The N Judah...

The 7.10am light rail driver. Oh how we have this love hate relationship. I hate you and you don't love me. My beef with you is that you never seem to want to open all the doors except at "major" stops. This would be at 19th Avenue, 9th and Judah, UCSF (which you call UC hospital), Carl and Cole, and Church and Duboce.

First of all is it that hard to just hit the switch that opens all the doors? Second, can you just announce all the stops??? You're so lazy at doing that. It would be easier to just say UCSF instead of UC hospital. Third, why is it that you raise the steps when going into the tunnel while moving?? Why can you put up the steps after you close the doors at Church and Duboce? And my last thing is why are you only announcing stops when the light rail cars aren't packed?

You are getting on my nerves and honestly I could do your job better.

Capricorn Horoscope:

Eggplant...

I left my house in the morning for work. I saw a Japanese eggplant lying in the side walk. I wonder who dropped it. When was it left there? Did it fall off a truck? I wonder if my brother would see it when he left for work. I know he wouldn’t rescue it since he doesn’t like eating them.

After a long day of work I could only wonder what happen to the eggplant I saw in the morning. I came home to find a spot where it was. At first I thought it was a dead animal because it was of the same color, but instead I had to face the fact that it was the eggplant.

I still wonder how that eggplant ended up in the crosswalk near my house.

Capricorn Horoscope: You're totally focused on your work today, but you may be having a hard time connecting with the people you need to reach. Communication may need to wait for a few more days at the least.

The N Judah...

Today's story is that there was no N Judah today. I had to take a shuttle bus to Church and Duboce. I had time so I stopped in at Safeway. I had to find the pastry section and when I did I couldn't decide. I had wanted a cinnamon roll for a while so I bought that. I was in line paying when I heard the lady tell the cashier it's too much. She had grabbed a giant gallon of water (maybe it was a little bigger or smaller I couldn't tell.) He rung her up and told her it was $1.07. She said it was too much. She didn't know there was tax and CRV for the bottle. The cashier then said for you $1.00.

The next person was a guy. I think he worked there because the cashier called him Michael. The total was $1.35. I guess "Michael" thought he could do the same as the lady in front of him. He gave the cashier $1.15. The cashier said you shorted me even more. After that it was my turn. The cinnamon roll was $0.59. I wanted to use my credit card, but thought it would just be faster to give a dollar because there's the change machine right there.

I left Safeway and was on my way. I got out of the parking lot and turned to my left to see if there was a J Church coming. I was too lazy to walk to the underground area to get on a M Oceanview or a L Taraval. There was and I walked toward the island. As the J Church came to a stop for people to get on the doors didn't open up. Of course I was with tow other people who were stupid and didn't know you had to press the button to open the doors.

I pressed the button and then got on. I glared at both of them going, learn to press the button. As I was going through the tunnel I debated getting off at Civic Center or Powell Street to catch BART. I checked the time and decided that maybe Powell would be safer. It takes about two minutes from Civic Center to Powell. I got off the J Church and headed for BART. I got down there and there was two minutes to spare until the train would arrive.

After all this I thought, the commute home should be a piece of cake. I really wanted CAKE!!!

I thought I'm really going to try and get home before 7.00pm because I really wanted this sponge cake they sell down the street from my house. I got out of the Powell Street station and I checked the times and it said in three minutes there would be two N Judahs. I thought ok, I can get home early. Then there was a P.A. announcement. Due to police activity there is an outbound delay at Civic Center. I thought damn it! So then I get out from underground and find something to take me home in a hurry. I let a F line pass by and then I thought OK, I can get one of those and then what? I looked at the bus stop to see what buses stopped there. While standing on the F Market I had to find a 71 bus to get on because this would take me pretty close to the bakery I would pick up my sponge cake. I saw the F Market and got on not knowing where and how I was getting home.

While on the F Market the driver kept telling everyone to move back. He then made an announcement that the reason why it was crowded was because there was a bank robbery at Civic Center and that's why there were police there. Then he reminded everyone to keep an eye on their personal belonging as there are pick pockets on the coach. A this point everyone freaks out and starts checking their bags and wallets. The one guy next to me had his wallet in his back pocket and took it out and moved it into his jacket pocket inside so it would be close to his heart.

This one lady said that the driver is hilarious. I thought some people must be new on public transit if they're worried about it. I bet it does happen, but it hasn't happened to me. Then these two guys that were sitting down that I was standing beside made a comment. One of them said, girl (they're gay) you know what this coach needs to be playing some Alicia Keys. I am not kidding. Then they saw another guy I guess they know. They said, "Hey Girl!" This guy was wearing sunglasses from the 80s and they were blue and matched his shirt. He too was gay. I just thought it was funny.

I got off at Van Ness hoping to get on a 71. While I was on the F Market I kept trying to check out the back window to see if there was a 71. There wasn't, but when I got off I noticed this bus. It had a strange sign. It kept changing and then I saw what it said and went ALRIGHT! I got on and hoped for the best. As I was getting closer to the Sunset, my hopes for sponge cake died. Even when the bus passed by the other place where I would buy some cake, it didn't seem like they had any. My focus then was just to get home. I kept checking the time to see if I could make my connection. I got there about three minutes before the bus took off.

As the 6 Parnassus was turning I had to make sure the 66 was there. It was and it had Giants ads on them. I thought awesome! I was on the light rail car with Timmy yesterday. Today it's a bus with Pablo and Timmy.

Long day and crazy commute, but I got home.

Horoscope: This is not the time for silence -- even if you're uncomfortable, you need to open up and tell people how you feel. It's one of those days when your opinion could tip the balance, and that's a big responsibility.

The N Judah...

Tonight while on the way home taking the N Judah something strange happened. The N had just closed the doors and was ready to leave Van Ness station when it just suddenly stopped. It send some people flying and lucky it was only one car. I don't think anyone was hurt, but this is the second time I've been on a light rail that had this happen. The other time, one guy/girl was sleeping and flew out of the seat. The driver never said what happened, but I'm sure it was computer related.

