Answering some questions

Roger asked me some questions, so I'll answer them here.

1. There was a lot of conversation about whether or not to rebuild New Orleans after Katrina. Should we [be] rebuilding in the desert after these annual fires, with water at such a premium?

If I had my way, we'd all leave the desert to the freakin' scorpions. The problem isn't the rebuilding, it's that no one wants to admit we have a water problem. If someone suggested we shouldn't rebuild because of the water problem, they'd have to address the water problem, and no one wants that. I think it would be the perfect time, really. So no, we shouldn't be blithely rebuilding unless we can figure out how to supply everyone.

2. All-time favorite pitcher and position player, and why.

That's a tough one. Mike Schmidt is my favorite position player, because he was the best third baseman of all time (screw you, Brooks Robinson!). He never hit for average very well, but he hit a bunch of home runs in an era where 35 led the league, and he was the best defensive third baseman ever. Plus, he played his entire career in Philadelphia, which was nice.

As for pitcher, I don't know if I have one. Steve Carlton was my favorite growing up, for a lot of the same reasons as Schmidt - he played for the Phillies, he was the best lefthander in the game for a decade, he won crucial games for them - but then he retired and went nuts, so my love for him is tempered by my knowledge that he's insane (and not in a good way). I've always loved Lefty Grove, because he pitched for those great Athletics teams of 1929-1931, and from what I've read about him, he was unhittable for five years. And I like that he won his 300th game and then quite.

3. How many major league sporting events have you attended, roughly?

Probably 50 Phillies games, 2 Diamondbacks games, a Philadelphia Stars (USFL) game, and two Cardinals game (they played the Eagles both times). So I'd say around 60. Unless you count Penn State football games, which I'd count as "major" (they draw 100,000 fans, after all). That puts it at close to 80. And I saw an Australian Rules Football game in Melbourne.

4. How has Seinfeld held up? What still works and what feels dated?

Pretty well, I'd say. Nothing really feels dated because they weren't really into topical humor all that much. I mean, the O. J. references are dated, obviously, but they won't stop being funny until everyone who's aware of the case is dead. I think it's one of those comedies that will remain a classic for a long time, because it's about people being jerks - and who doesn't love that?

5. Your analysis of the Phillies' 10,000 loss. Did you know that Harry Kalas broadcast 29% of them?

I assume Roger means their 10,000th loss, but that was just a typical game in Philadelphia - lots of home runs and poor pitching by the home team. If he means their 10,000 losses, we have to remember that the team has been around longer than any team except two, and for many years, they were simply awful. These days they can't get over the hump, but they've been a decent team for five years. They were also the best team in baseball for the years 1976-1983, with only one World Championship to show for it. The biggest issue I have with the Phillies is that the media in the country hasn't romanticized their futility like they have the Cubs and the Red Sox, so there's no cult around them to sustain fan interest when they suck so bad. The Cubs suck as bad as the Phillies do, but everyone loves them. When people talk about the Phillies sucking, it's not with a wistful nostalgic longing for simpler times - because they sucked then, too. I guess the Phillies should have played in an ivy-covered stadium without lights for decades, and then maybe people would have inordinate love for them instead of the losers in Chicago.

Kalas is a wonderful broadcaster. I heard on the Sunday broadcast that he had called 2900 losses. But he also got to call the only World Series win in franchise history. Plus, he got to work with Richie Ashburn for years. Not bad.

There you have it, Roger. The deal is, if you're reading this and you want me to ask you five questions, leave a request in the comments and I'll leave my questions in the comments. You can answer them there or at your own blog. I hope this gives you some insight into my twisted, bitter mind (I grew up in Philadelphia - of course I'm bitter and twisted!).

Top Ten Day: My favorite cities

I was already thinking about this post prior to this morning, but then Colin Cowherd, the blowhard on ESPN radio, opened his mouth. He was talking about people who hate Los Angeles, and how the only people who hate Los Angeles are the people who can't "make it" there because they're losers. He took a swipe at Altoona while he did this (which is pretty funny, but still, Altoona's a perfectly nice town). Cowherd is a fun guy to listen to because he's so very, very wrong so very, very often, but when he's right, it's interesting. I'm not going to say he's "wrong" in this instance, because I've been in Los Angeles for the grand total of one afternoon in my life, but Cowherd strikes me as a guy who is going to have a heart attack at 50 because he's all about making coin and climbing the ladder. Did he ever think that maybe people don't like Los Angeles for perfectly legitimate reasons? Lots of movie stars, who presumably have "made it," move away from Los Angeles because they don't like it. I love Cowherd, because he's a tool. An entertaining tool, but a tool nonetheless.

