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Things you learned only recently in 2012

Benjamin Grimm Jan 02 2012 08:33 AM

Kevin Burkhardt is the radio voice of the Dallas Cowboys!

Ceetar Jan 02 2012 08:42 AM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

Benjamin Grimm wrote: Kevin Burkhardt is the radio voice of the Dallas Cowboys! not again until next year. muahahaha

Nymr83 Jan 02 2012 09:56 AM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

Ceetar wrote: Benjamin Grimm wrote: Kevin Burkhardt is the radio voice of the Dallas Cowboys! not again until next year. muahahaha How do you know they won't need him next week? "Romo brings his arm back and... Intercepted by a sand trap, he's playing for double-bogey* now folks!" *i don't know or care about what golf terms actually mean, so don't bother correcting me

Vic Sage Jan 02 2012 10:27 AM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

i've only just learned that Nay Win Maung, Burmese pro-democracy activist, has died of a heart attack. Actually, i've only just learned that Burma/Myanmar HAD a pro-democracy activist. He probably died of loneliness.

Nymr83 Jan 02 2012 12:31 PM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

If there are any other lonely pro-democracy activists out there, sign up! You can learn about baseball and answer the age old question of which is more depressing: living under an oppressive dictator or rooting for a team owned by Wilpon?

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Jan 02 2012 02:39 PM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

Vic Sage wrote: i've only just learned that Nay Win Maung, Burmese pro-democracy activist, has died of a heart attack. Actually, i've only just learned that Burma/Myanmar HAD a pro-democracy activist. He probably died of loneliness. You forget Nobel Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi, dude. Get your head out of your ass!

Fman99 Jan 06 2012 10:40 AM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

Actor Brad Garrett, best known as Ray Romano's brother Robert on "Everybody Loves Raymond," was the model for the ELO 1979 album "Discovery" cover art.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Jan 06 2012 10:46 AM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

Wow. That album could be known as Disco? Very.

Edgy MD Jan 06 2012 11:13 AM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

Yeah, the original concept was to stack the title to make it read DISCO VERY I think the disco bubble had burst by the time of the release, and suddenly straight white males were banned from acknowledging it (even if they were playing it), so they were talked into the Gypsy Brad concept.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Jan 06 2012 01:02 PM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

Jeff Goldblum is one of the guys who attacks Charles Bronson's wife and daughter in Death Wish. [youtube]erm7QDCl-3s[/youtube] (Maria from Sesame Street's also in there. Denzel and Chris Guest make later appearances, too.)

soupcan Jan 06 2012 01:23 PM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

Dude, where ya been? Everybody knows that. You want a cameo from a star before he was a star? Who's the actor that asks if he should get the cops (2:47 seconds in)? [youtube:k7x5whuv]jbMNtrGIk84[/youtube:k7x5whuv] Winner gets full access to Mr. Met.

Benjamin Grimm Jan 06 2012 01:24 PM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

Richard Dreyfuss. I recently watched Woody Allen's Bananas and saw Sylvester Stallone in a small, non-speaking uncredited role at the beginning of the film. (He was one of the thugs on the subway who intimidated Woody.)

Ceetar Jan 06 2012 01:26 PM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

Looks like Sylvester Stallone, but I've not no audio here.

soupcan Jan 06 2012 01:30 PM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

Dreyfuss is correct. Grimm - just forward your $200mil and I'll send Mr,. Met on over.

Edgy MD Jan 06 2012 01:41 PM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

soupcan wrote: Dude, where ya been? Everybody knows that. You want a cameo from a star before he was a star? Who's the actor that asks if he should get the cops (2:47 seconds in)? [youtube]jbMNtrGIk84[/youtube] Winner gets full access to Mr. Met. Like there's a bigger star than Norman Fell in that scene.

RealityChuck Jan 06 2012 08:43 PM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

The best television spy show ever, The Sandbaggers, ended abruptly after its creator, Ian Mackintosh, vanished mysteriously in a flight near Kodiak Island in Alaska. No sign of the plane, nor of Mackintosh and the others on the plane, was ever found, despite the fact that rescuers converged on the spot within minutes.

MFS62 Jan 16 2012 09:18 PM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

At work today, I learned that when a guy named "Billy Bob" from trailer park space #42 in Bumble-Fuck Misisisippi calls in to order the replica of "The Gun That Shot Lincoln", you really don' t want to ask him how he's celebrating Martin Luther King Day. He gets highly agitated. And obscene. Later

TheOldMole Jan 17 2012 02:26 PM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

Run Silent, Run Deep, with Burt Lancaster and Clark Gable. In the opening scene, there's a sailor who has one line with his back to the camera, but the voice is unmistakeably Donald Sutherland's. And if I remember right -- years since I saw the movie-- he has a credit. But IMDB does not list him in the cast, and does not list the movie on Sutherland's page. But I'm sure I'm right.

Edgy MD Jan 20 2012 09:34 AM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

Bill Bartlett, frontman for the Lemon Pipers, also fronted RamJam. I pride myself on few things more than my knowledge of Lemon Piper lore. This blows my mind. Lemons: Rammers:

Frayed Knot Jan 21 2012 02:12 PM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

That TV newsman Anderson Cooper is the son of Gloria Vanderbilt

Edgy MD Jan 21 2012 03:45 PM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

All makes sense once you learn that, huh?

Frayed Knot Jan 21 2012 04:54 PM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

Edgy DC wrote: All makes sense once you learn that, huh? Not really. I don't seek him out to watch whatever show he's on these days and never took the time to delve into his back-story, although he's certainly on enough to where I was just surprised that I never heard about the connection before. I also know basically next to nothing about his mom except for the fact that she exists as the great-great-granddaughter of Cornelius (had to look up the specifics on that one) and is still alive at age 87 (that part too). Essentially she's nothing more than one of those 'famous for being famous' types to me even though such an admission will get me pulled off all the good guest lists for this year's Manhattan parties. Turns out that AC lost his father (mom's 4th husband) at age 11 and his only sibling (to suicide) at 21 - but good for him for working hard for a living despite all that background and such.

themetfairy Jan 21 2012 06:42 PM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

Frayed Knot wrote: Edgy DC wrote: All makes sense once you learn that, huh? Not really. I don't seek him out to watch whatever show he's on these days and never took the time to delve into his back-story, although he's certainly on enough to where I was just surprised that I never heard about the connection before. I also know basically next to nothing about his mom except for the fact that she exists as the great-great-granddaughter of Cornelius (had to look up the specifics on that one) and is still alive at age 87 (that part too). Essentially she's nothing more than one of those 'famous for being famous' types to me even though such an admission will get me pulled off all the good guest lists for this year's Manhattan parties. Turns out that AC lost his father (mom's 4th husband) at age 11 and his only sibling (to suicide) at 21 - but good for him for working hard for a living despite all that background and such. Gloria was famous as a child because she was caught in the middle of a nasty divorce/custody battle, but I remember her more as being at the forefront of designer jeans in the '70s.

RealityChuck Jan 24 2012 07:54 AM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

Film director Paul Thomas Anderson is the son of 1970s ABC staff announcer Ernie Anderson, best known for the way he did promos for The Loooove Boat: [youtube]HZ5vPBDRp1k[/youtube]

Mets – Willets Point Feb 01 2012 07:57 AM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

Fecal transplants. They exist. It kind of makes sense when it's explained, but the terminology just sounds weird.

Mets – Willets Point Feb 23 2012 07:06 PM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

There was a television variety show called "The Black and White Minstrel Show" featuring blackface performers on the BBC in the UK that was a big hit from 1958 to 1978. 1978!?!?

Edgy MD Mar 04 2012 02:42 PM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

"Crazy Train" opens with a very similar bass lick as that opening "Papa Was a Rolling Stone."

Edgy MD Mar 06 2012 01:25 PM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

Dias first got around the Cape of South Africa by accident. Not sure if Africa even had a bottom, he was sailing parallel to the continent before turning West to avoid rough seas. He was caught in a squall and driven hundreds of miles south. The crew turned back East toward Africa only to discover it wasn't there anymore. Psyche!

Benjamin Grimm Mar 07 2012 02:08 PM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

That CBS owns WFAN.

Mets – Willets Point Mar 12 2012 12:16 PM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

The lyrics in the chorus of "Daydream Believer" are "Cheer up, sleepy Jean" rather than "Cheer up, sweet Regina."

Edgy MD Mar 12 2012 12:21 PM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

Wow, really? When you mishear a lyric for that long, you should go write your own song around the misheard lyric.

