Pinch Hitter 2

Go play Pinch Hitter 2, but be warned it's both highly frustrating and addictive. I'm currently trying to get through task 8.

Down at the Track

I took Jason with me to the Company Picnic at Arlington Park. We had to park far in the back of the lot, and walk literally halfway around the outer edge of the track, passed people in "preferred" parking looking down their noses at us, to get to the right tent. The food was pretty good though, and while I'm not much for betting (and didn't win anything with the company's $2 vouchers), it was kind of neat to watch the horses sprint by us. Unlike the other kids there, Jason remembered to bring some toys, since it's pretty boring between races if you're not trying to place bets. He had a good time, which let me relax and enjoy myself too. Thanks to Archelon (my employer) for arranging this event.

When Dad Gives you a Lemon..

I found this video through one of the random RSS feeds I read. I remember doing this to Jason back when he was a little over a year old. The faces he made were hillarious, and he ate the whole lemon wedge! Sure, the made faces with each bite, but he wasn't going to let that get in the way of his snack.

No Kids on Planes?

Recent news of families being kicked off planes because their kids were coughing or talking aggravates me, but not as much as some of comments appended to these stories from people who believe kids shouldn't be allowed on planes at all! This elitist, snobbish attitude that buying an airline ticket is a luxury, and any kid violating the old "children should be seen and not heard" nonsense completely ruins everything.  And if some flight attendant tells me "can't you give him any Benadryl?" I'll do my best Cheney impersonation and tell him to "Go Fuck Yourself!"

Well, if kids shouldn't be on planes, maybe we can bar some other people who make flying miserable for me:

• People who try to claim their huge suitcase is a "carry-on" item, when it barely fits in the overhead bin.  If you're trying to bring something bigger than a backpack, check it in!
• Jerks who reach over passed their armrests and elbow me, usually while their snoring soundly asleep.  If it's too much to ask for you to keep to your own personal space, take the bus next time!
• Similarly, if you can't keep your feet out of my foot area, you don't belong on a plane.  Common courtesy people!
• Inconsiderate dweebs who insist on turning on the spotlight on a late night flight while the rest of the passengers are trying to rest and relax (while being mindful of the physical space of those seated around them).
• Slobs who are either gassy or have foul breath.  We could really screen both types at the boarding gate.  That's just what I want on a 4 hour flight: some ass passing gas the whole time.  Got digestive problems?  Too bad!

The sad reality is that an airplane cramps several people together into a tight space for a long time, and you just need to accept that some of those people are going to be different from you.  Some kids handle flying really well (I've been lucky that way), but some have problems on take offs and landings, and some don't like to fly at all.  It's not a picnic for the parents either.  If you want everyone kissing your ass when you fly, pay for a private jet.

Football Fix

During the NFL's offseason, finding interesting things to satisfy my need for football can be as tricky as finding real science in Kentucky--there isn't a lot available. News about players having trouble with negotiating contracts, obeying the law, or not making boneheaded decisions doesn't quench my football thirst. From the draft to the first preseason game, there's only noise and posturing, and even that comes in taunting blips.

I did find a site that explained some football statistics, and not just the mostly meaningless ones normally tracked by most sports pages. Much like how baseball has evolved from comparing just batting average and RBIs to more accurate WARP3 and VORP, statistical scientists at Football Outsiders have found ways to break down a football game into events which allow for better comparisons of players, offense and defense units, and teams. Their explanations are clear, and they acknowledge known shortcomings with their current model.

Additionally, they feature detailed breakdowns of particular plays actually run during the season, explaining how they worked (or didn't work), and how they could be improved. This is the kind of thing I absolutely crave. It's the kind of thing that makes me go through the tutorials on Madden Football each release so I can listen to John Madden describe how each block is set up, and the primary role of each receiving route.

Navy Pier Fireworks: Take 2

This time we camped out just outside of Navy Pier, on a grassy stretch just outside of the crowded areas. I figured no matter where the fireworks were launched from, we'd be able to see them. They weren't launched all that high, and luckily for us there was a break between the trees near us so we could see the whole show.


Jason was much more impressed this time, and afterward he got muchas smooches from a 6 year old señorita. This was no quick peck on the cheek, but looked to be the kind of kiss he shouldn't get until he's a surly high school student--a get a room kind of kiss. And just like that, she was gone.

Fireworks: Take 1

Waiting for the fireworks, we got this visual treat. That's the John Hancock building on the right.


This was the view we had from North Ave beach, where the fireworks were not launched from Navy Pier, disappointing the thousands of us waiting for the show.


Looking out from our neighbor's deck, we had a better skyline for the fireworks, but they were still too far away to be spectacular. To the left of the burst is the Sears Tower.


This Wednesday, if the skies are clear, I'll take Jason out to Grant Park to try to gete a better view of the fireworks show.

iBlog!

I totally wrote this on my iPhone! The family and I are at North Ave Beach, looking down at Navy Pier waiting for the fireworks. It's a little cloudy, and the wind is blowing toward us, so the conditions aren't ideal for fireworks photography. If I do get any decent shots, I'll post them online.

Edit: I'm so not writing this on my iPhone.. Unfortunately, the conditions for getting pictures of the fireworks could not have been worse. Instead of being launched over Navy Pier, where people could see them from all along the lake, the organizers launched them from further inland (the beach maybe? Grant Park?) and only a few could be seen above the buildings which blocked our view. Given that there were at least a few thousand people waiting with us on the north side, having the fireworks show so restricted was clearly unexpected. Not only was the show bad, but it started to rain toward the end of it, and we had quite a trek to get to our car.

My son enjoyed it though. It was his first fireworks show and he'd clap each time he saw one. I'll have to take him out for another fireworks show, but find a spot where he'll be able to see what's going on.