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Todd: After this strong episode, I want to praise two behind-the-scenes folks who made "Gregory" what it was. The first is Thomas Schlamme. One of the first TV directors that I ever noted as having a distinct visual style, Schlamme was the master of the walk-and-talk on Aaron Sorkin's shows, offering ample opportunities for viewers to watch smart people offer exposition while strolling down hallways of power, the Steadicam gliding along just in front of them to capture every moment of it. Schlamme's been branching out and doing some of his own things in recent years, rather than get too attached to the Sorkin brand, and though I suspect he's just a hired gun for this series, I hope the show keeps him around or hires him as a regular director in a theoretical second season (which I continue to hope will happen; those ratings have to stabilize, right?).
Look at the way he films the sequence where Gregory sets up the meet with Joyce, the wife of poor, dead Robert (the spy killed back in the opening moments of the pilot). He uses lots of long, geography-establishing shots that link together all of the players in the scene, from Gregory and his team to the FBI folks running surveillance on Joyce to Joyce herself, sitting on a bus bench and looking more and more freaked out by what's happening. Schlamme uses even more of these smooth camera movements when we're with the FBI agents, particularly in their office or when Stan is on the case, and they denote a kind of quiet, calm confidence. These guys are sharks, and they're going to get their man, if they have to work forever to do so. The scenes among the Soviets are choppier, indicating just how much they're having to play catch-up and keep-away. They're falling behind, and even if they don't know it, the camera does.
The other behind-the-scenes name I wanted to talk about is Graham Yost. Now, he's not as involved in this show as he is in Justified—or so it would seem, at least—but I'm sensing a kinship between that show and this one in the fact that all of the people on this show are intelligent, and they're very good at acting in their own best interests. Gregory's team, the Soviets, and the FBI all have different agendas that only occasionally dovetail, but when the FBI gets on the trail of either of the others, everybody makes the smart moves. TV is so full of people doing dumb things for sake of plot convenience that it's always nice to see a character like Stan, who becomes an even more effective antagonist because he notices things and draws connections between them, or even Gregory's random crew member, who makes the quick decision to duck into an apartment building. It's his turf, sure, but he's also got good instincts. Writing smart characters can be more difficult for writers, but I'm glad The Americans has carried that tradition over from Yost's other series.
"Gregory" was a little slower moving and less viscerally exciting than the first two episodes, but I really liked it all the same. This show is going to live and die based on how much it makes us care about both the espionage and the marriage plots, and while giving Elizabeth a lover could have felt sudden, "Gregory" really worked because it followed through both on the fallout from that revelation and Elizabeth's retroactive attempts to explain why she behaved the way she did. The center of this show is all about how you can never really know anyone, and it's nice to see that that still applies to the marriage half of the show as well. Now I just wonder what secrets Phillip might be hiding. (The show has been awfully interested in suggesting Elizabeth's the more troubled one in this relationship; that hardly seems fair.)
"Gregory" also offers a nicely hard-nosed spy plot that goes exactly where you expect it to—Joyce has to die—but in a manner that introduces several new spy characters for Elizabeth and Phillip to work with, including Gregory and "Granny" (played by the great Margo Martindale, another Justified connection). Gregory's an American Communist who's been recruited by Elizabeth; "Granny" is the replacement for "Gabriel," and she's here on U.S. soil to make sure Moscow's directives are carried out. I almost wished the episode had ended on that shot of the baby, which conveyed (along with the way "Granny" slammed that car door shut) Joyce's fate in a way that had a little more respect for the audience putting pieces together, but at the same time, ambiguity can occasionally become maddening on a show like this, where nothing is as it seems.
What did you think, Genevieve? I've barely touched on several of the plottier aspects of the episode, like the reveal of what Robert's deal was for. How are you liking the show's serialization? And when are we getting together for a little racquetball? (Warning: I never lose.)
Genevieve: Challenge accepted, Todd, but be warned: Like Phillip, I win any way I can, up to and including a racquetball line-driven into the small of your back.
The racquetball sequence that opens "Gregory" is a slightly obvious but nonetheless effective—and era-appropriate—expression of the relationship between Phillip and Stan, one of simmering aggression (on at least one, and maybe both sides) disguised as friendly competition. The Americans continues to milk a lot of tension from the ambiguity of what Stan does or doesn't know, and from Phillip's discomfort and frustration at that ambiguity, which manifests itself in a wayward volley into Stan's spine. (As someone who has actually played a good bit of racquetball, I can tell you, that does not tickle. Also, they should really be wearing goggles.) It's a neat way to set up an episode that has their two factions, the KGB and FBI, more directly in competition than they've been so far in this series.
Regarding your question about serialization, Todd, "Gregory" feels like the episode where The Americans kicks into gear, narrative-wise, tying together two of the preceding episodes' loose ends: the death of Robert and the information gleaned from that bugged clock. Well, they weren't loose ends, exactly, but they were different strands of a story that is starting to intertwine and grow more taut. At this show's outset, I mused that it might handle its serialization in a more compartmentalized manner, with each episode being defined by an isolated, stand-alone mission (which the first two episodes bore out), but with "Gregory" it looks like The Americans is taking the long view. And that's okay, because as high stakes go, stolen missile-defense-system plans are definitely up there. Plus, it offers yet another chance for Phillip to go badass on those dudes who wouldn't get out of his blind spot.
That said, I'm starting to wish Elizabeth had more to do in terms of actual spy work. In the pilot she was very much in the thick of things, but these last two episodes she's mostly stood off to the side looking concerned and well-coiffed (that hair!) while Phillip, and now Gregory, mix it up on the espionage front. She's certainly still an integral part of this mission, bringing Gregory and his crew in to sniff out and snatch Joyce from under the FBI's noses; but Phillip is the man of action, decoding secret messages, heading into dangerous meetings, and picking up Granny's tail. Even Elizabeth's disguises are significantly lower-impact; slightly redder, slightly shorter hair isn't gonna fool anyone. I don't think this imbalance has yet reached the point where it's a significant problem—and really, given the time period and the cultural background these characters come from, it's probably more realistic than her being a power player—but we've seen Elizabeth is capable of more than batting her eyelashes, and I'm waiting to see her break some balls in addition to breaking hearts.
Because I agree with you, Todd, that it seems a little unfair the way Elizabeth is being portrayed as a bit of a black widow. The revelation of Phillip's association with Annelise last episode helped assuage that, but this week he's back to playing wounded puppy dog at the revelation of her and Gregory's relationship. Which, fine, this is a unique marital situation full of complex emotional hurdles, but I, for one, completely buy Elizabeth's justification for the affair, as well as the genuineness of her desire to end it and make things work with Phillip. Even though they've been married for years, Elizabeth and Phillip are sort of starting over in their relationship, and we're watching them figure out how to trust each other, which isn't easy to do with someone with whom you've been constructing a complex lie for two decades. The events of the pilot established a new stage in their relationship, as they're starting to entertain the idea that there could be a real emotional foundation under the façade they've created. (Despite his demeanor, I think this is a fairly new idea to Phillip as well as Elizabeth; you don't spend years openly pining for someone without them noticing.)
But as interesting as it is to see them navigate this new terrain, I'm a little bummed that we presumably won't be seeing much more of Gregory, a character I really like but I can't imagine the show having much continued use for. (Then again, surveillance teams are always needed in the spy game, so he could conceivably show up as an occasionally recurring character.) But his introduction was overshadowed by that of Granny. I couldn't agree with you more, Todd, about wishing this episode hadn't spelled out Joyce's eventual fate for us; it was so much more powerful watching Martindale play concerned mother figure to the doomed Joyce, knowing she was shepherding the woman to her death. It's still effective enough after seeing the end result, I suppose, but I think there was more juice to be squeezed from the disconnect between Granny's demeanor and what she's capable of doing (or, perhaps more accurately, having done).
We've spent most of our time talking about Phillip and Elizabeth's side of the story in "Gregory," but this episode also has some interesting things going on over on the FBI side, particularly the way the Bureau is utilizing its expanded power under Reagan, and the tension between Agents Beeman and Amador and their supervisor played by Richard Thomas. Is this something you want to see more of, Todd? Frankly, at this point I vastly prefer seeing Beeman and Amador out pounding the pavement to seeing them sitting in meetings, but I could see The Americans going someplace interesting with the workplace aspect of the FBI down the road.
Todd: I'm actually quite enjoying the FBI aspect of the show. I can't say I like it as much as the weekly spy plots, or that I would watch a show just about that, but I like it as a necessary place to cut away to. It reminds me of when The Sopranos spent a whole episode watching the titular family through the eyes of the FBI surveillance team following it around. Now, granted, that relationship was a bit different. The agents on The Sopranos knew Tony was a mobster; they just hadn't figured out how to bring him down yet. But I most like the FBI here because it allows us to realize that Phillip and Elizabeth aren't operating in a vacuum. The hardest thing for any TV show to do is suggest a rich, living world from episode one; that The Americans has been able to do that makes me think we're in very capable hands. (I also like the way the FBI provides an ironic flip on the series' title.)
While I'm obviously with you, Genevieve, on thinking the show needs to stop making Elizabeth seem vaguely antagonistic and/or give her some more interesting spy things to do very soon, I wasn't as troubled by it, I think. (In general, I think I liked this episode a touch more than you. You said you were in the B/B+ range, and I was thinking another A-, though I ultimately decided a B+ is probably more accurate.) One of the most astute things I've ever read about marriage came in the middle of Mary Doria Russell's sci-fi novel The Sparrow. In it, one half of a long-married couple pontificates about what it takes to keep a marriage going, and she suggests that it's all just dumb luck. The person that you fall in love with in your 20s isn't going to be the same person in their 30s, and you'll be drastically different, too. To have a marriage last is to find someone who will evolve with you in a compatible way, but you can't know what that would look like, because you can never know what the future holds.
