12-17-08: Free to be... DLD

by Poppy on Dec 17, 2008 12:21 PM PST Comment 84 comments

I'm having a great week! (No, really.)

On Monday, I had my last two finals, which were a big relief. One of those involved a 20-minute group presentation that was absolutely terrifying and I thought I was going to cry by the time it was over. But I survived! I'm not sure how I survived, since public speaking tends to make me hold my breath, and 20 minutes of not breathing is usually fatal.

Also Monday, a journalism final was canceled. Beautiful! Canceled exams are my favorite. The prof emailed us over the weekend: "You've all written enough, and I've graded enough, so I'm canceling the final." I think "you've written enough" is a bizarre reason for canceling a journalism exam, but who am I to argue?

Yesterday, I had my first performance evaluation at my little just-enough-to-pay-for-tuition job. I planned on it being about half an hour to 45 minutes, based on the "self-evaluation" thing I'd had to fill out beforehand. But it was only ten minutes of my boss telling me how awesome I am and how happy she is that I came to work for her and then giving me a 17% raise. So that went well.

The sun is out today and I'm finally starting work on a couple of projects that have been on hold for three months. So much goodness!

It can only mean that tomorrow Billy Beane will trade Mark Ellis for, I don't know, a cupful of single-A pitchers or something. And then sign Barry Bonds.

Yes, there are links, too!

Another good thing in my week: no more Furcal hype! You certainly don't have to agree with me, but many of you know that I think hype is obnoxious, no matter how good the player might be. I'm really only linking that article because I love this lead:

On Tuesday shortstop Rafael Furcal, object of the A's affection this offseason, headed for Atlanta at the speed of money.

And I'd also like to thank andeux, who apparently knows me well, for this. I didn't even know about it.

From Deadspin: East Coast bank robber with shifting loyalties.

Best comment in that thread: "The Phillies hat bandit's plan was foiled when his getaway car was tipped over and torched."

OH, something else that makes me incredibly happy (although I don't think it's news from the current week, and I'm sure it's already been posted here somewhere): F-Rod being a Met. I'm so ecstatic that I won't have to watch that freak having seizures anymore, I just squatted in the middle of my living room, arms outstretched, and howled to the ceiling.

The 49ers' Patrick Willis was named as a starter for the Pro Bowl. More happy! I love Willis.

And now it's time to go have lunch. Nao!

funny pictures of dogs with captions

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Comments

I know what I’m getting xbx and mikeA for xmas.

I'll send you a postcard from Space Mountain. @('.')@

by monkeyball on Dec 17, 2008 12:25 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

mb, how about a fanpost

with your entire Christmas list for AN’ers.

I nominated you because I figured you’d do it the most justice.

I'm here to talk about the past.

by 67MARQUEZ on Dec 17, 2008 3:31 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

hm, good idea

I'll send you a postcard from Space Mountain. @('.')@

by monkeyball on Dec 17, 2008 3:42 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

how to get over a fear of public speaking....

just picture the entire audience naked. Oh, and Mark Ellis. A room full of naked Ellis’ would make any presentation easier… :)

There's no crying in baseball!

by gigglingone on Dec 17, 2008 12:44 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

It depends on whether Poppy thinks Ellis is hot

I’d assume that presenting in front of a bunch of hot naked members of the sex of your attraction would be nerveracking.

Picture the entire audience of random people naked works better.

"And you just don't get it, you keep it copacetic..."

by Blicks on Dec 17, 2008 12:46 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

{AN starts turning up in google searches for "hot naked members"}

I'll send you a postcard from Space Mountain. @('.')@

by monkeyball on Dec 17, 2008 12:48 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Didn't you used to play the oboe with them?

Ray: "How fun is it to be up here playing in the Big Leagues?"
Gio: "It's *SUPER* fun!!!"

by Poppy on Dec 17, 2008 11:18 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I didn't think it was possible to do that

I'll send you a postcard from Space Mountain. @('.')@

by monkeyball on Dec 18, 2008 9:32 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Who DOESN'T think Ellis is hot?!

Sacrilege!

