CrabAppleLane Blog

CrabAppleLane Blog is moving

2007-08-19T01:03:26Z

The new temporary site is here. I'll be moving files and tweaking in the coming days and weeks.

The catch

2007-08-18T17:01:13Z

Though football is looming large, baseball still has center stage. Michael Rando (12) had a moment that every kid who ever wore a glove thinks about. He made the play of the day (Watch the video). That it was shown on the big screen at Fenway Park is just cool beyond words. When the stories in professional sports are guaranteed money, referees on the take, steroids, dogfighting, gambling, and the like, I find something like this joyous and refreshing. Big tip of the cap to Michael and to ESPN for reminding us of what sports should be.

19 days until football season ...

Quote of the Day

I don't think I'll ever let go of this ball

Michael Rando, Walpole

Blog of the day here.

Quote from said blog: "A funny thing happened on the way to the Little League World Series for the Chandler, AZ team....apparently no one told their parents that it is not an all-expense paid vacation to Pennsylvania....they actually have to pay if they want to go watch!"

A day off

2007-08-17T20:59:06Z

New CrabAppleLane revelation: A day off with no plans is most excellent. I offer two from the backyard for a fun Friday.

CrabAppleLane Argiope Spider - August 17, 2007 No change in the spider saga. The hussy is still hanging out with her two suitors. Her two suitors take turns hanging out nearby. They also squabble with each other and at least one of them is ... ahem, servicing her.

CrabAppleLane Brown Thrasher - August 17, 2007 Wish I could have gotten a little closer to this sweet little Brown Thrasher. It gave itself a dirt bath and then decided to fan out and catch some rays. It appears to be panting a little even thought it's really not all that hot. Most of the Brown Thrashers around CrabAppleLane have a phenomenal repertoire of songs and are very cheerful. Quite welcome here.

On an unrelated note, this is a movie I want to see. Not playing around here this weekend, though. Bummer.

Downloaded Movable Type 4.0 last night. Tried installing it in a newly created clean folder on my website and created a new database just to see if maybe the constant internal server errors we get here are related to my installation. Let�s just say that I now think the culprit is the server. The host is simply not allowing the site adequate resources to run the script files. Most likely, there is simply too much activity on my server. Moving the entire website to another host is a major undertaking but it looks like that is the best and only option. Any suggestions?

Yes, we have our eyes on Hurricane Dean as do some of our Florida friends. Category 3 now. Just die, Dean.

20 days until football season ...

Quote of the Day

I saw the roof of a municipal building fly off.

Louis Joseph Manscour, Deputy Mayor - Trinite, Martinique

Blog of the day here.

Quote from said blog: "On fondue and Hurricane Ivan."

Football Thursday - August 16, 2007

2007-08-16T15:57:38Z

I realize that the subject matter has been more boring than usual around here for the non-football fans amongst you. I'm now relegating my football entries to two days per week. They'll be Thursdays for whatever football-related thoughts spring to mind and the day after the Saints game for some rather astute (Shut up) armchair quarterbacking.

I get the feeling that the Cincinnati Enquirer is trying to make fun of the Pittsburgh Steelers in this piece. The Cincinnati Bengals and Pittsburgh Steelers are bitter rivals. The Steelers have a "17-page hotel contract rider that lists their requirements down to the tiniest detail". So what? They want to maintain a routine and nothing they mentioned seemed unreasonable to me. Having a NFL team stay at your hotel is prestigious AND lucrative. I'd wager most hotel managers would run out and buy some foam pillows for Mr Rooney if that's what he wants.

Today's QOTD regards Michael Vick. I was listening to ESPN and someone was saying that the biggest issues here are the gambling charges and the transporting of the dogs across state lines. In a cold textbook sense, that may be true. However, that's not what's going end Vick's career and keep him out of the NFL for the rest of his life. It's the dogfighting and the treatment of those animals that is responsible for that. Those activities are so repugnant to so many people that Vick will have protests at every single public event he's involved in and I doubt it would ever subside. Very, very bad for business. The NFL would never tolerate that. He's done, folks.

21 days until football season ...

Quote of the Day

If I were scripting this for him, and again assuming that he's guilty, I'd have the man sign a plea agreement as charged. Then do whatever he can with the NFL (in terms of league disciplinary action), set a re-arraignment for Friday morning to coincide with these other two and then hold a press conference at least (Thursday) so you can get your spin out there before you go in and plead guilty, especially having begun with a denial of any guilt and an assertion of intent to prove innocence.

Steven Benjamin, Past President of the Virginia Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers

Blog of the day via Charlotte is here.