What The Americans is getting at is that sometimes people evolve toward each other, rather than further away from each other. And that's true of any marriage you can think of. There are spots where a couple is more in love, just as there are spots where both halves want to kill each other. It's just a matter of making sure there's enough residual goodwill from the former to get through the latter—or a matter of understanding that it's all an evolution anyway. To me, Elizabeth's explanation of why she fell for Gregory is the series' best scene yet, a quiet, controlled monologue from Russell about how hard it can be to have your whole life set out ahead of you in your 20s. That it closes on the nicely ambiguous note of her putting her hand over his makes it all the better.
I talked about The Sopranos above, and one of the things that excites me about this show is that it strikes me as a show that's trying to live up to that earlier series' example. Yes, it's more serialized than Tony's adventures, but each episode is also a distinct story of its own, with a beginning, middle, and end. And one of the reasons I was so disappointed by the actual final shot was because that shot of the baby being placed on a kitchen table in Russia, following after the shot of Phillip and Elizabeth's hands barely touching across their kitchen table in America, well, that was such a perfect little endcap that it made me think of how great David Chase was ending an episode on a singular image or moment, a talent that I don't think anyone had quite lived up to in the wake of Chase's show's success. I understand the plot need to show us Joyce's body; I just hope the show gains a little more confidence in our ability to handle some ambiguity going forward, in both its spy plots and its marriage stories.
Stray observations
- Hey, it's 1981 alert: The FBI head suggests Joyce was able to disappear so thoroughly because she's "Doug Henning." [TV]
- Having Gregory be black is interesting on a few levels—see Todd's Stray Observation about race last week—but it also negates any suspicion that Paige and Henry aren't actually Phillip's kids. Which is good. [GK]
- Speaking of Paige: Her only scene in this episode, as she flips through a teen magazine at a diner with her dad, is soundtracked by "Young Americans" playing over the speakers. On-the-nose as hell, but cute. [GK]
- I know we were all freaked out by the ratings falling about 40 percent from the première, but the show had room to fall (since its initial numbers were so great), and it made up a lot of that decline in DVR numbers. FX would probably prefer live viewers, but like a lot of cable networks, it seems more excited about using DVR numbers than its broadcast companions. If the numbers hold roughly around week two, it's a shoo-in for another season. Hell, it could probably still decline a bit and be so. [TV]
- I'm far from an '80s music expert. Anybody know the song that closed out the episode? [TV]


text:
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subset: commoncrawl


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Indian Railways – The British Legacy
Romancing the Raj
Modern Indians carry this rather ignorant impression that Indians railways was a departing gift by the British to independent India. This is especially true of post-Independence, 2nd and 3rd generation Indians, who never travelled or saw the colonial railway system trains.
This impression is aided and abetted by Western media too. Recently, Robert Kaplan writing in The Atlantic gushed how the "British, by contrast, brought tangible development, ports and railways, that created the basis for a modern state" of India.
As though, India could not have 'bought' or developed railway technology on its own – from or without the British. After all India has developed a significant air-transport system. Or the comprehensive road network – which is getting further expanded and upgraded.
A further examination of facts exposes a completely different picture about the British claims about Indian Railways also.
Indian Railways
After the boycott of the Simon Commission, from 1927, and the death of Lala Lajpat Rai (Nov 17, 1928), it was clear (especially to the British) that their days were numbered. Britain enacted The Government of India Act, first in 1919 and then in 1935. Facing problems at home and abroad, the significant British interest in India was extraction of remaining wealth in Indian hands.
Indian Railway system too suffered from this approach. Especially after WWI, the Great Depression and the currency crisis, starved of investments and renewal, Indian railways suffered.
During WW2, nearly 40% rolling stock from India was diverted to the Middle East. More than 50% of the track system was the outdated metre gauge and narrow gauge. Track systems were nearly a century old. 40% of the railway system went to Pakistan. 32 of the forty-two separate railway systems operating in India, were owned by the former Indian princely states. More than 8000 outdated steam engines were used as motive power – and less than 20 diesel locomotives were in use. Apart from elephants and people – called as 'hand-shunting' in Indian Railways lingo.
So much for the British gift of railways to India.
Rampant extraction
The railways run by the Indian princely states became party to the collusive price fixing systems. Like this extract (linked to the right) shows, all the business went to the British engineering yards. To this add the guaranteed returns systems, and what was achieved was something else.
"The guarantee system did not encourage cost control, and, at an average cost of BP18,000 per mile, the Indian railways were some of the costliest in the world. (from Another reason: science and the imagination of modern India By Gyan Prakash, page 165).
Indians took to railway travel – quickly, easily and in large numbers.
Indians enthusiastically took to train travel from the start. This confounded the arguments made by some who suggested that considerations of caste and religion would lead many South Asians to shun train travel because they would not agree to the close personal proximity sitting or standing in the coaches required. Women for reasons of modesty or demands of seclusion were expected to be particularly resistant to rail travel. Others argued that poverty would make travel by train impossible for all but the well-to-do. In the event many of all castes, classes and gender traveled by train. (from Engines of change: the railroads that made India By Ian J. Kerr.).
Even though the poor Indian passenger was more than 80% of the traffic, he was always short-changed.
Third-class passengers quickly became and remained the most numerous passengers and the railroads' largest source of revenue from passenger traffic. High volumes-87 percent of passengers carried in 1902 traveled in third-class-more than compensated for low fares. (from Engines of change: the railroads that made India By Ian J. Kerr.).
Safety last
Starved of investments and maintenance, the railways infrastructure at the time of British departure was crumbling. Colonial British (subsequently, the Indian also) response was to affix the blame onto the employee at the lowest rung and move onto the next one accident.
Post-independence India continued with this practice – till LB Shastri called a halt to this. In 1956, the Madras-Tuticorin express plunged into a river when a bridge at Ariyalur (Tamil Nadu) was washed away in floods. 144 (some records suggest 156) passengers died. Shastri resigned from the Union Cabinet – claiming moral responsibility for the railway accident.
This resignation saw LB Shastri become a political legend. This (resignation) also changed the mindset of the Indian Railways. After fresh elections of 1957, one year later, he was re-inducted into the Union Cabinet.
Steadily, over 30 years, Indian railways infrastructure was upgraded. And accidents decreased.
But the problems did not end there. The Great Gift of the British to India, railways was not only a vast scrap heap of metal, but a den of corruption – as documented in the Railway Corruption Enquiry Committee (J. B. Kriplani), 1955. Corruption and safety took another 50 years – by the 1990's, by when the the entire railway system was modernized and computerized.
What we see today
In 1952, it was decided that IIIrd class passengers deserved fans and light. It took another 7 years to implement this decision. Elephants used for shunting wagons, box-cars, finally got a respite after WDS-4B shunters were introduced by Chittaranjan Locomotive Works in 1969. Safety bars in windows were introduced on night trains in a phased manner over the 1970s. Till then, most trains had open windows leading to passenger-safety issues. Earlier, it meant "getting into a third-class general compartment — through the window, literally pushed in by someone on the platform. Well, now all the windows have a grill provided for the safety of the passengers".
It took a non-Congress Government in 1977 to change the face of Indian Railways. Prof.Madhu Dandavate, the Railway Minister in the 1977 Janata Government started the railway renaissance in India. 3rd class railway travel was abolished. Wooden-slat seats were abolished. Cushioned 2nd class seating system was made minimum and standard. Train time tables were re-configured. Reservation systems improved. Railways started getting profitable.
The de-colonization of Indian Railways began effectively in 1977 – 30 years after British departure. Symbolically, that was also the year that the Rail Museum was set up. The progress after that has been remarkable. Without going into the merits of safety and comfort, today Indians can travel at significantly lower cost. For a US$5, an Indian can travel for 1000 km – compared to nearly US$100 for 1000 km (gold-adjusted dollars).
All this when only 25% of Indians travel by rail at least once a year.
The benign British
Should we complain so much, if we inherited a decrepit, run down, accident prone, investment starved railway system with outdated technology from the British – though financed by loot from India?
Even though it took India 40 years, to modernize the colonial railway system, we should be thankful. Remember, they could have uprooted the rails, and taken away the wagons and engines. After all, Indian Railways was the biggest scrap iron collection in the world at that time.
Till Lal Bahadur Shastri's resignation – the poor Indian railway-man was routinely blamed for railway accidents – by his British, and later the Indian bosses also.
Related Articles
- Will Indian Trains Ever Be Safe? (forbes.com)
- Understanding The 5-point Indian Compact (2ndlook.wordpress.com)
- India wakes up to Nepal's railway needs (thehimalayantimes.com)
- Break up Indian Railways to boost safety | Nash Colundalur (guardian.co.uk)
- Railways suffer losses due to procurement cartels (ibnlive.in.com)
- Chugging along on the wheels of change (thehindu.com)
- Indian railways is going green, solar friendly (panchabuta.com)


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CFP: Fashion Research Now: Archives
Fashion Research Now: Archives
The inaugural issue of Fashion Research Now reflects the aims of the Fashion Research Network: presenting critical, innovative and interdisciplinary research on fashion and dress. It will provide a space for early career researchers and PhD students to publish current and innovative research. Submissions are welcomed from both written and practice-based researchers and can take the form of text or image.
''Fashioning the Archive,'' the first publication theme is fashion and archives.
