Coin Toss's Blog

An easy guide to keeping political news in perspective....

1. The Wall Street Journal is read by the people who run the country.

2. The Washington Post is read by people who think they run the country.

3. The New York Times is read by people who think they should run the
country, and who are very good at crossword puzzles.

4. USA Today is read by people who think they ought to run the country but
don't really understand The New York Times. They do, however, like their
statistics shown in pie charts.

5. The Los Angeles Times is read by people who wouldn't mind running the
country, if they could find the time -- and if they didn't have to leave
Southern California to do it.

6. The Boston Globe is read by people whose parents used to run the country.

7. The New York Daily News is read by people who aren't too sure who's
running the country and don't really care as long as they can get a seat on
the train.

8. The New York Post is read by people who don't care who is running the
country as long as they do something really scandalous, preferably while
intoxicated.

9. The Miami Herald is read by people who are running another country, but
need the baseball scores.

10. The San Francisco Chronicle is read by people who aren't sure if there
is a country or that anyone is running it; but if so, they oppose all that
they stand for. There are occasional exceptions if the leaders are
handicapped, minority, feminist, atheist dwarfs who also happen to be
illegal aliens from any other country or galaxy, provided of course, that
they are not Republicans.

11. The National Enquirer is read by people trapped in line at the grocery
store.

12. The Seattle Times is read by people who have recently caught a fish and
need something to wrap it in.

Twins say one last goodbye to Harmon Killebrew

By JON KRAWCZYNSKI, AP Sports Writer May 26, 11:08 pm EDT

MINNEAPOLIS (AP)—For 14 seasons, Harmon Killebrew was the cleanup hitter for the Minnesota Twins, the ferocious slugger who used his incredible strength to knock baseballs out of the park.

At a memorial service on Thursday night for the Hall of Famer, who died last week at the age of 74 after a bout with esophageal cancer, Killebrew’s shy, quiet wife, Nita, exhibited an entirely different, and perhaps even more impressive, kind of strength.

After heavy hitters like Rod Carew, Paul Molitor and Justin Morneau(notes) set the table with touching remarks, Nita took over the cleanup duties, delivering a powerful, tear-jerking thank you to about 4,000 fans, 45 relatives and dozens of former teammates and current Twins at Target Field.

“Thank you for loving my husband,” said Nita, who detailed her husband’s previous health problems that nearly claimed his life 20 years ago. “Thank you for healing his heart and his soul. Thank you for sharing him with me and giving so much to him so he had so much to give back to all of us.

“His body is at rest at his home in Payette. His soul is at peace in that big ballpark in the sky. But his heart will always be in Minnesota here with you.”

Killebrew died on May 17, just a few days after issuing an incredible public statement acknowledging that he had lost his battle with cancer and was entering hospice care. He hit 573 home runs in his career, but was remembered as much for his gentlemanly nature off of the baseball diamond on Thursday night.

“Harmon had I don’t know how many home runs,” former home run king Hank Aaron said. “In his case, really, in all fairness to him, he was No. 1 really. He hit 1,000 home runs because he did so many great things off the field. That’s what counts, it’s not how you play the game, it’s how you play it afterward.”

Commissioner Bud Selig, Jim Kaat and Jim “Mudcat” Grant were among the dignitaries who made the trip to pay tribute to one of the most beloved players in Twins history, with Grant singing a stirring rendition of “What A Wonderful World.”

“Harmon was as tough and feared a competitor on the field as the game has ever known. … He was the dominant slugger of the 1960s,” Selig said. “In this region of the country, Harmon Killebrew was the face of baseball and the game could not have been blessed with a better ambassador.

“Yet we all know the irony of his nickname, ‘The Killer,’ because as a human being he was just the opposite.”

Michael Cuddyer(notes) and Morneau both spoke of Killebrew the mentor, telling funny stories about being chastised for their sloppy autographs early in their careers.

“Now write it so I can read it,” Morneau remembered Killebrew telling him during their first meeting. “After a few hundred tries, he finally gave me the OK.”

And Carew spoke of visiting Killebrew, who called Carew “Junior,” in his final days. Carew called Killebrew “Charlie.”

“No matter how many players pass through the Twins organization, there will only be one face of this organization and that’s Harmon Killebrew,” Carew said through tears. “Charlie, I know that you’ve taken a safe voyage. I love you, and I’ll see you one day.”