A's Strategy 2009: "Whoever is not hurt plays" - Syphon, 11/10/08

by schmifty on Dec 17, 2008 1:01 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Who DOESN'T think Ellis is hot?!

Sacrilege!

A's Strategy 2009: "Whoever is not hurt plays" - Syphon, 11/10/08

by schmifty on Dec 17, 2008 1:02 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

He's so hot you had to say it twice!

This party's over

by lynnzgal on Dec 17, 2008 1:02 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

A room full of

naked Mark Ellis’s…… What am I supposed to say to that?!?!!?!!
I agree with Schmifty. I think.

Awww… Unicorn's optimistic. And a cheeseball. That’s cute. ~Whiteshoes40

by #14fan on Dec 17, 2008 1:09 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Maybe he'll show you his Unicorn Power.

A's Strategy 2009: "Whoever is not hurt plays" - Syphon, 11/10/08

by schmifty on Dec 17, 2008 1:48 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Having the soul of a unicorn

a naked Mark Ellis can only be seen by virgins.

Just sayin’.

by green star oakland on Dec 17, 2008 4:55 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Ugh

I'll send you a postcard from Space Mountain. @('.')@

by monkeyball on Dec 17, 2008 12:45 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

If true, what a creep!

Could this be the result of steroid use?

This party's over

by lynnzgal on Dec 17, 2008 12:56 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

He should've stuck to taking showers with Jason Kendall.

Ray: "How fun is it to be up here playing in the Big Leagues?"
Gio: "It's *SUPER* fun!!!"

by Poppy on Dec 17, 2008 11:19 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Maybe it’s Furcal after all, and not Kinzer, who’s the dipstick:

"I’m embarrassed and I’m sure Frank is embarrassed," Kinzer said.

I'll send you a postcard from Space Mountain. @('.')@

by monkeyball on Dec 17, 2008 12:46 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

While I don't necessary hope his back goes out on opening day

I’ll certainly get a little pleasure if it does.

In search of a new signature. Say something funny and you may see your comment here!

by DMOAS on Dec 17, 2008 1:07 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Best. Offseason. DLD. Ever.

or at least In. A. While.

"God doesn't pay attention to your cute little hypotheticals." -- Jeff from LL

by oblique on Dec 17, 2008 1:03 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

It's the best one right now

"You know, a long time ago being crazy meant something. Nowadays everybody's crazy."

-Charles Manson

by kaweahkaweah on Dec 17, 2008 2:05 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

You have incredibly low standards, don't you?

Ray: "How fun is it to be up here playing in the Big Leagues?"
Gio: "It's *SUPER* fun!!!"

by Poppy on Dec 17, 2008 11:20 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I'm telling all my ex-girlfriends you said that.

"God doesn't pay attention to your cute little hypotheticals." -- Jeff from LL

by oblique on Dec 18, 2008 12:18 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Furcal now may be staying in LA...

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/blog/index?entryID=3774929&name=olney_buster

"I'm not going to buy my kids an encyclopedia. Let them walk to school like I did." -Yogi Berra

by brenarlo on Dec 17, 2008 1:18 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

I'm happy we do not have this Furcal guy on our team.

Yes, even if that mean we have to start the year with “crash”

"RIP: UserID: 553"

by Masaryk on Dec 17, 2008 2:17 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I just heard an interview with Frank Wren, and he said Furcal and the Braves had

reached an agreement and that wren had even sent the paper work to Furcal’s agent. So it looks like Furcal went back on his word and screwed the Braves over.

by Erin6 on Dec 17, 2008 2:35 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Wow. That's pretty bad.

by mikev on Dec 17, 2008 2:45 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I think in the end the A's and the Braves were lucky in not getting Furcal. It's not worth

dealing with someone like that.

by Erin6 on Dec 17, 2008 3:12 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

According to Olney -- who looks worst in all this?

Why, our wealthy friends across the Bay, who would have happily paid the fickle Furkle $13M/year, or $3M+/season over market. Sabean must have compromising photos of Magowan and Neukom in flagrante delicto.

