Bubba Dogs

Just reading through the paper this morning, I came across this great list in Sunday’s New York Times Book Review. Even for the casual reader looking for a good next book, or those searching for a Christmas gift, you’ll want to take a look.

NY Times Best Books of the Year

You can also access the NY Times Book Review for the best books of the past decade (and beyond), listed by year:

NY Times 10 Best Books of 2006

By the way, I highly recommend registering for the NY Times online. Far and away, it is the most useful of any online newspaper and, political bent aside, is the most highly respected paper in the world. Registration is free. Link:

NY Times Online Free Registration

To take this one step further, most libraries allow members to access their online database and order books online. If available, it’s usually yanked off the shelf and made available for pickup at your convenience. If not, it will be back ordered and you’ll be notified, via email or phone call, when it arrives. It’s really a great tool, especially for those that hear about a book they’d like to read, but forget all about it when they finally make it to the library two weeks later.

You’ll need to type in your library card bar code, and then you’re off and running.

Here’s the link for Pa. database:

PA. Power Library

Look for the “Find a Book” link once in the Power Library Database.

Congrats to Jimmy Rollins on winning the MVP. How about Chase winning it next year for a Phils MVP three-peat?

Story:

Rollins…MVP!

FYI, between the years 2000 and 2004, the San Francisco Giants owned the MVP. Bonds won four straight, 2001-04. What Giant won it in 2000?

Answer:

MVP/Cy Young Encyclopedia

Bonds has seven MVP awards.  Eight players are tied for second with a total of three each.  Any ideas who they are?

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For any music heads/aspiring guitarists out there, you’ll want to check out this site. Free guitar tablature and lyrics for lots and lots of bands. Forget the words to Waiting Room by Fugazi, or simply want to learn how to play it on a six string? It’s also got tips for songwriters, online free lessons, and just about anything at all that you’d want to know about playing guitar. Check it out (also linked permanently under Music to the right):

Ultimate-Guitar.com

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Any Wilco fans (my favorite band) might want to check out this site. Everything about the band, including Uncle Tupelo and Son Volt stuff - it’s also listed under Music:

Wilco Fan Page

On Saturday my best friend Kristen gave birth to our second son, Conor John. 7 lbs. 4 oz. 20 inches. Mom handled it all amazingly well. Mattie Clare and Timmy have proved already to be an awesome big sis and bro.

The thought of actively participating in the birth of your child, as any one who has been there is aware, is indescribable. The Macks have a lot to be thankful for with Conor’s birth and his big brother Timmy’s birthday, which falls on Thanksgiving day this year. Forgive the self indulgence, but I’m on a new dad high. Life is really great right now.

Check out baseball link crashburnalley which focuses primarily on the Phils and has tons of great sports blog links. He’s got great analysis on Phillies roster moves thus far and makes you feel a bit optimistic about the ‘08 season (though clearly, more pieces need to be added). Shout to JoshQPublic.com for the link.

Crashburnalley.com

Big fire on 65th and beach in Sea Isle on Saturday. Video and details (shout Bert Zog):

Sea Isle Fire - CBS3

Herald Fire Coverage

Thanks to B. News for this link. If ever you’ve wondered anything at all about baseball, from player salaries to how many innings Steve Carlton pitched in what was his finest and most overlooked season in his hall of fame career, then you have to check this out. I had to pry myself off of it last night. On it is literally everything that anyone would ever want to know about the greatest game in the world. It’s also posted under “Sports” to the right.

Baseball Reference.com

By the way, in 1973 Carlton had a 27-10 record on a horrible last place 59-97 Phillies team. He pitched 346 innings! Nowadays .500 pitchers make millions in incentives if they reach 200 innings. 1.97 era and 310 friggin’ strikeouts. Bucky Brandon (?) was next in line with wins on that squad with 9.

I was surfing around youtube and came across this interview with old school talk show guy Tom Snyder and one of the greatest bands in history at the advent of their career. All four members of The Clash were in their 20’s when the interview was conducted in 1980. Lead singer/songwriter Joe Strummer was an amazing talent who passed away in 2002 at the age of only 50. Ironic that Tom Snyder actually outlived him.