Mets – Willets Point Mar 12 2012 12:36 PM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

Edgy DC wrote: Wow, really? When you mishear a lyric for that long, you should go write your own song around the misheard lyric. Yeah, well I thought the repeated line on the fadeout of "Do They Know it's Christmas" was "We know, whoa-oh-oh" rather than "Feed the world" for 25 years before my wife corrected me. I still think my version is better.

Edgy MD Mar 12 2012 12:42 PM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

"Cheer up, sweet Regina." "We know, whoa-oh-oh" You have two lines of an awesome lyric.

Frayed Knot Mar 12 2012 01:01 PM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

Vin Scelsa used to host (maybe still does?) a singer/songwriter gab fest where 4 or 5 of them would "sit around talking about songs". Towards the end of each session Vin would usually ask each to play a song they wish they had written. Now I'll be damned if I can remember now who it was, but one crusty old guy chose 'Daydream Believer' only sung it with the altered lyrics; oh what can it mean, to a daydream believer and an old closet queen Meanwhile, my particular TILOR in 2012 nugget: Fred Gwynne was a Harvard grad

A Boy Named Seo Mar 12 2012 01:06 PM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

I don't know if he has another gig, but Vin Scelsa has a show on Sirius/XM's 'the Loft' station called 'Vin Scelsa's Idiot's Delight'. He has great taste and plays a really eclectic mix of stuff, but this show's also really talky (music & politics mostly) and loses me a lot. Don't know if he still does that 'play a song you'd wish you'd written' thing. I might've already changed the station by then.

metirish Mar 12 2012 01:22 PM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

Didn't know he was on Sirius, what channel? meanwhile he is still over at WFUV http://www.wfuv.org/programs/idiotsdelight Found it , channel 30/The Loft http://www.siriusxm.com/theloft that looks like a really good station, going to give it a listen

Frayed Knot Mar 12 2012 02:09 PM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012 Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Mar 12 2012 04:24 PM

Vin - now in his late 60's I'd guess - was one of those DJs present at the birth of mid-1960s FM-progressive rock radio, first at college stations and later at WNEW during its hey-day. When the trend started moving those stations towards more strictly play-listed stuff Vin was one of the last holdouts, refusing to go along with the changes and marginalizing himself into later time-slots as a trade-off for the ability to choose his own stuff (that he had a wife who ran a successful business helped him in his maverick cause). By the time he was relegated to Sunday nights (at NEW then later at K-Rock) he was calling his show 'Idiots Delight'. After a while there was no place left for him to go in commercial radio at which point he landed at Fordham's FUV where a shorter edition of I-D continued. In an odd way the move to public radio restricted him even more as he was forced to confine himself to a strict time-slot where the over-night DJs who followed him on the rock stations used to not care if he ran 20, 30, or even 60 minutes over because he just didn't feel like ending the show. I used to be a huge I-D fan. He'd play great eclectic stuff like you said, run hour-long sets full of great segues, conduct lengthy and in-depth interviews with artists, and listening to it on Sunday nights (often while watching the ESPN baseball game with the sound down and doing the NYT crossword) was the perfect way to end my week for a several year span. But then, over time, it slowly became more book & politics oriented while becoming less about music. Then the shorter hours at FUV (4 hours minus news breaks vs his earlier 6 hour+ shows) reduced the music portion even more (and FUV also moved the show to Saturdays due to a long-running Sunday show). Vin also got more crotchety (a bout with cancer didn't help) and FUV can also be a pain-to-get signal at times (worse, for some reason, in the city than in the suburbs) which was another hurdle at times. Plus, I suspect, Vin is probably not as interested in music at his age as he was in his younger days.

A Boy Named Seo Mar 12 2012 03:07 PM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

metirish wrote: Didn't know he was on Sirius, what channel? meanwhile he is still over at WFUV http://www.wfuv.org/programs/idiotsdelight Found it , channel 30/The Loft http://www.siriusxm.com/theloft that looks like a really good station, going to give it a listen The Loft is pretty good. Franny Thomas is my fav. She has 2 shows and plays way less adult-contemporary friendly stuff and more roots & Americana. She has an awesome radio voice & great taste, too (thought she'd be older, she's just in her mid-20's).

Edgy MD Mar 12 2012 03:15 PM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

Right next door is "The Bridge " --- plays about six different artists. Very disappointed how many of these stations seem as narrow in their playlists as broadcast stations.

metirish Mar 12 2012 03:25 PM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

Edgy DC wrote: Right next door is "The Bridge " --- plays about six different artists. Very disappointed how many of these stations seem as narrow in their playlists as broadcast stations. I've only had SiriusXM a few months but this is something I noticed rather quickly, 1st Wave is a station I listen to a lot and really they play the same stuff over and over.....Depeche Mode , Yaz, Pet Shop Boys, Depeche Mode again and again and again....The Smiths - New Order....I go between 1st Wave and Hair Nation, about sever or eight stations, and they do seem to play the same stuff over and over.

Frayed Knot Mar 12 2012 04:20 PM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

(might be time for a split-off here) From Wikipedia: Scelsa is 64 y/o - was the co-creator of a musical series, In Their Own Words: A Bunch Of Songwriters Sittin' Around Singing at The Bottom Line in NYC. FK: That was the show I was thinking of in response to the 'Daydream Believer' stuff above. It was a separate stage show not a part of his radio gig although he'd sometimes play a cut or two from the 'In Their Own Words" series on a subsequent I-D show. The ITOW series was discontinued years ago. - broadcasts a separate version of "Idiot's Delight" live on Wednesday and Thursday afternoons (12noon - 2pm ET) for Sirius/XM Satellite Radio's "The Loft" (Channel 29 on Sirius/Channel 50 on XM). The combined four hours of the Sirius/XM broadcasts are repeated on Sunday nights, 8pm to midnight ET, and at several other times during the week, also on "The Loft". - currently records the 10pm to Midnight hours [of Idiot's Delight'] the week before his Saturday broadcast. Then, he records live to tape in WFUV studios with guests on Saturday mornings. Those recordings air from 8pm - 10pm the same night. IOW, the show which was once live and often spontaneous (he'd often have music sets in mind at the start of a show but then change his mind in the middle of things ... he couldn't even follow directions from the program director when it was HIM) but now is a lot more pre-recorded and/or recycled.

Edgy MD Mar 15 2012 09:55 PM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

It seems 37% of the internet consists of porn.

Ceetar Mar 15 2012 10:12 PM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

Edgy DC wrote: It seems 37% of the internet consists of porn. seems low.

MFS62 Mar 17 2012 07:35 AM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

This morning, the local weather guy on tv explained that even though he's Irish, he can't wear green. He works in front of a green screen and if he wore green, the weather map would be seen projected on the green he wears. Later

Ashie62 Mar 21 2012 01:00 PM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

Sports Illustrated has hired Bain Capital & the McKinsey group at the same time..Good thing Ashie Jr has 24 years in.

Chad Ochoseis Mar 28 2012 12:18 PM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

Someone named Jack Frost ran for mayor of Anchorage, Alaska in 2000. http://web.acsalaska.net/~quarton/jackf ... tform.html

soupcan Mar 28 2012 12:43 PM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

metirish wrote: Edgy DC wrote: Right next door is "The Bridge " --- plays about six different artists. Very disappointed how many of these stations seem as narrow in their playlists as broadcast stations. I've only had SiriusXM a few months but this is something I noticed rather quickly, 1st Wave is a station I listen to a lot and really they play the same stuff over and over.....Depeche Mode , Yaz, Pet Shop Boys, Depeche Mode again and again and again....The Smiths - New Order....I go between 1st Wave and Hair Nation, about sever or eight stations, and they do seem to play the same stuff over and over. You left out Siouxie and the Banshees. I think 1st Wave believes that S&tB were a helluva lot more popular than they actually were. Are people really clamoring to hear their version of 'Dear Prudence' every other day? Really? I mostly have 'Spectrum' on when not listening to Mr. Stern. You get to hear the 'new' artists before they send them on over to 'Hits 1' and overplay the crap out of them.

Fman99 Mar 28 2012 06:58 PM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

Edgy DC wrote: Right next door is "The Bridge " --- plays about six different artists. Very disappointed how many of these stations seem as narrow in their playlists as broadcast stations. Yep. They've even managed to sour me on classic rock.

RealityChuck Mar 29 2012 08:27 AM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

I happened to stumble upon The Creation, a rock group from the UK that had a lot of talent, but no success (except in Germany). [youtube:2biag0tk]Oig8z4HvBL8[/youtube:2biag0tk] They influenced the Who (and shared management -- supposedly Pete Townsend asked their guitarist to join) and Jimmy Page (note the bow).