Quote from said blog: "It wasn�t the highlight of the show (that was when I realized that a member of the Chinese acrobatic troupe the AcroStars, was the same guy that ushered us to our seats, multi-tasking at its finest), but it made the wonderful experience of watching two little boys dig the circus all the sweeter."

Just tidbits for a Wednesday - August 15, 2007

2007-08-15T11:23:31Z

Why Britney Matters is the headline. It took up seven paragraphs and half a computer screen. Why She Doesn't would probably require a bit more, I suppose.

Been tooling around with iTunes since I upgraded my QuickTime. It's not a bad service but it is woefully short on material.

Seems like not that long ago they were just coming into camp. Today is the last day of Saints training camp. They'll have a practice this morning and then board a plane this afternoon for Cincinnati for a couple of practices and a game with the Bengals. One of my fantasy leagues has their draft next Sunday and I haven't looked at anything yet. Will do that this weekend.

The Saints and Colts open the NFL season in just 22 days and there is definitely a side story working here. The Colts All-Pro left offensive tackle, Tarik Glenn, has retired. The Saints All-Pro left offensive tackle has a bone bruise and may not be able to play in the opener. It is doubtful he'll be up to full speed by then. Facing the Colts tackle will be All-Pro Saints defensive end, Will Smith, and facing the Saints tackle will be All-Pro Colts defensive end, Dwight Freeney. It will be an interesting night if Peyton Manning and Drew Brees are both looking over their shoulder.

22 days until football season ...

Quote of the Day

Why should anyone care what happens to these wealthy, foolish people?

Noah Oppenheim, TODAY

Blog of the day here.

Quote from said blog: "Now that Kenny Irons is down for the year, the Cincinnati Bengals are back to 2006 with Rudi Johnson expected to take the workload. In 2006, Rudi Johnson finished with 341 rush attempts -- Kenny Watson had 25."

Of punishments

2007-08-14T10:32:32Z

There are times when punishing someone hurts just about everyone BUT the person it intends to. Punishing Vince Young last week was like that. He was benched for the game against the Redskins for violating team rules. So he doesn't have to play in a meaningless exhibition game. That can only hurt his team, who could probably use some practice with him on the field, and the fans, who paid full price to see the game.

Michael Vick is another day closer to losing his football career. Two more of his co-defendants accepted plea deals. If he pleads guilty to felony dogfighting charges or is convicted of them, he will do time and I can't imagine how the image-conscious NFL would ever touch him again. He's done.

23 days until football season ...

Quote of the Day

Arena Football League star wide receiver Bobby Sippio agreed to terms on a two-year contract. In his most recent AFL season, Sippio had 163 catches for 2,391 yards and 70 touchdowns with the Chicago Rush.

ESPN

Blog of the day here.

Quote from said blog: "The Tennessee Titans Official Blog"

Man of the Year

2007-08-13T10:25:52Z

We watched Man of the Year yesterday. Barry Levinson is hardly noticed here even though he wrote, produced, and directed it. It seemed to me like a typical Robin Williams vehicle. I'm not really sure what the message was, though. Williams plays Tom Dobbs, a comedian who jokingly gets into the presidential race and wins as an independent. We have computerized voting machines that have a glitch in them that declares the wrong winner and somehow no one suspects anything is wrong. We have a person, who knows the results are wrong, who couldn't possibly get near a president-elect with her background and under the false pretenses she presented yet she gets private access. I suppose it was intended to be part political thriller and part satire. Still, as implausible as the political thriller part of it was, the film wasn't all bad. We kind of enjoyed it.

24 days until football season ...

Quote of the Day

Funny. You like samurai swords. I like baseball.

Hattori Hanzo, Kill Bill: Vol. 1

Blog of the day here.

Quote from said blog: "QT talked a bit about Inglorious Bastards while over in Germany, but he says he doesn't want to say too much as it might "jinx it"."

CrabAppleLane Sunday - August 12, 2007

2007-08-12T14:52:13Z

No change in the spider saga this morning so I offer two from the backyard on this sunny and surprisingly mild-temperatured CrabAppleLane Sunday. It's so nice here that I might have to break out the grill.

Unknown CrabAppleLane wildflower Not sure what this is. (Update 10:58AM: Kim correctly identified it as sow thistle). I thought it was some form of dandelion but my wildflower book puts them at 18in tall. This beauty is about 5ft tall. Love the green stems against the white flowers.

CrabAppleLane Tiger Swallowtail This Tiger Swallowtail must have seen my camera. Stopped and posed on the only sunny spot around.

25 days until football season ...

Quote of the Day

Have you ever been with a warrior woman?

Wash, Firefly - Bushwhacked

Blog of the day here.

Quote from said blog: "Caroline found this sign in the bathrooms at the top of Haleakala (the volcano) in Maui."

