Book 3 in the wild ride that is Lemony Snicket. Why I decided to read these is beyond me but the series looked interesting if not kind of kooky. I needed something kind of goofy to keep me sane while I travel. Of the first three I thought this one was the creepiest (leeches anyone?) and meanest (pushing Aunt off the boat to her death!). All in all you have to feel for Violet, Klaus, and Sunny. Three books in and now I will have to read until the finale just to see what happens!
Book 2 in what I will refer to has the "Blue Ant Crawl" trilogy (although Book 3 has yet to surface and Gibson is 59, I'm thinking there will be a third). This book like the previous book, Pattern Recognition, is some of his best work since Neuromancer (the in between trilogy never worked for me). I actually find it hard to believe that Pattern Recognition was written in 2003! Four years later Gibson is back at it with a new set of characters and one being prodded by Mr Bigend (recurring character). This book reads like a SF Ludlum spy thriller although it isn't as intense or dense as you'd find in a Ludlum. The intertwindness of the plot and the characters are well defined and the neat tidy ending makes for a well written tale. I have found that you don't really read Gibson so much for the story but for the concepts, the metaphors, and the underlying hipness. Reading the book makes everything he says "cool". I finish his novel and a feel a bit more attuned to the future, a little hipper, and maybe a bit more like I just came down from a drug induced high. Good quotes:Well good thing the Roxs weren't in a gunfight as we finished as bridesmaids in the manager of the year, rookie of the year, and MVP awards. Hardware is nice but my guess is that the three involved (Hurdle, Tulo, and Holliday) wouldn't trade their end of season wild ride for any of these awards as the winners (Melvin, Braun, and Rollins) all got sent home as we beat two of them in the NL playoffs! Bottom line is these individual awards really shouldn't mean all that much if the individuals care more for what the team does. Plus Tulo shouldn't be all that bummed, his first baseman lost out to a Japanese Pitcher who isn't even in the bigs anymore (should Japanese players really be considered rookies?).
Hot Stove Anyone?
Rockies re-signed catcher Yorvit Torrealba to 2-year deal and also appeared to resign Matt Herges to a 1-year deal. reports seem to indicate that Kaz Matsui will either sign with the Cubs or Astros. Roxs will need to decide to slot a home-grown talent into 2B (Carroll, Barmes, Stewart, or Quintinilla) or find someone serviceable. None of these four really deserve to be everyday starters (Stewart is a corner guy) and have each had the opportunity. My guess is that Spring Training something will come out in the wash. Looks like Hawkins is probably going away as well. No big loss...decent playoff run, but falls into that dime a dozen relief pitcher. I truly believe that all you really need is a decent closer and then just a couple of hot arms throughout the season. You can't really predict how a closer will do from season to season. Just too random. Finally the Roxs will need another starting arm or two. If last season was any indication it is few and far between that the 5 guys you leave Spring Training are still pitching in October!
With the announcement of Amazon's Kindle, the electronic book debate begins again. I am somewhat torn because the ideal of a book reader that can hold thousands of books is appealing but on the other hand I like how a book feels and I like to look at my book marker and track my progress. Can you really take an ebook anywhere? What about the beach? 
So that was what was projected...how did it all finish up? Offensively the average from the predictions indicated 5,684 at bats and 847 runs (from the 8 position players and six bench players). Overall the Roxs had 5,691 at bats and 860 runs (or run every 6.6 at bats, interesting stat?). Below is a table indicating in purple the average runs from the prediction with a one standard deviation error bar shown. The white blocks serve as the actual runs scored. The 8 starters accounted for 72% of the at bats and 78% of the runs scored. Adding in the six bench players you then account for 89% of the at bats and 94% of the runs.
So what does this say? Well offensively we had Torrealba, Matsui, Tulo, Holiday, and Hawpe have outstanding above predicted years and Helton, Atkins, and Taveras below predicted. Hopefully next year the offensive can keep pace.
Pitching is a bit more difficult to predict as injuries can effect numbers more. Thirteen pitchers had starts for the 2007 season. Francis led the team with 34, then Fogg at 29, Cook at 25, Hirsh at 19, and Jimenez at 15. These 5 accounted for 75% of the starts and 51% of the innings and 53% of the runs. So from a prediction standpoint it is much easier to get the offensive down. Although I think it is the pitching that really defines your won/loss record (can this be proven in some way? Have to think about it...a later post). 
Pitching was not a strong point this year for the Roxs and with any sort of stability next year with Morales and Jimenez both having a partial year under their belts and the further stability of Francis and Cook I think pitching is key for next year's team.
Next year will be tough one for the Roxs. How will they handle being the NL Champs? Can they build on this year or will they buckle? Hard to say but I'll refine the numbers again next year and see if we can get back to the playoffs.
Whedon astonishing run continues. Good storytelling is such a rarity and with this book each month (or two) the story continues to be awesome. Classic Emma line, "I am, by definition, my own best friend." And guess who ain't dead...yup Cyke is still kicking and has his powers to boot! Kaboom! Or has Wolverine said, "Damn, Summers." Obviously Cyke is my favorite and Whedon just nails him...perfect characterization...and why Cyclops is by far the definition of an X-men. You might have flash, you might be unbreakable, have armor, have claws but when it comes down to a fight, I'd take Scott watching my back.