About an hour into the evening, emcee Dick Bremer spoke about Killebrew’s famous 520-foot home run at the old Metropolitan Stadium in 1967.

The camera then panned up to a seat at the top of the Target Field outfield, 520 feet from home plate, to illustrate just how far Killebrew’s ball traveled on that day.

Sitting in the seat, as far as you can possibly get from home plate, was a beaming Jim Thome(notes), who passed Killebrew on the career home runs list last season. Thome waved the famous No. 3 jersey that Killebrew wore that season.

Then Nita stepped to the plate and hit one out of the stadium.

She spoke of Harmon teasing her for always being the one in the back of the room, shying away from the limelight that always followed her husband.

“Standing before a public crowd is certainly not my forte, but I promised Harmon I would do this,” she said. “Today, sweetheart, I wanna make you proud and just maybe, just maybe, you will turn to Kirby Puckett and say, ‘Hey Puck, what do you know, maybe she is coachable after all.”

She finished her address by asking everyone in the ballpark to “Stand Up To Cancer,” a show of support for the charitable organization dedicated to raising funds for cancer research.

Everyone did, and there wasn’t a dry eye in the house.

“He was a gentleman to the end,” Nita said. “Always composed, never complaining. If only you could have seen what I was blessed to have seen. … I was truly honored to be his caregiver. He left me inspired, awed, amazed and humbled.”
http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=ap-killebrewmemorial

This is fron an article on Yahoo sports about Jose Posada taking himself out of a game when he was moved to ninth in the batting order Saturadys night, May 14.

A person familiar with the discussion between Posada and the team told The Associated Press that he “refused” to play. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the situation was still not settled.

The person said the Yankees have been in contact with the commissioner’s office about possible recourse. The Yankees could fine Posada one day’s pay— that would be $71,978 on his $13.1 million salary. If a player declines to play two days in a row, he could be put on the restricted list.

Money is a “way of keeping score in life,” says T. Boone Pickens. But
that is just for those who like playing the game. The real goal is to
live with grace and dignity. You can do that with a small amount of
money...or not do it with a fortune. 
- Bill Bonner, financial journalist

"Don't give neurotic people a reward. When you permit them to
upset you, you are giving them a reward."
-Vernon Howard

PUNS FOR THE EDUCATED

1. King Ozymandias of Assyria was running low on cash after years of war with the Hittites. His last great possession was the Star of the Euphrates, the most valuable diamond in the ancient world. Desperate, he went to Croesus, the pawnbroker, to ask for a loan. Croesus said, "I'll give you 100,000 dinars for it." "But I paid a million dinars for it," the King protested. "Don't you know who
I am? I am the king!" Croesus replied, "When you wish to pawn a Star, makes no difference who you are."

2. Evidence has been found that William Tell and his family were
avid bowlers. Unfortunately, all the Swiss league records were destroyed in a fire, ...and so we'll never know For whom the Tells bowled.

3. A man rushed into a busy doctor's office and shouted, "Doctor!
I think I'm shrinking!" The doctor calmly responded, "Now, settle down. You'll just have to be a little patient."

4. Back in the 1800's the Tate's Watch Company of Massachusetts wanted to produce other products, and since they already made the cases for watches, they used them to produce compasses. The new compasses were so bad that people often ended up in Canada or Mexico rather than California. This, of course, is the origin of
the expression -- He who has a Tate's is lost!

5. A thief broke into the local police station and stole all the
toilets and urinals, leaving no clues. A spokesperson was quoted
as saying, "We have absolutely nothing to go on."

6. An Indian chief was feeling very sick, so he summoned the medicine man. After a brief examination, the medicine man took out a long, thin strip of elk rawhide and gave it to the chief, telling him to bite off, chew, and swallow one inch of the leather every day. After a month, the medicine man returned to see how
the chief was feeling. The chief shrugged and said, "The thong is ended, but the malady lingers on."

7. A famous Viking explorer returned home from a voyage and
found his name missing from the town register. His wife insisted
on complaining to the local civic official who apologized profusely saying, "I must have taken Leif off my census."

