for batters to pick up the ball?
          Here are the ML splits

          263/335/418, 4.35 ERA (day games)
          262/330/412, 4.23 ERA (night games)

          obviously, that doesn't control for dome/no dome, so the true difference between outdoor day/night is probably quite a bit larger (as in, there IS a real difference in the pitcher's favor in night games).

  • Suspended
    August 12th, 2008 at 4:07 pm

    More things that happened on this day...

    1908: Model T (100 years!!)
    1833: Chicago Founded (Not Incorporated until 1837)

    So Cars & PC's staples of our current life on the same day. I wonder when Sliced bread was invented.

  • AMR
    August 12th, 2008 at 4:14 pm

    There's a very real possibility that the AL playoff teams could be:
    ChiSox, Twins, Rays, and Angels.
    That right there has three of my top four teams for playoff preference in the league.
    Also, that would mean that the Rays, Twins, and ChiSox have done better than the Yankees and BoSox.