We encourage the broadest definition of archives and the archival, including personal collections, physical institutions, digital databases or oral histories. We welcome submissions that showcase research or practice outcomes alongside a conscious approach to the archival experience.
You may wish to consider the following questions:
• How has your experience of using archives shaped your research question and methodology?
• How has your research or practice experience changed your definition of an archive?
• How have atypical or inaccessible archives influenced your practice?
• To what extent has technological developments in archival processes (i.e. digital archives) changed your research or practice output?
• What role has chance played in your archival experience?
• How have the emotional and sensory aspects of the archive experience influenced your work?
• How do you archive your own research or practice?
Submission Criteria
• Fashion Research Now publishes the work of current MPhil/PhD Candidates and Early Careers Researchers (i.e. within 6 years of receiving your doctorate)
• Submissions should not have been previously published either in physical or digital form.
• Authors are responsible for securing full copyright permission for all images pertaining to their submission.
How to Submit:
Word Length: Text-based essays should be a maximum of 5000 words. Footnotes are permitted, but should be kept to a minimum. A full bibliography must also be included.
Image-Based Submissions: These should be a maximum of 10 images and include some accompanying form of text e.g. a short introduction, captions or short inserts of prose.
Language and Style: Submissions should be in UK English. Harvard referencing must be used throughout.
Submission Details:
Please send full papers in Microsoft Word or a PDF of images and text to firstname.lastname@example.com by Friday 7th November 2014.
Questions relating to this CFP can be addressed to:firstname.lastname@example.com
All submissions will be peer-reviewed and the editorial committee will notify all candidates of its decision by January 2015.


text: Rahul, > > I'm currently shopping around for a cluster-expansion and was shopping > for options. Anybody out here who's bought new hardware in the recent > past? Any suggestions? Any horror stories? > Nehalem is a huge step forward for Memory Bandwidth hogs. We have one code that is extremely memory bandwidth sensitive that is 400% faster than on our previous "Harperton" quad core solution from intel. This is a cumulative effect of having enough memory BW to use all the cores and better Memory and Cache performance. It's a must see if you suspect memory bandwidth is important, and until the next Gen of AMD is available with 4 channels per socket it's going to win a lot of business from me. > For some reason the top500 sublists seem skewed to prefer the Intel > Xeons. Why so few Opterons or any other AMD hardware? Just curious if > this is driven by technological inferiority of only a marketing > effect. My vendor seems to be trying to steer me towards an Intel > Nehalem or Clovertown for whatever reasons good or bad. > AMD Barcelona was the first 4 flops per cycle processor from AMD, and it hit the street with some problems right when the list was coming out in end of 2007. I expect those are great processors now (and a more technically challenging design than intel's in some regards), but may have skewed the top500 list because Intel's 4 flops per cycle chips (Woodcrest/Cloverton) were out a year earlier. The essential difference... Intel packages multiple "dual core" processor packages onto a single die to get their "Quad Core" Cloverton. They pairs have some shared cache but not all 4. AMD integrated the Cache on all 4 cores, and did some neat tricks with the Floating point units, which had the side effect of leaving less cache per core and a longer time to market. Hope this helps.... if you really want to stretch your upgrade $$ you may be able to swap the Processor in your existing 1435's with the latest chip which sounds good on paper at least. I'd love to hear if anyone actually does that type of upgrade on "real" production clusters. Full Disclosure: I am a former Dell HPCC architect and a Dell customer. Cheers! Greg


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As I type this my head is still reeling from the awesome Fight Like A Girl events of yesterday. (Apologies now, the word 'awesome' will be overused and abused in this post!) For any of you who have been to a book launch or are even trying to organise one yourself, take note – THIS is how it should be done!
The ingredients for a perfect kick-ass book launch:
- An awesome book to launch – a brilliantly written and edited piece of fiction with a great cover, which is worth people forking out their hard-earned cash for!
- An awesome venue with plenty of room/space, facilities (bar, toilets, stage area for readings/events etc), places to chill, great lighting and sound and easy access.
- An awesome collection of writers, reading extracts from their work.
- An awesome panel with great Q & A's for the audience.
- A mind-blowing physical display of martials arts and swordplay!
- Then of course, book signing from the authors and chances to ask questions.
- Throw in a load of lovely food and drinks (free wine and free soft drinks!), a great atmosphere and you have the recipe for the best book launch EVER!!!! 😀
It honestly felt more like a mini-con than a book launch!
Right, back to the day itself. Saturday 2nd April 2016, despite a slightly wet start to the morning, the sun came out and stayed out. My lovely fellow Grimbold author and friend, the uber-talented, Kate Coe, popped over to mine and after an initial hello from my barky boys (my four large white wolfies), we headed off.
The destination was The Hatchet Inn, in the heart of Bristol, dated 1606, a pub I later found out I have a weird personal connection to (more on that later). We arrived and strolled up Park Street to the Boston Tea Party to meet lovely Chris Horner and Tom Miles and the indefatigable Joanne Hall & Roz Clarke, fellow Grimboldians and amazing writers who edited the Fight Like A Girl (FLAG) anthology, contributed an awesome story each as well AND organised the whole amazing book launch event! OMG! I strongly suspect that Jo & Roz are hauled up today in their respective homes, floating in a sea of duvets and doggies, recovering…
I have to mention the one person who should have been there but couldn't make it (gritty police work got in the way 😦 ), our wonderful publisher, Sammy HK Smith, one half of Grimbold Books (Zoe Harris is our other lovely publisher) and the Creative Director of its imprint, Kristell Ink, behind the publication of Fight Like A Girl. It was such an amazing day and poor Sammy's absence was felt as she would have loved the whole thing. ❤ But huge kudos to her, her team did her proud and Kristell Ink did such an amazing job with the book.
After heading back to the pub to finishing setting up, to our delight we noticed that the fabulous cover, designed by the awesome Sarah Anne Langton, actually glows in the dark under a black light! Awesomeness x 10!
I should also say that one of the main reasons the book launch was SUCH a huge success was that the book in question, Fight Like A Girl (FLAG), really is such an amazing book, it kind of sells itself! I rarely comment on other books, because frankly I'm not a reviewer and I lack the confidence to assess other people's writing, I'd much rather leave that to others who know more than I do, but in this case, I have to make an exception. There simply aren't enough accolades to describe it – an awesome anthology of kick ass fiction by some of the best female genre writers from around the country, writing about strong female characters, assassins, pilots, warriors, killers, archers, mercenaries, you name it, these women are deadly and mean business. No fluff, no touchy feeling stuff here. If you had any preconceived stereotypes about women writers writing fantasy and sci-fiction – leave them at the door, Fight Like A Girl, will blow you away!
The doors opened at 1pm and in came the people. Within minutes the whole place was absolutely packed! So many lovely people to mention…a big shout out to Gareth L Powell and his lovely wife and daughter, Fantasy Faction's very own Marc Aplin, Jonathan L Howard, Pete Sutton, Ian Millsted, Mark Robinson (my fellow Star Wars fan), the lovely Heather Ashley & Claire M Carter, the awesome Claire Ayres (of BrizzleLass Blog) who wrote the first awesome review of Fight Like A Girl and loved my story! (THANK YOU!). Lovely to see John Bav, Anne-Mhairi Simpson & Richard Bendall, Desiree Fischer, Jon Dowling (who always cracks me up), the lovely Emily Turner (Elegant Emily) who is a fab new intern at Grimbold, and the very dapper, Scott Lewis who is such an awesome guy and bought a copy of White Mountain too, thank you Scott! 😀
I was also thrilled to finally meet the Spymaster General and Robin, AFE Smith, from our Alliance of Worldbuilders (AWB) group from Authonomy, who met in 2010 and are not only still great friends but have written a charity anthology together. Meeting Anna for the first time was lovely, she is SUCH a lovely person and such an amazing writer herself who has signed with Harper Voyager and whose second book, GoldenFire is out in July this year! Then it was also lovely to meet my old mate, Will Macmillan Jones, another AWBer, who had travelled all the way from deepest darkest Wales. Thanks matey! 😀
Then, of course, I have to mention my fellow awesome Fight Like A Girl authors who made it to the launch, the awesomely amazing Juliet E McKenna, Danie Ware, Gaie Sebold, Joanne Hall, Roz Clarke, Dolly Garland, Fran Terminiello, Lou Morgan and KT Davies. (Nadine West was getting married at the time so couldn't make it for obvious reasons! Congrats to her and Adam!)
People chatted as the food and wine flowed. Joanne & Roz did a fab introduction and this was followed by the first reading of the day, the amazing Lou Morgan reading an extract from her story, Archer 57, which was utterly brilliant! Then a break…*gulp* then it was my turn! I read a short extract from my story, Silent Running, and had to smile at the audience reaction to one of the grisly parts! 😀
After my reading there was a brilliant panel moderated by the lovely Cheryl Myfanwy Morgan, who like Joanne Hall, seems to know everyone in the SFF community in the southwest!
The panel, with Joanne Hall, KT Davies, Cheryl, Gaie Sebold and Dolly Garland, were discussing the role of women in SFF fiction, both as writers and readers, the bias which female writers face from a male dominated genre and a public which isn't always willing to look beyond the stereotype to give female SFF fiction a try and the importance of having strong female characters in fiction. The question of discoverability for female writers, a topic which Joanne Hall has blogged about extensively (please check out her awesome blog: Joanne Hall's Blog – Hierath)
Then, after a break of more food, wine, chat and laughter, it was Danie Ware's reading, from her story, Unnatural History. It was epic, awesome, breath-taking!
Finally, the part of the book launch everyone had been salivating for…Juliet E McKenna's martials arts display and Fran Terminiello's swordplay!