8. There were three Indian squaws. One slept on a deerskin, one slept on an elk skin, and the third slept on a hippopotamus skin.
All three became pregnant. The first two each had a baby boy.
The one who slept on the hippopotamus skin had twin boys. This
just goes to prove that... The squaw of the hippopotamus is equal
to the sons of the squaws of the other two hides. (Some of you
may need help with this one.)

9. A skeptical anthropologist was cataloging South American folk remedies with the assistance of a tribal Brujo who indicated that the leaves of a particular fern were a sure cure for any case of constipation. When the anthropologist expressed his doubts, the Brujo looked him in the eye and said, "Let me tell you, with fronds like these, you don't need enemas."

10. A marine biologist developed a race of genetically engineered dolphins that could live forever if they were fed a steady diet of seagulls. One day, his supply of the birds ran out so he had to go out and trap some more. On the way back, he spied two lions asleep on the road. Afraid to wake them, he gingerly stepped over them. Immediately, he was arrested and charged with:
Transporting gulls across sedate lions for immortal porpoises.

THE SPARROW'S COMPLAINT

A sparrow complained to Mother Nature, 'You gave beautiful colors
to the pea<snip> and a lovely song to the nightingale, but I am plain
and unnoticed. Why was I made to suffer?'

'You were not,' stated Mother Nature. 'You suffer because you make
the same foolish mistake as human beings. You compare. Be yourself,
for in that there is no comparison and no pain.'

Comparison operates on the level of conditioned thought, so by
transcending thought we never compare and never suffer.

- Vernon Howard

Vernon Howard's
                         SECRETS OF LIFE (R)

**********************************************************************


"THE ARGUER There was once a man who was called the Arguer.
He argued over everything, just to give himself the false
thrill of emotional electricity. Taken over by a violent
spirit, he argued to convince himself, not others. His
compulsive quarreling tore him down and wore him out. One
day he heard a short message that freed him from his tormenting
need to fight. He heard, "Just don't argue. Nothing bad will
happen to you." He saw it was true. What a revelation!"

                     SOLVED The Mystery of Life, p. 195

From New Life Foundation,

anewlife.org

Dog in Japan stays by the side of its ailing friend in the rubble

It's a universal truth that dogs are man's best friend, but they're pretty darn loyal to their own as well. Case in point: this tear-inducing video, via the website Jezebel, showing a dog, shivering and disoriented, remaining loyally by the side of a stricken fellow canine amid the devastation of the Japanese tsunami.

You can watch the video below:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/yblog_thelookout/dog-in-japan-stays-by-the-side-of-its-ailing-friend-in-the-rubble

The video is a stark reminder that, as was the case when Hurricane Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast in 2005, there will likely be thousands of pets orphaned or involuntarily abandoned due to the catastrophe in Japan. If you'd like to help efforts to help these animals, you can find info on doing so here.

UPDATE: CNN and the UK Telegraph have both reported that the dogs have been rescued since the footage aired, and are both receiving veterinary care; the more seriously wounded dog is at a clinic in the city of Mito, while the protective spaniel-type dog is receiving care at a shelter in the same town.

Here is an English translation of the voiceover exchange between the two reporters in the clip (translation courtesy of Toshiyuki Kitamura):

We are in Arahama area. Looks like there is a dog. There is a dog. He looks tired and dirty. He must have been caught in the tsunami. He looks very dirty.

He has a collar. He must be someone's pet. He has a silver collar. He is shaking. He seems very afraid.

Oh, there is another dog. I wonder if he is dead.

Where?

Right there. There is another dog right next to the one sitting down. He is not moving. I wonder. I wonder if he is alright.

The dog is protecting him.

Yes. He is protecting the dog. That is why he did not want us to approach them. He was trying to keep us at bay.

I can't watch this. This is a very difficult to watch.

Oh. Look. He is moving. He is alive. I am so happy to see that he is alive.

Yes! Yes! He is alive.

He looks to be weakened. We need to them to be rescued soon. We really want them rescued soon.

Oh good. He's getting up.

It is amazing how they survived the tremendous earthquake and tsunami. It's just amazing that they survived through this all.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/yblog_thelookout/dog-in-japan-stays-by-the-side-of-its-ailing-friend-in-the-rubble

Supermoon" and Earthquakes: Is there a Correlation?

 There has been much speculation about the upcoming "supermoon" on March 19, 2011 and what impacts it could have on the Earth.