I wonder if the next time I won't be so lucky. I have to be careful which car I get on or just take surface streets.

Horoscope:

Bus surfing...

I thought about this one day while on my commute to work. I thought of how I used to "bus surf". What is "bus surfing"? Here's how I define it and how it happened. When I was younger and was fearless I used to ride the 38 Geary line. This was if I wasn't lucky and if on the way home we found a transfer. While I was on the bus I knew I was suppose to hold on to one of the bars, but I didn't. Instead I would try and balance. Maybe it's more like skate boarding. I don't know, but either way I would try not to fly or fall while on the bus without holding on.

This soon later came in handy when I would ride other buses and the light rail. I still surf on the light rail today. You just stand like you're surfing and light rail surfing goes.

Horoscope: It's never too late (or too soon) to start paying attention to your health.

African American light rail driver...

My complaint today is this African American light rail driver. I had an incident with her last year and I'm still fuming about it. Today's issue was this: the driver had the option of opening all the doors to make it more efficient for people to get on and off.

Well she opened all the doors so people can get on. Of course I was still waiting to get on because people were still exiting from the door I was waiting at. As I'm getting on to the light rail car she hits the button to close the door. Lady! I'm not even on the train and you're closing the doors on me. Is this revenge for when I gave you a coupon for discount that had no date stamp? Or was it from the other time when I did have the correct date and you were too blind to read it?

It must be the second one because at Cole and Carl street you did the same thing. I understand you got to get to where you're going, but you have to let people on. You didn't even see the guy wearing the florescent yellow jacket selling transfers to those that were getting on. You didn't check your mirrors. And of all the days today you remembered to put the steps up while you just enter the tunnel. Bravo to you because most of the time you're putting them up as we're at Van Ness.

You should have common sense lady. I don't know how you got your job, but I think you're doing a crappy job at it. You try to announce the main stops that people get on and off at, but you fail to call it by the correct name. It's not UC Medical Center. It's USCF Medical Center. I don't think you need to announce the mall at 7.30am. No one is going to the mall at 7.30am.

Horoscope: If you aren't ready to end things, don't slam the door. Leave it open just a crack.

Commuting pet peeves...

Every morning it's the same thing, just different stupid people. I've observed that some drivers who drive the light rail cars will either open all the doors or just the one door in which people need to pay. I don't know which way is more efficient, but as someone who has used this form of public transit I get it. I've been riding the light rail system since I started middle school. That has been since 1992 or 1993.

The old street cars or light rail cars you has to enter through the front door and all the side doors were for exiting only. However, they slowly retired the older ones and are now using the current silver French made ones.

Now back to my issue with people and doors. If a door is closing and someone uses a foot or arm or anything to keep the door from closing it will make a high pitch noise. This isn't pleasant and if you're half awake in the morning even more annoying. The next issue I have is that while the people are trying to get off they don't know that they have to press the bar to open. If everyone did that and held the doors open, they wouldn't be out of service nor make that high pitch beep.

My second thing is when the driver chooses not to open all the doors to let everyone on or off at the same time people don't know how to press the button outside of the car to open the door. I've noticed that they all run to the door that's open and hope it stays open. Also when the doors don't open automatically and it's open from the inside no one seems to understand you need to hold the bar to keep the door from closing. I've had the door almost close on me because people don't understand that concept.

Now I'm assuming that everyone that rides the light rail knows how to open the door from the outside and the inside. If you're going to stand by the door at least press the bar and keep the door open so people can get on or off. If you're just going to stand there and do nothing then move away from the door. I can't stand those that just move to be close to the door and don't do anything to let people off.

So the moral of this bitching and moaning is that: use the bar on the inside of the light rail to OPEN the door. Use the button on the outside of the door to OPEN the door. I swear sometimes you wonder if the people getting on in the morning have a brain or if they left it at home. I'm sure it's not their first time riding the light rail so keep the fucking door open!

Horoscope: Take charge and make it happen. You can get more done than you think at the moment.

The Best Thing I Ever Ate...

One night I was bored. I found myself on the Food Network. I saw the strangest yet fascinating show on. The show's name, The Best Thing I Ever Ate. I started to watch and thought, the people on the show are professionals and they should know what's the best thing to eat.

After watching one episode I am now hooked. I might not watch it, but I always check out the website to find out if there are any places in San Francisco worth trying. Much to my surprise there actually are. They're in Bay Area, which would cover more than San Francisco.

I went to Food Network and decided to make a map of my own. And this is what became of it:


View Food Network's The Best Thing I Ever Ate Map in a larger map

I admit it's not pretty, but once I start something I try to maintain it. There's a lot of places and if you get the chance go and try them out.

Horoscope: You have enough good ideas. You don't need to take credit for someone else's

She's just not that into you...

This is my usual pattern on my way home. I get on BART. I enter about mid way, which is about car five or six depending on the length. I enter the car and I walk either backwards or forward depending on if I’m going to the new mall or straight home. While walking though each car I look at all the seats. I’m looking for either the Chronicle or the Mercury (or equivalent). The sections I usually read are the sports and entertainment (datebook or time out). I happen to find the whole paper and was going to take a little bit of time to read the usual sections and then browse the rest of the paper.

As I start reading a guy comes up to me and starts talking to me. He got on at Concord or North Concord. He makes small talk about how people leave their paper on the train. Yes, people leave it on the train I reply. He then asks if he could have the paper. I haven’t even read the whole thing yet, so I say OK. He asks me what I usually read. I tell him what I read. By this time I’m done reading the entertainment section and I ask him for the sports section. He asks me what kind of sports is reported. Again I reply with all kinds that are local teams. He asks me what I’m reading and I tell him I’m looking to find any baseball news.