Juliet E McKenna, apart from being a very accomplished and well known SFF writer on the national and international stage and running the fabulous FantasyCon, which we at Grimbold Books had such an epic time at last October, also happens to be a 3rd dan black belt in Aikido! She went on to demonstrate some basic self-defence and Akido moves. Wow!
Then the amazing Fran Terminiello and her friend, Liz, demonstrated duelling and sword fighting techniques from the Renaissance onwards, with a range of rapiers, long swords, short swords, daggers, even scythes! OMG!!! Totally amazing stuff, all of it! 😀 Talk about 'Fight Like A Girl', these women were fighting like total bad-asses!
After all the excitement, we had the group book signing, where the lines were huge and we all sat and signed the FLAG books to very eager and enthusiastic readers and chatted away. We sold loads of books, in fact, almost ran out! All-in-all, it was a totally amazing day and an amazing experience!
A HUGE thank you to Sammy, Jo, Roz and everyone involved in this event and getting this book to publication. Wow! 😀
Finally, I found out a strange fact from my mum…we have a personal family connection to the Hatchet Inn! Yes, apparently my Great Aunt Grace, married a man called Reg Hillier, part of 'The Hillier Brothers', who were well known in Bristol and ran the house removals and antiques dealers and actually lived next door to the Hatchet Inn, which is now part of the inn itself! In 1967 her house was demolished and the Hatchet Inn was rebuilt that side, where her house had been! How weird is that?!!! 😀
Wow…what a day!
Do yourself a favour, a pick up a copy of Fight Like A Girl, for the best kick-ass SFF fiction! 😀


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Within six months of Abbott and the Coalition seizing power in the 2013 Australian election, decades—if not centuries—of environmental damage and retrograde policies unfolded. But this was no run-of-the-mill incompetence and neglect by government—this was an all-out attack on anything with the merest whiff of environmental protection. The travesty is well-documented, from infamously axing both the carbon-pricing scheme and climate commission, eradicating Labor's 80% emissions-reduction target by 2050, diluting the Renewable Energy Target, refusing to commit to enforcing the Illegal Logging Prohibition Act (fortunately, this is now law), defunding the only independent legal entity available to limit environmentally destructive development (Environmental Defenders Office), to even attempting to remove the rights of environmental groups to challenge development proposals (thankfully, that failed).
The Coalition's backward and ineffectual climate change-mitigation policies alone are evidence enough for long-term damage, but their war on the environment in general means that even the future election of a more environmentally responsible government will not undo the damage quickly, if at all. As a result of these and other nearsighted policies, Australia remains one of the highest per-capita greenhouse-gas emitters on the planet, has one of the highest per-capita water uses of any nation, leads the world in mammal extinctions, continues to deforest its already forest-poor landscape, and is a society utterly unprepared to deal with the future challenges of a degraded planet.
Read the rest of this entry »


text:
I know it's been awhile, y'all, but don't worry:
Life has felt busy lately and not the exaggerated "I'm soooo busy (marathoning television shows)" kind of busy but the kind that involves having a ton to do at work, traveling a lot for work, and having a lot of family and friend stuff going on. It's the "I haven't done laundry in like three weeks" kind of busy. Gross.
Anyway, this weekend is finally a quiet one where I have zero plans other than catching up on my life, vegging out, and doing laundry. I can't complain too much: I did go on one non-obligatory, 100% for myself vacation last month and visited Jen, my sister from another mister.
Side story: I had to sneak into Jen's place in the middle of the night and scared the crap out of her since she was asleep on the couch. (Don't worry about why I had to sneak in. I just did. MYOB!) Along with screaming very loudly, Jen threw her eye mask at me. I'm so grateful it was just that and not a lethal weapon. Maybe things would have gone better if she had the Sleep Mask Eye Mask By Smarter Rest, which I had the opportunity to try out. This mask blocks out the light better than any other eye mask I've used AND it comes with ear plugs AND comes with its own storage bag. It's also adjustable so it'll fit no matter how giant or tiny your head is.
One of the highlights of the weekend was making a Filipino dinner for my friends and that included this easy throwback for dessert:
Yum… lychees! Again, this super simple fruit salad consists of canned lychees, a can of fruit cocktail and almond jello. You can add a can of lychee juice if you want it to be more soupy, or ice cubes to keep it cold. Such good stuff! You should be able to find all the ingredients at any Asian grocery store. If you're in the Charleston area, we picked up our stuff at the H&L Asian Supermarket. BTW–Jen froze, blended and used it to make a refreshing cocktail after I had already gone home. Sounds freaking delicious!
That's all for now. I hope everyone is having a wonderful summer!


text:
Blog Archives
MLB Power Rankings/2018 Win Predictions + Playoff Predictions
Season Start Rankings (Left Of team in Parenthesis)
American League (1247 – 1183)
AL East (422 – 388) Win Predictions in Parenthesis For The Year
(3) NY Yankees 96 – 66 Division Winner #3 Seed
(7) Boston Red Sox 90 – 72 WC #1
(13) Baltimore Orioles 86 – 76
(16) Toronto Blue Jays 83 – 79
(27) Tampa Bay Rays 67 – 95 Read the rest of this entry
MLB Master Doubleheader Schedule For 2018
Each year we write the full doubleheader master schedule to see all games you can in one year (within reasonable driving or ground distance to cover, if not see all of both games).
This season is no different, although this amount of contests is rapidly dwindling each campaign with staggered start times for a lot of clubs (in particular in April and on Saturdays), coupled with the time per game increasing, it makes it tougher than ever to watch 2 full games at venues.
We will add much more to this list as the year goes on, and definitely one thing to watch for is the ESPN Sunday Night Games TBD's as the summer progresses.
Like Ernie Banks once said "Let's Play 2."
Tues Apr 3
Wed Apr 4
Sun Apr 8
NYY 1:05/WSH 8:08 Read the rest of this entry
Boston Red Sox Entire 2017 MLB Schedule On One Page Post.
WEEK 1 (Includes Season Opener Sunday Apr 2, 2017)
Sunday, Apr 2 MLB OPENING DAY
DAY OFF Read the rest of this entry
Toronto Blue Jays Entire 2017 MLB Schedule On One Page Post.
WEEK 1 (Includes Season Opener Sunday Apr 2, 2017)
Sunday, Apr 2 MLB OPENING DAY
Monday, Apr 3
Blue Jays @ O's 3:05 Oriole Park (Camden Yards) Home Opener, Baltimore, MD (Baltimore Orioles)
Tuesday Apr 4
Odds To Win The 2017 MLB League Pennants: You Will Never Guess Who May Have The Best Value
There is a reason why these odds value favorites are not any real difference for the Odds To Win The World Series and these will be any different.
Basically, you could just go ahead with a World Series bet for anyone you think that can win the Title, and then simply hedge when it comes to the Fall Classic.
I always say that MLB Power Rankings should have a lot to do with odds to win any type of Division, League Pennant or World Series.
The 1st thing that jumped out to me here was that the LA Angels are at 35/1 for the Junior Circuit. Should they face any of the Senior Circuit's top clubs, they would probably all be +150 underdogs.
If you were to pick the Angels at +3500, and then parlay that into a +150 wager in the World Series, than the overall odd shoots +8750 rather than the +7500.
Personally, the Angels have had a great winter to shore up the defense – and have addressed a few roster spots with a deeper bench.
Is it that foreign to think that the Los Angeles Angels could jump out quickly if Mike Trout can carry them?
Lets say they are 8 or 10 games over at that point, I could actually see the organization spending a little bit more money in the 2nd half to acquire talent.
Also if they can withstand until Albert Pujols gets back healthy everyday as the permanent DH.
Don't get me wrong, I like the Astros, M's and Rangers still better for the Division, but the gap is not that much….Particularly if the Astros don't add a Starting Pitcher, the Mariners don't add a slugging First Baseman, and Texas is hesitant to spend more money on payroll.
The Angels did win 98 Games in 2014 and 85 games in 2015, before receding to 74 victories last campaign.
Mike Trout is due for one of those just carry the club on his back seasons, (not that he hasn't been awesome individually in that time span.
If the Cubs make the World Series, than only the Boston Red Sox or Cleveland Indians may even come close to an even match for an opponent, with the reigning champs still holding a distinct advantage.
Boston's +270 is a brutal look at an odd for the AL. I am not infatuated with the odd of +600 for the World Series either. They play in a tough AL East where all 5 teams could compete.
Both the Indians and Astros are fairly pitted for their odds towards the AL Pennant.
Texas continues to be the oddball 2nd favorite in the AL West despite having a poor winter thus far.
News that they will probably sign Mike Napoli should buoy some spirits, and I am willing to acknowledge that when it happens, yet I feel they still need more.
If the Rangers also swing a Jurickson Profar for a Tampa Bay starter like Jake Odorizzi, then I could par them up with Houston. As of right now, they are two players short.
I still love the odds for the Nationals even though I wish they wouldn't have come to near Spring Training without a proven Closer.
The more we draw near to the regular season, the less I like the Yankees too in 2017. They are going to be way too dependent on Gary Sanchez setting the world on fire to contend in my opinion.
New York's rotation does not instill confidence despite having a lock down Relief Core. Jacoby Ellsbury and Brett Gardner are in their mid 30's now – where the speed doesn't play as good.
Starlin Castro and Didi Gregorius clubbed 20 HRs each in 2016, but so did 116 other players last campaign.
These guys never walk either with OBP's of .300 and .304 respectivelY. Chase Headley is average at best.
For the Bronx Bombers to duplicate even their 84 win season last year, I think Sanchez will have to destroy 40 – 50 Jacks into the seats.