Benjamin Grimm Mar 29 2012 08:30 AM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

Gillian Anderson has two sons named Felix and Oscar.

soupcan Mar 29 2012 08:32 AM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

Fman99 wrote: Yep. They've even managed to sour me on classic rock. The classic rock station - what is called 'Classic Vinyl' I think? - is a joke. When I think classic rock, I want to hear The Stones, Zeppelin, The Who. Not freakin' Jethro Tull flutes and 'Wooden Ships' all day long. 'Classic Rewind' also blows. Bon Jovi and Van Hagar.

soupcan Mar 29 2012 08:33 AM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

Benjamin Grimm wrote: Gillian Anderson has two sons named Felix and Oscar. That's awesome. I lobbied to name my middle guy 'Oscar' but had no support. 13 years later it would have been THE perfect name for him.

Edgy MD Mar 29 2012 08:45 AM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

I was requested to never consider the name Felix. That request came from my wife.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Mar 29 2012 08:49 AM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

Lunchpail has school friends named Felix and Oscar.

Ceetar Mar 29 2012 08:51 AM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: Lunchpail has school friends named Felix and Oscar. And I bet no one in the class has any idea.

Edgy MD Mar 29 2012 08:53 AM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: Lunchpail has school friends named Felix and Oscar. Get them on the baseball team, along with a Murray and and a Vinny, then start calling Lunchpail "Speed."

Benjamin Grimm Mar 29 2012 08:55 AM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

Don't forget the Pigeon Sisters:

metsmarathon Mar 29 2012 09:08 AM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: Lunchpail has school friends named Felix and Oscar. one of minimm's friends is named lex. as i've often engendered comparisons to clark kent, i naturally consider him to be my nemesis

John Cougar Lunchbucket Mar 29 2012 09:20 AM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

Edgy DC wrote: John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: Lunchpail has school friends named Felix and Oscar. Get them on the baseball team, along with a Murray and and a Vinny, then start calling Lunchpail "Speed." I got the roster the other day. Highlights are 2 Justins, a Hugo and a Rocco. I figure one of the latter two will be the catcher.

HahnSolo Mar 29 2012 09:34 AM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: Lunchpail has school friends named Felix and Oscar. Get them on the baseball team, along with a Murray and and a Vinny, then start calling Lunchpail "Speed." I got the roster the other day. Highlights are 2 Justins, a Hugo and a Rocco. I figure one of the latter two will be the catcher. And if they don't want to catch, I'm sure Rocco "knows a guy."

Mets – Willets Point Mar 29 2012 10:15 AM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

Edgy DC wrote: I was requested to never consider the name Felix. That request came from my wife. BOC.

themetfairy Mar 29 2012 10:22 AM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

Yannick Noah has a post-tennis career as a French pop singer.

Mets – Willets Point Mar 29 2012 11:15 AM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

themetfairy wrote: Yannick Noah has a post-tennis career as a French pop singer. With that name and that hair it seems the natural thing for him to do.

Ashie62 Mar 31 2012 11:40 AM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

That Ashie62 is being tested for ketoacidosis, sugar toxins

themetfairy Mar 31 2012 12:08 PM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

Best of luck Ashie!

Ashie62 Apr 01 2012 05:51 AM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

Thanks MF..going in-patient at 9 am

themetfairy Apr 01 2012 06:40 AM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

Good vibes!

MFS62 Apr 01 2012 01:23 PM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

Ashie62 wrote: That Ashie62 is being tested for ketoacidosis, sugar toxins Ashie, your post was the first time I had read about sugar toxicity other than accociated with Diabetes. Today, this was all over Yahoo: http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-18560_162-5 ... gar-toxic/ You always have been a leader. Hang in there. Be well. Later

metirish Apr 01 2012 01:29 PM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

All the best Ashie , rooting for ya.

batmagadanleadoff Apr 01 2012 01:39 PM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

MFS62 wrote: That Ashie62 is being tested for ketoacidosis, sugar toxins Ashie, your post was the first time I had read about sugar toxicity other than accociated with Diabetes. Today, this was all over Yahoo: http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-18560_162-5 ... gar-toxic/ You always have been a leader. Hang in there. Be well. Later Get well Ashie. I'm no scientist, but I've been maintaining for years based on my intuition and observations, that sugar and high fructose corn syrup are causing a health crisis, at least in this country, and should be stigmatized and regarded as dangerous as tobacco and alcohol.

Ceetar Apr 02 2012 06:54 AM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

batmagadanleadoff wrote: Get well Ashie. I'm no scientist, but I've been maintaining for years based on my intuition and observations, that sugar and high fructose corn syrup are causing a health crisis, at least in this country, and should be stigmatized and regarded as dangerous as tobacco and alcohol. feel better! Seems like it gets framed as one of those 'hippie vegan activists versus "real americans"' debates, although that's probably unfair. My mother falls closer to the left side of that spectrum, so she's been preaching those evils to me for years. (More the HFCS stuff and the partially hydrogenated oil than plain 'ole sugar) Personally I'm torn about the idea that you should be able to do whatever you want to your own body and the idea that people need to be protected from themselves. Like the NYC ban on trans fat. I don't remember who does it, but the "sugar is sugar" commercials probably don't help in that regard. Leaving out obviously that it's not simple corn sugar they're putting in things. This is not the same as the corn sugar I carbonate my beer with. Also, soda with real sugar tastes better. As far as regular sugar stuff goes, I've been trying to keep things like diabetes/ketoacidosis and what not in the back of my mind. I eat way too much sugar, and have a ridiculous (seemingly genetic) sweet tooth.

metsmarathon Apr 02 2012 09:29 AM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

not to sound like a cliche, but really, everything is toxic. arsenic, alcohol, sugar, water. all toxic. it just matters how much you take of it to trigger the toxicity. i don't know if i believe the claims that high fructose corn syrup is worse for you than regular sugar, but it serves well as an indicator that the product that contains it is more highly refined and processed, and therefore is likely worse for you than a product that contains regular sugar. i'm not sure if legislation is the right path, but i don;t know if it's the wrong path. it's one thing to say that what people want to put into their own bodies is up to them, but they're also putting it into their kids bodies, and setting those kids up for a lifetime of health issues. they're also causing themselves, me, you, and the rest of the country higher medical and insurance costs. while, yes, teaching people and parents and kids that sugar is bad for you, and teaching them that food can still taste good without a frosty coating, and that they can drink water when they're thirsty instead of soda, considering implementing a sugar tax wouldn't be entirely unreasonable. i mean, we don't say parents can put their kids in their cars any which way they want - we require seatbelts and car seats and what not - why can't we put some limitations on what goes into those kids that go into those cars? (we already have limitations on what goes into kids. infant formula must follow strict guidelines) but these aren't things i just learned recently. i don't think. i mean, i did read a few articles as a result of this discussion. and my big takeaway is, eat less sugar. i suggest avoiding it by using fewer boxes and cans and bags when you cook, and using instead more ingredients and recipes (it'll also help you eat less salt, and other processed food things). and switching to a beverage that does not contain either sugar or a sugar-replacement. i say this as an avid overconsumer of gatorades.

Ceetar Apr 02 2012 09:39 AM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

"all things in moderation" often seems like a pretty catch-all.

Edgy MD Apr 02 2012 09:50 AM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

metsmarathon wrote: not to sound like a cliche, but really, everything is toxic. arsenic, alcohol, sugar, water. all toxic. it just matters how much you take of it to trigger the toxicity. Yeah, but in this day and age, the degrees are beyond beyond, and as the FDA is no longer seen as a public trust but a highly politicized agency, we're increasingly challenged to do our own digging. TransFat isn't something that tastes good, probably shouldn't be taken too frequently, but kinda like other vices. TransFat is poison, doesn't taste any different from what we had previously been stuffing down our gullets, but is simply cheaper to manufacture.

metirish Apr 02 2012 10:08 AM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

Since my scare with that blood work I have completely given up soda , as has my wife, no more in the house. I've lost six lbs since then actually.

metsmarathon Apr 02 2012 11:01 AM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

Edgy DC wrote: metsmarathon wrote: not to sound like a cliche, but really, everything is toxic. arsenic, alcohol, sugar, water. all toxic. it just matters how much you take of it to trigger the toxicity. Yeah, but in this day and age, the degrees are beyond beyond, and as the FDA is no longer seen as a public trust but a highly politicized agency, we're increasingly challenged to do our own digging. TransFat isn't something that tastes good, probably shouldn't be taken too frequently, but kinda like other vices. TransFat is poison, doesn't taste any different from what we had previously been stuffing down our gullets, but is simply cheaper to manufacture. true. and hfcs is similar. while it behaves like regular sugar, it's cheapness of manufacture has tipped hte scales, so to speak, to allow it to be poured into just about anything, turning just about any combination of ingredients into something we salivate over. i think that a) taxing additive sugar and sugar-replacements in prepared and prepackaged foods would be a good thing towards not only dissuading the purchase of those items, but also to defraying the cost of the impact of those items, and b) that those taxes should be exempted for small businesses to some extent, tipping the scales somewhata against the mega-food industries, in favor of local food producers. if a farmer wants to sell a glazed donut at a farm market, no tax. if entenmann's wants to sell a glazed donut in a shoprite, tax. (mmm, entenmann's... but i digress)

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Apr 02 2012 03:35 PM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

Or, y'know, you could eliminate/slash corn subsidies to reasonable levels, and make HFCS superfluous.

