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An Ode To Puerto Rico

By Big Tent Democrat, Section Blog Related
Posted on Tue Dec 23, 2008 at 10:10:45 AM EST
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Former major leaguer Doug Glanville, who played winter ball there in the 90s, pens an ode to Puerto Rico in the NY Times today. It's a nice piece.

This is an Open Thread.

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    An Ode To Puerto Rico | 36 comments (36 topical)

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    I've long been wary (5.00 / 1) (#3)
    by Fabian on Tue Dec 23, 2008 at 10:53:31 AM EST
    of weight loss solutions sold on the internet (or anywhere else).  Turns out that my suspicion of caffeine being an undisclosed ingredient was off the mark.  How about prescription drugs in the amphetamine family instead?  Most seem to be from China.
    FDA link
    (sigh.)

    Many years ago (5.00 / 2) (#6)
    by scribe on Tue Dec 23, 2008 at 11:32:35 AM EST
    (we're talking the early 80s, IIRC), I recall a Doonesbury cartoon featuring the woman actress character (I forget her name - doesn't matter, anyway), in an exercise class.  The setup was the cultish losing weight and being fit mindset and a knock on the then au courant "feminism" which blamed bad men for everything.  The conversation (the actress character being an observer of the conversation) went something like this:

    Class member:  What's the secret?
    Class leader:  Eat less and exercise more.
    Class member:  Eat less and exercise more?
    Class leader:  Yes.
    Class member:  What a concept.  Why haven't we heard this before?
    Class leader:  Male doctors hid the truth from me.

    "Eat less and exercise more" is a hell of a lot cheaper than diet pills, and more effective.

    Go take a long walk.  It will do you a world of good.

    Parent

    It's absolutely true (5.00 / 1) (#19)
    by The Poster Formerly Known as cookiebear on Tue Dec 23, 2008 at 12:33:45 PM EST
    Not the male doctor hiding it from us thing, but the other ...

    I'm having to go on a diet because I've absolutely ballooned the past year or so because, first, I quit smoking and, second,  I went from being insanely physically active to almost inert.

    I just spent the morning researching diets and found an article at WebMD about taking it off fast - and the secret is exactly that: exercising a minimum of 1 hour a day and taking in between 1,050 (but no fewer) and 1,200 calories a day.

    So sensible and obvious! I do love my food, so I'm not terribly happy about this :D - I would much prefer a cheesecake solution - but I love getting into my clothes more.

    Parent

    Make it a positive thing, (5.00 / 1) (#21)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Tue Dec 23, 2008 at 12:37:43 PM EST
    don't think about dieting, think about eating like an athlete.

    Or, considering the new pics of Obama on the beach in HI that are floating around today, try to eat like him.

    Parent

    Well, if the news reports are to be believed (none / 0) (#22)
    by scribe on Tue Dec 23, 2008 at 12:51:48 PM EST
    he's been pounding musubi while on the golf course. In the middle of the round.

    Parent
    Spam gives me the heebee jeebees. (none / 0) (#23)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Tue Dec 23, 2008 at 12:54:00 PM EST
    Just does.

    Parent
    I happen to like Spam (none / 0) (#24)
    by scribe on Tue Dec 23, 2008 at 12:59:27 PM EST
    a lot.  Sometimes even more than regular bacon, ham or other pork products.

    Though, a friend got a couple pounds of specialty bacon for Christmas so I'll have to go over there and check it out....

    I'll let you know.

    Parent

    Your mom probably didn't make (5.00 / 1) (#25)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Tue Dec 23, 2008 at 01:07:30 PM EST
    spam and mayo on rye sandwiches for you when you were a kid.

    Money was tight, I understand, but couldn't we have sprung for PB&J?

    Parent

    She did, but they were on white, (5.00 / 1) (#27)
    by scribe on Tue Dec 23, 2008 at 01:16:23 PM EST
    not rye.

    And PB&J meant homemade jam.  Which meant not-grape, because we didn't have grapevines.  Raspberry and strawberry, we had plenty of.

    We thought the homemade non-grape jam made PB&J dorky, and turned our noses up at it.

    Parent

    Well, enjoy! (none / 0) (#29)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Tue Dec 23, 2008 at 01:29:53 PM EST


    Parent
    btw, can't stand concord grape jam either. (none / 0) (#30)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Tue Dec 23, 2008 at 01:31:45 PM EST


    Parent
    Do not blaspheme... (5.00 / 3) (#26)
    by kdog on Tue Dec 23, 2008 at 01:16:22 PM EST
    against my lord and savior...crisp, greasy, delicous bacon.