After I’m done reading I hand the section back to him. So this point he has the whole paper. I take out my note pad and write something down for work. I put that away and then I take out my ipod. I get comfortable with my seating and try to rest. I’m tired when I get off work and usually like to nap on the ride home.

I’m resting my eyes and the guy who was talking to me starts to crack his knuckles. First I think that’s gross and second he’s making noise. After he’s done cracking his knuckles he starts to snap his fingers or whatever making noise. At this point I’m getting pissed because he’s disturbing my nap time.

Nap and tired plus a guy making noise equals I’m going to be a grumpy person. He finally gets off at Orinda. I wasn’t facing him with my body language and by putting on my ipod it pretty much means shut up and leave me alone. I guess he didn’t understand that. If he was trying to flirt with me he wasn’t getting any response.
I don’t mind if you ask me when you get on for the paper when I’m done, but to ask me while I just have it sitting there is just rude. You didn’t even ask if I was done with it. Being nice I’ll just give it to you and keep the section that I want. Dude. I’m JUST NOT THAT INTO YOU. You’re pissing me off and I’m tired. I don’t want to be bothered on the fucking train.

I’m glad your ass got off the train and that your stupid finger snapping left with you. If I ever come across you again I’m going to cuss you out.
This is why you don’t bother a Chinese girl sleeping on the train.

Horoscope: Today, take a break from the breakneck pace you've been going at. You need a rest!

The N Judah...

Over a period of a week I thought I would just observe what kind of people right the light rial in the morning and in the evening. This is what I have observed and this is my story.

There is one lady who wears a messenger bag and as soon as the N gets to Van Ness she will move into her position. She moves from wherever she is and stands right by the door. This is when the car is full just so when the N gets to Civic Center she can dash out of the N. This isn't good because everyone that gets off to let others off can't really cram back on due to her. Shame on you.

I notice a girl with orange hair. I wonder if it's a weave as she is African American. I then notice an older lady with the same except her hair is red and orange. Later in the week I find out they are mother and daughter. They do not sit together. The daughter gets off at Church and Duboce and the mother gets off at Van Ness.

The next person is this man with a leather jacket. He gets on the N at Carl and Cole. If I remember correctly. He gets on and then proceeds to just stand in a military stance for "at ease". He doesn't hold on to anything. He just shifts around as needed. Very odd.

My biggest enemy is the one African American lady who I got into an argument with back when I had to take the N to work. I had one of those coupons that had a date with a later time. I pick them up when I get off Bart when I exit when I'm going home. One part is for taking Muni that same day the other half is for the next day. She said that it wasn't the correct date. I told her it was the correct date and that it was good. Sure the time was for later in the afternoon, but that's when I picked it up. Then she told me over the intercom to calm down. Calm down!? I'm not the one that didn't know that the date on the coupon was the exact same date as the transfers she was handing out. I was so mad at her. What really grinds my gears is that she doesn't raise the steps on the N until the car is in the tunnel and or even at Van Ness. She has no clue and she tries to sound nice by telling everyone to have a good day. She's an absolute phony!

There's this Asian kid who sits either on the first car or the second car. I want to say he's in speical education but I don't think I'm wrong on this one. He looks at his watch to make sure he's on time. He gets off at Van Ness every day there is school. He speaks to everyone and it seems like he's practicing his English or what he's learned in school. He says, "Have a good weekend. How are you doing? Let me off. (If he's at his stop and there are people blocking him.)" He also compliments people on their clothes and I think he says the time out loud.

The one that I've seen every once in a while is a dad taking his two sons to school. The younger son wears a sailor suit and the older one wears his uniform. I think both are uniforms, but the younger one has to wear a different one. The older brother can't stand his younger brother as that's how it is. I sat next to the younger brother and he took out a note pad that he drew a "computer". He was treating it as if it was one. His imagination is probably what annoys his older brother. The older one reads while on the N.

This is more than one week, but just what I have observed over six months.

Horoscope: Get outside and do something exciting! A whole world is waiting for you.

Way Back into Love - Hugh Grant

I've been living with a shadow overhead
I've been sleeping with a cloud above my bed
I've been lonely for so long
Trapped in the past, I just can't seem to move on

I've been hiding all my hopes and dreams away
Just in case I ever need em again someday
I've been setting aside time
To clear a little space in the corners of my mind

All I want to do is find a way back into love
I can't make it through without a way back into love
Oh oh oh

I've been watching but the stars refuse to shine
I've been searching but I just don't see the signs
I know that it's out there
There's got to be something for my soul somewhere

I've been looking for someone to shed some light
Not somebody just to get me through the night

I could use some direction
And I'm open to your suggestions

All I want to do is find a way back into love
I can't make it through without a way back into love
And if I open my heart again
I guess I'm hoping you'll be there for me in the end
oh, oh, oh, oh, oh

There are moments when I don't know if it's real
Or if anybody feels the way I feel
I need inspiration
Not just another negotiation

All I want to do is find a way back into love
I can't make it through without a way back into love
And if I open my heart to you
I'm hoping you'll show me what to do
And if you help me to start again
You know that I'll be there for you in the end
oh, oh, oh, oh, oh

Lucky - Jason Mraz Featuring Colbie Caillat

Do you hear me,
I'm talking to you
Across the water across the deep blue ocean
Under the open sky, oh my, baby I'm trying
Boy I hear you in my dreams
I feel your whisper across the sea
I keep you with me in my heart
You make it easier when life gets hard

I'm lucky I'm in love with my best friend
Lucky to have been where I have been
Lucky to be coming home again
Ooohh ooooh oooh oooh ooh ooh ooh ooh

They don't know how long it takes
Waiting for a love like this
Every time we say goodbye
I wish we had one more kiss
I'll wait for you I promise you, I will

I'm lucky I'm in love with my best friend
Lucky to have been where I have been
Lucky to be coming home again
Lucky we're in love every way
Lucky to have stayed where we have stayed
Lucky to be coming home someday

And so I'm sailing through the sea
To an island where we'll meet
You'll hear the music fill the air
I'll put a flower in your hair
though the breezes through trees
Move so pretty you're all I see
As the world keeps spinning round
You hold me right here right now

I'm lucky I'm in love with my best friend
Lucky to have been where I have been
Lucky to be coming home again
I'm lucky we're in love every way
Lucky to have stayed where we have stayed
Lucky to be coming home someday

Ooohh ooooh oooh oooh ooh ooh ooh ooh
Ooooh ooooh oooh oooh ooh ooh ooh ooh

Who is Roger Kieschnick?