Edgy MD Apr 02 2012 04:55 PM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

Wait. The proliferation of high-fructose corn syrup is a byproduct of corn subsidies? That's incredible!

Ceetar Apr 02 2012 05:04 PM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

Why is popcorn at Citi Field $50 then?

Frayed Knot Apr 02 2012 06:22 PM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

Edgy DC wrote: Wait. The proliferation of high-fructose corn syrup is a byproduct of corn subsidies? That's incredible! Wait. You mean that government actions create unforeseen consequences? That's incredible!

Edgy MD Apr 02 2012 08:10 PM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

Yeah, I was in earnest.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Apr 02 2012 09:16 PM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

Edgy DC wrote: Yeah, I was in earnest. Really? Yeah, it's subsidies, along with tariffs on import sugar/weird domestic sugar quotas.

Ashie62 Apr 04 2012 09:25 AM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

Back home..Thank you for your thoughts all..It helped...

Edgy MD Apr 04 2012 09:32 AM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr wrote: Edgy DC wrote: Yeah, I was in earnest. Really? Yeah, it's subsidies, along with tariffs on import sugar/weird domestic sugar quotas. See, I see the persistence of the Iowa-first primary electoral system as almost entirely responsible for the persistence of corn subsidies. I've long derided the preservation of the rather arbitrary elevation of Iowa and New Hampshire in our electoral system as a terrible commitment to tradition for tradition's sake, but now that I've put two and two together (thanks for the help), I see that our electoral system is killing us. Welcome back, Ash.

MFS62 Apr 04 2012 09:37 AM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

Ashie62 wrote: Back home..Thank you for your thoughts all..It helped... Nu? You OK? What's next? Medication? Special diet? Inquiring minds want to know. Later

Ceetar Apr 04 2012 09:52 AM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

Edgy DC wrote: I've long derided the preservation of the rather arbitrary elevation of Iowa and New Hampshire in our electoral system as a terrible commitment to tradition for tradition's sake, but now that I've put two and two together (thanks for the help), I see that our electoral system is killing us. Welcome back, Ash. Curious, How do you feel about the departure of the Cincinnati first Opening Day tradition? The same?

metirish Apr 04 2012 10:11 AM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

Ashie62 wrote: Back home..Thank you for your thoughts all..It helped... welcome back...all went well?

Edgy MD Apr 04 2012 10:14 AM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

Ceetar wrote: Edgy DC wrote: I've long derided the preservation of the rather arbitrary elevation of Iowa and New Hampshire in our electoral system as a terrible commitment to tradition for tradition's sake, but now that I've put two and two together (thanks for the help), I see that our electoral system is killing us. Welcome back, Ash. Curious, How do you feel about the departure of the Cincinnati first Opening Day tradition? The same? No, I feel different about that.

MFS62 Apr 04 2012 10:37 AM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

Hardees is still around. And the ad makes me want to go there. http://finance.yahoo.com/news/kate-upto ... b-hit.html Later

Ashie62 Apr 04 2012 05:28 PM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

MFS62 wrote: Ashie62 wrote: Back home..Thank you for your thoughts all..It helped... Nu? You OK? What's next? Medication? Special diet? Inquiring minds want to know. Later I had been on short term prednisone which spiked my sugar to 350. A UA showed glucose in that stream and a moderated level of ketones. I take 500 mg Metformin twice a day and glyburide 5.0 mg twice a day. Eating whole wheat bread, pasta...Blueberries...No more bagels..poop. I am at goal weight at least. I keep thinking of the Wilfred Brimley diabetes ad. I am tired but hanging in...Thanks again.

Ceetar Apr 04 2012 05:33 PM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

MFS62 wrote: Hardees is still around. And the ad makes me want to go there. http://finance.yahoo.com/news/kate-upto ... b-hit.html Later Just saw an ad for this today..while on the treadmill at the gym.

MFS62 Apr 04 2012 09:21 PM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

Ashie62 wrote: I take 500 mg Metformin twice a day and glyburide 5.0 mg twice a day. I take the same medications (among other things). But I take them in a combo pill twice a day. Cuts down the number of pills from four to two. Ask your doctor. Later

Fman99 Apr 05 2012 08:18 AM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

The Chaka Khan hit "I Feel For You" was originally written and recorded by Prince in 1979.

Edgy MD Apr 05 2012 08:54 AM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

You can totally hear it once you realize that, though, can't you?

Mets – Willets Point Apr 05 2012 09:12 AM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

That song is on Prince's The Hits/The B-Sides which I have. It also includes his version of "Nothing Compares 2 U" which sounds more gospel than Sinead O'Connor's rendition.

Mets – Willets Point Apr 05 2012 12:03 PM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

Dr. Dog is not a hip-hop act.

Fman99 Apr 05 2012 08:17 PM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

Edgy DC wrote: You can totally hear it once you realize that, though, can't you? Absolutely. Listening to the first two Prince albums at work today, I decided that Lenny Kravitz should be cutting Prince 10% of every dime he's ever made.

Edgy MD Apr 05 2012 09:51 PM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

Like Lenny wouldn't owe the other 90% to the Beatles, Al Green, Led Zeppelin, and Jimi Hendrix. The trick is that Prince wasn't yet sticking the phonetic letters and numbers in his songs yet. It should be "I Feel for U."

Mets – Willets Point Apr 05 2012 10:07 PM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

More Prince-ly it should be "I Feel 4 U."

Edgy MD Apr 06 2012 06:55 AM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

Correct.

Ceetar Apr 13 2012 07:27 AM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

I _will_ try this this summer. Freeze a mentos in an ice cube and put it in your friends soda. a couple of minutes later, once the ice starts to melt...kabooooom.

metsguyinmichigan Apr 13 2012 09:52 AM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

Edgy DC wrote: You can totally hear it once you realize that, though, can't you? I have to say that Melle Mell and Stevie Wonder's harmonica make the song. ChakaChakaChakaChaka Kahn. Chaka Kahn. Chaka Kahn Chaka Kahn. One of those songs that instantly transports me back to a specific time and place.

MFS62 Apr 18 2012 09:35 AM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

Not sure if this belongs here or in the politics thread. There are now web dating sites for survivalists. Heard it on the radio last night and its true. http://search.yahoo.com/search?ei=utf-8 ... vice&type= I'm guessing that any resultant progeny will be home schooled. Later

Ceetar Apr 18 2012 09:47 AM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

MFS62 wrote: Not sure if this belongs here or in the politics thread. There are now web dating sites for survivalists. Heard it on the radio last night and its true. http://search.yahoo.com/search?ei=utf-8 ... vice&type= I'm guessing that any resultant progeny will be home schooled. Later or raised by wolves.

Edgy MD Apr 18 2012 09:50 AM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

The Producers started out as a Beatles cover band named Cartoon. [youtube:3tj2nfwc]wT6Lv5iBsLM[/youtube:3tj2nfwc]

John Cougar Lunchbucket Apr 19 2012 08:16 AM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

The Orioles are all alone in first place in the AL East.

Ceetar Apr 19 2012 08:28 AM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: The Orioles are all alone in first place in the AL East. Beltway (that the right word?) World Series?