The meaning of life is not so much 'found,' as it is 'made.' --Opus

by The Dogfather on Dec 17, 2008 3:00 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Found on BTF

Rollie Fingers’ Guide to Sporting a Sweet Handlebar ‘Stache.
Best part:

"I was in Chicago at the airport and there was this couple in front of me and they’ve got a little 5-year-old girl. She keeps turning around and looking at me. And all the sudden, she turns around and kicks me right in the shins. Her parents turn around and say, ‘Honey, what are you doing!’ and she looks up at me and says, ‘Why were you so mean to Peter Pan?’ She thought I was Captain Hook. It was right around the time that movie, ‘Hook’ came out. I just started busting out laughing. I was just glad she didn’t have pointed shoes."

Thanks for tomorrow 'cause I've had enough

by andeux on Dec 17, 2008 1:47 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Dumbest movie?

Red Dawn. It’s on now.

Apparently a 25th anniversary edition is coming out.

Why?

"You know, a long time ago being crazy meant something. Nowadays everybody's crazy."

-Charles Manson

by kaweahkaweah on Dec 17, 2008 2:01 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

wolverines!!

by nickolai on Dec 17, 2008 2:33 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

It's such a shitty movie...

I found myself rooting for the Commies.

"You know, a long time ago being crazy meant something. Nowadays everybody's crazy."

-Charles Manson

by kaweahkaweah on Dec 17, 2008 3:49 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

In former Soviet Union, Commies root for you

I'll send you a postcard from Space Mountain. @('.')@

by monkeyball on Dec 17, 2008 3:50 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

all that hate is gonna burn you up, kid

it keeps me warm

(lousy movie)

A's v Giants "is kind of like the difference between going to see the Ramones and going to see the Bee Gees. A's fans will go see the Ramones." -BB 07/27/05

by xbhaskarx on Dec 17, 2008 9:45 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Finals?

Poppy, didn’t realize you were a student too.

“You’ve all written enough, and I’ve graded enough, so I’m canceling the final.”

Wow. I wish he would’ve been my prof.

I just got out of my Latin final and I am fried. I want to scream. Maybe throw something.

by JLaff on Dec 17, 2008 2:07 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

How about a shoe or two?

In search of a new signature. Say something funny and you may see your comment here!

by DMOAS on Dec 17, 2008 2:09 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I have been to many press conferences

Throwing a shoe NEVER crossed my mind. Had my Latin final been given via press conference, somehow, yes, a show would’ve been thrown. I apologize to the AN Latinists, but that’s just how I feel right now.

by JLaff on Dec 17, 2008 2:13 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Here you go

Virtual shoe-throwing

by green star oakland on Dec 17, 2008 4:58 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

hey, no apology necessary

after i finished my final exam (which i believe was fluid dynamics IV), i went on a train aided bender and woke up on the floor of a house three counties away.

i think i know the feeling

BB should send scouts to watch cricket players.

by alea iacta est on Dec 17, 2008 11:37 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

caliga iacta est!

"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s

by Nick on Dec 18, 2008 10:56 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Hint:

The professors second reason was the real one.

by ohmangoAs on Dec 17, 2008 4:38 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Your professor doing it wrong

I give finals…i just don’t grade them…..

"...in baseball you wear a cap." -- george carlin

by Hot Cup Joe on Dec 17, 2008 5:26 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

LOL (shhhhh...)

The meaning of life is not so much 'found,' as it is 'made.' --Opus

by The Dogfather on Dec 17, 2008 5:27 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I just started studenting again this semester.

I’ve had a lot of educatus interruptus.

Ray: "How fun is it to be up here playing in the Big Leagues?"
Gio: "It's *SUPER* fun!!!"

by Poppy on Dec 17, 2008 11:26 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Wait. You're back in school to become ... a JOURNALIST?

Now, there’s a growth industry!

I was gonna ask you for $10 since you got a raise, but maybe you better keep it.

The meaning of life is not so much 'found,' as it is 'made.' --Opus

by The Dogfather on Dec 17, 2008 2:22 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

It was her second choice

Typewriter repair school was full.

by Englishmajor on Dec 17, 2008 3:24 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

It's The Hooker's Dilemma.