Detroit has better Starting pitching and a world-class offense compared to the Pinstripers, yet are behind them in the odds?
Speaking of Detroit. For being the 2nd favorite team in the AL Central, they possess the 6th place odd out of all 2nd place listed clubs.
The Tigers can beat up the White Sox and Twins all years, and the Royals are all of a sudden not looking as good either, I am all over the Motown Boys.
St. Louis, for the record, are the 5th out of 6th 2nd place listed odds, and are fully valued at +1250.
The Cubs are the cream of the crop, but wagering the club for +180 is not worth it. You are better off wagering them to win the Fall Classic at +370 instead.
There is no AL team that Chicago would be an underdog against. Having said that, the money is not there to plunk down any cabbage for this.
I only wish you could bet the field in the NL vs the Cubs. The Dodgers are also not a good at +435, mostly because Chicago sits in their path.
If I were to bet the Mets ever to win the NL Pennant, it would be in the mid season when I could see their rotation in action and remain healthy.
Odds To Win The American League
Blue Bold Means Good Vale with #value confidence in parenthesis
Maroon Bold Means Bad Vale with # value confidence in parenthesis
Boston Red Sox +270 (3)
Cleveland Indians +445
Houston Astros +680
Texas Rangers +900 (1)
Toronto Blue Jays +960 (3)
Seattle Mariners +1250
NY Yankees +1350 (2)
Detroit Tigers +1550 (5)
Baltimore O's +1550
KC Royals +1850
LA Angels +3500 (1)
TB Rays +3700
Oakland A's +7000
Minnesota Twins +7000
Chicago White Sox +7000
Odds To Win The Nationals League
Chicago Cubs +180 (5)
Dodgers +435 (4)
Washington Nationals +600 (2)
NY Mets +735
SF Giants +740
St.Louis Cardinals +1250 (4)
Colorado Rockies +2400
Pittsburgh Pirates +2400
Miami Marlins +3800
Arizona D'Backs +5000
Philadelphia Phillies +6000
Cincinnati Reds +7500
Atlanta Braves +9000
Milwaukee Brewers +10000
SD Padres +10000
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New York Yankees Entire 2017 MLB Schedule On One Page Post.
WEEK 1 (Includes Season Opener Sunday Apr 2, 2017)
Sunday, Apr 2 MLB OPENING DAY
Yankees @ Rays 1:10 Tropicana Field Home Opener, St. Petersburg, FL (Tampa Bay Rays)
Monday Apr 3
Off Day
Tuesday Apr 4
Yankees @ Rays 7:10 Read the rest of this entry
All 2430 MLB Games Schedule In 2017 On One Page Post
WEEK 1 (Includes Season Opener Sunday Apr 2, 2017)
Sunday, Apr 2 MLB OPENING DAY (3 Games):
Yankees @ Rays 1:10 Tropicana Field Home Opener, St. Petersburg, FL (Tampa Bay Rays)
Giants @ D'Backs 4:10 Chase Field Home Opener, Phoenix, AR (Arizona Diamondbacks)
Cubs @ Cardinals 8:35 (ESPN SUNDAY NIGHT GAME) Busch Stadium Home Opener, St. Louis, MO (St. Louis Cardinals)
There are no Interleague Games On this Day
Monday, Apr 3 (12 Games):
Marlins @ Nationals 1:05 Nationals Park Home Opener, Washington, DC (Washington Nationals)
Braves @ Mets 1:10 Citi Field Home Opener, Flushing, NY (New York Mets)
Pirates @ Red Sox 2:05 Fenway Park Home Opener, Boston, MA (Boston Red Sox)
Rockies @ Brewers 2:10 Miller Park Home Opener, Milwaukee, WI (Milwaukee Brewers)
Blue Jays @ O's 3:05 Oriole Park (Camden Yards) Home Opener, Baltimore, MD (Baltimore Orioles)
Tigers @ White Sox 4:10 Guaranteed Rate Field Home Opener, Chicago, IL (Chicago White Sox)
Royals @ Twins 4:10 Target Field Home Opener, Minneapolis, MN (Minnesota Twins)
Phillies @ Reds 4:10 Great American Ball Park Home Opener, Cincinnati, OH (Cincinnati Reds)
Dodgers @ Padres 4:10 Dodger Stadium Home Opener, Los Angeles, CA (LA Dodgers)
Indians @ Rangers 7:05 Globe Life Park Home Opener, Arlington, TX (Texas Rangers)
M's @ Astros 8:10 Minute Maid Park Home Opener, Houston, TX (Houston Astros)
Angels @ A's 10:10 O.co Coliseum Home Opener, Oakland, CA (Oakland Athletics)
Tuesday Apr 4 (8 Games):
Yankees @ Rays 7:10
Rockies @ Brewers 7:40
Indians @ Rangers 8:05
M's @ Astros 8:10
Cubs @ Cardinals 8:15
Giants @ D'Backs 9:40
Angels @ A's 10:05
Padres @ Dodgers 10:10
There are no Interleague Games On this Day
Read the rest of this entry
MLB Schedule For MLB In Sept/Oct Of 2017 On One Page Post
Friday Sept 1 (15 Games):
Braves @ Cubs 2:20
Red Sox @ Yankees 7:05
Reds @ Pirates 7:05
Blue Jays @ O's 7:05
Indians @ Tigers 7:10
Phillies @ Marlins 7:10
Angels @ Rangers 8:05
Mets @ Astros 8:10
Royals @ Twins 8:10
Rays @ White Sox 8:10
Nationals @ Brewers 8:10
D'Backs @ Rockies 8:40
Dodgers @ Padres 10:10
A's @ M's 10:10
Cardinals @ Giants 10:15 Read the rest of this entry
MLB Schedule For MLB In Aug Of 2017 On One Page Post
Tuesday Aug 1 (15 Games)
Reds @ Pirates 7:05
Tigers @ Yankees 7:05
Royals @ Tigers 7:05
Indians @ Red Sox 7:10
Nationals @ Marlins 7:10
Dodgers @ Braves 7:35
Cardinals @ Brewers 7:40
D'Backs @ Cubs 8:05
M's @ Rangers 8:05
Rays @ Astros 8:10
Blue Jays @ White Sox 8:10
Mets @ Rockies 8:40
Giants @ A's 10:05
Phillies @ Angels 10:07
Twins @ Padres 10:10 Read the rest of this entry
MLB Schedule For ML:B In July Of 2017 On One Page Post
Saturday July 1 (15 Games):
Red Sox @ Blue Jays 1:07
Rangers @ White Sox 2:10
Twins @ Royals 2:15
Braves @ A's 4:05
Giants @ Pirates 4:05
Rays @ O's 4:05
Cubs @ Reds 4:10
Marlins @ Brewers 4:10
Phillies @ Mets 4:10
Indians @ Tigers 7:15
Yankees @ Astros 7:15
Nationals @ Cardinals 7;15
M's @ Angels 10:07
Rockies @ D'Backs 10:10
Dodgers @ Padres 10:10 Read the rest of this entry
MLB Schedule In June 2017 On One Page Post
Thursday June 1 (8 Games):
A's @ Indians 1:10
Brewers @ Mets 1:10
Dodgers @ Cardinals 1:45
Rockies @ M's 3:40
Red Sox @ O's 7:05
Yankees @ Blue Jays 7:07
D'Backs @ Marlins 7:10
Twins @ Angels 10:07 Read the rest of this entry
MLB Schedule In May 2017 On One Page Post
Week 5
Monday May 1 (11 Games):
Blue Jays @ Yankees 7:05
Rays @ Marlins 7:10
Indians @ Tigers 7:10
O's @ Red Sox 7:10
Pirates @ Reds
Mets @ Braves
Phillies @ Cubs 8:05
Rangers @ Astros 8:10
White Sox @ Royals 8:15
Brewers @ Cardinals 8:15
Giants @ Dodgers 10:10 Read the rest of this entry
MLB Schedule In April 2017 On One Page Post
WEEK 1 (Includes Season Opener Sunday Apr 2, 2017)
Sunday, Apr 2 MLB OPENING DAY (3 Games):
Yankees @ Rays 1:10 Tropicana Field Home Opener, St. Petersburg, FL (Tampa Bay Rays)
Giants @ D'Backs 4:10 Chase Field Home Opener, Phoenix, AR (Arizona Diamondbacks)
Cubs @ Cardinals 8:35 (ESPN SUNDAY NIGHT GAME) Busch Stadium Home Opener, St. Louis, MO (St. Louis Cardinals)
There are no Interleague Games On this Day
Monday, Apr 3 (12 Games):
Marlins @ Nationals 1:05 Nationals Park Home Opener, Washington, DC (Washington Nationals)
Braves @ Mets 1:10 Citi Field Home Opener, Flushing, NY (New York Mets)
Pirates @ Red Sox 2:05 Fenway Park Home Opener, Boston, MA (Boston Red Sox)
Rockies @ Brewers 2:10 Miller Park Home Opener, Milwaukee, WI (Milwaukee Brewers)
Blue Jays @ O's 3:05 Oriole Park (Camden Yards) Home Opener, Baltimore, MD (Baltimore Orioles)
Tigers @ White Sox 4:10 Guaranteed Rate Field Home Opener, Chicago, IL (Chicago White Sox)
Royals @ Twins 4:10 Target Field Home Opener, Minneapolis, MN (Minnesota Twins)
Phillies @ Reds 4:10 Great American Ball Park Home Opener, Cincinnati, OH (Cincinnati Reds)
Dodgers @ Padres 4:10 Dodger Stadium Home Opener, Los Angeles, CA (LA Dodgers)
Indians @ Rangers 7:05 Globe Life Park Home Opener, Arlington, TX (Texas Rangers)
M's @ Astros 8:10 Minute Maid Park Home Opener, Houston, TX (Houston Astros)
Angels @ A's 10:10 O.co Coliseum Home Opener, Oakland, CA (Oakland Athletics)
Tuesday Apr 4 (8 Games):
Yankees @ Rays 7:10
Rockies @ Brewers 7:40
Indians @ Rangers 8:05
M's @ Astros 8:10
Cubs @ Cardinals 8:15
Giants @ D'Backs 9:40
Angels @ A's 10:05
Padres @ Dodgers 10:10
There are no Interleague Games On this Day
Read the rest of this entry
1st 2 Weeks Schedule Of The 2017 MLB Season (Includes All Home Openers + Interleague)
WEEK 1 (Includes Season Opener Sunday Apr 2, 2017)
Sunday, Apr 2 MLB OPENING DAY (3 Games):
Yankees @ Rays 1:10 Tropicana Field Home Opener, St. Petersburg, FL (Tampa Bay Rays)
Giants @ D'Backs 4:10 Chase Field Home Opener, Phoenix, AR (Arizona Diamondbacks)
Cubs @ Cardinals 8:35 (ESPN SUNDAY NIGHT GAME) Busch Stadium Home Opener, St. Louis, MO (St. Louis Cardinals)
There are no Interleague Games On this Day Read the rest of this entry
MLB Doubleheader Master Schedule In 2017
First off, if you have never been to one of the 30 MLB Parks, we don't advise on doing a doubleheader as part of your initial experience with the venue. 2 Games in one day takes a lot of travel,planning, and receiving the utmost experience in a stadium requires time.
