Joe Buck says you should go vote.
This little birdie didn’t vote, and look what happened to him.
Joe Buck
Come in Handy
Math for Dummies: I knew it would come in handy some day.
Applied Statistics.
C’mon, man. You can do that math.
Now Until Epiphany
It’s the first of November. The World Series is over and the Yankees have imploded. You can read all about their epic 5th-inning meltdown, here. The weather is turning colder and there was even a little snow sticking around under shady spots in the Park yesterday afternoon. Our mountain ash trees are mostly bare so I had to go out and get more extra-large leaf bags from Lowes last week. From now until Epiphany, it’s my favorite time of year. You know, the holidays, full of good cheer and good will toward all. Our neighborhood chili cookoff is tonight and I’m bringing my world-famous white chicken chili. It’s always a favorite among the cumin-lovers.
In honor of the season, here are a couple of t-shirts I saw on the Internet recently. Hey, just because it’s fall going on winter doesn’t mean my daily hikes need to go on hiatus, nor any dogs go unpetted. Oh, and Tuesday’s Election Day too, so don’t forget to get out and vote if you haven’t already. You know, in honor of your favorite undocumented visitor from afar. Ahem.
NYer Halloween Cartoons
Living at the top of a steep hill inside a gated community where the average age is over 65, we almost never get trick-or-treaters at our house. Still, the NYer has Halloween cartoons galore. This is almost as good as full-sized Snickers bars. Enjoy.
“Can’t you tell? I’m a depressed and angry white working-class male.”
“Speaking on behalf of my client: Trick or treat?”
“I’m so tired of self-checkout.”
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Full gallery is here.
Tribute
Former Denver Post Sports Editor Scott Monserud has died. He was 69. A DP remembrance is here. My own tribute is here. Scott was my long time basketball buddy from the downtown Denver Y and a good friend. He will be missed.
Thoughts to Ponder
Today, just a couple of thoughts to ponder.
From endangered historians to shadows at the Golden Hour.
Glorious Morning
It was a glorious morning in Roxborough State Park today.
This was the smaller of 2 bucks blocking me on South Rim.
Luckily the bucks are long time Rox Park residents & therefore know proper trail etiquette: Always yield to downhill hikers.
What’d you THINK I was going to say? 😉
Screwballer
Former Dodger screwballer Fernando Valenzuela has died. He was 63. Twin remembrances are here and here.
In 1981, after starting the season 8-0 with 5 shutouts, 7 complete games, and an ERA of 0.5, he won NL rookie of the year, a Cy Young Award for best NL pitcher, and a World Series title over the NY Yankees. He also spawned a cultural craze that became known as “Fernandomania.”
Born in rural Mexico, he was beloved by fans who adored his accent, his free spirit, and a screwball which baffled hitters all around MLB, breaking as it did in the opposite direction from the usual curveball. After his playing career ended he became a Dodger broadcaster, a position he stepped away from last year due to health concerns.
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When Valenzuela started his windup, he lifted his arms over his head and, as he lowered them to meet his high-kicking right leg, he looked up to the sky. His eyes seemed to roll back in his head, as if in some sort of rapture.
Vin Scully, the Dodgers’ announcer who, over 67 seasons, watched Sandy Koufax, Don Drysdale and Don Newcombe pitch, told The Los Angeles Times in 1991 that there was something different about games pitched by Valenzuela a decade earlier.
“Fernandomania bordered on a religious experience,” he said. “Fernando being Mexican, coming from nowhere, it was as though Mexicans grabbed onto him with both hands to ride to the moon.”
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When the Dodgers-Yankees World Series reconvenes this year on Friday night, I say a moment of silence in his honor is in order. Vin Scully will surely be looking on, remembering the Mexican-born screwballer with a smile. As will I.
Calvin and Hobbes
Calvin has a point, but Hobbes has a better one.
Without Warning
Yup. Without warning.