 Earthquakes and tsunamis, like the devastating ones that just hit Japan Friday, as well as volcanic eruptions and major storms, are included in the list of possibilities, according to some astrologers and conspiracy theorists.

There are scientists, however, who argue that "supermoons" do not play a role, and that natural disasters that have occurred around the time of a "supermoon" are just coincidence.

What Is a "Supermoon?"

A "supermoon" occurs when a new or full moon is at or near (within 90 percent of) its closest approach to Earth in a given orbit. This is the definition provided by Astrologer Richard Nolle, who gave this phenomenon its name in 1979.

This AP Photo by Dmitry Lovetsky captured the moon in St. Petersburg, Russia on Feb. 18, 2011. According to Nolle, the last "supermoon" was in effect at the time.

According an article written by Nolle, "supermoons" occur four to six times a year, and the "supermoon" on March 19, 2011 will be the second one this year.

AccuWeather.com Astronomy Blogger Mark Paquette discussed the topic of "supermoons" earlier this month. According to his research, an extreme "supermoon" occurs when the full or new moon is at 100 percent of its closest perigee to Earth, or the closest it can possibly get to Earth.

The "supermoon" on March 19, 2011 will be extreme.

Past "Supermoons" That Have Coincided with Natural Disasters

The last "supermoon" this year was in effect Feb. 12-21, Nolle said, just before the earthquake that left Christchurch, New Zealand in ruins on Feb. 22, 2011.

Nolle also stated that the last extreme "supermoon" occurred on Jan. 30, 2011, several weeks after the catastrophic earthquake that hit Haiti on Jan. 12, 2010.

Paquette also pointed out in his blog that the devastating earthquake and tsunami that hit Indonesia on Dec. 26, 2004 occurred about two weeks prior to a "supermoon" on Jan. 10, 2005.

More natural disasters, such as Hurricane Katrina, are mentioned in conjunction with "supermoons" in Nolle's article.

So What Effect Do "Supermoons" Actually Have on the Earth?

The moon does obviously have an influence on the Earth.

As Rich Briggs, research geologist with the U.S.G.S. stated, "The gravitational pull of the moon creates Earth tides and sea tides and causes portions of the Earth's surface to bulge."

In response to Friday's devastating earthquake offshore of Japan, however, Briggs said, "The moon does not need to be invoked to explain what caused this event. There are much simpler explanations."

He explained that the earthquake occurred along a major subduction zone, or convergent boundary.

"Along this subduction zone, the Pacific plate is colliding with the North America plate at a rate of 8 cm per year," Briggs said, "So that's the rate at which strain is accumulated. Over many decades and centuries, all that strain accumulates and eventually releases in one sudden rupture."

He added that slips along the fault when it ruptured Friday measured 18-20 meters, or about 60-65 feet.

http://www.accuweather.com/blogs/news/story/46883/supermoon-and-earthquakes-is-t.asp?partner=accuweather

This looks interesting.

I though maybe people could find out their birthday card and keep it with their tickets or in one of those plastic sleeve lotto wallets that the states give out sometimes.

The bottom of the chart gives expalnations for your card and suit, too.

Good Luck!, Enjoy:

http://www.cafeastrology.com/playingcardsbirthdaychart.html

(Pretty good article from the sports editor of my local paper):

If Albert does go, we’ll survive

If Albert does go, we’ll survive Posted: Wednesday, February 16, 2011 1:00 am | 

Thank You Green Bay Packers

Lottery winners are mentioned here, too:

http://finance.yahoo.com/family-home/article/111940/things-game-shows-wont-tell-you

From the article:

3. Winning could ruin you.

Like lottery winners, game show contestants who come home with a cash or prize windfall can end up worse off than before, says Susan Bradley, a certified financial planner and the founder of the Sudden Money Institute. Problems start with a winner's pie-in-the-sky idea that the $100,000 he won is really exactly that amount in his pocket (taxes: see above).

The next domino: spending more than he can afford on a big ticket purchase such as a vehicle, home or home renovation. "You're mentally spending $100,000, but you don't have $100,000," says Bradley. "You have maybe $70,000." What's more, winners don't always ask the important questions on a big purchase -- even if their winnings can cover it. "Can you afford the taxes, the insurance, the upkeep," asks Bradley. Smart winners limit "celebration" spending to 10% of the winnings, she says, and make a plan about how best to use the total amount.