However, if you are already versed in a park, than we are giving you a list of all doable Doubleheaders for the entire 2017 Calendar MLB season,
Most of these are within 2 to 4 hours away from each other (if not a shorter distance.)
In my lifetime of ballpark chasing, I have now done almost 100 Doubleheaders as part of my journeys. The more baseball in a day, the better I feel.
In the meantime, consider visiting my buddy Craig's website ballparkchasers.com – and for Park Guides to every cathedral in the MLN! If you have any questions about going to the park. hit my up – firstname.lastname@example.com Read the rest of this entry
MLB Interleague Master Schedule In 2017: AL Looking To Speedbag The NL For A 14th Straight Year
We go over this every season, but I am shocked to not see that much coverage on the issue. The American League has absolutely thrashed on the National League in Interleague for the last 13 years.
Don't tell me this is an anomaly. This is a massive trend. Plus no, the answer is not to eliminate MLB Interleague to level out the playing field.
I am already not going to watch the ALL – Star Game this year because it doesn't mean anything. Yes. I may be in the minority of the game actually being worth something in the MidSmmer Classic. For those keep scoring at home, the League that actually won the All Star Game incredibly played 3 less games than the loser thanks to MLB's brilliant (insert sarcasm here) 2 – 3 – 2 format.
But I guess no one else remember's guys high fiving each other in the dugout once they were lifted in the ALL – Star Game, so they could catch a plane. I will watch the HR Derby, and that is it. I digress. Read the rest of this entry
Odds To Win The 2017 MLB Divisions
It is coming to that time where we all start making our predictions, and also plunk down more cabbage on the yearly bets. The 1st week of the February usually will come out with Player Prop Bets, and Teams Win Totals of Over and Under.
I don't need to remind our long term readers that we have excelled in this foray since the beginning of introducing Gambling 101 as a category to mlbreports.com.
We look to continue our 70% best bet percentage. I am looking to bounce back in the regular season in particularly as I made up the most of the money in player props, HR Derby and World Series Odds.
Today we are focusing on the MLB Divisions.
The AL East is the strongest Division in the game as 4 clubs are at least half decent. and even Tampa Bay is not that bad. Read the rest of this entry
You Could Try To Attempt A World Record By Going To All 30 MLB Parks In 25 Days In 2017 By Driving!
So I have done about everything there is to do in for World Records in going to all the 30 MLB Parks. I was able to hit all 30 MLB Parks in just 23 Days during 2012, besting my own 2009 record of 30/24.
The only way I could have done anything more substantial was to do what my idea was in 2015. I went to 224 MLB Games in all the 183 Days of MLB Action – live at all 30 MLB Parks, spanning the entire season – and showing up at a ballpark every single day.
I am now 40 years old and don't feel like doing this anymore, but every year I put out a schedule for all 30 MLB Parks in the forms of a record.
I honestly don't think that I would top 30 MLB Parks in 23 Days since there is practically never any schedule that would allow that to be attempted. If someone on this globe wants to take a run at – I welcome it.
However, my buddy Josh Robbins holds the Ground Record (all 30 MLB Parks) done by land – in just 26 Calendar Days during the 2008 season.) Read the rest of this entry
All 30 MLB Clubs Ball Park Home Openers In 2017 With Starting Times
We are not too far away from Spring Training folks. That also means that the majority of the clubs have posted start times for all of their home openers upcoming to start the season.
After this post is published we will continue to monitor the schedule for any changes and will have them updated.
The season kicks off with a trio of games in Tampa Bay, Arizona and St. Louis on Sunday Apr 2, 2017 – and the last home opener will be at the new ballpark in Atlanta (SunTrust Stadium) on Friday Apr 14, (7:35).
For those of you that love ballparks as much as I do, if you click on the actual stadium highlighted itself, it will take you to some of the best advice on how to gameplan your Ball Park Chasing adventures.
Odds To Win The 2017 MLB World Series:
Last time we did these odds we talked more about why clubs should be wagered on, and now I will explain how we listed our top 5 bad value bets.
The New York Yankees head the category for this one. There is no rhyme or reason this club should be parallel with their crosstown rivals the Mets – and ahead of the Cardinals, Rangers or Mariners for their odd.
Quite simply, the club is not as good as those other squads right now. The direction of the organization to the youth movement may change that scenario in the near future – however can you really bank on any of their Starting Pitchers in a playoff series?
Also if you have the Blue Jays and Red Sox already ahead of you on the list, a lot of other 2nd place clubs in each of the other Divisions may hav a better leg up on you to snare the 2nd Wild Card Spot.
I like the Detroit Tigers as more of a chance to make the playoffs the Bronx Bombers in 2017. I will say that if they are in contention, that the money is always there to acquire guys midway through the year (hopefully all on expiring contracts.) Read the rest of this entry
MLB Power Rankings: Early Win Predictions In 2017
Last Updated: Jan 24, 2017
Over the last week we have seen some factors that have changed some win totals and rankings. Unfortunately the saddening loss of Yordano Ventura will cause the Royals to lose a win or 2.
We saw Jose Bautista re-sign with the Jays, Mark Trumbo re-sign with the O's and the Phillies sign Michael Saunders. These are significant signings for the 1st 2 – and Saunders becomes one of Phlladelphia's best clubs.
The Marlins also traded for Dan Straily.
For the MLB Rankings, we are also factoring in the World Series chances of each club.
It is important to also recognize the 300 games of the MLB Interleague. The American League holds a 13 year winning streak, and adds to their victories in the year.
So far in 2017, we have the Junior Circuit registering a record of 167 – 133 vs the Senior Circuit. Before you throw stones at me – it was exactly this record that the AL hung vs the NL in 2015.
Going back to Kansas City….I really hope I am wrong about their pending 2017 record. Hopefully they also go and sign a Jason Gammel or Doug Fister to help the rotation.
Lets also hope that we don't have any more deaths have to be figure out where we have teams wins at. It is awful. I hate using the Miami Marlins win total as a struggle to grip with the loss of Jose Fernandez. Read the rest of this entry
Odds To Win The 2017 MLB World Series: Detroit + Seattle Best Value Right Now
I have been preaching the Mariners as a bet for a couple of months now. I was able to grab them at +2800 for a $50 bet already, and this was my 2nd bet to the $100 I plunked down on the Nationals at +1200.
Jerry DiPoto has been wheeling and dealing to the tune of 11 trades already this offseason.
With the exception of the Outfield not possessing not much power (but a ton of speed that could round out the bottom of the order with SB), and the First Base position being manned by unproven commodities, the rest of the roster is pretty solid.
We noted that the Mariners threesome of Kyle Seager, Robinson Cano and Jean Segura combined for 99 HRs and then the prime DH Nelson Cruz clubbed 43 Bolts. These guys will make up enough power to compensate for that.
While I still feel they should upgrade at 1B or another OF (Guys such as Mark Trumbo, Chris Carter or Mike Napoli) this team should have enough offense to compete in the American League.
With acquiring Yovani Gallardo and Drew Smyly in the last week, the club has added depth = and have the best 1 – 5 rotation in the AL West now.
I believe that James Paxton may also see a breakout season similar to what Danny Duffy did for the Kansas City Royals in 2916. The LHP can reach 98 – 99 MPH on his fastball, and he has great movement.
The Relief Core has also been added to with great numbers. Seattle's brass has definitely robbed the Minor League System, yet this is the window of winning.
Houston deserves to be slightly favored in the AL West with the rosters as currently constructed – however if the Mariners pick up another big bat then I would give the nod to them as the Division favorite. Read the rest of this entry
MLB Power Rankings: Early Predictions For 2017
The week wasn't really putting forth any big news until Edwin Encarnacion signed with the Indians a few days ago. This changed the landscape of the favorite in the American League.
Other deals included the Phillies acquiring Clay Buchholz, the Pirates inking Ivan Nova to the a 3 Year Deal, the Angels bringing in Ben Revere, and the Tigers dotting the line with Alex Avila on a contract to be the backup Catcher in Motown.