First, check this out. Man I miss these guys:

Snyder Interview:

Awesome Springsteen/Costello/Grohl and Van Zandt cover of the band’s most overplayed hit a year after Joe’s death at the 2003 Grammies:

Melon Head has finally been indicted. Breaking story Thursday night:

Barry Bonds Indicted

Joke aside, here’s an actual size pic of his head and images of him with the Pirates and, many years later, the Giants (Click to enlarge):

OK Phils, the time is NOW!!! I re-read this story by Bill Conlin last night and can’t believe that the Phillies (i.e. John S. Middleton) just won’t step up and sign pitchers Andy Pettitte and Mariano Rivera, center fielder Torii Hunter and third baseman Mike Lowell.

Here’s a short taste:

NOBODY SAID IT is easy to crack the Forbes magazine list of the 400 wealthiest Americans. And once you crack it, just being a billionaire doesn’t always hack it.

Eighty-two billionaires were dropped from the 2007 list. Oh, the shame. The cutoff fortune was $1.3 billion. George Steinbrenner was a few bucks from not making the list. The Yankees’ said-to-be-ailing owner tied for No. 380 and last with a paltry $1.3 billion, just $100 million more than the current valuation of his ballclub.

John S. Middleton was not on the list. But that is because the 2007 list was published before giant conglomerate Altria (formerly Philip Morris) purchased Middleton’s privately held family business, John Middleton Inc., for a breath-catching $2.9 billion in cash. The net after taxes and other expenses was $2.2 billion….

Full Story…

Middleton, you’re a billionaire. Buy us a championship!”

John Middleton, one of 6 Phillies owners, just made $2.9 billion on a business deal, $2.2 billion after taxes. $2.2 billion!!! If he were to take 9% off the top, that would amount to $198,000,000. He would still be left with $2 billion. If that were to happen (just dreaming a bit folks), the Phils would replace the Red Sox and the Yankees as THE dominant team in Major League Baseball for the next 5-7 years. Come on, John. How much money do you really need?

Last year the Phils drew over 3,000,000 fans. This after having a measly .500 record in late July. Could you imagine how rabid the fan base would be if they got out of the chute with a decent record? Think about today’s Philly fan: The Sixers aren’t close, the Flyers maintain the same 35,000 fans that they’ve had since 1974, the Eagles run is over. The Phillies now have the opportunity to take this city by the reigns and actually bring a championship to Philly.

Club President David Montgomery, however, has already dampened any hope of everything I just said from ever becoming a reality:

In a brief statement, Montgomery dismissed any connection between Middleton’s windfall and his role as a Phillies investor: “John Middleton is a limited partner with the Phillies and his personal and business interests have no impact on the operation of the ballclub.”

It’s almost comical the way this ownership group is so short-sighted as to not envision the potential that sits in front of them.

Random postings, I know, that have absolutely nothing to do with hot dogs. However, this one’s pretty cool.

Reading through the NY Times this morning, I came across an article that I wished I’d read before shelling out another $300 for a new iPod. Believe it or not, the fix may be as easy as inserting a folded piece of paper inside.

Check it out:Don’t Throw Out That iPod

Surfer’s Supplies report for Sunday:

Plan a surf….. Should be a great day to get wet… Solid 4′-5′ waves are expected with NW winds… Bring boots and some gloves as the water temp is dropping…Fun leftovers can be expected Monday for those who can not get out Sunday….

Noel pics from Outer Banks. Shout out to Rob Zog:

Outer Banks, November 3rd

This one has hit pretty close to home. Cop Killer John Lewis on camera stating, “I can’t take it back…” You killed, you ran and would still be running if you hadn’t been caught. Pretty easy to show remorse once apprehended. My 8th grade students do the same when I catch them copying homework. Your actions transcend a cozy life sentence. You shot a police officer in the face, killing him. His wife and three children are now without a husband or a father. An honorable man is dead because of you.

Death penalty, please

I purposely try to avoid potentially controversial subjects here at Bubba Dogs, however, if this a-hole kills a police officer by shooting him in the face, how can one justify that the same not be done to him? Please email me that line of reasoning and I’ll gladly publish it.

For death penalty pundits, there has been, recently, quantitative data compiled by Mr. Roy Adler a professor of marketing and Mr. Summers a professor of quantitative methods, both of whom teach at Pepperdine University. Here’s a taste:

Most commentators who oppose capital punishment assert that an execution has no deterrent effect on future crimes. Recent evidence, however, suggests that the death penalty, when carried out, has an enormous deterrent effect on the number of murders. More precisely, our recent research shows that each execution carried out is correlated with about 74 fewer murders the following year.

For any society concerned about human life, that type of evidence is something that should be taken very seriously.