Fman99 Apr 20 2012 10:45 AM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

From the continuing files of "I didn't know song x was originally written/recorded by artist y", I bring you "Don't Do It," by the Band, originally written/recorded as "Baby Don't You Do It" by Marvin Gaye. Never knew until today.

metsguyinmichigan Apr 21 2012 07:39 PM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

That the actor who played Lurch on the Addams Family -- Ted Cassidy -- also played "Thing" on the show. Guess he had the longest arms.

metirish Apr 24 2012 07:25 PM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

I associate WB Mason with the MFY's , always have, but I only found tonight what they actually do from watching the commercial during the Mets game. Don't remember them advertising before on SNY. anyway they sell all types of crap http://www.wbmason.com/

Fman99 Apr 24 2012 07:48 PM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

That's funny, I took Fboy to a doctor's appointment this afternoon and the two women working behind the desks were squawking about how the new W.B. Mason catalog had come out and that it was filled with office furnishings and accessories. I had no idea they sold anything besides little coffee pods.

Frayed Knot Apr 24 2012 07:53 PM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

metirish wrote: I associate WB Mason with the MFY's , always have, but I only found tonight what they actually do from watching the commercial during the Mets game. Don't remember them advertising before on SNY. anyway they sell all types of crap http://www.wbmason.com/ MFY games is where I first saw them advertised too - and, like you, it was a while before I knew what it was they did. Now they've obviously targeted baseball games as their core because they're all over telecasts from various parts of the country both with in-game ads and with outfield wall signage.

themetfairy Apr 24 2012 07:57 PM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

They advertise a lot on Phillies games, and they once sponsored a Phillies toy truck game promotion that we attended.

HahnSolo Apr 26 2012 08:18 AM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

"China Girl", popularized on Bowie's Let's Dance album, was co-written by Bowie and Iggy Pop, and actually recorded a number of years earlier by Iggy.

TransMonk Apr 26 2012 08:24 AM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

HahnSolo wrote: "China Girl", popularized on Bowie's Let's Dance album, was co-written by Bowie and Iggy Pop, and actually recorded a number of years earlier by Iggy. It's one of those things that becomes so obvious once you know. Also, Stevie Ray Vaughn plays guitar on that album. And Nile Rodgers co-produced.

Edgy MD Apr 26 2012 08:30 AM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

Iggy did this crazy thing when I saw him live (maybe he does it whenever he plays that song) in which he fell into a fetal position during the guitar break, with his arms wrapped round his face. What you don't see during the solo is that he's using his powerful hands to pull his baggy facial skin as tight as possible. As the solo climaxes, he emerges painfully from his makeshift musical womb with his face contorted into some horrible corruption of an Asian face, as if it say... something, I guess. He wrote the song about his then-future-wife, Suchi Asano, who wasn't Chinese at all. She was in fact the Japanese daughter of a hardass police chief and he had to go and win her father over in order to get permission to marry the much younger lady. There's a short movie in that. I think Nile Rogers produced or co-produced every album that came out that year.

metirish Apr 27 2012 11:20 AM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

That the Enterprise never actually went into space......all the hullabaloo for this!

TheOldMole Apr 27 2012 03:54 PM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

Moose Skowron was not nicknamed for his resemblance to a moose, but for his resemblance to Mussolini.

soupcan May 05 2012 01:03 PM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

On the iPad app of The New York Post, if you touch the American flag on the front page it plays The Star Spangled Banner.

Mets – Willets Point May 07 2012 08:59 AM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

America's Funniest Home Videos still exists as a first-run television program. It seems about every five years I make this discovery and I'm always amazed. The last time I watched the show was around 1990 when I was a junior in high school. I would've thought that America had run out of funny videos by now.

Ceetar May 07 2012 09:01 AM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

Mets – Willets Point wrote: America's Funniest Home Videos still exists as a first-run television program. It seems about every five years I make this discovery and I'm always amazed. The last time I watched the show was around 1990 when I was a junior in high school. I would've thought that America had run out of funny videos by now. I always assumed they renamed it "you tube" It hasn't been the same since Bob Saget left.

Mets – Willets Point May 07 2012 09:02 AM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

Ceetar wrote: I always assumed they renamed it "you tube" Good point. Between the internet and reality tv shows, I can't even imagine what market this show has left to tap.

John Cougar Lunchbucket May 07 2012 09:27 AM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

Mets – Willets Point wrote: Ceetar wrote: I always assumed they renamed it "you tube" Good point. Between the internet and reality tv shows, I can't even imagine what market this show has left to tap. You might be surprised. They have tens of thousands of unused and exclusive clips in their library still, according to this article.

HahnSolo May 07 2012 09:28 AM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

It used to always bug me that the producers got to select the three videos that were eligible for the big money prize, and the three videos they would choose were NEVER the funniest of the episode.

metirish May 07 2012 09:29 AM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

Mets – Willets Point wrote: America's Funniest Home Videos still exists as a first-run television program. It seems about every five years I make this discovery and I'm always amazed. The last time I watched the show was around 1990 when I was a junior in high school. I would've thought that America had run out of funny videos by now. I've had a plate full of this show recently thanks to my nieces and Netflix......they love to watch hours of it.....what really grinds my gears about the show is not that each show is the same but that Tom Bergeron thinks he's so freaking funny....you are not funny , you are in fact a total camp wanker.

Benjamin Grimm May 07 2012 09:31 AM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

I've only seen it a few times too when my kids used to watch. I agree, total camp wanker, and I don't even know what a "camp wanker" is. I can see this show being hilarious if you're seven years old but I don't know why adults would watch (unless they're watching with their seven-year-old.)

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr May 07 2012 09:36 AM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

"Camp wanker." (That soldier who bogarts the latrine for self-defilement? That sleepaway counselor the kids try to avoid? Cesar Romero?)

Mets – Willets Point May 07 2012 09:48 AM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: You might be surprised. They have tens of thousands of unused and exclusive clips in their library still, according to this article. Holy crap! That's equal parts illuminating and terrifying.

Benjamin Grimm May 10 2012 06:42 AM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

Maurice Sendak was gay.

MFS62 May 10 2012 12:09 PM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

And he lived in the Danbury area. Later

Benjamin Grimm May 10 2012 12:16 PM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

I guess if I had known that he lived in Danbury, I would have known that he was gay!

metirish May 10 2012 12:21 PM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

WOW, he was gay and lived in to his 80's? maybe it was the Danbury area fresh air.

MFS62 May 10 2012 02:12 PM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

Benjamin Grimm wrote: I guess if I had known that he lived in Danbury, I would have known that he was gay! Actually, he lived in upscale Ridgefield, parts of which are very artsy. He did die on Danbury Hospital, though. Later

Edgy MD May 10 2012 02:16 PM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

Gosh, dying on the roof of a hospital. How ironic. Famous guy like that, too.

seawolf17 May 10 2012 02:17 PM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

Edgy DC wrote: Gosh, dying on the roof of a hospital. How ironic. Famous guy like that, too. Well, he fell out of an airplane. Had to land somewhere, you know.

MFS62 May 10 2012 02:28 PM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

Good catch, Mr. Editor. Meant in Danbury Hospital. But I can imagine that anyone who fell out of an airplane and landed on the roof of a hospital would break through the roof into it. Later

soupcan May 11 2012 07:35 AM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

MFS62 wrote: Good catch, Mr. Editor. Meant in Danbury Hospital. OH! That clears it up. Thanks.

Edgy MD May 22 2012 05:56 PM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

Howie just told me that Curtis Pride is the son of Charlie Pride. Now I need to clean up before my wife gets home, because the room is covered with fragments of my BLOWN MIND.

metirish May 22 2012 06:06 PM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

Yet neither of their wiki pages says it is so, in fact Charley Pride's page lists two sons Pride met his future wife, Rozene, while playing baseball in the southern states. They were married in 1956. They have two sons (Kraig, Dion) and a daughter (Angela). They currently reside in Dallas, Texas.[21] Kraig now goes by the name Carlton and has somewhat followed in his father's footsteps as a performing artist. His band, Carlton Pride and Zion started in San Marcos, Texas in 1995 and they perform a variety of reggae, funk, and soul music throughout the United States.