    It should never be in the same paragraph as Spam...much less the same sentence.

    Parent

    Back to church for you (none / 0) (#28)
    by scribe on Tue Dec 23, 2008 at 01:19:29 PM EST
    and go worship your Lord and Savior Bacon, enhanced with cheese.

    And, to answer the question in the title of the linked article:  "No."


    Parent

    Maybe not a cheesecake solution (5.00 / 1) (#34)
    by Alien Abductee on Tue Dec 23, 2008 at 07:27:58 PM EST
    but a chocolate, red wine, butter, and French pastry one... Great book!

    Parent
    ooo ooo ooo (none / 0) (#35)
    by The Poster Formerly Known as cookiebear on Tue Dec 23, 2008 at 08:22:59 PM EST
    I like this idea.

    My real problem is that I was so physically active for so long, but was suddenly plunked into a job which demanded all my time on my hind end. I'm like one of those football players who's gone to fat.

    Worse, I was able to eat like a horse because I was so insanely active - and now i have to eat like a delicate flower. ::sniffle:: It's horrid, absolutely horrid.

    Okay, so it's not that bad.

    Plus I quit smoking by deciding that, if quitting meant eating mountains of food, so be it. And so, I did just that. the result is, i smell fabulous, but am now a porky little thing. Very annoying.

    Parent

    Toyota expects operating loss (5.00 / 1) (#9)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Tue Dec 23, 2008 at 11:42:41 AM EST
    for 2008 to be $1.5 Billion. First loss in the company's entire 70-year history.

    Must be all those crappy cars they're building that nobody wants.

    I always kinda felt... (5.00 / 1) (#10)
    by kdog on Tue Dec 23, 2008 at 11:46:16 AM EST
    new cars were way too expensive...looks like the marketplace is starting to agree with me.

    The market is flooded with perfectly good used cars, people must be catching on...or everybody is just broke:)

    Parent

    I agree, I've never bought a new car. (none / 0) (#13)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Tue Dec 23, 2008 at 11:52:37 AM EST
    That said, when I look at a car, and everything that's involved in its design and manufacture - every little nut and bolt - I sometimes can't believe they sell for as cheap as they do...

    Parent
    I see your point... (none / 0) (#16)
    by kdog on Tue Dec 23, 2008 at 12:05:54 PM EST
    on the economy models, the high-end stuff is just crazy though...the bolts ain't gold-plated:)  You're paying for a status symbol at that point, not a mode of transport.

    I may just tend to think of everything as expensive...clothes, houses (not so much right now, but usually), bottled water...I can't believe what they get for bottled freakin' water.  Costs more than gasoline.

    Parent

    Yep, I was thinking of plain-jane (none / 0) (#17)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Tue Dec 23, 2008 at 12:12:21 PM EST
    Big 3/Japanese cars.

    There is/was a Lamborghini dealership a mile or so from my home that just closed down...at least I think it closed down, I noticed this AM that I don't see any cars in it anymore.

    Anyway, as much as I'd love to rip around in one, how can you justify that kind of price?

    Although, I guess that's the difference in economies of scale between a GM, et al, and a Lambo...

    Parent

    I like to think.... (5.00 / 2) (#18)
    by kdog on Tue Dec 23, 2008 at 12:27:22 PM EST
    that even if I hit Mega-Millions and rolling in it, I'd still balk at the lack of value in cars like Bentleys and Lambos.

    But then again, if it makes you happy...more power to you.  Just not my bag...I'd rather buy-in to WSOP for 10-15 years straight...now thats good value:)

    The only time I even think about buying a new car is when the old one dies and the repairs cost more than a new used car.

    Parent

    I have some friends who have (none / 0) (#20)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Tue Dec 23, 2008 at 12:34:59 PM EST
    several very successful businesses. Mom, Dad, and all three kids run the businesses and they all drive Bentley Continental GT's.

    The circular drive in front of Mom and Dad's house on Thanksgiving and Christmas day is worth more than some 3rd world countries, or so they like to joke among themselves.

    Ah well, I hope they keep spending, our economy needs it.

    Parent

    NPR this morning. (none / 0) (#11)
    by Fabian on Tue Dec 23, 2008 at 11:46:31 AM EST
    Not a surprise for anyone who has been following the economic news closely.

    Anyone who has been listening to the pundits and e-pundits might be shocked that's it's not just the American auto makers in trouble.