Name: Roger K Kieschnick
Position: RF
Bat/Throws: L / R
Height: 6'03"
Weight: 215
Birthday: 1987-01-21
Round: 3
Pick #: 82
Signed: 8/13/2008

2007 SEASON
Second-Team All-Big 12 Selection...finished the season with a .302 batting average and started all 55 of Tech's games during the season...tallied a Big 12 leading 25 doubles...added five triples and 13 home runs...36 RBIs...IN BIG 12 PLAY; hit .269 with eight doubles, one triple and four home runs...picked up his first home run of the season against New Mexico on Feb. 2. Hit a solo blast in the first inning and ended the day 2-for-5 with two runs scored and an RBI...launched his second career grand slam against Western Illinois on Feb. 11...the home run broke open a 1-1 game in the fifth inning...was his first grand slam since his Red Raider debut back in 2006 (Feb. 3 vs. Louisiana Monroe)...enjoyed a career day on Feb. 27 at New Mexico...set a new school record as he recorded five multiple base hits in a 5-for-5 day at the plate...launched two home runs, two doubles and one triple...also added four RBI to help Tech overcome a six-run deficit and post a 10-8 win over the Lobos...his five hits also extended his hit streak to 12 games...his 12 game hit streak came to an end on Friday, March 2 against Cal State Northridge...rebounded from that game by going 4-for-9 with three RBIs the next two days...went 2-for-4 with a pair of doubles and two RBI to lead Tech past New Mexico State on Tuesday, March 27...was a double away from the cycle in the final game against Texas A&M on April 6..went 4-for-5 with two singles, a triple and a home run...hit a pair of home runs in the Texas series to get to the double digit mark (10) for the first time in his career...moved into a tie for fifth place on the Texas Tech single-season doubles list when he hit his 24th of the year against Dallas Baptist on May 1...went 2-for-5 with a home run and two RBIs and extended a hit streak to nine games.

2006
Honors: Most heralded freshman at Texas Tech since Josh Bard and became the first Red Raider to sweep Freshman of the Year Honors...earned Freshman Player of the Year accolades from The Dallas Morning News, Austin American Statesman, San Antonio Express-News, The Oklahoman, Waco Tribune-Herald, Fort Worth Star-Telegram and the Big 12 Coaches....First Team All-Big 12 - The Dallas Morning News, Big 12 Coaches...Second Team All-Big 12 - Austin American Statesman...ended his freshman campaign with the second best batting average on the team (.359) behind Matt Smith...led the squad with 29 multiple-hit games and was third with 11 multiple-RBI games...added 85 total hits,14 doubles, two triples and a team-high 55 RBI...his nine home runs on the season are the most by a Tech freshman since Josh Bard hit 13 back in 1997...was 8-for-10 in stolen bases and committed just one error all season...hit safely in 48 of 58 games...started all 58 games of the season (55 in left field and three as the designated hitter)...enjoyed one of the most successful debuts by a Texas Tech freshman in school history during the three-game season opening series against Louisiana-Monroe. Finished the three-game series with a .467 average along with three home runs, two doubles, one triple and 11 RBI...became the first true freshman to hit a grand slam in a season opener. Finished that game 2-for-4 at the plate with a game-high six RBI...Named the National Player of the Week by RosenblattReport.com (Rivals Network) for his efforts against Louisiana-Monroe...hit .412 in four games against ENMU, DBU, UTA and Oral Roberts...went 7-for-17 at the plate with six RBI...extended his current hit streak to 13 games with a single in the top of the first against UNLV...his 13-game streak is the longest by any student-athlete in the Big 12 this year (his 13-game streak was snapped in the series opener against UNC Asheville on March 9)...led the Tech offense with a 2-for-4 night at the plate and picked up his sixth multiple-RBI (two RBI) game of the year against New Mexico State in Roswell (3/14)...led the Red Raidertallied a .455 average in the three-game series against Baylor...finished with a team-high nine RBI and hit two home runs...his home run on Sunday cleared the 18-foot monster in center field and he became the first player since Josh Brady (2004) to do so...went 5-for-11 (.455) with two RBI and had two multiple-hit games in the series against Kansas State...Led the Red Raider offense in the final home series against Missouri (5/12-14)...went 8-for-12 at the plate (.667) and tallied a pair of three-hit games on Saturday and Sunday...added his eighth home run of the year in the Saturday game to pull the Red Raiders within two runs and helped set up a big rally in the ninth...named the Big 12 Player of the Week for his efforts against Missouri.

HIGH SCHOOL
Was a standout outfielder at Rockwall High School in Rockwall, Texas...teammate of James Leverton...helped lead his team to the Class 5A State Championship game as a senior...as a junior his team advanced to the regional finals and as a sophomore the regional semifinals...was a three-time All-District selection...was an All-State selection by the Texas Sports Writers and the Texas High School Coaches Association...named to the National High School Baseball Coaches Association District 6 Team as an outfielder...North Texas High School Baseball Coaches All-Star Game participant...his senior season he hit .319 with three doubles, one triple, six home runs, eight stolen bases and 19 RBI...AS A JUNIOR...hit .284 with 29 hits, two home runs, nine doubles, three triples and four stolen bases...AS A SOPHOMORE...hit .381 with 32 hits, one home run, nine doubles and two triples.

