Weird World Series

While the 2008 World Series was halted after 6 innings due to relentless rain and a flooded field, it's not the first time something unusual has marked America's National Pastime Championships.

In 1989 an earthquake ripped through California's Bay Area moments before the start of Game 3 between Oakland and San Francisco. Game 3 was delayed for 10 days.

In 1945, unable to bring his goat into Wrigley Field, Bill Sianis cursed the Chicago Cubs who have never won a WS since.

The longest game: 2005 WS -- 5 hours 41 minutes
Shortest game: 1919 WS -- 51 minutes
Youngest pitcher: Ken Brett, 19.5 years in 1967 WS
Oldest pitcher: Jamie Moyer, 44.9 years in 2008 WS
Tallest player: John Rauch 6' 11"
Shortest player: Donnie Sadler 5' 6"

Source: MLB.com

Your Data Stolen

The following companies are the most recent victims, they represent the tip of the iceberg when it comes to ID theft:

AIG -- June 2006 -- personal data stolen from computers -- 930,000 customers
Boeing -- Dec 2006 -- personal date stolen, laptop recovered --382,000 customers
JC Penney -- Jan 2008 --personal data stolen -- 650,000 customers
Google -- July 2008 --personal data stolen -- undisclosed number of employees
Countrywide Home Loans -- Aug 2008 -- personal data stolen, thieves caught -- 20,000 customers

Consumers can't prevent ID theft when it happens to a lender or credit company.
Close accounts, paying off monthly debt and keeping only one or two cards per name limits damage to individual. Report ANY questionable purchase or credit line to company. Watch credit score.

Hurricane Season

Technically hurricane season starts June 1, but it's September when most hurricane activity in the Atlantic Ocean is seen.

Hurricanes are categorized by wind speed, prior to 1991 it was air pressure and wind speed. Cat 1 hurricanes have wind speeds of 75-95, Cat 2: 96-110, Cat 3: 111-130, Cat 4: 131-155, Cat 5: 156 mph and higher. Hurricane Katrina had wind speeds of 175 and higher.

Hurricanes flow in an east to west direction and their winds in a counter-clockwise direction.

Earthquakes are more common than hurricanes. We can only feel 100,000 of the 500,000 of the annual global earthquakes.


New hurricane novel: http://www.booklocker.com/books/3527.html

Sources: NOAA, National Geographic

presidential quirkiness...

in 1992 Kerrey ran for president.

that's Bob Kerrey, not John Kerry. But both are democrats.

Bob Kerry is married to Sarah Paley. that's Paley not Palin.

John Kerry is husband to Teresa Heinz Kerry. South African by birth, she married Senator Heinz in 1966 and Senator Kerry in 1993.

Sources: 4president.org, Biographies of Kerrey & Kerry

Cheetahs chirp

Over the years Hollywood has inserted sounds to make animals more or less menacing. Here's a few examples of how The movies played fast and loose with sound:

1. Cheetahs chirp. Young cheetah cubs sound a lot like birds. Cheetahs never roar, but hiss and churr--a sort of throaty growl.
2. Dolphins don't bleat. Dolphins use three primary sounds: Whistles, clicks and chirps. The annoying bleating sound is man-made.
3. Zebras never neigh. Zebras bark or bray, like donkeys. They don't whinny or neigh like a horse.
4. Alligators are quiet. Gators have no vocal chords so the only noises they produce are hisses and an infrasonic bellow that rattles the water around them.

Good bye running buddy

Had to say good bye to our Black Lab, Tucker...here's a tribute to him and his breed:

Black labs typically stand anywhere from 2.4 feet to 3 feet at the shoulder, they weight 60-100lbs.
They need a good yard, lotsa exercise.
They are subject to shoulder and hip problems, made worse if they become overweight.
Their life expectancy is about 10 to 12 years some make it to 16 or 20 years.
They are the most popular breed/breed mix in the Us and UK (golden retrievers are almost tie)
About 60% of service and guide dogs are lab/lab mixes.

Good bye, Dad...

http://www.philly.com/inquirer/obituaries/20080520_Richard_J__Walsh___Engineer__78.html