My Favorite Commercial

I've been singing this song in my head for the last couple of days.

Dancing Traveler

More info on this guy: http://www.wherethehellismatt.com/.

Brett Favre = Cher?

I don't really like Rick Reilly, the new ESPN sports journalist who migrated from Sports Illustrated, but I did find this video entertaining:

The Luck of Baseball

I read the book "Moneyball" a couple months ago and finally am getting around to writing a blog post about it. The book centers are the Oakland Athletics management team -- more specifically, their GM Billy Beane -- and a fresh approach they starting taking a few years ago at analyzing players based on statistics rather than on a scout's subjective analysis. Here are some of the interesting tidbits I picked up from the book regarding the game of baseball:

1. On-base percentage and slugging percentage are the most objective statistics for measuring a hitter's success. Other statistics such as batting average and RBIs are overrated because they have more to do with luck and situational consequences than a hitter's ability.
2. For measuring pitchers, the amount of strikeouts they get and the amount of home runs they give up are the most objective statistics. Strikeouts indicate a pitcher had good enough stuff that the hitter couldn't succeed on 3 pitches; home runs indicate a pitcher was bad enough that the hitter could hit the ball very far.
3. A lot of baseball comes down to luck. In a given three game series between the worst team in the league and the best team in the league, if the worst team gets enough good breaks, they could easily win 2 or 3 of the games even though they are not the better team. The best indication of a team's ability is to look over a large set of data, i.e. games. Maybe that explains why there's so many games each team plays (162 to be exact) in a baseball season.

Reading this book has made me re-evaluate baseball statistics and how they are used to measure players; it has even made me brainstorm possible new statistics to incorporate into baseball. Maybe I can be the one to invent the next important baseball statistic that can objectively evaluate hitters or pitchers. Maybe people will pay me money for this new statistic. Maybe I can be famous for it and the statistic will be named after me.

Or maybe I can just continue sitting on my recliner watching baseball and hope the Brewers get lucky enough this year to make the playoffs.

Sewing 2

The second thing I made this week was and apron. I was baking a lot a few weeks ago (when I had the giant zucchini) and my friend AmyJo came over. I was wearing an apron that my mom had made for me at the time and she commented that she has never had an apron. I love my apron so I set out on a mission to make one for her. I actually bought a pattern for $2 but then decided that I wasn't really into following someone else's directions. So, I just used the apron my mom made me as a guide. It was fun. Also, in case you were wondering the perfect TV show to watch while sewing is Felicity. My friend Jenna has all the seasons so I borrowed the first one and am 1/3 of the way through. You don't have to do as much watching and listening to the dialog is very entertaining.

Finally, if anyone reads this blog because they like to read Matt's posts I'm hoping he posts soon. He has discussed a couple of posts with me but he just hasn't done it yet. So, keep waiting and you might be rewarded.

Sewing

One of my goals for the summer was to work on some sewing projects so I got my sewing machine out last week and visited the fabric store. I founds some cute fabric on sale and decided to make a purse. I actually ended up making 2. So the one on the left if the purse rightside out and the one on the right is the purse inside out so you can see the lining. There were a couple of instructions that confused me a little, but I decided not to call my mom and try it on my own. And I did it. I guess I learned something from all the years of sewing my mom made me do. Below is a picture of me dorkily modeling one of the lovely purses so you can get an idea of what size it is.

State of Fear

Well, I did something I've never done before...bought the same book twice. Ooops. When the book State of Fear came out by Michael Crichton I just had to have it. I couldn't even wait for the library to get and available copy. So, I went out and bought the hardback copy. I read about 10 pages and then quit. Now fast forward 2 years...I was in a train station in Germany perusing the English section of the book store while Matt was off paying for the bathroom and I saw the book State of Fear. Of course I remembered that I had started the book once but had no recollection of actually purchasing it. I was seized with the same need to read the book then and there, so I bought the paperback copy. I was able to read about 1/3 of the book on my plane ride home from Germany but haven't picked it up since the plane. I now own 2 copies of a book I can't seem to read. It's a pretty good story so far but I have a problem with books that I own. I tend to not read them because I can read them anytime I want. Then I go to the library and check out way more books than I can read and try to plow through those before they are due and forget about books I've bought. My goal is to finish State of Fear before school starts. Does anybody want a copy? I'll give it to you for free.