Anyway, let's run down my favorite cities! These are cities I have spent a some time in, even if it's only a few hours. There are plenty of cities in the world that I would love to visit, and there are plenty of cities I went to in my wayward youth, but I don't remember them, so they won't be on the list (sorry, London). As for the definition of "city" ... well, it's like irony - I know it when I see it!

1. Portland, Oregon, United States. I have never made it much of a secret how much I love Portland. It's a decent-sized city, but it's not overwhelmingly huge. It has plenty of nice neighborhoods, it's pedestrian-friendly, it has a beautiful downtown, it's in a picturesque valley, and it has a lot to do in terms of theater, movies, events, and other interesting things. I have heard that since we left, the downtown area has gone downhill, which is a shame, because Portland's downtown was a wonderful place to just wander around and watch people or examine the architecture. It's close to nature, it's close to the mountains, it's close to the ocean, and the weather is relatively decent. Yes, it rains a lot, but not as much as you might think, and the winters are usually mild, while the summers are spectacular. I would love to move back there. Perhaps we will someday.

Web sites: The official site, the Visitors' Association, a guide to the city, the Wikipedia entry.

2. Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Long-time readers (all eight of you) could have guessed that these two cities would be at the top of the list. I spent five months in Melbourne in 1992 and loved it. I would move the family there in an instant. It has a wonderful climate, it's on a big bay that leads into the ocean, so it's on a big body of water but doesn't get buffeted by the waves, and it's a beautiful place. The city is ridiculously clean, and the tram system is excellent - you could live your whole life there without driving a car. The people are very friendly (Australians tend to be), there's a pub on every corner, there's a lot to do, and it's close to some wonderful places around Australia, including Tasmania, which is a spectacular place. It's a thoroughly modern city that retains its Victorian charm. I highly recommend it if you're in the area.

Web sites: The official site, the tourist site, things to do around town, and the Wikipedia entry.

3. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. I grew up in the suburbs of Philly, and although it has gone through some hard times in the past thirty years, I still love the town. It's actually a lot more interesting than it gets credit for, not only for the wonderful historical sites, but just for the things to do around town. The history, of course, is the main draw, but it also has those fantastic old neighborhoods that you get in older cities, and the waterfront area has become much nicer in recent years. The tonier areas are also very nice, and the sports teams, although losers for most of their existence, have that quality about them that makes them lovable even when they stink. I hope that Philly continues to revive as it has done recently (not much, but a little) because despite some absolutely horrible areas and some sketchy history (Wilson Goode, the mayor, remember, bombed his own city in 1985), it is a proud and beautiful place.

Web sites: The official site, the Visitors' Guide, a historical guide, and the Wikipedia entry.

4. Seattle, Washington, United States. I have never lived in Seattle, but I have visited plenty of times, and we wish we had the money to live there. It's bigger and more cosmopolitan than Portland, and its setting is, amazingly, more spectacular than Portland's, as its downtown is situated on a narrow strip of land between two bodies of water - Puget Sound (well, Elliott Bay, really) and Lake Washington. It's also built on a hill, so it's tough to walk around downtown. The neighborhoods around the central core retain their own charm, and there are always many interesting things to do. The weather is worse than in Portland, and it doesn't quite have as friendly an atmosphere, but it's a gorgeous place that everyone should visit at least once in their lives, if only to take the Underground Tour!

Web sites: The official site, tourist guide, entertainment guide, and the Wikipedia entry.

5. Paris, France. I haven't been to Paris in over 20 years, but I spent a week there in 1985 and fell in love with it. It's a great city not only for the art and history, but for the sense of community you get as you walk through the neighborhoods and through alleys and along the river and into tiny little cafés. It's amazing that, for the most part, Paris has resisted the modernization of the rest of the world yet still feels like a modern city, despite the sense of history all around. It's a pedestrian-friendly city, and there is far more to do than I could ever tell here. Of course, for a 14-year-old, the highlight might have been the naked hookers. Just standing on the street. Yowza! I would love to go back and spend some time, because we saw far less than it has to offer, I'm sure. Some day we'll get there!