Frayed Knot May 22 2012 06:39 PM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

Yeah, I don't see how that possibly be true and been kept a secret this long. There were too many features on Curtis when he was and up and coming player for that to have gone unmentioned.

metirish May 22 2012 07:04 PM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

Regardless , interesting stuff here in Charley's wiki Though he also loved music, one of Pride's life-long dreams was to become a professional baseball player. In 1952, he pitched for the Memphis Red Sox of the Negro American League. He pitched well, and, in 1953, he signed a contract with the Boise Yankees, the Class C farm team of the New York Yankees. During that season, an injury caused him to lose the "mustard" on his fastball, and he was sent to the Yankees' Class D team in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. Later that season, while in the Negro leagues with the Louisville Clippers, he and another player (Jesse Mitchell), were traded to the Birmingham Black Barons for a team bus. "Jesse and I may have the distinction of being the only players in history to be traded for a used motor vehicle," Pride mused in his 1994 autobiography.[4][dead link] He pitched for several other minor league teams, his hopes of making it to the big leagues still alive. Pride appeared to be advancing to a career in baseball, but the Army derailed this. After serving two years in the military, he tried to return to baseball.[5] Though hindered by an injury to his throwing arm, Pride briefly played for the Missoula Timberjacks of the Pioneer League (a farm club of the Cincinnati Reds) in 1960,[6] and had tryouts with the California Angels (1961) and the New York Mets (1962) organizations, but was not picked up by either team. He worked construction in Helena, Montana during this time.[6][7] When it became apparent that he was not destined for greatness on the baseball diamond, Pride pursued a music career.[5] On June 5, 2008, Pride, his brother, Mack "The Knife" Pride, and 28 other living former Negro league players were "drafted" by each of the 30 Major League Baseball teams in a recognition of the on-field achievements and historical relevance of 30 mostly forgotten Negro league stars. Pride was picked by the Texas Rangers (with whom he has had a long affiliation) while his brother was taken by the Colorado Rockies.[8][9] [edit] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charley_Pride

Benjamin Grimm May 24 2012 08:02 AM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

Former Met Dale Thayer has five saves (in five opportunities) for the Padres this season.

metirish May 24 2012 08:26 AM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

and his nickname is ...............Koo Koo Manchu Val must have named him so.... Dale Thayer sounds like he a Met from the 60's..

Lefty Specialist May 24 2012 08:44 AM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

'Dale Thayer' sounds like how Eddie Murphy playing Buckwheat on SNL in the '80's would have pronounced 'Gale Sayers'. O-tay!

MFS62 May 24 2012 12:19 PM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

New Orleans is losing its daily newspaper. http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/cutline/orl ... 40196.html Sad. Later

Benjamin Grimm May 24 2012 12:25 PM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

Well, it could be worse. At least they'll still be publishing three days per week.

metirish May 24 2012 12:26 PM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

Sad but it's the future.

Ceetar May 24 2012 12:43 PM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

As part of the move, the New York Times reports that there will be "massive" layoffs at 175-year-old Times-Picayune as the paper focuses its efforts on NOLA.com. The Newhouse family, which owns Advance Publications, the Times-Picayune's parent company, shuttered the Ann Arbor News in similar fashion in 2009. I worked for the web support dept of Advance Publications (Advance Internet) which supports nola.com (and nj.com, etc) up until early 2009 actually.

John Cougar Lunchbucket May 24 2012 12:48 PM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

Ceetar wrote: As part of the move, the New York Times reports that there will be "massive" layoffs at 175-year-old Times-Picayune as the paper focuses its efforts on NOLA.com. The Newhouse family, which owns Advance Publications, the Times-Picayune's parent company, shuttered the Ann Arbor News in similar fashion in 2009. I worked for the web support dept of Advance Publications (Advance Internet) which supports nola.com (and nj.com, etc) up until early 2009 actually. I used to work for Advance Publications, till they sold my division. Mets Guy in Michigan saw the same fate from Advance at his rl gig if I have my facts straight. Also, I believe FaFier Jason was a former staffer at the Picayune as well.

Ceetar May 24 2012 01:16 PM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: Ceetar wrote: As part of the move, the New York Times reports that there will be "massive" layoffs at 175-year-old Times-Picayune as the paper focuses its efforts on NOLA.com. The Newhouse family, which owns Advance Publications, the Times-Picayune's parent company, shuttered the Ann Arbor News in similar fashion in 2009. I worked for the web support dept of Advance Publications (Advance Internet) which supports nola.com (and nj.com, etc) up until early 2009 actually. I used to work for Advance Publications, till they sold my division. Mets Guy in Michigan saw the same fate from Advance at his rl gig if I have my facts straight. Also, I believe FaFier Jason was a former staffer at the Picayune as well. big company after all. There's another Mets blogger who I won't mention because I'm not sure he wants it known his real life status. Amusingly we worked in the same building for a year and had no idea. They cut the support dept and me with it. was an interesting old decrepit building, but plenty of charm. Had a big giant room where the printing presses used to be for teh Jersey Journal.

Benjamin Grimm Jun 02 2012 09:33 AM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

That Newsday has abandoned its traditional masthead.

Swan Swan H Jun 27 2012 07:34 AM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

The kid who licked the plexiglass divider of the police car in Super Troopers (The snozzberries taste like....snozzberries) is married to Christina Hendricks.

Benjamin Grimm Jun 27 2012 09:42 AM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

Good for him! (I have no idea what "Super Troopers" is, by the way; I know that line from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.)

MFS62 Jun 27 2012 09:21 PM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

The first testicular protection, "the cup", was first worn in the NHL in 1874. The first helmets were worn in 1974. I guess it took men 100 years to realize they had to protect their brain, too. (ladies, stop snickering) Later

Fman99 Jul 05 2012 08:30 AM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

The trampoline is an Olympic event.

MFS62 Jul 07 2012 03:57 PM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

Fman99 wrote: The trampoline is an Olympic event. Oh shit! I hope it doesn't replace the underwater pretzel throw. Later

Ceetar Jul 07 2012 08:44 PM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

Fman99 wrote: The trampoline is an Olympic event. Add it to the list of Olympic events I'd watch if they'd televise instead of another round of random people running around in circles.

Rockin' Doc Jul 08 2012 03:10 PM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

Many years ago, I stumbled upon a trampoline competition on TV. It was absolutely amazing what they could do. If the Olympic trampoline competition is anything like I saw long ago, I would definitely watch it.

Edgy MD Jul 08 2012 07:17 PM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

Ceetar wrote: Fman99 wrote: The trampoline is an Olympic event. Add it to the list of Olympic events I'd watch if they'd televise instead of another round of random people running around in circles. They're certainly not random.

Mets – Willets Point Jul 08 2012 07:47 PM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012 Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Jul 08 2012 08:02 PM

I thought 90% of Olympics television coverage was dedicated to prepubescent girls jumping on things, with a special focus on getting close ups of the ones who cry when they fail.

Frayed Knot Jul 08 2012 08:01 PM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

No, at least 30% is devoted to athletes with recently deceased and/or gravely ill relatives. If the sport they happen to be engaged in gets shows also, well just consider that to be a bonus.

Ceetar Jul 08 2012 09:30 PM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

Mets – Willets Point wrote: I thought 90% of Olympics television coverage was dedicated to prepubescent girls jumping on things, with a special focus on getting close ups of the ones who cry when they fail. exactly, so why no trampoline? It's Joba Chamberlains fault isn't it? edit: I probably have seen an event or two of this, googling. anyway, Saturday August 4th, 2-4 pm. err, 9-11am NY time. Defending champion He Wenna of China will compete for another Olympic gold in 2012. Her strongest competition will be from within China or from another trampoline powerhouse – Canada. Toronto natives Karen Cockburn and Rosie MacLennan are both eyeing the London podium – a place Cockburn has landed all three times trampoline has been contested at the Olympic Games (two silver, one bronze). NATION TOTAL Canada 0 3 2 5 China 2 0 2 4 Russia 2 1 0 3 Ukraine 1 1 0 2 Germany 1 0 1 2 Australia 0 1 0 1 Uzbekistan 0 0 1 1 edit again: (time to split an Olympics thread? less than am onth right?) not embeddable: http://www.nbcolympics.com/video/trampo ... nsant.html Savannah Vinsant is the US Woman's representative. She's 19 though, so she's probably pubescent.

Mets – Willets Point Jul 08 2012 10:16 PM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

Frayed Knot wrote: No, at least 30% is devoted to athletes with recently deceased and/or gravely ill relatives. If the sport they happen to be engaged in gets shows also, well just consider that to be a bonus. And if the female gymnast has a recently deceased and/or gravely ill relative and cries after she falls from the balance beam, that's Olympics coverage gold, baby!

MFS62 Jul 09 2012 07:29 AM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

Ceetar wrote: not embeddable: http://www.nbcolympics.com/video/trampo ... nsant.html Savannah Vinsant is the US Woman's representative. She's 19 though, so she's probably pubescent. I you look closely at that picture she is autographing, you'll see that she might have some pubes. (sorry, Fman, if I beat you to that.) Later

Mets – Willets Point Jul 13 2012 01:19 PM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

Roseanne Barr is attempting to run for president with the Green Party. It looks like she won't get nominated though. Weird.