Well this looks to a cross-over worthy of discussing. The set up is compelling, the first new mutant born since House of M (ughhhh finally 2 years later we are dealing with the ramifications of Bendis's little atom bomb). A race to get to it first. Art looks good...hopefully this will shake up the books and make them readable.
Uncanny X-men 492
Chapter 2 in the Messiah Complex. Is it any wonder why comics have such a hard time getting into books or at least coming back into them. I appreciate the history and all but boy who are the acolytes, what is up with Sinister and the Marauders, and where did Predator X come from? Or is Predator X just a blatant attempt to create a foe for Wolverine to do some good ole beat down on in future issues. And why is Prof X acting so funny? Will he go mental again and how will Magneto play in all this? Anyway good issue and it appears all the X-books are on board so each week is presenting a running chapter. Hopefully this will lead to something..
X-factor 25
Chapter 3 leads off with the worst x-team. If any team has no direction this is it. I tried to get on board but nothing is worthwhile. Once the original X-team moved back to being mainstream there was no reason to continue this book yet it has! Can't editors just say no? Anyway it looks like X-Force is coming back so maybe the Factor will be done. Anyway the multiple man goes into the future and his Layla goes with. What does "46664" on her shirt mean? Anyway these first couple of issues are just the prologue setting the tale. I'm thinking the New X-men will be making a splash this go around.
Okay so Bendis finally got around to explaining the whole "carnage/venom" happening and it seemed to me that it was just a potential plotline that might have been interesting but ultimately didn't get Bendis' attention and so it was cast off. Which kind of made things a bit lame. Also I am tired of Yu drawing this book...it looks half done, half scribbled. His women are awful. It does not complement Bendis' style at all. Oh and the Mighty Avengers just let the criminal Avengers go? Ughhh be consistent. Have to admit there was one good line between Luke and Jessica "Logan's having words with her.," "Really?," "Oh, Really.," "Words or Claws?"
Kind of a filler issue for Vaughan...not quite the bang of his first two issues. All the same a good plot continuation. Somewhat surprised the Buffy confrontation occurred so early...thought it might be drawn out. Also this is Vaughan's next to last issue so it looks like his 4 run series was a "Faith" aside. Good character developments. Will miss Brian's writing.
Ultimate Spider-Man 115
Bendis, bendis, everywhere. Okay can someone please change Kitty's uniform? Ughhh what the heck is she wearing and how in the heck can she see? Also the outfit reminded me of another character's spandex...I thought it was Darkhawk but no it was the cover to X-factor 35. The Orphan Maker...yikes that goes way back. And then is she trying to bring back the ghost of Psylocke with that sash? Kitty doesn't have a costume! There is a reason for that! Anyway good issue, good Parker cracks and great full page spread about midway throught the issue of Spidey doing his thing. Good ending too, one I think every comic book issue should have. Fantastic cliffhanger wanting more!
The origins of India Pale Ale (IPA) dictate its flavor profile. As a result of needing a beer that could withstand the trip from England to India via unrefrigerated sailing vessels, the English brewers took advantage of two natural preservatives: alcohol and hops. So there is the official designation of this fine type of beer. IPA is a personal favorite...I like the strong hoppy taste and finish. Found this beer about 2 years ago and loved it. Can't find it here in Colorado but did recently enjoy it while traveling in the South last week. Their UFO (Unfiltered wheat Offering) was a good taste too.
In Charlotte for a conference and just thought it was an interesting city. Having grown up in Atlanta, I imagine Charlotte to be a distant cousin. What is also interesting is that Charlotte really never enters the Civil War picture so the city itself is pretty young (i.e. wasn't burned down by Sherman). Even though it is young it is interesting how quickly it has grown and the fact that it has a NBA and NFL franchise. Other than that, pretty city, a little too new, not too much old style.
Great return for a comet. An amazing brightness change going from 12 to 3 magnitude within hours! Too bad there isn't a great tail. Go out and be a part of astronomy!
Parallel Literature...a new term for me...is how this book is described. Telling an adult tale using the famous Oz characters from Baum's classic child's novel, Maguire leads us to a new "revisionist" tale of the infamous green witch. Obviously I am reading this having seen the play. Guess I am sucker for cross marketing! First off before the book, I have obviously seen the classic movie, The Wizard of Oz, and of course then I saw the play. So before reading a single page you sort of have a feeling like you know the characters. And basically because of this you get incredibly frustrated reading the novel. Which I guess is good but it really is tough. Fascinating how the author reveals a much deeper and politically intriguing world of Oz (now of course I will have to read the Oz books to see if such a back story is warranted). The book is a biography of sorts of the Green Witch with the story essentially trying to define what "evil" is and whether the Green Witch deserves such a title. The play was more simple in that it simply showed an alternative tale and makes the viewer wonder if Wicked Witch of the West was simply misunderstood and that the real evil was Glinda the Good Witch. The book isn't as cut and dry. I also found the writing to be very blunt. Not for sure if it was a male author writing a female character or perhaps how "male" the Green Witch is written. One does feel for the Wicked Witch but throughout the novel I found I still saw an "evil" streak in her. Her sharp biting teeth has a baby, her joining a terrorist organization, her dealings with her lover, her absolute non-motherly way with her son, and finally her triumph of murdering her old school supervisor. But then in the end she starts to questions "evil" and how evil surrounds here yet she does not seem to see her lack of passion. An interesting quote about religion and the need for evil to make religion work. Overall a good book, lots of big themes, almost felt like I was back in school because the book made me think.