Hot, Hot, Hot!

(I Googled "hot, hot, hot" for an image to go with this post. The options presented were fun to look at, but not exactly apropos.)

How do you make an incredibly hot late afternoon double-header even worse? Play two extra innings the first game.

We lost in nine innings, then won the second game fairly easily.

We were visitors the first game. I hate to admit this, but each time we took the field in the 7th, 8th, and 9th innings I was hoping the other team would end the game one way or the other, and I didn't really care how. I wanted them to either win it or lose it, I didn't care which- as long as they didn't just tie it up again so we had to play another inning.

Oh yeah, almost forgot- 7:00 Tuesday, and Wednesday is the first tournament game at 6:15.

As this is the fiftieth anniversary of "To Kill A Mockingbird," all the NPR hosts have been doing special segments. I've enjoyed each one. It's one of my favorite books, and definitely my favorite book/movie combo.

The three call-in shows I've heard discussing "Mockingbird" have each had at least one caller air a grievance about how poor white southerners were portrayed.

I didn't have an issue with this at first, but the more I think about it the more I believe they have a point. I've led myself to see a problem which I can't seem to resolve satisfactorily- though it will in no way decrease my enjoyment of "To Kill A Mockingbird." It's still fantastic.

Anyway, here's the problem.
In going through all the main characters in my head, it seems that every single influential person in town was on the 'enlightened' side:
*Atticus, the lawyer and state representative, certainly had to have some power in town.
*Virtually all of his near neighbors seemed to be in Atticus' camp, and I have to assume, since he was one of the more successful people around, that he lived in the same part of town as other successful people. That's the way it works everywhere else, anyway.
*The judge was on his side, too.
*The sheriff, too.
*The newspaper publisher, too.

I would think that in a Depression-era small southern town, that list basically includes the majority of the power.

So I have to conclude that the radio callers have a valid point. The book seems to indicate that racism persisted because the wealthy, educated, successful people were powerless against the rabble.

I find it hard to believe.

Still a darned good book, though. It just works better as entertaining, moving fiction than as a sociological study.

Here's Something I Learned Today...

..but I'm not going to share.

Many days ago I heard mention of thermobaric weapons on some talk radio show. I think maybe it was "Fresh Air."
I had a very rough idea of what thermobaric weapons are- I mean, I knew roughly how destructive they are but I didn't really know how they worked, so I made a mental note to look it up.
I finally got around to it this evening and I now wish I hadn't.



Sometimes I think humans really stink. If not for great stuff like Hamlet, Elvis, and onion rings I'd think we are a lost cause.

We won two games tonight.

I went to the batting cage Saturday. While there I tried dropping my hands lower since I've been slicing into a lot of balls all year. The change improved my hitting immediately, and I was six-for-six in the two games tonight, so I think I'm on to something.

My opposite number in the second game was slighly more famous than me, so here's the scouting report on Bob Valvano: Bats left- decent hitter, with not much pop but hits it pretty sharply. Mediocre glove but unafraid to throw himself in front of a ground ball, so okay as a third baseman. No arm, though-he looks like he's lobbing hand grenades.

Uh, thanks...

Tonight I dove and cleanly fielded a hard ground ball on the 3rd base line. Stilll a hit- the throw while sitting on my butt didn't have enough on it to get the guy out.
The next inning, the guy who hit it comes out to coach 3rd base and says "That was a hell of a play. When I hit it I thought I had a double all the way. I didn't think an old guy like you had a chance on that ball."

Just what everybody longs to hear on their 39th birthday.

We lost by a bunch of runs. I played poorly, as did the rest of my team. And for the record, I was only our 4th oldest player tonight-though every one of our players was older than their youngest. But if we get them again in the league tournament I would gladly put money on us.

"Richard III" in Central Park was quite good. Most of the performance was relatively ordinary- solid, but nothing special, but it had what I wanted; the actor who portrayed Richard was entertainingly villainous.

I missed the last few minutes. They now have a liquor stand, thus the large cup of tasty Shakes Beer I bought near intermission led to desperate need of a bathroom right before the big fight scene. I couldn't wait any longer (My kingdom for a toilet!)so I'm really not sure how it ended. I'm betting Richard finally won the battle this time, though, because the guy playing Richmond was tiny.

Also, I'd forgotten the play had so many roles for children. Not large roles- most of them meet quick, gruesome off-stage ends, but still, there are a few kids. Every time I see kids in a show like that I end up wondering how many of the 3-hour performances parents sit through to see their kids on stage for 3 minutes.
One side of a phone conversation:
"I can't make the poker game tonight, Hal. Yeah, my kid's getting murdered again.
What? Only about 3 lines.
Right after intermission. Yeah.
Not sure, really. Beheading, maybe? It happens off-stage.
No, I don't guess so...hold on, let me ask-
HONEY? CAN I LEAVE AND GO PLAY POKER AFTER HE GETS KILLED?
She said no. I have to watch the whole thing.
Yeah, maybe next week."

___________________________________________
In other news...


My new retirement plan: I read that 41% of Americans believe Jesus will return by 2050. I think I'm willing to take that wager. I just need to find a few thousand people willing to bet me, and when I collect I should be able to double my savings just when I really need it.
And here's the best part. On the off chance I lose, most of the people to whom I would owe money will probably vanish via Rapture before I have to pay up.