Way back in the day, when I was a naive youth making my first steps into the world of blogging, I wrote about the ending of a story being one of the most critical parts of a narrative and how much damage a bad ending can do. Who knew I would have been predicting the fate of one of my favorite game series: Mass Effect 3.
Browsing around on a brilliantly quiet Friday night, I ran across this quick gem of a post.
Image from Spokanephotos.com
She poses a great question – just where is home?
For me, it’s been the Spokane area. I’ve grown up knowing about the Bloomsday statues at Riverfront Park, the quickest way around the Division Street exit and that if you turn the wrong way on Sprague/Appleway in the Valley, you’re in for trouble. Sure, I’ve only ever lived in the Spokane area, but after visiting other cities, I wouldn’t have it any other way.
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard the argument that there isn’t anything to do in Spokane. I’m guilty of saying it, and even believing it, at some points in my life. But, I’m happy to call Spokane home. For my personality, likes/dislikes and overall self, it’s an almost perfect place to live.
In high school, we had a quick discussion about Spokane and what we did or didn’t like about it. Spokane is big enough to attract big entertainment names (Newsboys, Elton John, Brad Paisley, the Mythbusters, B.B. King and Tony Bennett), while still being simplistic enough that any one of those artists can walk around town without fear of being mobbed by rabid fans. Peter Dinklage was in town shooting a movie a few years ago and I had the fortune to see him at one of the movie theaters. After an obvious double-take by me, I smiled and nodded, with a quick reply from him. He didn’t need a security guard and didn’t have an entourage of fans following his every step. Mr. Dinklage was just a regular guy out seeing a movie.
Even Paul McCartney or Emma Watson could stroll the streets and manage to fit right in. (And yes, I only mention those two people in hopes they actually come here. Having coffee with Emma would be incredible.)
The city brags on and on about Expo ’74… but Spokane attracted the attention of the U.S. Figure Skating Championships in 2007 and 2010, proving it’s able to garner attention on a vast scale in today’s world. But, leave that big event and just walk a couple blocks away and you’ll arrive at one of several local shops. Everyone knows the good places: Boo Radley’s, Rocky Rococo’s pizza, Merlyn’s, Thomas Hammer, The Globe, Fast Eddie’s, the Magic Lantern and others. All of these great places are full to the brim with local flavor. Even our local media outlets are among the greatest in the region. (Just a little shout-out to some new connections I’ve made.)
I enjoy that vast contrast. Walk a couple blocks from the ritzy Davenport Hotel and you’ll hit the Satellite Diner. Consider the difference – a glamorous European-style hotel with various woods and marbles, compared to an aged diner where you can get one of the best cups of coffee in town, using some chipped mugs and watching your fellow questionable patrons. Go to Coeur D’Alene and try to see that.
Heck, go visit Seattle and see if that’s the case.
At the same time, for myself, those who have kept me grounded and anchored are here. Those people who anchor me and keep me moving in the right direction make this town what it is.
Sure, an apartment or a house has stuff to make it livable. But it’s the people that seal the deal. As long as I’m with them, or they with me, I’m home.
A violin statue in New Orleans' Sculpture Garden - one of my favorite photos from the trip.
While I’m putting together new content, here’s a photo from the recent past.
Back in September 2010, I had the opportunity to visit New Orleans. Outside of an incredible trip, some great photos sprung up. Aside from great food, a fun atmosphere and some of the most insane weather I’ve ever encountered, I walked wide-eyed at some of the areas around town.
Even though we spent nearly two weeks in the city, I still feel a need to go back sometime. Much like a trip to Europe or to Washington, D.C., there is only so much you can see in one go.
Until then, the photos will serve as reminders of the sights, sounds and smells (even the not-so-great ones) of New Orleans.
(Plus a trip to the Orange Couch coffee shop wouldn’t be half bad!)
With all the hustle and bustle that comes with the routines in life, it’s pretty easy to leave books strewn around the room. Like any book addict normal person, some of those are good enough to be in arms’ reach. The rest just kind of sit in boxes between my closet and the CDs/games/Larry Bernandez bobbleheads/old work files box next to my desk.
The ones that are within arms’ reach are obviously the more important ones. Here are five that are currently nearby.
The Pocket Muse
I swear, this book hasn’t left my backpack, while in college, or my desk since I bought it in the store. It’s brilliant. Writing ideas, tips and suggestions on how to improve on each page. Heck, even some pages are just photos, meant to inspire. While some of the tips tend to lean toward fiction, short story and novel writing, many of the practices and ideas it lists are great for a person like me.