Mets – Willets Point Jul 14 2012 11:36 PM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

The image format GIF is pronounced with a soft-g like the peanut butter Jif and not with a hard-g like I've been saying it.

Edgy MD Jul 15 2012 05:46 AM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

Well, it's been a hard G with 100% of the folks I've heard say it.

Benjamin Grimm Jul 15 2012 07:23 AM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

I always say G-I-F.

Ceetar Jul 15 2012 03:21 PM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

Mets – Willets Point wrote: The image format GIF is pronounced with a soft-g like the peanut butter Jif and not with a hard-g like I've been saying it. I'm pretty sure either pronunciation is acceptable. I usually use the soft g. Photoshop credits it to Compuserv, calling the format Compuserv gif (it doesn't pronounce it though).

RealityChuck Jul 16 2012 08:40 AM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

Warning! Civil War neep: That the standard portrayal of the events at the Battle of Shiloh in the Civil War is not the way it actually happened. The usual story is that Albert Sidney Johnston -- even now called "Jefferson Davis's greatest general" -- surprised the unprepared Union forces and nearly drove them back to a complete retreat, but they were saved by the death of Johnston in battle and the arrival of Buell's forces at the end of the day, giving the North an chance to regroup with fresh troops and defeat the Confederates on the second day. According to U. S. Grant, Johnston made some very poor command decisions, and was indecisive in the days leading to the battle.* Johnston (and his second in command Beauregard) opted for straight frontal attacks instead of trying to outflank the Union troops. In addition, instead of staying to the rear and viewing the overall situation, Johnston chose to be in the middle of the battle, making it impossible for him to get an overview of what was happening (and, of course, making him an inviting target). Grant remained in the rear directing the action. And though the North was surprised, they were never in any danger of being routed during the entire first day. The troops did slowly withdrew, but not without causing major Southern casualties. Buell's forces were important, but Grant figured he could beat the Confederates without them, thinking that the failure and high casualties of their attack would have demoralized them. Grant was criticized for not having his soldiers entrench themselves before the battle, but he justified the decision by pointing out that he had a bunch of green forces from multiple units that were unfamiliar to each other and he decided that the time would be better spent drilling the troops. Immediately after the battle, General Halleck -- who already had an antipathy to Grant -- took direct command. Halleck wrote the report on the battle and let the other commanders write their reports without Grant seeing them (Halleck admitted that this was a breach of procedure). The narrative of the battle, therefore, did not have any input from Grant -- probably the person with the best view of the battle -- and exaggerated the problems of the battle, possibly to discredit Grant. Grant later criticized Hallock for not immediately going after the Confederate forces and for allowing their army to escape. *Jefferson Davis, who was a fan and friend of Johnston, wrote him a letter criticizing his generalship just before Shiloh.

Frayed Knot Jul 20 2012 07:06 PM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

That legal action by the estate of Curtis Mayfield got him co-writing credit for Bob Marley's 'One Love' due to similarities in the composition and that several other Marley songs in a similar legal dispute.

MFS62 Jul 27 2012 10:23 AM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

Six players on the US Women's Olympic basketball team played at UCONN. Later

Benjamin Grimm Jul 27 2012 10:32 AM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

I wasn't the last person to find out that Sally Ride was gay. Apparently she decided to come out in her obituary. When I read the obit, and saw the reference to her long-time partner, I thought that it was common knowledge that I was unaware of.

Frayed Knot Jul 27 2012 12:20 PM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

MFS62 wrote: Six players on the US Women's Olympic basketball team played at UCONN. Later I assumed they all did.

Frayed Knot Aug 14 2012 06:20 PM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

Actresses Joan Fontaine and Olivia de Haviland are sisters (that I knew) who were of British stock (knew that also) and who spent the majority of their lives not getting along (that part I know about vaguely although not in any detail). But here comes the learned recently parts Both were born in Japan and both are still living at ages 94 (JF) and 96 (OdH) Wikipedia calls them the last two leading ladies of Hollywood's 1930s (they'd just about have to be).

MFS62 Aug 16 2012 07:51 AM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

The singing group Lovin Spoonful started out in New York. Later

Edgy MD Aug 16 2012 09:06 AM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

Steve Austin not only had telescopic vision in his bionic eye, but night vision as well.

Mets – Willets Point Aug 16 2012 01:07 PM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

I tend to sneeze when I step outside into bright sunlight or enter a brightly-lit room. I've just learned that there is a term for this: photic sneeze reflex.

metsmarathon Aug 16 2012 01:09 PM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

Edgy DC wrote: Steve Austin not only had telescopic vision in his bionic eye, but night vision as well. that's why he was such a good wrestler

Swan Swan H Aug 16 2012 01:12 PM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

I tend to sneeze when I step outside into bright sunlight or enter a brightly-lit room. I've just learned that there is a term for this: photic sneeze reflex. I learned this, which I also experience, and from the article I learned the term 'backronym.' I am way smarter than I was when I left the house today.

Ceetar Aug 16 2012 01:58 PM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

I tend to sneeze when I step outside into bright sunlight or enter a brightly-lit room. I've just learned that there is a term for this: photic sneeze reflex. I learned this, which I also experience, and from the article I learned the term 'backronym.' I am way smarter than I was when I left the house today. I always thought this (or yawning) was an instinct based in keeping babies from staring directly into the sun, but I couldn't find any evidence of it via google.

MFS62 Aug 17 2012 10:26 AM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

Got any Ganjah, mom? http://screen.yahoo.com/jenna-s-family- ... 09668.html Never would have guessed. Later

TransMonk Aug 18 2012 05:36 AM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

Terry Collins managed the Duluth Huskies for the latter half of 2009 (the year before joining the Mets). The Huskies are in the same league as my town's collegiate summer baseball team. I had no idea until I somehow landed on Drew Smyly's wiki page early this morning.

Mets – Willets Point Aug 28 2012 10:05 AM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

Swedish people hate the Swedish Chef. Another thing, watching old clips of The Muppet Show I find the laughtrack to be overly assertive in it's laughiness and extremely off-putting. Has canned laughter been toned down on today's tv shows? I can't think of any shows I watch now that even have a laugh track?

Edgy MD Aug 28 2012 10:14 AM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

Most illuminating bit there is that they watch Donald Duck cartoons on Christmas eve. Huh?

The Second Spitter Aug 28 2012 10:19 AM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

metsmarathon wrote: Edgy DC wrote: Steve Austin not only had telescopic vision in his bionic eye, but night vision as well. that's why he was such a good wrestler What?

metsmarathon Aug 28 2012 12:21 PM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

stone cold steve austin. surely, i'm not the only one who'se heard of him.

Mets – Willets Point Aug 28 2012 04:09 PM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

Edgy DC wrote: Most illuminating bit there is that they watch Donald Duck cartoons on Christmas eve. Huh? The German New Year's Eve tradition of Dinner for One is perhaps even more bizarre.

MFS62 Aug 29 2012 07:35 AM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

Mitt Romney did his Mormon missionary stint in France. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/pol ... le4507082/ Later

TheOldMole Sep 09 2012 06:18 PM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

Orchids are a fairly regular part of our diet. Vanilla is an orchid.

Ceetar Sep 09 2012 06:31 PM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

TheOldMole wrote: Orchids are a fairly regular part of our diet. Vanilla is an orchid. chocolate is a fruit.

The Second Spitter Sep 09 2012 10:08 PM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

The Second Spitter wrote: metsmarathon wrote: Steve Austin not only had telescopic vision in his bionic eye, but night vision as well. that's why he was such a good wrestler What? metsmarathon wrote: stone cold steve austin. surely, i'm not the only one who'se heard of him. [youtube]YE9S3zQx_2k[/youtube]

Chad Ochoseis Sep 17 2012 07:39 PM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

China has only one time zone.

Benjamin Grimm Sep 19 2012 11:05 AM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

It's not illegal to masturbate on a stranger in the New York subways.

Edgy MD Sep 19 2012 02:02 PM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

Yesterday, I was blissfully ignorant of a child celebrity named Honey Boo Boo. Today I've read a dozen references to her. I want it to be yesterday. And I want subway humping to be retroactively illegal. Can I have that too? What the hell is wrong with people?

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Sep 19 2012 02:59 PM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

Benjamin Grimm wrote: It's not illegal to masturbate on a stranger in the New York subways. Says who? It may not be felonious or likely to draw jail time, unless there's force involved... but I'm fairly certain it's assault or (misdemeanor) sex abuse, at the very least.