The entire story can be found below:

Capital Punishment Works

There has been a trust fund established for Officer Cassidy’s family. Details:

Chuck Cassidy Family Memorial Trust Fund

Members of the Philadelphia Police Department’s 35th District have established a trust fund for the family of Police Officer Chuck Cassidy, who was killed in the line of duty on Thursday, November 1, 2007 .  Anyone wishing to make a donation can mail a check payable to:

The Charles Cassidy Family Memorial Trust Fund

901 Arch Street
Philadelphia PA, 19107

On a lighter note, there may be waves this weekend! Time to pull out the booties and head gear.

Teddy’s report:

Wed 7am

Another weekend swell on tap! A frontal system will produce a coastal low which should be off the coast by Saturday. Look for NE winds to pick up and seas to begin to build Friday. By Saturday seas will be around 6-8ft with N winds (probably some drift as well). Curren marine forecasts are calling for NW winds on Sunday which could make for great conditions. Stay tuned…TeddyD

Check out Local swell.com link for pics of the swell that Noel brought on November 3rd and 4th.  Hope I’m not the only one that missed it.

LBI November 3/4 2007

Chief Kennedy has been placed on paid administrative leave.  Council meets on Thursday to discuss.  Full article in today’s Press:

Sea Isle City puts chief on paid leave during probe

By BRIAN IANIERI Staff Writer, 609-463-6713

Published: Tuesday, November 6, 2007

SEA ISLE CITY - The city placed police Chief William Kennedy on paid administrative leave Monday following allegations his wife made about explicit text messages and photos she said she found on his city cell phone. The city also hired an independent investigator to determine whether the police chief violated city policies or procedures.“We simply don’t know what the facts are,” City Solicitor Paul Baldini said. ” He (Kennedy) was placed on a paid leave of absence that is a non-adverse action, so we are not making any allegations against him or about him.” In October, Kennedy’s wife, Phyllis Kennedy, filed a restraining order against her husband of 20 years in Superior Court under the state Prevention of Domestic Violence Act.  She told The Press of Atlantic City last week that she filed the restraining order following arguments after she discovered explicit text messages and a graphic photograph of a woman’s genitalia that came from the phone number of a female employee working under her husband’s supervision.  Cape May County Prosecutor Robert Taylor has said his office is looking into internal affairs issues, but he would not elaborate, citing the ongoing investigation. City officials said the independent investigation will differ from one currently being conducted by the Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office. “The Prosecutor’s Office is looking at what, if anything, the chief may have done as a police officer,” Mayor Leonard Desiderio said.  “We’re investigating if any of our city policies were violated.” Baldini said the alleged misuse of a city cell phone would fall under the scope of the independent investigation. “The chief will be on this paid leave until the investigation is completed,” Desiderio said. The police chief earns $113,833 annually. On Monday, Chief Kennedy said he could not comment because of a court-order barring third-party communication with his wife.  Desiderio said the city hired an independent investigator from Fox Rothschild, a large Philadelphia-based law firm with 14 offices and 400 lawyers across the country. “The city will be cooperating with him and giving him full reign on this investigation,” Desiderio said. Francis Cook, a partner in Fox Rothschild, said the investigation would entail possible inappropriate behavior by Kennedy. He said he expects to start today. “The issue with these sorts of investigations is that you typically you don’t know what’s involved until you begin the investigation and you start to get into it,” he said. The city retained his law firm Friday. Cook recommended the city place Kennedy on paid leave while the investigation continues. The Prosecutor’s Office had suggested previously that the city and Kennedy work out an agreement for a temporary leave of absence while their investigation was ongoing. “Before we even know what the investigation’s going to disclose, it’s very common we put the person on a paid leave of absence,” Cook said. He said the investigation may take two weeks. After Phyllis Kennedy filed a restraining order, Chief Kennedy subsequently filed a restraining order against his wife.  After his wife filed a restraining order last week, Chief Kennedy had to relinquish his service weapon and firearms in accordance with state regulations.  Sea Isle City Council has a meeting scheduled for Thursday morning. The city announced it plans to hold a closed session for personnel reasons to discuss the chief. The allegations the chief’s wife made against him are feeding gossip in this oceanfront resort where gossip is in no scarce supply.  It’s a town where the public comment sessions of City Council meetings last longer than the meetings themselves. A citizens’ group even mails periodic newsletters informing others of noise complaints and quality-of-life issues the police department handles each summer. “I think this is best for all and for Sea Isle City,” Desiderio said of the independent investigation, “because there’s so much going on out there, and this will help let the citizens know I’m on top of it, we’re on top of it.”