How do you get somebody to pay you for it, when everybody’s giving it away for free?

The meaning of life is not so much 'found,' as it is 'made.' --Opus

by The Dogfather on Dec 17, 2008 3:29 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Wow

I’m actually writing a paper on the screwed state of journalism. I am very tempted to use that.

by JLaff on Dec 17, 2008 3:32 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

If you do use it, can I have $10?

The meaning of life is not so much 'found,' as it is 'made.' --Opus

by The Dogfather on Dec 17, 2008 3:43 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I'm a journalist

You really think I’m gonna give you my monthly salary? Jeez.

by JLaff on Dec 17, 2008 3:46 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Howsabout $3 over 3 years, with a vesting option for a fourth dollar?

The meaning of life is not so much 'found,' as it is 'made.' --Opus

by The Dogfather on Dec 17, 2008 3:52 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

case in point

I'll send you a postcard from Space Mountain. @('.')@

by monkeyball on Dec 17, 2008 3:51 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah

It would be much better if she were doing something to alleviate our country’s alarming shortage of lawyers.

Thanks for tomorrow 'cause I've had enough

by andeux on Dec 17, 2008 3:34 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

LOL -- only a problem if the number of lawyers is not divisible by two.

The meaning of life is not so much 'found,' as it is 'made.' --Opus

by The Dogfather on Dec 17, 2008 3:44 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I thought Sal was a chemist

I'll send you a postcard from Space Mountain. @('.')@

by monkeyball on Dec 17, 2008 3:52 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

LOL

Ray: "How fun is it to be up here playing in the Big Leagues?"
Gio: "It's *SUPER* fun!!!"

by Poppy on Dec 17, 2008 11:27 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, you're right. I should switch my major back to art.

Ray: "How fun is it to be up here playing in the Big Leagues?"
Gio: "It's *SUPER* fun!!!"

by Poppy on Dec 17, 2008 11:28 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

This is a sweet radio interview from yesterday with Willie O’Ree, the first black player in the NHL, who was also blind in one eye during most of his professional career.

by Englishmajor on Dec 17, 2008 3:39 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

I can’t stay on-line long enough to find a link. This (being off-the-planet busy) happens to be every December.

I keep telling myself, “I’m going to enjoy the holidays this year”. But I have now gotten to the point where I am tired of lying to myself. So this year, I told myself, “Don’t plan on it, dude.”

Is anyone listening?

I'm here to talk about the past.

by 67MARQUEZ on Dec 17, 2008 3:40 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Did someone say something?

"However, at Elias, I think they keep track of the amount of sunflower seeds spit in a dugout each night." - Brad Ziegler, 8/7/08

by doctorK on Dec 17, 2008 3:53 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Were you successful in fighting off the crud?

This party's over

by lynnzgal on Dec 17, 2008 4:33 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

at least you were honest with yourself

this year. any way to postpone the “off the planet busy” to a non-holiday time?

Awww… Unicorn's optimistic. And a cheeseball. That’s cute. ~Whiteshoes40

by #14fan on Dec 17, 2008 9:59 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I keep misreading the title of this as "Free to be... OLD"

I'll send you a postcard from Space Mountain. @('.')@

by monkeyball on Dec 17, 2008 3:44 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

well, that's true...

by OaklandSi on Dec 17, 2008 5:38 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I'm trying to get in as much internet as I can before tomorrow's ice storm...

just in case we lose power or wireless. I’ll miss you guys.

But he came back. And there was much rejoicing.

by Jennifer on Dec 17, 2008 7:16 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Haha. Ice.

There was frost on the ground this morning when I was walking across the BART parking lot. Frost! Here!

Oh, the craziness.

by whiteshoes40 on Dec 17, 2008 7:24 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Oy, good luck

We had an ice storm here last Friday – and a lot of people are still without power. Lines & trees down everywhere. A tree fell on my coworker’s car, that was nice. Now we’re getting a big snowstorm on Friday. Whee!

A's Strategy 2009: "Whoever is not hurt plays" - Syphon, 11/10/08

by schmifty on Dec 17, 2008 7:43 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs