We Interrupt our Allen Levi Concert in Revese ...

For this New Years Evw Message from Allen Levi.

Nolan Ryan vs. The White Sox You win some and you lose some

If you mention Nolan Ryan and the Chicago White Sox many people conjure  an image of  Arlington  Texas August 4 , 1993. As depicted in the video below White Sox 3rd baseman

 and future manager Robin Ventura took exception to  being beaned by Ryan to start the inning rushed the mound and preceded to get pounded by Ryan.

I originally started this post a few months ago. Until that day, I never saw footage  of this incident.  I lived in Russian from December 1992 to November 1994 and even though I heard about the altercation had not seen the footage until now.  The melee was near the end of a storied career by Nolan Ryan. 

The Hall of Famer threw a record 7 no hitters from May 15, 1973 to May 1, 1991.  He also took 5 other  potential no hitters into the 9th inning.  The first of these disappointments came against the White Sox on 8/7/1974 when Ryan was with the Angels.

Watching the last inning of tthat game was very nostalgic for me.  The 1972-1974 Dick Allen era White Sox represent the beginning of my almost 50 year obsession with the White Sox.  Listening to Harry Caray call the action years before he headed over to the north side and  watching the likes of Allen, Jorge Orta, Ken Henderson and Bill Melton harkened me back to those early days. v

This game  features  3 future hall of famers in prominent roles.  Frank Robinson homered in the 2nd to give the Angels a 1 run lead.  Jim Kaat pitched a 9 inning gem scattering 6 hits and only allowing 1 run on the Robinson smash. Through 8 innings Ryan was the star of the show until the 9th inning when should be hall of famer Dick Allen broke the no hitter by running flat out on a check swing.  Click here to read a great account of the game along with a historical perspective of the time in which it was played.  Perhaps 

Allen Levi Concertin Reverse : Song #8 Mighty Good World

Comic Strips from the last week of 2021

 When  I was high school I started clipping comic strips from the newspapers and giving them to frieds or putting them up in my room.  As Newspapers are no longer anywhere near a quarter this would be a rather pricy activity these days.  Thanks to website like Go Comics and Comics Kingdom I can still peruse the funny pages and share them here.  These 6  strips are from 12/25/2021 to present.  

Also as you are directed to the strips I chose for you, you can page back and forth to other strips you might enjoy as well.  

Animal Crackers 12/28/2021

Rubes  12/27/2021

Dilbert 12/29/2021

For Better or For Worse 12/28/2021

In The Bleachers 12/25/2001

Bizarro 12/27/2001

The Dave Out Loud Show (Dave Out Loud)

 

 

Christmas 2021 (Random Acts)

Christmas 2021 

Happy Holidays!

A Sample of our 4th grade 5th grade warm cool color Christmas tree project

My Kids are much older these days but this picture evokes memories of Christmas Day.

Oddly enough, watching this movie has become a Christmas Day tradition.

The Best Christmas Gift Ever

Allen Levi Concert: Song #9: Sunday Driver

Allen Levi Concert: Song # 10 The Masterpiece of Central Park

Sandwich on Pretzel Bun made from Pretzel

411 Calories

Very Tasty 

For More Wordless Wednesday at Comedy Plus click here.

 

Allen Levi Concert in Reverse Song # 11 Be Friendly

12 new to me movies for 2022

 This post has been adaoted from a January 2015 post.

At the end of each year I like to reflect on the year past and prepare for the coming year. I have been thinking quite a bit  about some of my goals and whether I have achieved them this year. One goal I  set each year and have so far failed to achieve is to watch 12 movies I have not seen before.  

I like movies and have worked at a movie theatre since 2019. Besides watching new movies at the theatre, I tend to watch my favorites over and over.   I also like  to watch movies that are new to me and discover new favorites.    On many occasions I have attempted  to watch 12 new to me movies in the course of the year.  I may have accomplished this goal in the past, but I have always failed to chronicle it.  Next year,I will try again to  write a post each month about the "new" movie I have seen.

Let me explain the parameters I have placed upon myself.  When I say new movies, I do not mean 12 2022 movies at the theater.  I mean 12 movies released prior to 2022. Also, I don't only want to              watch movies made in my lifetime, I want to explore through all the eras of cinema.  

Here is how I am doing it:  I was born in 1964 and have divided that time in 4 periods and then divided the time prior to my birth into 2 periods.  These periods are: 

2007 through 2021
1993 through 2006
1979 through 1993
1964 through 1978
1949 through 1963

Pre 1934 through 1948

I will attempt to watch 2 movies from each era, and report back here each month with a review.  I was recently subbing for some  high school English  classes saw an assignment for a movie review.  I am going to use that assignment as the template for my monthly reviews.

• I will rate each movie on a 1 (worst movie ever) to 5 (best movie I have seen) scale.
• I will provide a 2-3 sentence summary of the movie.
• I will share 1 theme from the movie.
• I will write one thing I liked about the movie and 1 thing I disliked about the movie.
• I will say who I think would make the best audience for this movie.  

The thing I like most about this type of review is that it is only supposed to be 1 paragraph.  I have failed many times in the past not to watch the movies but to chronicle them as I have had unrealistic expectations of the quality of such a review and the time it takes me to make a longer review. \

Last Thursday I finally watched The Matrix (1999) for the first time.  It was playing at my theatre in anticipation of Matrix Resurrection which opens soon.  When I told my wife that it was showing she noticed it was also on a streaming service we subscribe to so we watched it together after work.

Here is a  review of The Matrix following the template and giving me some practice for the task at hand next year.

In my opinion The Matrix deserves 4 of 5 stars for being a thrilling innovative and entertaining film that kept me on the edge of my seat. The Matrix appears to take place at the turn of the 20th century but the main character Neo discovers that all is not what it seems. His discovery leads him to another reality and to a choice of which reality he should follow.  Once Neo makes his choices he uses his new powers for the good of humanity.  One important theme of the movie is the concept of fate.  One thing I really liked about the movie was the fast paced frenetic action.  I disliked the intense violence of the movie, I was not aware that this series of movies are all R rated, I think the violence could be ratchetted  down a little for a PG13 rating instead.  This movie is best suited for sci-fi  fans who like post apocalyptic action films that are both dark and hopeful at the same time.  

A Flair for Melodrama

Allen Levi Concert in Reverse Song # 12 No Where I'd Rather Be

Allen Levi, Concert in Reverse: Song # 13 Made to Fly

Allen Levi performed in a concert earlier this year and the venue that hosted the concert, SIlvan Guitars  posted the concert on their you tube channel.  In trying to trim the songs to share here, I discovered that I could start the videos anytime during the concert but it would end up playing the rest of the concert after playing  the selected song.  

This gave me an idea to post these songs in reverse performance order. Today I start with the encore, Made to Fly.  When I return soon with song # 12 you will have the option of watching song 2 and then the end of the concert.  In a few weeks time you will be able to watch the entire concert in a backwards progression.  I hope you enjot this concert in reverse.  

Minoso, Kaat, Hodges and Oliva make Hall. Dick Allen snubbed again.

 On Sunday, December 5th of this year.  The Golden Days Era Committee voted on the 10 candidates up for the Hall of Fame.  Before they met I wrote my analysis here.  We had a busy day on Sunday celebrating my Daughter's 16th birthday a day early and picking out and decorating our Christmas Trees.  It wasn't until my daughter's actual birthday the next day, that I saw the results of the voting.  The Committee voted to put Minnie Minoso, Jim Kaat, Gil Hodges and Tony Oliva in the Hall.  In my opinion they are all worthy of induction.  I am especially happy about Minoso and Kaat's election. also the look on my Dad's face when he heard that Gil Hodges, who hit a home run at the first MLB game he ever attended was one of the biggest thrills of my life.  

However as much joy as I feel about who the committee did include pales in comparison to the misery I feel about the exclusion of Dick Allen who for the 2nd time missed the HOF by 1 vote,   Allen was my first White Sox hero and in my opinion more deserving than any of the aforementioned 4 of enshrinement.  

Some might say that I'm not objective, as I've already declared that He was my hero. The truth is he was my hero over 50 years ago and for years I accepted the story that he had not played long enough and was not a high character guy as legitimate reasons for him not being in Cooperstown.

Over the past 10 years as I have  learned more about the racism he encountered in Philadelphia from the fans and the Press and as the advanced stats that were not available until a few decades ago that have validated his career as one of the best players of his generation have made me realize that my first White Sox hero is probably the best baseball player not in the Hall of Fame. (

Here is one of many fine articles that articulate why he should be in the Hall.)

I guess it is possible to be  deeply disappointed and delighted at the same time.  I am delighted that Minnie Minoso long career has finally been validated, and at the same time,  I am deeply disappointed that Dick Allen's family could not celebrate along with Minoso's.  I am also hopeful that in 5 years time when the committee meets again that Dick Allen's HOF caliber career will finally be recognized. 

Jim Kaat HOF class of 2022

Minnie Minoso HOF class of 2022

Gil Hodges HOF class of 2022

Tony Oliva HOF Class of 2022

Dick Allen

Still Waiting???!!!???!!!

My Golden Blogging Birthday

12 years ago today.  on 12/12/09 I premiered this blog with the following post ...

Crazy Uncle Dave's Sports Blog: Hello Sports Fans: There's a new blog in town! I have been blogging for almost a year at my main blog: Home School Dad. Like me, my blog is eclectic. I ...

12 years later this blog is still kicking.  Which is pretty surprising as blogging is certainly not what it was in 2009.  But as long as I keep enjoying putting these semi whenever sports rants I will continue to do so!

Feline Friday: You can lead your human to your food dish but you can't make them feed you.

Our family has 2 cats, let's call them cat 1 and cat 2.  Two weeks ago I participated   in my first Feline Friday at Comedy Plus by telling a story of how they are nowhere to be seen when company comes a calling.  This week I caught some footage of their normal behavior when they encounter me.  They do act differently for other family members, but  this is their catus operandi for their interactions with me.