I added a few wins to Cleveland's win total, and added a few losses to the AL Central.
For the confidence I have in the Pirates making a new baseball deal for Major League ready talent in Andrew McCutchen, I also boosted the Bucs for a few more W's on the season prediction, and tacked on a few more losses for the Reds, Cubs and Brewers. Read the rest of this entry
Odds To Win The 2017 MLB World Series
The Indians were our 4th best bet of the week last Friday at +1000 to win the Fall Classic in 2017. Now with the Edwin Encarnacion contract signing, the club has jumped to +700. We have just stated in a recent article today that they should not be below the Red Sox for odds to win the title next year.
Handicappers at the top of their profession always use the Strength of Schedule in their opinions, and with good reason. One could go either way in dealing with the rosters of the Red Sox and Indians, but the biggest difference are the 76 Divisional games the Tribe plays against the Royals, Tigers, Twins and White Sox, where Boston must play the Jays, yankees,O's and Raus 76 times.
It is also the biggest reason the Nationals will likely stay as our favorite value on the board all off season. The Mets are about the only real competition in the NL East that may provide a hindrance for the Washington franchise to reel in their 2nd straight NL East title. Then it is – do you really think the Cubs should be a 3/1 odd favorite against the Nats in a NLCS matchup – no way.
We also love the Cardinals continuing to be a thorn in Chicago's side for the 2017 year. St. Louis was a 100 win club in 2015, and fought many nagging injuries in 2016. Now they have a lot more healthy coming back in 2017, and a full year of Alex Reyes. The Red Birds also signed Dexter Fowler away from the Cubs. +2000 is about a 6/1 odd from the oddsmakers for the Cards to win the NL Central. Read the rest of this entry
The Cleveland Indians Should Be The Favorite In The AL For 2017 With Encarnacion Signing
With the news that Edwin Encarnacion signing a 3 Year Deal Worth $55 MIL< and a Team Option for a 4th season that is $25 MIL – or a $5 MIL Buyout, the Indians have put themselves back into the lead as the favorite in the Junior Circuit.
So far, the oddsmakers don't agree with that last statement, as the Red Sox are currently +475 to win the World Series – while Cleveland is listed at +700 to win the Fall Classic, but lets look at what Cleveland has going for it.
Michael Brantley is coming back (potentially fully healthy, and was a legitimate AL MVP candidate in 2014 and 2015. Now to have him as a 3/4 tandem with EE, you are talking about a great heart of the lineup.
Jason Kipnis and Francisco Lindor are full value to kickstart the offense. Both guys are capable of playing all world ALL – Star campaigns upcoming.
Carlos Santana had a career year for HRs (34) RBI (87) OPS (.865) and will still bring in his 100 Walks a year.
Jose Ramirez can hit 6th for me any time. Tyler Naquin held an .886 OPS in half a years worth AB en route to finishing 3rd in Rookie Of The Year Voting.
The club can fend enough offense in RF a Catcher to hit 8th and 9th. Read the rest of this entry
Odds To Win The 2017 MLB World Series
With the Chris Sale deal the Red Sox went fro co-favorites with the Indians t0 near the Cubs stratosphere for overwhelming odds on winners to take home the League Pennants in either league.
While I have no issue with these two squads holding the edge against the rest of the pack, it is just not that much of a discrepancy.
One may argue that the Nationals path of resistance is actually a lot easier than the Cubs for the Division.
The Mets Starting Pitching is suspect for health reasons, and there are holes all around the positional lineup when it comes to lack of a Centerfielder. and 3 men in the Infield who could suffer back injuries all year.
Here is the funny thing though. the Mets still made the WildCard play in game in 2016 despite all of the turmoil that presented itself.
Miami has taken a setback with the tragic loss of Jose Fernandez. This will be felt in the standings in my opinion.
The biggest X factor is if Giancarlo Stanton could remain healthy for 145 Games, but odds dictate he will not, therefore this Division should be beat up pretty bad by the Nats and Mets.
Atlanta and Philly are just a year away from solidly competing. Read the rest of this entry
Early 2017 MLB Team Win Projections
Following the recent Winter Meetings, the new CBA being signed. and then the subsequent few weeks after, the projections are win totals based on the teams if over/unders were to be placed.
From the onset. the Boston Red Sox are the clear favorite in the AL East – with adding Chris Sale, Mitch Moreland, Tyler Thornburg to their ALL – Star cast, while David Ortiz (retired), Travis Shaw (traded) Koji Uehara (Signed with the Cubs), Brad Ziegler (Free Agent) are off the postseason roster that lost to the Tribe.
The players going back to the White Sox were not from the Major League Roster for the most part.
With the Jays having Edwin Encarnacion, Jose Bautista, Michael Saunders. R. A. Dickey, Brett Cecil off the 25 man roster, to replacing with Kendrys Morales and Steve Pearce for the most part as main transactions. this is a far cry from an even trade. However the club will still likely make some more moves.
Cleveland stands to benefit for the rest of the division all seeming to rebuild. but the Tigers have only dealt Cameron Maybin away – so they are sitting on the cusp of challenging for the AL Central again. Detroit may want to explore going for it one more year based on what the Royals have done, and the fact the White Sox and Twins might be the worst clubs in the Junior Circuit.
Houston has been super progressive with signing Josh Reddick and Carlos Beltran as Free Agents, while also flipping for Brian McCann. This was a squad that started 7 – 17,before reeling off a nice 77 – 62 mark down the stretch to fall just short of the playoff bar.
Seattle is also positioning themselves upward just by how bad the Rangers have fared this winter. Not only that, but they added strength to their worst 2 weaknesses in adding Jean Segura at SS. and Carlos Ruiz as a viable backup Catcher. Read the rest of this entry
Once Again: Why The MLB Should Consider A Geographical/Market Size Re-Alignment For The Next CBA:
The new CBA has been a godsend for the mid – market teams, and not so great for the 10 top markets, but even more devastating for the 10 lowest markets. One thing the CBA did address was to give the players an additional 4 days off during the league year – stretching from 183 Days to 187 – in lieu of expanding the rosters of 25 to 26.
This website has continued its stance since day 1, that while the economics have been a lot more fair to teams in the last 15 years, there is still much work to do. The best small market teams we have seen in the last 7 years have been the Oakland A's, Tampa Bay Rays, Pittsburgh Pirates and of course the 2015 World Series winning Kansas City Royals. Only one of these teams actually were a decent franchise for some time before they took off.
Pittsburgh lost for 22 years before they finally made 3 straight postseason appearances. With the new CBA not giving them 1st RD Draft Picks for departing players in future seasons like Andrew McCutchen, Gregory Polanco, Starling Marter and Gerrit Cole, this is a sure fire way for the brass to cut the cord on their service team a lot of time ahead of them hitting Free Agency.
Kansas City was a laughable organization from the mid 90's to 2013 as well, and despite winning back to back pennants in the AL< and being the first small market team to win the World Series since the 2003 Marlins, they will soon start to see their team ripped apart under the same Free Agent terms like the Bucs – with Eric Hosmer, Lorenzo Cain, Danny Duffy and Mike Moustakas likely all not re-signing with the franchise. Dayton Moore already had to trade ace Closer Wade Davis this past week.
The Tampa Bay Rays were awful from 1998 – 2007, and were able to stockpile #1 overall picks to build up the franchise. The Joe Maddon era ensued for 6 straight quality years where they competed beautifully, including a World Series Loss in 2008, but now they are at a crossroads again from a 68 win campaign. and teams all spending double what they can. Read the rest of this entry


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Worldwide sales reached the milestone in 2012. New data from eMarketer estimates that e-commerce sales will grow to $1.3 trillion this year.
For the first time ever, worldwide e-commerce sales exceeded $1 trillion, according to new data from research firm eMarketer.
The first $1 trillion mark was reached in 2012, with sales up 21.1 percent from the previous year, according to eMarketer. The company said that it expects e-commerce sales to grow this year by 18.3 percent to end 2013 at $1.3 trillion in worldwide sales.
In addition, the company expects North America to lose its position as the leading e-commerce market to the Asia-Pacific region. Last year, Asia-Pacific's share of total e-commerce spending was 30.5 percent, just behind North America's 33.5 percent share. This year, Asia-Pacific will nab 33.4 percent of spending, followed by 31.5 percent for North America, eMarketer estimates.
Despite that, the U.S. is still the biggest e-commerce market in the world. In 2012, Americans spent $343.4 billion on digitally purchased goods. This year, eMarketer estimates that number will jump to $384.8 billion, while China is expected to land in second place with $181.6 billion in spending.


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When your header is full of heads, and you update it, heads are bound to roll.
While I'm going to miss some of the faces that I've been seeing on my blog everyday for the last one year, I want to tell them that they'll never be far gone from my heart, and that there's always a possibility that they return to the header as wild-card entry.
If you visit here regularly, you'll miss the caricatures of Malcolm Gladwell, The Three Presidents (Kennedy, Reagan, and Coolidge,) Liam Neeson, and Peter Dinklage as Tyrion Lannister. Their places have now been taken by Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson, Mike Huckabee, Hillary Clinton, President Bill Clinton, Jeb Bush, and Jimmy Fallon.
Here's the header that has now retired with benefits.
The Rationale behind the update was as follows:
- A blog is a window through which I interact with the world. It allows people to peep into my world – and my world is made of pictures. The header of my blog lets my visitors get a glimpse of those pictures.
- As time passes, an artist's work matures, changes, or sometimes, even transforms. My previous header was updated an year ago. Some of my new works were hankering for attention – and so, a change was due.