PERSONAL
Born on January 21, 1987 in Dallas, Texas,...son of Roger and Leslie Kieschnick...has one sister, Caroline...enjoys fishing and playing Super Nintendo...undecided on major.

source

Who is Brandon Crawford?

Name: Brandon M Crawford
Position: SS
Bat/Throws: L / R
Height: 6'02"
Weight: 200
Birthday: 1987-01-21
Round: 4
Pick #: 117
Signed: 8/14/2008

Notes
Started all 179 games in three seasons (2006-08)...made 177 starts at shortstop and two starts as the designated hitter (during 2007 season)...batted over .300 each of the past three seasons...compiled 44 career doubles, tied for ninth place on the school's career doubles list...also totaled 13 career triples, tied for second place on the school's career triples list...helped lead the Bruins to the NCAA Tournament in each of his three seasons with the UCLA baseball program.

2008
Started all 60 games at shortstop...was one of just two players on the team (along with Jermaine Curtis) to have started all 60 games, all at the same position...recorded a .302 batting average, totaling 70 hits, including 13 doubles, five triples and seven home runs...also compiled a .394 on-base percentage, .491 slugging percentage, 51 RBI, 11 stolen bases and a team-best 53 runs...earned Fullerton Regional all-tournament team accolades, going 6-for-16 (.375) in four games...went 2-for-5 with three RBI, two runs and a solo homer in UCLA's 11-4 win over Cal State Fullerton in the Fullerton Regional (May 31)...was 2-for-4 with three runs and three RBI in an 11-8 loss to Cal State Fullerton in the Fullerton Regional (June 1)...ended the season riding a season-long 11-game hit streak...batted .295 in all 24 Pac-10 games, leading the team in conference contests with 26 runs and five stolen bases (in five attempts)... logged 20 multi-hit games (five three-hit efforts and two four-hit games) and 13 multi-RBI performances (two three-RBI games and one four-RBI effort)...went 6-for-13 (.462) with four runs and four RBI in UCLA's three-game series victory last weekend at California (May 23-25)...had one of the most heroic performances by a Bruin all season in UCLA's 8-7, extra-inning victory against UNLV (April 22); went 2-for-6 at the plate, scoring the game-winning run after reaching via a two-out double in the bottom of the 11th; made his collegiate pitching debut in that game, tossing 2.2 scoreless innings while logging four strikeouts to pick up the victory...went 6-for-13 (.462) with five RBI, five runs, three doubles, one triple and one home run in a three-game series sweep of UC Riverside (April 11-13)...was 4-for-6 with three RBI, two runs, two doubles and one home run in UCLA's 18-7 win that Saturday (April 12)...was 4-for-7 with two RBI and three runs in a 20-8 win at Arizona (March 29)...went 6-for-10 with four walks, one hit-by-pitch, three RBI and three runs in three games at Cal Poly (March 13-15)...went 3-for-5 with one run and one RBI in the Bruins' 11-3 win against Pepperdine (March 11)...was 3-for-6 with a season-high four RBI at Cal State Northridge (Feb. 26)...also made four appearances on the mound, pitching in relief.

2007 (summer)
Played in 36 games, all at shortstop for the Orleans Cardinals of the Cape Cod League...rated among the top 30 prospects in the Cape Cod League...registered a .189 batting average (25-for-132) with four home runs, one triple, four doubles, 13 walks, 14 RBI and 15 runs.

2007
Played in all 61 games, starting 59 games at shortstop and two games as the designated hitter...earned All-Pac-10 honors for the first time in his career; was named an All-Pac-10 honorable mention in 2006...earned 2007 UCLA team most valuable player honors for the second consecutive season...one of UCLA's most clutch hitters, tallied two 10-game hit streaks (Feb. 2-18 and April 28-May 13)...tied for the team lead with 24 multi-hit games, including six three-hit efforts and the second four-hit game of his career...hit safely in 46 of 56 games...keyed two Bruin comebacks - trailing 7-5 in the bottom of the eighth, belted a two-out grand slam to send UCLA to a 9-7 victory and series sweep of East Carolina (Feb. 18); finished that game 2-for-5 with three runs and career-high five RBI...led UCLA to victory at USC (April 14); trailing 6-4 with two outs and runners at second and third, lined an 0-and-2 count single into left field, tying the contest, 6-6; scored from second base on an infield single one at-bat later to give UCLA the lead for good...hit 3-for-4 with two runs in a 3-2 victory against UC Riverside (Feb. 13)...earned Pac-10 Player of the Week accolades Feb. 20 after finishing the previous week 8-for-15 (.533) with one home run, six runs and eight RBI...hit 6-for-14 (.429) in three games against Cal State Fullerton, totaling three RBI and two runs...finished the series against Pacific 6-for-13 (.462) with five RBI and four runs scored (March 25-27)...reached base in 10 of 15 plate appearances against Washington, hitting 5-for-9 (.556) with three walks and two hit-by-pitches (April 5-7)...hit 5-for-11 (.455) with four RBI, four runs and three walks in UCLA's three-game sweep at USC (April 13-15)...posted a 3-for-4 effort with a two-RBI double, one run and one walk in the Bruins' 4-1 win at Pepperdine (May 8)...finished the week at Arizona State hitting 8-for-16 with six RBI at Packard Stadium; delivered a 3-for-5 performance tying his career high in RBI with five in the series finale (May 13)...finished 5-for-12 against defending national champion Oregon State (May 25-27); hit 3-for-4 with two runs, three RBI one home run and two walks in the Friday night opener.