Cat 1

 As you can see, Cat 1 uses me for 1 thing and 1 thing only, to have his food refilled.  He will meow and walk over to his cat dish when he sure I will follow.   could not capture his signature move, continue to meow for food while I am in the process of pouring it, because due to the hiring crisis, I have had to film my own cats recently.

Cat 2

At first Cat 2 seems like one chill cat.  However, as I get anywhere near him he just runs away.  He'd be a perfect Covid cat as he is excellent at maintaining a six foot distance.

For more Feline Friday click here. If you care visiting from Feline Friday be sure to catch some of my signature moves by checking out some of my more recent posts. 

Dave Out Loud 2 Trees Edition

The difference: A Six Sentence Story

I have not participated in Six Sentence Stories at Girlie on the Edge's blog for some time now.  Each Sunday she gives a  prompt word and then later in the week posts a link to share the stories. This week's prompt word was guide.

The Difference

The sun was setting on the life of Edison Solomon, who had never really achieved the wisdom or ingenuity of either of his namesakes.   Solomon, a trust fund baby born in 1941, the same year Walt Disney released Pinocchio, who  had never learned to let his conscience be his guide or learn from his mistakes laid in his hospital bed wondering if he had many any difference in his life.  The wondering wasn't real, only something to pass his fleeting time away; he knew he had made no difference at all during the first and now final 80 years of his life.  Edison knew that the 8 weeks, give or take, he had left on this mortal coil was not nearly enough time to make up for his  misspent youth, middle age, and old age.   3 failed marriages had produced no offspring, which was good as 3 failed businesses  had produced no sizeable inheritance.  He had no time for religion in his life before this point. but when the doctor had asked him if he had wanted to see the chaplain he listened to his inner Jiminy Cricket for the first time in forever and said "sure, why not?". 

To see more 6 word sentences or perhaps to submit your own click here to view this week's edition

SINGLE AT CHRISTMAS W/ SONG STORY | RIVERTOWN CHRISTMAS | ALLEN LEVI & F...

I am preparing the concert in reverse that I talked about in my 100th post. It will feature an Allen Levi concert from earlier this year. This morning I recieved a message from You Tube that Allen had a new video. I Hope that you all are as moved by it as I was.

A Parking Lot Filled with Clown Cars

 Adventures in Substitute Teaching

I recently listed my work as a substitute teacher among things I'd like to post more about here. There is certainly no dearth of  topics in that regard so let's start with one of the things that has surprised me about my job as a sub, all the running.  

I primarily teach in elementary schools.  It seems like all  of the elementary schools in my district   could be called Forrest Gump Elementary because wherever most students are going they are runn-ning. 

Most of the running takes place when individual or small groups of students are walking (and I use that term loosely) in the halls during or between classes, for example on their way back from their locker or the bathroom.  This also happens before or after  school  on the way to or from lunch or recess,  or on  their way to or from specials (STEM, P.E, and Music to name a few).  If it seems like it happens all the time it's because it happens all the time.  I stop students from running at least 30 times a day.

Before you get the impression that the running is all done in the hallways there is plenty of running in the classroom itself.  I have students who are just going 10 feet to the pencil sharpener but as soon as they get up, they are sprinting. 

 This is where I get most conflicted with my job as an educator/traffic cop.  I have been the long term art sub at my school since the beginning of the school year.  I have 4 rules I tell my kids.  The 3rd is be safe, and running in the halls, classrooms, and stairs is,  in the words of Ralph Nader, unsafe at any speed.  My conflict stems from the fact that the first and last of my rules are have fun.  As a teacher, I never want to crush the childlike spirit in my students.  There is a natural exuberance that comes with being a kid.  My oldest daughter never walked anywhere until she was about 7.  Until then she skipped everywhere she went.  She was homeschooled back then but regardless  I would have not have wanted to be the teacher who had to tell her to stop skipping everywhere. 

As the art teacher,  I travel every day into the student's classrooms pushing a cart with supplies for our activities.  As I mentioned, I stop at least 30 kids a day from running while rolling from class to class.  These are often the same students over and over again.  I'll stop a  kid they will walk a few steps and then just start running again unaware or not caring that I still have eyes on them.  

The biggest bang for your buck, running wise , at our school is at 2:10 when students begin to get dismissed for the day.  I teach a class downstairs until 2:05 and as I walk my cart to the elevator, the hallway is like a parking lot filled with clown cars. Children pour out of every classroom to go wait for their parents cars to pick them up, followed by a second burst of kids through every door to get in line for the busses.  While many kids are walking a good sized and speedy minority is off to the races.  The process repeats itself when I get off the elevator on the second floor.  

 

I have run in 3 5k's this semester and I have to admit that somedays I just want to run down the hall with them and I can't deny that some of them show some really good form.  Perhaps I should get off my safety kick, get a stop watch in  hand and start recruiting these kids to colleges on a track scholarship.  

Random Pics of Roller

 



Randy Stonehill - Live at Creation Fesitval (1984)

Cosmetic Fixation from Equator

Keep Me Running from Welcome to Paradise

Stop The World from Celebrate This Heartbeat

Shut De Door from Equator

Big Ideas (In The Shrinking World) from Equator

I'll Remember You from Celebratew This Heartbeat

Good News from Welcome To Paradise