The Second Spitter Sep 19 2012 04:10 PM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr wrote: Benjamin Grimm wrote: It's not illegal to masturbate on a stranger in the New York subways. Says who? David Cone.

Benjamin Grimm Sep 19 2012 05:17 PM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

Darnell Hardware was able to get off, in more ways than one: http://www.nydailynews.com/opinion/subw ... bled=false

MFS62 Sep 20 2012 09:45 AM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

Its more than just a "perversion of justice". Or was the double entendre of the sub-headline intentional? Later

Frayed Knot Sep 23 2012 06:15 PM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

That David Byrne - Talking Heads, solo career, writer, grammys, oscars, etc. - is, by birth, Scottish. And then he grew up in Canada and later the Baltimore area although is still a British subject and has never applied to be a U.S. citizen despite living here for more than 50 years. I don't reckon it had ever occurred to me to ponder where Byrne did grow up but, if it had, I seriously doubt any of those places would have been high on my list of guesses.

Mets – Willets Point Sep 24 2012 10:05 AM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

Vatican City has a national football team.

Kong76 Oct 04 2012 06:32 AM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

Our country deploys it's military into deserts without providing sunscreen or lip balm to them? How many freakin' billions of dollars (per day probably) are spent on the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and they can't afford ChapStick?

metirish Oct 04 2012 06:45 AM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

Mets – Willets Point wrote: Vatican City has a national football team. they play with kids balls?

Kong76 Oct 04 2012 06:56 AM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

. [bigpurple:12lh25ba]d'oh![/bigpurple:12lh25ba]

MFS62 Oct 05 2012 08:41 PM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

MLB has a Warren Spahn Award. And the 2012 winner is ... http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/84633 ... pahn-award Later

Mets – Willets Point Oct 10 2012 11:04 AM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

The Big Bang theory was first postulated by a Roman Catholic priest from Belgium. I imagine that religious people who hate science and scientific people who hate religion are equally irked by that fact.

TheOldMole Oct 15 2012 10:43 AM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

The pumpkin field where Whitaker Chambers found the documents that convicted Alger Hiss is now a national monument.

Benjamin Grimm Oct 15 2012 11:07 AM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

Was it a "sincere" pumpkin patch?

TheOldMole Oct 15 2012 07:58 PM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

Apparently not.

cooby Oct 16 2012 02:14 PM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

Kong76 wrote: Our country deploys it's military into deserts without providing sunscreen or lip balm to them? How many freakin' billions of dollars (per day probably) are spent on the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and they can't afford ChapStick? I could probably supply half the military just with the chapsticks in my purse

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Oct 20 2012 10:55 PM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012 Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Oct 21 2012 09:00 AM

The '80s ABC sitcom "Mr. Belvedere" was based on a character created in a 1947 Gwen Davenport novel, adapted in the 1948 movie Sitting Pretty and a series of other films featuring the same character. It's like finding out that Who's The Boss? grew out of a Virginia Woolf-penned domestic satire.

Frayed Knot Oct 21 2012 08:39 AM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

The late songwriter Doc Pomus -- 'Save the Last Dance for Me'; 'This Magic Moment'; 'Viva Las Vegas' -- was the brother of celebrity divorce attorney Raoul Felder

John Cougar Lunchbucket Oct 23 2012 09:21 AM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

Undeniable Quick-Service Fried Chicken FACTS KFC: ~15,000 restaurants in 105 countries Popeyes: ~2,000 restaurants in 25 countries Church's: 1,700 restaurants in 23 countries Bojangles: ~500 restaurants in 10 states El Pollo Loco ~420 restaurants in 11 states KFC's CEO is a former Pepsi and Pizza Hut exec. Popeyes CEO is a former KFC exec. Bjangles CEO is a former Hardee's exec. Church's CEO is a former Cosi exec. El Pollo Loco's CEO is a former Krispy Kreme exec.

Frayed Knot Oct 23 2012 09:29 AM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

How big is the Pollos Hermanos chain? Their former CEO is currently missing one side of his face.

Mets – Willets Point Oct 23 2012 09:34 AM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

Frayed Knot wrote: The late songwriter Doc Pomus -- 'Save the Last Dance for Me'; 'This Magic Moment'; 'Viva Las Vegas' -- was the brother of celebrity divorce attorney Raoul Felder I heard a great story about Pomus about a year or so ago. He was a crippled by polio and confined to a wheelchair. At his wedding reception he watched his wife dancing with all of their friends and the seeds of "Save the Last Dance for Me" were sown.

Frayed Knot Oct 23 2012 11:13 AM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

Mets – Willets Point wrote: Frayed Knot wrote: The late songwriter Doc Pomus -- 'Save the Last Dance for Me'; 'This Magic Moment'; 'Viva Las Vegas' -- was the brother of celebrity divorce attorney Raoul Felder I heard a great story about Pomus about a year or so ago. He was a crippled by polio and confined to a wheelchair. At his wedding reception he watched his wife dancing with all of their friends and the seeds of "Save the Last Dance for Me" were sown. Yup. I had heard that same story years ago via Vin Scelsa's radio program with the added nugget that someone in the family (daughter I think) years later found the saved napkin from the wedding reception with the beginnings of the song scrawled on it. I had known about that song, and about his physical problems, and was reasonably sure that it didn't say 'Doc Pomus' on his birth certificate. It just wasn't until a few days ago that I found out that he was born Jerome Felder in Brooklyn, the son of Jewish immigrants and the older brother (by 14 years) of attorney Raoul. Pomus died in 1991.

Edgy MD Nov 06 2012 08:25 PM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

The Lost Boys spawned two sequels.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Nov 07 2012 08:15 AM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

The London band The Outfield was originally known as The Baseball Boys. They named themselves not after the sport, necessarily, but after the Baseball Furies in THE WARRIORS.

TheOldMole Nov 07 2012 11:40 AM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

When F. Scott Fitzgerald reported to Fort Leavenworth for basic training in 1918, his commanding officer was Captain Dwight D. Eisenhower.

Edgy MD Nov 07 2012 11:45 AM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

Ike leaving for Leavenworth and Fitzgerald after breaking his leg in the USMA trying to tackle Jim Thorpe. The sorts of random historical encounters you usually only get in a Tad Richards novel.

HahnSolo Nov 07 2012 03:46 PM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: The London band The Outfield was originally known as The Baseball Boys. They named themselves not after the sport, necessarily, but after the Baseball Furies in THE WARRIORS. Curse you for sending me to Youtube to look at obscure Outfield videos.

Mets – Willets Point Nov 26 2012 02:33 PM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

Some minor league hockey teams have a tradition called the Teddy Bear Toss where fans bring a teddy bear to the game and after the home teams scores their first goal the fans throw the teddy bears onto the ice. The bears are then collected and donated to hospitals and charities. I'm generally in favor of large numbers of people doing insane things for a good cause and its quite a site to see. Here is the Bakersfield Condors' Teddy Bear Toss goal from this past weekend. [youtube:1cqgf2ox]AMps4i1uW7Q#![/youtube:1cqgf2ox]

Frayed Knot Dec 27 2012 07:03 AM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

Richard Goodwin, the young gov't lawyer who was the driving force in uncovering the quiz shows scandals of the late 1950s (I recently re-saw 'Quiz Show' for the first time in ages - he's the guy portrayed by Robert Morrow*) is the Goodwin to which author Doris Kearns Goodwin is married. Goodwin was married at the time of those events, and is portrayed as such in the movie, but she died in her early 40s. Doris Kearns is his second wife. * - Good movie, although Morrow's attempt at a Boston accent comes off sounding absurd. - All the protagonists in that film: Goodwin (81), Charles Van Doren (86), Herb Stempel (86) are still alive.

Edgy MD Dec 27 2012 07:49 AM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

Doris Kearns Goodwin on Ralph Branca's alleged Jewishness: “I’m Catholic and my husband is Jewish and he said, ‘Oh, we get blamed for everything; now we’ll get blamed for this!’ ” she said from Concord, Mass., referring to Thomson’s home run. “I said, ‘No, he was brought up Catholic.’ And my son Joe said, ‘I’ll get double blame!’ ”

Benjamin Grimm Dec 27 2012 07:53 AM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

Good thing Mel Gibson wasn't a Brooklyn Dodgers fan.

Edgy MD Jan 11 2013 09:26 AM Re: Things you learned only recently in 2012

Just picked up Wait 'Til Next Year and learned DKG's father, Michael Francis Aloysius Kearns, died of a heart attack watching the 1972 Mets on TV. Made a brief and failed attempt to find out the day of death to see if I could figure out which game.