If you’re stuck and can’t seem to visualize a final concept, or just want an idea that you probably haven’t thought up before, The Pocket Muse is perfect. (It’s pretty cheap for a new copy on Amazon)
The Wednesday Letters
One of my favorite books. It’s an incredible tale of redemption, forgiveness and relationships. We’re hardly perfect people, and this book illustrates that concept perfectly. At the same time, we’re taught the best way to love, and turn it into an outstanding marriage. All of the characters are very real and hardly fluffed up to the point of “Hallmark Channel” status – something that we’ve all seen in stories like these. (Again, pretty cheap, under $10 on Amazon)
America’s Prophet
I’m pretty big on history, especially American history. This book is perfect at combining faith and history, looking at the influence and impact of Moses throughout our country’s history. It’s told through a documentary style by Bruce Feiler, as he interviews and discovers the importance of the biblical figure.
The book is separated into about four or five distinct parts where Moses played an integral part influencing either an opinion, or being a metaphor for a movement. Looking at the pilgrims, our founding fathers, the Underground Railroad and even Martin Luther King Jr’s vision. It’s an incredible book that journeys from the 1600s to even covering his influence on President Obama. (It’s out in paperback and hardcover, and pretty affordable)
Survivor’s Club
Just the story of Ben Sherwood’s trip through a military training course is interesting enough to read the book. But, he also speaks to a large number of people who have survived traumatic events in their lives. Just like the lady who survived falling on knitting needles as she walked up some stairs.
Sherwood is an excellent wordsmith and is able to flawlessly tell someone’s story. It’s that greatness that led him to be named the president of ABC News. He knows people, and he now knows how to survive those incredible situations we hear about on the news. The information in the book is overwhelming, but easily broken down. It’s a brilliant gift for those looking for ways to survive the odd situation, or lend some help to those trying to survive with a life-threatening illness.
So many of us are survivors. Give it a look. (Really, do yourself a favor and buy it)
All My Friends Are Dead
A hilarious book that’s worth discovering on your own. I promise, it’s a kick.
At first glance, it’s incredulous that a baseball game sold in 2005 outperforms those in today’s market.
But, EA Sports and its MVP Baseball series (2004 and 2005 in particular) provided some of the best baseball games ever created. Ease of gameplay, top-notch graphics and some of the most advanced simulation options all went into what was MVP Baseball 2005.
I still own the PC version on a regular basis. The disc, scratched from years of use, has been with me for the past seven years and still works perfectly fine. Unfortunately, the 2005 game was the last one they made for Major League Baseball.
It’s stayed that way ever since the league’s licensing agreement of doom, which started in 2006, prohibited third-party developers like EA Sports from creating games for the MLB. The agreement was with 2K Sports, effectively giving them a monopoly on all baseball games.
Since that time, 2K’s MLB series has been trying to catch up to EA Sports’ MVP Baseball series. And it’s still a long ways off. Aside from the graphics, MLB 2K11 has some serious restrictions that EA Sports blew right out of the water.
Now, I’ve given 2K Sports the benefit of the doubt, and bought their Front Office Manager for PC. I spent a majority of my time on the MVP series acting as a General Manager, organizing trades, building up franchises over 20 years… you know, behind the scenes stuff. But, now and then, I’d like to take part in the actual game and hit a few dingers.
Versatility was MVP Baseball’s name. It was versatile while still being high quality in whatever mode you were in.
2K’s Front Office Manager was very in-depth with statistics and processes… but it was so clunky, with three separate windows needed to make one action. The system offered trades that were incredulous – imagine trading Felix Hernandez for Yuniesky Betancourt and Miguel Olivo, with some pocket lint on the side.
MLB 2K11 is a vast improvement, and to be honest, I’m in awe of a current roster. I’ve been playing MVP Baseball 2005 with the Mariners’ roster from back then. No Felix, no Guti, no Smoak and no crappy deals that Bill Bavasi made later in his time in Seattle. But, 2K11 still lacks the fine polish that MVP Baseball had. Some stats don’t register during the game, franchises won’t load (and thus crash), and the simulator still isn’t up to par.
In short, five years have passed where 2K Sports could make THE perfect baseball game. Unfortunately, during that span of time, it’s only just about to reach the level of quality that EA Sports had… in 2005. It’s time to end the monopoly and let the public decide what game is best. I’d by MLB 11: The Show if I owned a Playstation, but alas, that’s not the case.
With the licensing deal expiring in the spring of this year, it would be insane for EA Sports to not resurrect their incredible series. Since 2006, baseball games haven’t been the same.
Some things just work.
My grandfather was the storyteller in our family.
In plenty of ways, it was because he had so many life experiences, but I think it was mainly because of his brilliant memory. The tales he’d tell would last for long enough, but they were so richly detailed that they required as much time as they took. A simple story of cold weather on the family’s ranch in Montana would last around 15 minutes, laden with details of every step taken in the crunchy snow, recalling what boots he wore, and how long it took to get to school.