2006 (summer)
Played in 23 games, starting 10...recorded a .257 batting average (9-for-35) for the U.S. National Team...registered two doubles, six RBI, seven runs scored, three walks and one stolen base...helped lead Team USA to the FISU (International University Sports Federation) World Championship after posting a 28-2-1 overall record.

2006
Started all 58 games at shortstop...earned 2006 UCLA team most valuable player honors after an outstanding freshman campaign...captured All-Pac-10 honorable mention accolades...recorded a .318 batting average (77-for-242) with six home runs and 30 RBI...posted team high in hits (77), triples (6), stolen bases (7), walks (24), total bases (121) and at-bats (242)...finished second on the squad in doubles (14) and runs scored (42)...compiled three separate hitting streaks of 10 games or more, including a team-high 12-game hitting streak at the end of the season...reached base safely in 50 of 58 games...collected two or more hits in 23 contests, including three three-hit games and one four-hit performance...went 2-for-3 with the game-winning RBI double in the seventh inning of UCLA 3-2 victory over UC Irvine in the first round of the Malibu Regional (June 2)...finished 3-for-4 with one double, two runs scored and several spectacular defensive plays at shortstop against USC (May 14)...hit in 10-consecutive games from April 15 through May 2...smacked a grand slam home run that proved to be the difference in a 9-5 victory over Washington State (April 7)...compiled four-consecutive multi-hit games from March 12-18...had a breakout performance at NC State (March 4), hitting 4-for-4 with one home run, one triple, two singles and two RBI...posted a team-high 11-game hitting streak from Feb. 5-25, hitting .375 (15-40) during that span...in his first collegiate game, went 3-for-5 with one triple, one stolen base, one RBI and two runs scored against Fresno State (Feb. 3).

2005 (summer)
Played 41 games for the Mankato MoonDogs of the Northwoods League...posted a .274 batting average (40-for-146) with nine doubles, 12 RBI, 20 runs scored and 17 stolen bases.

High School
Three-year letterwinner in baseball at shortstop for head coach Brian Frietas...also lettered in football twice as a safety and quarterback for head coach Matt Sweeney...listed by the San Francisco Chronicle as the sixth-best high school prospect in Northern California... rated the 38th-best prospect and the 200th-overall top prospect in California in the 2005 MLB Draft by Baseball America...earned All-East Bay Athletic League honors three times...captured All-CIF North Coast accolades twice...also was named 2005 Foothill HS Athlete of the Year...earned Cal-Hi Sports All-State infielder honors...established a school record for stolen bases with 19 during his sophomore season and broke that mark with 21 swipes as a senior...compiled a .357 batting average with 23 doubles, five triples, nine home runs and 51 RBI during his three-year varsity career.

Personal
Full name: Brandon Michael Crawford...born on Jan. 21, 1987 in Mountain View, Calif...is the oldest of Michael and Lynn Crawford's four children (sisters Amy, Kaitlin and Jenna)...physiological science major.

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Who is Buster Posey?

Name: Gerald D Posey
Position: C
Bat/Throws: R / R
Height: 6'01"
Weight: 205
Birthday: 1987-03-27
Round: 1
Pick #: 5
Signed: 8/15/2008

2008: A Brooks Wallace Award Preseason Watch List candidate...Collegiate Baseball first team, preseason All-American and NCBWA third team, preseason All-American.

2007: All-ACC first team in 2007...first team All-American by Collegiate Baseball...a finalist for the 2007 Coleman Company - Johnny Bench Award becoming the first sophomore student-athlete to be named a finalist for the Bench Award...finished the season ranked fifth in the ACC in hitting (.382), second with 21 doubles, third in hits (94) and RBIs (65) and fourth in runs scored with 66...made the transition from a shortstop to a catcher as a sophomore...started behind the plate in all 62 games this season....named ACC Player of the Week for his performance against Virginia Tech and Jacksonville where he hit .412 with six runs, four doubles, two RBIs and was perfect from behind the plate in 29 opportunities...named to the NCAA Tallahassee All-Region team after leading led all starters with a .500 batting average in four games...hit his first career grand slam in the second game against Miami en route to driving in a career-high seven RBIs...registered a hit in 51 of 62 games, while recording multi-hits in 32 games...had a streak of at least one RBI in nine straight games (2/4 - 2/23)...his seven RBIs against Miami in the second game of the series was a team high in 2007...had four RBIs against Wake Forest in game one of the ACC Tournament...tied for second on the team with four 3-RBI games...posted a career-best 15-game hitting streak this season (2/4 - 3/4)...led the team in RBIs with 66 surpassing last seasons RBI total of 48 as a freshman...successfully advanced runners 101 times out of 171 opportunities at the plate, good for second on the team...had a streak of 37 straight games without committing an error come to an end in game one vs. Miami (2/16 - 4/22) - committed just three errors all season in 478 chances...finished the season on an 18-game errorless streak...led the league with the fewest number of stole base attempted as the opposition attempted 44 all season long...posted a team-high six pickoffs on the year...threw out 40.9% of base stealers on the season...made one appearance on the mound pitching a scoreless inning in relief against UNC Asheville.