Web sites: The official site, the tourists' site, and the Wikipedia entry.

6. New York City, New York, United States. I have often thought there would be only two ways I could live in New York: if I had been born there, or if I was filthy rich. If I was a native, the various things you need to know to survive in New York would be ingrained, and if I was filthy rich, I could live in Manhattan and have things done for me. I love visiting New York, even if I probably wouldn't be able to live there. It's unlike any city I've ever been in, and I doubt if there are many cities like it. It's not that it's big, it's that it's overwhelmingly big, with something to see on every street corner. It assaults your senses and attacks your emotions. Manhattan, obviously, is the center of the world in some sense, but it's amazing how organic the other boroughs are and how distinct they are. It's a wonderful city, and everyone should visit it once. Even if you don't like it, you have to experience it.

Web sites: The official site, a tourism site, another tourism site, and the Wikipedia entry.

7. New Orleans, Louisiana, United States. This is pre-Katrina, obviously, as I have only been there once, and it was in 1995. However, despite my feelings about reconstructing New Orleans under sea level in a flood plain, plus their unwillingness to admit culpability in owning slaves, I love the city. It has a wonderful old-world charm that is lacking in many American cities, and both the French Quarter and the Garden District are absolutely beautiful. Obviously, I love cities steeped in history, and New Orleans is one of those. It's very sad what happened to it, but that still doesn't mean they should rebuild it in the exact same condition, because it will happen again.

Web sites: The official site, a tourism site, Everything New Orleans, and the Wikipedia entry.

8. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. When I visited my aunt and uncle in Pittsburgh in 1984, there was no way I would have thought it might be a favorite city. It was dirty, depressed, and disgusting. However, when I returned in 1992 to see a friend of mine who went to school there, I was amazed by the reclamation project that Pittsburgh had become. It was clean, glistening, and the government had attracted lots of new development and had done a wonderful job making Pittsburgh a livable place. It's always been picturesque - downtown is on a spit of land at the confluence of three rivers and is surrounded by mountains (which gives it a weird, Gondolin-type feel), and the area to the north, where the university is, has a nice college town feel in the middle of a good-sized city. It's a city that doesn't get a lot of recognition on the national stage, but it has become a very nice place.

Web sites: The official site, a visitors' guide, and the Wikipedia entry.

9. Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. We spent a weekend here in 2001, and even though our car was broken into and a bunch of CDs stolen, it's still a very cool city. Downtown is on a peninsula that sticks like a thumb into Burrard Inlet, and it's a very nice area, with some fine buildings and plenty of things to do. It is connected to the north shore by Lions Gate Bridge and to the south by a narrow isthmus of land, and is surrounded by the Old Town area and an artists' colony. There is skiing almost within city limits, and lots of water (which is a plus). The weather is horrible, I'm sure (it was Memorial Day weekend and it was cold and rainy), but the setting is spectacular. You can see Vancouver in a bunch of movies, if you've never been there. Rumble in the Bronx was filmed there (ironically, given the title), as was The 6th Day. Those are two examples where you can see the city well.

Web sites: The official site, a tourism site, another entertainment site, and the Wikipedia entry.

10. Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. This is kind of a cheat, as I only spent one day in Sydney, but I really liked the city. It's a typical Australian city, in that it's very clean and very friendly. It's more modern than Melbourne, but not quite as charming. Its setting is very beautiful, and it has a lot of very nice neighborhoods surrounding the central business district. Sydney does retain a bit of old-school charm, as it's one of the oldest settlements in Australia, and the Rocks, its old core, is a tony place with nice houses where all the rich folk live. I wandered around town all day and saw the big sights, but didn't get to see as much as I would have liked. Maybe someday we'll get back there.

Web sites: The official site, a tourism site, things to do in town, and the Wikipedia entry.

Wow, that post took a while. I started it on Thursday afternoon and now it's Sunday afternoon. I was going to post some pictures, but that will make it even later. I'm lazy. So what are some of your favorite cities, all eight of my readers?

Returning to the Big Easy on Picture Day!

I'm taking a break from the week of short posts to post pictures of New Orleans. My mom is still in town, so I'll probably be back to short posts for the next few days. It's not that she demands a lot of my time, it's that I feel kind of guilty hanging out on the computer when she's here. She's my mom, after all - guilt is her thing!