This n that - August 11, 2007

2007-08-11T17:42:21Z

I don't mean to go too Discovery Channel on everyone but I was somewhat fascinated by the goings-on of this group of Argiope spiders. No sign of his rival from last week (Correction: 4:30PM - Her other suitor has made an appearance this afternoon). She had a bigger day planned than I thought. The rival is on the move now. I suppose one might call this "spider p0rn" (Intentionally misspelled). Her web is in the center in both images, her lover's "companion" web is on the far left, and his rival's is on the far right. She spurned his first advance, was somewhat tense in their first actual encounter as shown in the first image, but she was totally relaxed thereafter. If you're not completely creeped out after looking at these, check out Ree's spiders. Living a country life has its joys and one of them is forging a coexistence with spiders.

Argiope spiders at CrabAppleLane - August 11, 2007 - Enlarge if you like

Argiope spiders at CrabAppleLane - August 11, 2007 - Enlarge if you like
In unrelated matters, you had to know this was coming.

I also would like to offer an image from last night's dinner run.

Taco Bell Drive-Thru - Covington, LA - August 10, 2007
Because it made me smile. Good on ya, Taco Bell.

26 days until football season ...

Quote of the Day

We were a little sharper tonight on offense, but you would still like to see us complete those drives with touchdowns.

Drew Brees, new Orleans Saints Quarterback

Blog of the day here.

Quote from said blog: "Now, I've never milked a goat personally, but I don't think he was doing it right. Nope. Definitely not the right way to milk a goat."

Out of the Past

2007-08-10T10:25:32Z

I watched Out of the Past last night. I'd been keeping an eye out for it since Dan mentioned it in the comments here. What a delightful film this is. Classic noir. Robert Mitchum is excellent as the ill-fated gumshoe, Jeff Markham aka Jeff Bailey, but Jane Greer steals the show as the femme fatale, Kathie Moffat. As with all femme fatales, good guy Markham initially falls hard for her charms. The transition he goes through about her is the story here. When Markham is told "She can't be all bad. No one is.", he delivers the classic "Well, she comes the closest.". This is one to watch on a late Friday or Saturday night with a couple of big bowls of popcorn. It's a blast. Thanks, Dan.

27 days until football season ...

Quote of the Day

How big a chump can you get to be? I was finding out.

Jeff Bailey, Out of the Past

Blog of the day here.

Quote from said blog: "The bridge was opened to traffic on March 29, 1998, in time for Expo 98, the World�s Fair that celebrated the 500th anniversary of the discovery by Vasco da Gama of the sea route from Europe to India."

Lakefront Fountain and other stuff

2007-08-10T00:25:55Z

Lakefront Fountain
Good to see this thing working again. There was a maintenance worker tinkering with it as I circled for a shot. I still love fountains. New Orleans used to have them just about everywhere. Cruising around town to look at fountains was a Ferrara family outing.

I worry about how much longer the Saints can dodge serious injuries this preseason. They have enough talent to make a serious run at a championship but they are paper thin at most positions. All-pro left tackle, Jammal Brown, went down the other day with a "bone bruise". At the time, it was thought to be a possible season-ending knee injury. Two players returned injured from a team water park outing yesterday, including a starting linebacker. Thankfully, none will miss any significant playing time but Jammal will miss a good deal of practice. That'll be enough of that, guys.

I love, love, LOVE the second part of today's QOTD.

28 days until football season ...

Quote of the Day

They mark on their faces the time at which they broke - for me they link these places in London to particular times. And I love the idea they might just be broadcasting misinformation to an unsuspecting public.

Rob Smith, artist

Blog of the day here.

Quote from said blog: "Let me start this post by declaring my love for the Northern European high-speed train network: Northern European high-speed train network, I love you."

21 years

2007-08-08T10:34:26Z

I was on the phone with someone at work. I don't remember who. A colleague ran into the room and announced that the Challenger space shuttle had exploded and turned on the TV. As the TV came on, the person on the phone kept asking me what was happening and all I could say was "I don't know". Missions into space had become routine but this one was a little different because a teacher was going up. Most people were following the story. 21 years later, a teacher, Christa McAuliffe's backup for lack of a better word, is going up today. Congratulations and Best of Luck, Barbara Morgan.

And Congratulations to you, too, Barry.

29 days until football season ...

Quote of the Day

So it was an immortal home run accompanied by varied noises. The instant Barry Bonds became the greatest home run collector of all time, some of the baseball world cheered, while some booed. And some just looked away, relieved it was over. But they will want it to be forgettable too much to forget it.

Mike Lopresti, Gannett News Service via USA Today

Blog of the day here.