And, like the stereotypical older person, he’d likely told that story for the third or fourth time that month.
Last month, my uncle remarked that my grandfather could talk with a stranger for a good hour, and leave them walking away, feeling like the two of them were old friends. That skill worked perfectly while traveling out for a sales job, and made him one of the best salesmen in the state.
I’m not sure if every detail in his stories was right or not, and quite frankly it doesn’t matter. It reminded me of the book “Hunting with Hemingway,” where the niece of Ernest Hemingway goes through many of her father’s (Ernest’s brother) stories told to her as a child. In the end, it doesn’t matter if the stories are true – or in my case, if all the details are true. A story is meant to entertain and inspire.
My grandfather had the ability to do both of those.
That gift seems to run in the family, as my dad and uncles are great at piecing a story together. I’ve laughed at some of my dad’s youthful fun, and have marveled at how the world has since changed. The way he goes about telling a particular story is a craft, even though he may not realize it. Structuring, phrasing and length are all factors in making a story great.
But, it seems that gift of storytelling may end with them, if I don’t practice it. At this point, I’m lucky to just get names straight. As previously mentioned, the art of storytelling is a special ability that few are able to really master.
It just goes to show that the smaller things in life, even those repetitive stories, can make a difference.
Flickr photo from user Camknows
I’m not a sportswriter. Nor am I a member of the Baseball Writers Association of America. I also didn’t have a vote in this year’s Baseball Hall of Fame election.
But, if I had a ballot to cast, Edgar Martinez would be on there.
Yet again, Edgar didn’t receive the required percentage of votes to make it in. With only 36.5 percent, he barely nudged above 36.2 percent, his first time on the HOF ballot. Around 40 percent of baseball writers can’t see the reason to put Edgar on their ballot.
To be frank, it’s a damn shame.
This year’s ballot was likely the last one to allow Edgar into the Hall of Fame for at least 10 years. On the horizon? Ken Griffey Jr., Mike Piazza, Roger Clemens, Greg Maddux, Frank Thomas, Randy Johnson and Trevor Hoffman. All in the span of four years.
In short, the cream of the crop of previous Major League Baseball players is due for their HOF ballot run. Edgar is likely out for the next six or seven years, at the least.
Outside of the magic numbers of 3,000 hits and 500 home runs, the biggest hang-up, critics say, is his lack of time spent in the field. Since he served as the Mariners’ designated hitter for a good nine or 10 years, it diminishes his value, they argue. Some even cite his WAR levels as not being at the same levels as others from the same era.
The DH has been in play for nearly 40 years now. I was born into it, as were practically all of today’s baseball players – and sportswriters. To penalize someone for the position they played on the team, while they were as valuable as George Brett, Cal Ripken Jr., and Ken Griffey Jr., is archaic at best. Just for the record, those players just listed had a WAR above 5.0 for at least nine years, and Griffey is the only one not in the Hall of Fame. Yet.
Some argue that the DH is a meaningless position and that the numbers of appearances not made by a DH in the field detract from that player’s value.
Then please, please, sportswriters, explain how closers earn their way into the Hall of Fame. The same goes for relief pitchers. Compared to the workhorses that are starting pitchers, a paltry 60 to 70 innings of work in a season is child’s play. Bruce Sutter and Goose Gossage were both closers, or really just specialized relievers, who had under 2,000 innings of work. Sutter, specifically, had barely over 1,000 innings.
Edgar played over 2,000 games of hard baseball. But, his greatness still doesn’t really reveal itself to some local writers. Others, though, get it.
Local sportswriters serve two purposes. One, they’re there to cover games, players and moves that teams make. That’s the obvious part of the job. The other part, however, is to let other sportswriters get a feel for the local team and its fan base.
A writer based in Minnesota isn’t going to know the Seattle Mariners firsthand, unless they lived in the area for a while. But, they can get a sense of what the team means based on the articles from that Seattle sportswriter. With the Internet’s capabilities, we’re all connected at a national level.
Sure, writers aren’t supposed to sugarcoat their coverage. With their position, they can also be critical and have their own points of view. Even the team’s broadcasters have shown their displeasure with the season when things weren’t working. Sportswriters, though, should at least be able to weigh the value of a player and give them the recognition that player deserves. As Rick Lukens, a Spokane sportswriter (whom I greatly admire) says, “the HOF voters take their ‘sacred duty’ way too far,” when it comes to the way they approach elections.
Edgar deserves to be placed in the Hall of Fame. I’ll let others quote his numbers and spans of time where he was the most feared hitter in baseball. I’ll also let the critics keep talking about how Edgar being a DH meant he wasn’t in the field as often as others. They’re wrong.
Edgar had plenty of time on the field. You could find him on the base paths.
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