2006: Started all 65 games for the Seminoles and was named a Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American at shortstop...named to the All-ACC Tournament team and was selected to the SEBaseball All-ACC second team...led all Louisville Slugger freshman All-American shortstops in hits...the only freshman All-American shortstop with 20 or more extra base hits and an average above .300...finished the season ranked among FSU's offensive leaders in eight categories...second on the team with a .346 batting average and 85 hits...his 85 hits were the most by an FSU freshman since Matt Diaz in 1998...recorded 20 extra base hits and was only held without a hit in back-to-back games twice all year...Posey recorded a hit in 52 of FSU's 65 games and of those 52 games with a hit, 27 were multi-hit games...second to only Shane Robinson in multi-hit games...third on the team with 13 multi-RBI games, 58 runs scored, 48 RBIs and 38 walks...surpassed the hit total for FSU's starting shortstops from 72 games in 2005 in just the first 44 games of the season...the freshman scored 10 more runs, had 26 more hits, eight more doubles, two more triples, 14 more RBIs, 32 more total bases, 14 more walks, 17 fewer strikeouts, five more steals and 11 fewer errors than FSU's 2005 starting shortstops combined...12 game hitting streak was the fourth-longest by an FSU player in 2006...led FSU with a .371 average versus left-handed pitching...hit .368 with runners on base, tops on the team...recorded 14 two-out RBIs...recorded at least one hit in 20 of the season's last 25 games...tied for third on the team with nine steals and the only player with more than three steals who was not thrown out all season...started all 29 conference games...hit .324 and slugged .429 in his first ACC season...posted a .415 on base percentage, which was the third-highest on the squad...third in doubles and home runs as well...hit three of his four homers versus ACC teams...reached base safely 50% of the time he led off an inning...hit over .300 with runners on and with runners in scoring position...finished the year with hits in five straight ACC games and had a hit in nine of the final 10 conference contests.

HIGH SCHOOL: One of two AFLAC All-Americans to join the Seminoles...World Wood Bat Association top 15 prospect...named the nation's 18th-best prospect by Prospects Plus...Georgia Gatorade Player of the Year...Louisville Slugger State Player of the Year...EA Sports All-American...Baseball America second team All-American...2004 1-AAAAA Player of the Year in Georgia...drafted by the California Angles in the 50th round of the 2005 draft...selected to attend the 2003 Georgia Dugout Club Showcase and the 2003 Perfect Game/Baseball America World Wood Bat Association Fall Championship...member of the 2003 Perfect Game All-Tournament team...named to the All-Tournament team at the Sunbelt Classic as Team Georgia won the title...2003 second team 1-AAAA All-Region shortstop...2003 Lee County Trojan baseball team MVP...in 104 at-bats as a senior, hit .462 with 40 RBIs, 48 runs scored, just five strikeouts and a school record 14 homeruns...on the mound in 2005, went 12-0 in 13 starts with 108 strikeouts and a 1.06 ERA...had a monster junior season setting the record for the highest batting average of all-time (.544) and the record for RBIs with 46...hit seven homers, nine doubles and three triples...his 56 hits were a school record and in 103 at-bats, he struck out just nine times...also scored 23 runs...went 10-1 on the hill with a 1.53 ERA...had a 4 to 1 ratio of strikeouts to walks and is fourth all-time with 102 strikeouts...allowed just 14 earned runs in 64 innings of work...has 106 career RBIs to go along with 24 homers and 105 runs scored in his high school career...23-4 all-time on the mound...clinched the Region 1-AAAAA championship with a grand slam...accumulated a 3.938 GPA and was ranked fourth in his class of 302 students at Lee County High School.

TEAM USA: Played in Taiwan as a member of the 2004 USA Junior Olympic team...the only pitcher on the USA Junior Olympic team to start two games on the hill at the 2004 IBAF World Championships...pitched more innings than any other hurler on the Olympic team and posted a 1.23 ERA with seven strikeouts...recorded a hit, drove in a run, recorded a run and drew a walk versus Korea in the championship game...picked up a win on the hill versus Cuba in an international exhibition game...went 3-for-4 with two triples, three runs scored and three RBIs in an exhibition game versus the Missouri All-Stars with the USA Junior Olympic team...went 2-for-2 with two runs scored and two RBIs in another exhibition game this time versus the Kansas All-Stars...at the USA Tournament of stars, had five hits in five games and allowed just one hit in three scoreless innings on the mound.

PERSONAL: Son of Demp and Tracy Posey...oldest of four children (Jack - 18, Samantha - 16 and Jess - 13)...dad played one year of college basketball...brother Jack plays baseball at Florida State...All-ACC Academic Team (2006 & 2007)...two-time member ACC Academic Honor Roll (2005-06, 2006-07)...President's List Spring 2007 (4.0 GPA)...Dean's List (Fall 2005, Fall 2007)...major is finance...born on March 27, 1987.

source

Who is Conor Gillaspie?

Name: Conor M Gillaspie
Position: 3B
Bat/Throws: L / R
Height: 6'01"
Weight: 195
Birthday: 1987-07-18
Round: Comp A
Pick #: 37
Signed: 8/06/2008

2008 JUNIOR
Played summer ball for the Falmouth (Mass.) Commodores...Named the Most Valuable Player of the Cape Cod League...Earned the Thurman Munson Batting Champion Trophy in the Cape Cod League...Named Most Valuable Player of the Falmouth Commodores...Named the No. 13 prospect in the Cape Cod League by Baseball America.

2007 SOPHOMORE
Played in 73 games, with 72 starts, all at third base...Hit .325 with 55 runs, 24 doubles, four triples, six home runs, 63 RBI and 12 stolen bases...Named first team all-Valley...Named to the MVC all-tournament team at third base...Named to the Wichita all-Regional team...Named MVC Player-of-the-Week on April 16 and May 20...First in The Valley in hits, RBI, doubles and total bases and third in runs...Had 28 multiple-hit games and 16 multiple-RBI games...Had a 15-game hitting streak from March 24-April 18...Had a season-high four hits at Southern Illinois on April 15...Had a season-high four RBI three times...Went 3-for-5 with four RBI and a home run at Hawaii on Feb. 25...Went 3-for-5 with four RBI and a triple against Richmond on March 4...Went 2-for-4 with three RBI and a home run against Creighton on April 8...Went 3-for-5 with three RBI and a double against Evansville on May 19...Named to the AD’s honor roll for Spring 2007.

