Saturday, May 23, 2015

Behind the Plate

Photo by Retiring Guy

From a June 14, 2002, letter to Mom 

Eddie has been disappointed with the amount of playing time he’s been getting so far this season. And with just two games under his belt! Both JoAnna and I have told him it has nothing to do with his coach playing favorites. With 14 players on the team, five kids have to sit on the bench while nine of their teammates take the field. The coach changes the defensive alignment each inning. In addition, everyone is included in the batting line-up, which means that some of the boys will only get one at-bat in a low-scoring or rain-shorted game. From the first day of practice, Eddie has been determined to be the starting catcher. So far, he hasn’t got his wish. Last night he caught two innings and did a great job, and on Tuesday, a game I missed as the result of a library board meeting, he made an out at the plate on a throw from the outfield. 

“Everyone on the team gave me a high five,” he proudly reported after I had returned home from work.

Kristina, 27, likes the idea of Donald Trump running for President



As quoted in Iowa Republicans like governors as presidential timber.  (Des Moines Register, 5/22/2015)

Craig, 63, is gung-ho over Trump's suggestion to build a 'big fence' along the U.S.-Mexico border.

No Friend to the Environment: Republican Representative Blake Farenthold, Texas's 27th Congressional District


Photo source:  U.S. Congress
Text source:  Think Progress

Tea Party Congressman Farenthold was re-elected to a 3rd term in 2014 with 64% of the vote.

Required reading for Rep. Farenthold and the constituents in his Gulf Coast to Austin district.

Sea Level Changes and the Texas Coastal Environment.  (Bureau of Economic Geology, University of Texas-Austin)
Scientific research concludes that climate change creates problems for coastal environments, drinking water supplies, and air quality in Texas. Although similar temperature changes took place in the past, they occurred over much longer periods. It appears that temperature change and its associated environmental problems may occur faster than the environment and humans can adapt.
5% lifetime score (0% in 2014) from the League of Conservation Voters.


No Friend to the Environment dishonor roll.

Alabama Congressional delegation:  U.S. House of Representatives.   (Their anti-environmentalism can be summed up in one world:  coal.  Which is odd, since Alabama contributes a mere 1.9% of U.S. production, good enough for an overall ranking of 13.  The state's peak year of production:  1990)  
Alaska Congressional delegation:  U.S. House of Representatives
  • At-large District.  Don Young (R).   Ridiculed environmentalists as a “self-centered bunch of waffle-stomping, Harvard-graduating, intellectual idiots.....not Americans, never have been Americans, never will be Americans.” 
 Arizona Congressional delegation:  U.S. House of Representatives
Arkansas Congressional delegation:  U.S. House of Representatives
California Congressional delegation:  U.S. House of Representatives
Colorado Congressional delegation:  U.S. House of Representatives
No House Republicans hail from Connecticut and Delaware. 
Florida Congressional delegation:  U.S. House of Representatives
Georgia Congressional delegation:  U.S. House of Representatives
 Idaho Congressional delegation:  U.S. House of Representatives
 Illinois Congressional delegation:  U.S. House of Representatives
 Indiana Congressional delegation:  U.S. House of Representatives
 Iowa Congressional delegation:  U.S. House of Representatives
Kansas Congressional delegation:  U.S. House of Representatives
Kentucky Congressional delegation:  U.S. House of Representatives
Louisiana Congressional delegation:  U.S. House of Representatives
Maine Congressional delegation:  U.S. House of Representatives
Maryland Congressional delegation:   U.S. House of Representatives
No House Republicans in Massachusetts delegation.
Michigan Congressional delegation:   U.S. House of Representatives
Minnesota Congressional delegation:   U.S. House of Representatives
Mississippi Congressional delegation:   U.S. House of Representatives
Missouri Congressional delegation:   U.S. House of Representatives 
Montana Congressional delegation:   U.S. House of Representatives
Nebraska Congressional delegation:   U.S. House of Representatives
Nevada Congressional delegation:   U.S. House of Representatives
New Hampshire Congressional delegation:   U.S. House of Representatives
 New Jersey Congressional delegation:   U.S. House of Representatives
New Mexico Congressional delegation:   U.S. House of Representatives
New York Congressional delegation:   U.S. House of Representatives
 North Carolina Congressional delegation:   U.S. House of Representatives
North Dakota Congressional delegation:   U.S. House of Representatives
 Ohio Congressional delegation:   U.S. House of Representatives
 Oklahoma Congressional delegation:   U.S. House of Representatives
 Oregon Congressional delegation:   U.S. House of Representatives
  Pennsylvania Congressional delegation:   U.S. House of Representatives
South Carolina Congressional delegation:   U.S. House of Representatives
South Dakota Congressional delegation:   U.S. House of Representatives
Tennessee Congressional delegation:   U.S. House of Representatives
Texas Congressional delegation:   U.S. House of Representatives