But for now, we have New Orleans. We took a cruise along the Mississippi and checked some stuff out, and our tour guide told and showed us many fascinating things. Such as ... (imagine the drum roll, please) ... the World's Largest Sugar Refinery!

Now that's exciting!

That's not all we saw, of course (although after that, who wants to see more?). We got a nice view of downtown New Orleans:


We hung out a lot in the French Quarter, as you can probably understand. Here's a nice view down Royal Street:


And a side street off of Decatur:


We also visited a historical museum, where we learned about the wonderful slave code that made all the slaves so very happy to be slaves. At this museum they have Napoleon's death mask:

If you were to ask me why Napoleon's death mask is in a little museum in New Orleans, I'm sure I wouldn't be able to tell you. I honestly can't remember.

Finally, we visited the aquarium in the city, which is pretty cool. It has an albino alligator!


Krys got a picture of me in front of the shark tank. I'm sure she was hoping that through some miracle the shark would bust through and gobble me up, but I survived. Yes, I'm wearing a fanny pack. I'm a geek - so sue me.


So that was our trip to New Orleans. Like I said last week, I'm glad we went, because who knows if it will ever recover. Speaking of which, next week we have exciting pictures of the natural disaster that struck Portland while we lived there! Come back next week - same Bat-time, same Bat-blog!

Picture Day returns and heads out to the Big Easy!

Sorry I missed last week. I know so many people look forward to Mondays to check out my wonderful photos, so I apologize. It was a small oversight and I'll try not to let it happen again!!!!

Moving on, in October 1995 Krys and I went on our honeymoon. Close readers will note that this was 15 months after we were married, but we call it a honeymoon, so it's a honeymoon! This was the first time we could scrape together enough money to go anywhere, and we went to New Orleans. Now that New Orleans has been destroyed, I'm glad we went, because it really is (was?) a fascinating place, and although I stick by my contention that it was bone-headed to put a city there in the first place, it's a shame it was wiped out, because it is unlike any other American city. It would be nice if it could come back strong (of course, it still shouldn't be there - it's below sea level, people!)

So we'll have pictures of the Big Easy for a week or two. We took a lot o' photographs!

Here's the Saint Louis Cathedral. Saint Louis, of course, led two Crusades against the Muslims (he died on the second one, in Tunis), and upheld the right of kings to rule absolutely when Simon de Montfort wanted his blessing in his war against Henry III. So of course he was canonized, and of course Americans, those lovers of freedom and democracy, go around naming cities and churches after him.


One thing I like about old cities and cities that aren't necessarily perfectly planned are quirky streets. This is a cool little alley alongside the cathedral. Cool little alleys are cool.


Why did I take this picture? Apparently, that fence is famous. Why? It's the Cornstalk Fence! See, the tops look like cornstalks and are painted yellow. And it's famous!


We took a trolley ride through the Garden District and marveled at the gorgeous houses. I took a bunch of pictures, but I'll only post these two. People actually live in these. Neat.




We took a tour of the Lafayette Cemetery - during the day, so it was decidedly un-spooky. As you should know, cemeteries in N.O. are keen because they can't be underground. So we get nifty mausoleums (mausolea?) above the ground and we get scenes like this:


On one of the days we went on a bus tour of some of the plantations along the Mississippi. This was a nice trip but it almost made me bash my head against the window of the bus and is a reason why I can't live in the South. In the city we toured a museum about the history of the area, and we learned about the Code by which slave-owners and slaves lived. The tour guide kept talking about how much better it was for the slaves in Louisiana than the rest of the South. The bus driver kept saying the same thing. Listen, Southerners: slavery is evil. Deal with it and get over it. What your ancestors did 150 years ago shouldn't make you try to justify it in your historical presentations. Sure, maybe slaves were treated "better" in Louisiana than elsewhere in the South. But guess what? It doesn't change the fact that white people owned other human beings! It was very frustrating. My sister always talks about how wonderful northern Virginia is and how it's not like the rest of the South at all. I could probably live there for a year or two, but then somebody would say something idiotic and I'd lose my mind. So no thank you. I know there is racism everywhere, but in the South it's a little ridiculous.

But the houses sure are nice. This is Nottaway. Nice to have more money than God and not have to pay income taxes and have no labor costs. Look what it gets you!




So that's New Orleans, part one. Join us next week when revisit the glory that was once the Big Easy!