2006 FRESHMAN
Played in 68 games, with 67 starts, all at third base...Hit .352 with 41 runs, 92 hits, 18 doubles, three triples, seven home runs, 67 RBI and five stolen bases...Named first team all-Valley...Named a first team Freshman All-American by Collegiate Baseball...Named to the Norman all-Regional team...Sixth in The Valley in batting average, second in hits, first in RBI and second in total bases...Had 27 multiple-hit games, 15 multiple-RBI games and two multiple-home run games...Had a 17-game hitting streak from April 28-May 25...Had a season-high five hits against USC on May 20...Had a season-high four RBI three times...Went 4-for-5 with four RBI and a triple at Hawaii-Hilo on Feb. 11...Went 3-for-4 with four RBI and two home runs against Kansas on April 5...Went 3-for-4 with three RBI, two doubles and a home run against Bradley on April 22...Went 3-for-4 with four RBI and two home runs at Oklahoma on June 4...Named to the AD’s honor roll for Fall 2005.

HIGH SCHOOL
Attended Millard North High School in Omaha, Neb...Lettered three years in baseball, football and basketball...In baseball, named all-Metro and all-state...During junior and senior seasons batted over .500...Lists best individual performance as hitting a home run at Rosenblatt Stadium during senior season at the high school state championship...Member of team that was state runner-up during junior season...Member of team that was state champions during senior season and ranked third nationally by USA Today...Member of the National Honor Society.

PERSONAL
Son of Mark and Dianne Gillaspie...Born July 18, 1987, in Omaha, Neb...Has one sister, Makenzie, and one brother, Casey...Dad Mark played professional baseball and was an All-American at Mississippi State...Is majoring in geology at WSU...Also recruited by Creighton.

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Hmm...

I've decided to keep a log of junk food that I eat. As you can see it didn't last long. I'm trying to figure out what works and what doesn't. I don't want to delete any of the contents, but yet at the same time I'm unsure of why I have this here.

I've been thinking about changing the style of this since I've been reading a few other blogs online. I have a few ideas and I even want to give another shot to a personal background.

I'm thinking of making this a sports blog (yeah who will read it right?) I'm thinking of making it pictures with a few comments here and there. I've been inspired by one person who blogs about spring training each year. It won't be just sports, but of other places I've been before. I finally have pictures of when I was overseas back in 2001? 2002? 2003? and have them scanned. That was the original reason for why I started this blog. I wanted to keep track of my travels and memories that I have.

I'm going to start and blog everyday and take time out each day to do so. I would keep a journal with paper, but then I'd be killing a tree, though I would recycle the paper.

The pictures of random things will be random, but at the same time it will be what I call "post carding". I coined the term while overseas and noticed that people were just taking pictures of the scenery and most of the time when you buy post cards that's what it was. Just a picture to remember the location, but it did have the name of the place so you'd remember.

Anyway, it's late and I've lost an hour of sleep. I'm going to wrap this up and start fresh tomorrow whenever that maybe.

Horoscope:

I'm keeping a log...day 13

I've decided to keep a log of junk food that I eat.

- 1 order of fries from in n out
- 2/3 of a milk shake
- 50 pringles
- 1 slice plain cheesecake
- 1 slice chocolate chip cheesecake
- 12 dark chocolate m&m's
- 4 wheat crackers

Horoscope: Something small seems to tip the balance and get you the attention you deserve -- though maybe from some rather surprising people! It's a really good day to leverage your reputation.

Seven Cups of Coffee a Day May Lead to Hallucinations (Update1)

Jan. 14 (Bloomberg) -- Consuming the caffeine in seven cups of instant coffee a day may leave you more likely to see, hear and smell things that aren’t there, U.K. researchers said.

People who drink at least 330 milligrams of the stimulant a day were three times as likely to have hallucinations as those who consumed less than 10 milligrams a day, Durham University researchers found in a study of 219 college students published today in Personality and Individual Differences.

The study, the first to link caffeine and hallucinations, explored the relationship between high caffeine consumption and an increased release of cortisol, a stress hormone believed to contribute to delusions, lead researcher Simon Jones said. It forms the first step toward examining nutrition as a factor in the occurrence of hallucinations, he said.

“Given the link between food and mood, and particularly between caffeine and the body’s response to stress, it seems sensible to examine what a nutritional perspective might add,” Jones said in a statement.

It may also be that people under stress and more susceptible to hallucinations are also more likely to consume high levels of caffeine, Jones said in an interview. Caffeine is also contained in tea, chocolate, energy drinks, and some foods.

“There would be no real reason for me to stop drinking tea,” said Jones. “I don’t see a reason to change a moderate intake.”

Starbucks

The amount of caffeine linked to hallucinations in the study would also be equivalent to about seven 8-ounce cups of brewed black tea or about 3 1/2 8-ounce cups of brewed black coffee, according to the Mayo Clinic Web site. One 16-ounce Starbucks Corp. drip coffee also has 330 milligrams of caffeine, according to the Starbucks Web site.

Starbucks spokeswoman Tara Darrow declined to comment in an email, saying the Seattle-based company was aware of the research but hadn’t been able to review how it was conducted.

The U.K. researchers used surveys to assess daily caffeine intake and past experience with hallucinations. Cigarette smokers, known to be more sensitive to caffeine, weren’t allowed to participate, and volunteers’ stress levels and proneness to hallucinatory experiences were taken into account.

Nine of the 22 people in the highest-caffeine group reported hearing disembodied voices, compared with three of the 22 people in the lowest-caffeine group, Jones said. Participants also reported seeing things that weren’t there and sensing the presence of dead people.

To contact the reporter on this story: Naomi Kresge in Zurich at nkresge@bloomberg.net
Last Updated: January 14, 2009 08:57 EST

I'm keeping a log...day 11

I've decided to keep a log of junk food that I eat.

- 6oz diet pepsi
- 15 sour cream onion pringles
- tiramisu
- ice cream

Horoscope: You should feel free to say 'yes' to almost anything that comes your way today -- as long as it's vaguely reasonable! It's a great time to start new projects of all kinds, so don't be timid.