    Parent

    Wait'll Nissan releases its numbers... (5.00 / 1) (#12)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Tue Dec 23, 2008 at 11:49:56 AM EST


    Parent
    VP vs Senator position (2.00 / 1) (#7)
    by Saul on Tue Dec 23, 2008 at 11:35:09 AM EST
    I assume the VP position is more important than a senator position.  When Palin was chosen to be the rep VP TL came down like gangbusters on Palin as being to inexperienced for this position.   I know this would have not happened but what if Caroline Kennedy had been picked to be the rep VP, would TL and the media blasted her like they did Palin. Compared to Palin should would even have less executive experience.  

    My point is why is TL not saying that same thing with the same vigor as  they said on experience on Palin to Caroline for the Senate position.  Sounds like a huge double standard.

    Is Jr. NY Senator next in line for the presidency? (none / 0) (#14)
    by Addison on Tue Dec 23, 2008 at 11:59:01 AM EST
    No. Caroline Kennedy is inexperienced at both governance and electoral politics, and so that could be a problem if she was elected to the Senate and then needed to be re-elected. However, if you can't see that being one Senator out of 100 is a wee bit different from being a heartbeat away from the presidency for 4-8 years, well. Also, there's the question of judgment and wisdom, though I don't know if I know enough about CaKe to have any opinion at all on that.

    I'll note that (IIRC) BTD was an opponent of paying much attention at all to Palin, and he doesn't care about CaKe's inexperience, so you're talking about Jeralyn.

    Parent

    I admitted in the opening of my statement (none / 0) (#32)
    by Saul on Tue Dec 23, 2008 at 03:16:14 PM EST
    that the VP was probably more important than the senate position.  Not only was it TF that had this major issue with the inexperienced with Palin but the media was in a frenzy about it.  My original question though was would TL and the Media gone as crazy on inexperience on the hypothetical if Caroline had been picked for VP.  If you are true to a cause you would criticize both appointments equally and with the same vigor.  All I see is a double standard.

    Parent
    Hilarious (none / 0) (#33)
    by squeaky on Tue Dec 23, 2008 at 04:46:58 PM EST
    I have no problem with Kennedy as VP while it makes me ill to imagine Palin any where near that office.

    I would not be one bit worried about Kennedy having to take over the Presidency, save for new information coming to light about her. I would prefer her miles ahead of Biden.

    Parent

    New Poll (none / 0) (#1)
    by CST on Tue Dec 23, 2008 at 10:23:06 AM EST
    1/5 think Cheney is the worst V.P. in history.  My first reaction was "who are the other 4?", but then I remembered Andrew Johnson.

    He was probably worse than Cheney.  See, I CAN say something nice about him :)

    but (none / 0) (#8)
    by Nasarius on Tue Dec 23, 2008 at 11:40:54 AM EST
    He wasn't notably bad as a VP, right?

    Hm. Spiro Agnew. Dan Quayle, I guess. There aren't a lot who are notable for their tenure as VP, because it's been such a historically and Constitutionally powerless position.

    Parent

    Beautifully written (none / 0) (#2)
    by scribe on Tue Dec 23, 2008 at 10:25:16 AM EST
    which is what you would expect from a Penn graduate.

    It is also a very nice, thoughtful piece.

    Glanville is a must-read (none / 0) (#4)
    by lobary on Tue Dec 23, 2008 at 10:58:28 AM EST
    I always enjoy his writings. Here's Glanville on hitting curves...

    http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/09/opinion/09glanville.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

    Parent

    Both well penned.... (none / 0) (#5)
    by kdog on Tue Dec 23, 2008 at 11:30:40 AM EST
    Is there any analogy to life baseball can't handle?

    I don't know how you can pen an ode to Puerto Rico without mentioning the women though...I am eternally grateful so many Puerto Ricans emigrated to NY:)

    Parent

    I went to Puerto Rico last August (none / 0) (#15)
    by The Poster Formerly Known as cookiebear on Tue Dec 23, 2008 at 11:59:07 AM EST
    ... for a conference, and I loved it. We were in San Juan, and I was stunned by what a lovely, gentle city it is. And so much cooler than the states - it was something like 105-110 degrees when we left here, and we arrived to 85 degrees and just gorgeous breezes.

    And I just loved San Juan! Beautiful!

    Sweet (none / 0) (#31)
    by squeaky on Tue Dec 23, 2008 at 03:00:28 PM EST
    And nice to read something so full of optimism during these times.

    Great Article (none / 0) (#36)
    by jsj20002 on Wed Dec 24, 2008 at 08:04:18 AM EST
    I read the on-line Times every day, but somehow missed this article.  Thank you for bringing it to everyone's attention.  When you visit Puerto Rico, like most other places, it is the memories of the people you met there that stay with you.  

    An Ode To Puerto Rico | 36 comments (36 topical)

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