Quote from said blog: "Everybody at some point in their life has wanted to have a stuffed animal come to life and be their pal. Tell me I'm wrong and I will laugh and laugh and laugh."

Unusual idea for a blog. I love it. -Rob

Dark Shadows

2007-08-07T10:28:02Z

I watched Dark Shadows as a kid. I only remember a handful of the characters. Barnabus Collins and Quentin come to mind. Seeing an episode as an adult many years after it first aired dimmed my fascination somewhat. It was campy and more than a little dreadful. A movie might be fun, though. Charlotte gets my vote as casting director.

Congratulations to Nightfly and Ladybug.

30 days until football season ...

Quote of the Day

City nights
Summer breeze make you feel all right
Neon lights
Shining brightly make your brain ignite

Aldo Nova, Fantasy

Blog of the day here.

Quote from said blog: "If you're really desperate to make people think you're rich, you can now buy fake ATM receipts that suggest wealth."

Inauspicious start

2007-08-06T11:13:46Z

Good night for the Steelers last night. The Saints didn't put up much of a fight for them. That's about all anyone can say about that. Saints fans can take solace in the fact that the Saints played really bad in preseason last year, too. Unfortunately, they're opening this season against the Super Bowl Champion Indianapolis Colts, not the Cleveland Browns. There is cause for concern, particularly on defense.

31 days until football season ...

Quote of the Day

I can't spin it any way but the way we played. We were sloppy, sluggish. I thought they were more physical than us. We've got a lot of work to do.

Sean Payton, New Orleans Saints Head Coach

Blog of the day here.

Quote from said blog: "Back in 1976, it was traditional for the defending Super Bowl champs to play the College All-Stars -- a collection of rookies to be -- in the first preseason game. A thunderstorm ended that game abruptly forever in the second half because they never played it again (With that game, the Steelers had seven preseason games in 1976, half of their regular season total of 14)."

A CrabAppleLane Sunday and the Hall of Fame Game

2007-08-05T20:13:01Z

Don't expect to see too much of the Saints or Steelers stars tonight in the Hall of Fame game. Deuce McAllister and Willie Parker, the two star running backs for the two teams, probably won't play. The starters for either team don't expect to play beyond the first quarter. If this was a real game, it would figure to be a lot of fun. The two teams played last year and produced nearly a thousand yards of offense. The Steelers won in Pittsburgh, 38-31. The battle cry for the fans of both teams tonight is "just get out of this game in one piece".

For what it's worth, I never thought much of 2007 Hall of Fame inductee, Michael Irvin. He was of questionable character off the field and he cheated a lot on the field. I don't think any wide receiver ever pushed off illegally as much as he did. The other five guys inducted this year richly deserve to be there. Bobby Mitchel, Jim Brown, and Leroy Kelly were great running backs by any standard but the blockers had something to do with it. Gene Hickerson was one of those. Bruce Mathews, another blocker, was in 14 straight Pro Bowls. Enough said. When I started watching pro football in the 60s and 70s, Charlie Sanders and Roger Wehrli were on TV all of the time. There weren't that many teams then. They were exciting. In the three-yards-and-a-cloud-of-dust era of pro football that those guys played in, there weren't a lot of exciting football players in the NFL. Most of the excitement was in the AFL, where Lance Alworth, Fred Biletnikoff, Joe Namath, and Darryl Lamonica were playing. Thurman Thomas was just a fabulous all around football player. I wholeheartedly agree with 5 of the 6. Still a good class.

I offer one from the backyard on this scorching hot CrabAppleLane Sunday.

Argiope Spiders at CrabAppleLane - August 5, 2007
This lovely Argiope spider has two suitors. I think the one above her has the inside track. I don't know if all spiders kill and eat their mates but this variety surely does. I'll check on her later if I remember.

About today's QOTD, don't put a lot of stock in it if you're a fantasy football player. Patten is having a great camp and Meachem isn't. Patten figures to be a significant part of the offense in the early going. With defenses paying a lot of attention to Colston, Henderson, and Reggie Bush, Drew Brees will be looking in his direction quite a bit. If Brees stays healthy, the Saints are going to be very difficult to stop.

32 days until football season ...

Quote of the Day

It seems unlikely that Patten will stay there, but if he does Robert Meachem could be as low as fifth on the totem pole behind starters Marques Colston and Devery Henderson, Patten, and key reserve Terrance Copper. Patten isn't someone to consider in fantasy leagues yet.

USA Today via Baton Rouge Advocate

Blog of the day here.

Quote from said blog: "Okay people, tomorrow is August, which for me, is officially when the NFL season starts. Just putting that out there in the hopes that I can find three or four more hours in each day to post stuff here."