- My blog has some regular visitors. The header-image (I think,) also works as an anchor. When they visit my blog, they get a sense of familiarity, and I didn't to destroy that. This is why retained some features of the old header. (The sign on the black background, the images at the edges, etc.)
This update has been due for a long time and today's Blogging101 assignment couldn't have happened at a better time. I'm also working on a new sidebar widget – one that I hope, will make you go ROFL 😀


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Only ABC Highlights Obama's Flip-Flop on a Budget Solution That Doesn't 'Hike' Tax Rates
One year ago, Barack Obama backed a budget solution that would not "hike" tax rates. Now, the President rejects this plan, an apparent flip-flop only ABC's Jake Tapper reported. House Speaker John Boehner has proposed a plan that increases revenues though the closing of loopholes and the elimination of deductions.
On Wednesday's Good Morning America, Tapper reminded that "what the Republicans are offering sounds a lot like what the President wanted during last year's budget showdown." He then played a 2011 clip of Obama requesting, "Give us $1.2 trillion in additional revenues, which could be accomplished without hiking tax rates by eliminating loopholes, eliminating some deductions." [MP3 audio here.] CBS This Morning and NBC's Today both ignored this quote.
Instead, Today co-host Savannah Guthrie insisted that Boehner is in an "unenviable position" because "he has to get the deal, he has to sell it to the far right of his caucus in the House." Over on CBS, Major Garrett described the Republican's response to Obama as "bah humbug."
On Tuesday's evening newscasts, Tapper, again, was the only journalist to mention Obama's 2011 remarks versus his current position.
USA Today described the reversal:
Turns out that President Obama once backed the idea of raising more government revenue by closing tax loopholes rather than by raising tax rates.
Congressional Republicans are flagging this Obama comment from 2011: "What we said was give us $1.2 trillion in additional revenues, which could be accomplished without
hiking taxes -- tax rates -- but could simply be accomplished by eliminating loopholes, eliminating some deductions and engaging in a tax reform process that could have lowered rates generally while broadening the base."
Said a statement from Boehner's office: "It's a solution President Obama himself once supported. If the math worked in 2011, why doesn't it work today?"
A transcript of the December 5 GMA segment can be found below:
GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: The latest now on that fiscal cliff. Everyone's taxes set to go up in just 27 days if Congress and the White House can't strike a deal. And publicly, at least, President Obama is taking a harder line with every day that goes by. ABC's Jake Tapper is covering it all from the White House. And Jake, it's clear that President Obama believes he has the upper hand here.
JAKE TAPPER: He sure does, George. And later today, President Obama will speak to corporate executives at the business roundtable. And he'll try to enlist their help with negotiations with congressional Republicans. And his latest demand, that Congress remove its own power, as it stands right now, to raise the debt ceiling. It is a bold gambit that congressional Republicans are already calling a non-starter. Paul Ryan stepped back into the spotlight late Tuesday, with a feisty shot at the President.
PAUL RYAN: I congratulate him on his victory. But on January 20th, he'll face a stagnant economy and a fiscal mess. You might even say, he'll inherit these problems.
TAPPER: There's a lot of bah humbug in Washington, D.C. These days. 'Tis the season to be surly. The President told Bloomberg Television that without tax rates going up on the wealthiest Americans, there will be no deal to avert going over the fiscal cliff.
BARACK OBAMA: We're going to have to see the rates on the top two percent go up. And we're not going to be able to get a deal without it.
TAPPER: House Republicans are adamant, no tax rate increases.
JOHN BOEHNER: We're willing to put revenues on the table. Revenues that come from closing loopholes, getting rid of special interest deductions and not raising rates.
TAPPER: But what the Republicans are offering sounds a lot like what the President wanted during last year's budget showdown.
OBAMA: Give us $1.2 trillion in additional revenues, which could be accomplished without hiking tax rates by eliminating loopholes, eliminating some deductions.
TAPPER: Today, however, the President says those moves will not be enough. And the latest Pew poll, George, indicates a lot of public pessimism. With 49 percent of the public saying they do not expect a deal to be struck by the deadline. Forty percent, a little more optimistic. George?
STEPHANOPOULOS: It sure looks like this is going to go right to the deadline. Okay, Jake, thanks very much.
-- Scott Whitlock is the senior news analyst for the Media Research Center. Click here to follow him on Twitter.


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Via StumbleUpon, I came across this short text page which lists three mathematical 'proofs' which seem to violate common sense, listed below. The first is:
The second one is:
The third one is:
Each of these proofs is (intentionally) wrong! They highlight classic fallacies in mathematical thinking. See if you can figure out where, in each of them, the proof goes wrong, and then look for the answers below the fold…
(Note: the third proof involves the 'imaginary number' . If you're not familiar with it, you can safely skip that problem, as it is closely related to one of the others.)
The mistake in the first proof is highlighted in red below:
The mistake lies in the assumption that we can divide by . Why is this a problem? Because, according to the equation we started with, ! We are not allowed to divide by zero, and therefore the result highlighted in red is invalid.
The algebra 'muddies the waters' significantly, and it can be helpful to see the same proof, but with . The first two steps suggest that . The third step suggests that . The fourth step suggests that . We run into problems in the next step, in trying to divide both sides of this equation by zero!
The next 'proof' is a little more subtle. Again, we highlight the problem step in red:
The problem here is that, in order to get to the step in red, there is an implicit square root taken of both sides of the equation. However, there are potentially two roots to any square; e.g. has possible solutions or . The 'proof' above assumes that the positive root is correct, which leads to the erroneous answer . If one looks at the negative root, one finds that , which leads right back to the starting equation . This proof, incidentally, might have been helpful to legislators in Indiana back in the late 1900s 1800s.
The third 'proof' suffers from essentially the same problem as the second, except that complex numbers are involved:
The step highlighted in red assumes that we break up the square roots as , and then take individually the positive root of each term. It is wrong, however, to assume that the positive roots are always the correct ones when dealing with the square root of an equation. If we have an equation of the form
we can at best say that , and not necessarily both are true. Nothing changes if we take the square root of an equation of the form
in which case we can at best conclude that
For our 'proof' above, we find that the statement in red should be replaced with " or , but not necessarily both."
There's a nice classic book that covers such mathematical errors, and other more important mathematical paradoxes: Bryan Bunch, Mathematical Fallacies and Paradoxes (Dover, New York, 1997).
If you really want to be certain that you understand such mistakes, try writing your own 'proof' for !Feel free to post yours in the comments. I'll add my own 'proof' at a later date!


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One Hundred and One Dalmatians1961 Action/Adventure | Animation | Comedy | Family
This Disney animated classic is based on the children's story by Dodie Smith. The story involves the canine pets of a struggling composer and his wife: Dalmatians Pongo (male) and Perdita (female). Perdita gives birth to fifteen spotted pups, cuing the entrance of the scheming Cruella De Vil. She demands that the dogs' owners sell her the pups, but she is shown the door instead. Under cover of night, Cruella arranges for the pups to be stolen. The human police are baffled, but the dog network is alerted by Pongo and sent to rescue the pups. It is discovered that Cruella has been rounding up every Dalmatian she can get her hands on, hoping to use their pelts to make one spectacular fur coat. The dogs rescue the 15 pups, plus 86 others stolen by Ms. DeVil. After an eventful escape, the 101 Dalmatians make their way home--whereupon the composer pens a hit tune, Dalmatian Plantation. 101 Dalmatians represents the Disney animation staff at its very best, and as a bonus introduces the world to Cruella De Vil, one of the greatest movie villains--cartoon or real--of all time.~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide


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Manchester, NH Lawyer Arrested On Child Porn, Exploitation Charges
CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — Federal agents in New Hampshire have charged a Manchester lawyer with seven counts of child exploitation, including transporting a child for illegal sexual conduct.
A federal magistrate Friday ordered 43-year-old Lisa Biron held without bail until her trial, which is schedule to start Jan. 8.
In addition to transporting a child for illegal sexual activity, Biron is also charged with manufacturing and possessing child pornography.
Biron was first arrested by Manchester police last month on charges of possessing child pornography. They alerted federal authorities when they learned the pornography had been manufactured out-of-state. Manchester police say the videos and pictures found on Biron's computer depict a teenage girl Biron knows.
Investigators have not released the girl's age.
Federal prosecutors say Biron was arrested without incident.
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.
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In an effort to adjust back to life in Blighty I've looked for similarities between life in Valencia, Spain and Tamworth, UK to little success. I've had to delve into the history books again to see if I could find anything similar and woe betold, there was a(sort of) bull ring in Tamworth just like back in Valencia close to my old home.
arrow pointing in direction of my old home, just out of range of the smell of bullshit, no pun intended
Bull baiting was a popular pastime in English town life from the middle ages up until the late 18th century(even later in the West Midlands) and Tamworth was no exception. It consisted basically of tying the bull to a stake in a central square and setting dogs on the animal, pretty unsavoury stuff but in its time it was actually unlawful to slaughter the bull before being baited. Apparently it gave the bull meat more taste and the fines would have probably been a source of income for local authorities.
bull baiting scene above
This can all be testified in Tamworth, where Charles Ferrers in his resourceful Tamworth book tells us that the book rolls of the town show us that persons had been fined for killing the animals before being baited.He goes on to say that the ring (probably at most consisting of railings which together with stake and rope were regularly mended) was at the junction of Bolebridge street with Coleshill and George Street with the last bull baits happening in the 17th century . George Street he later states was actually called Bullstake street in reference to the stake used to tie the bull, before being renamed George Street in the 19th century. In looking for more details on the bull baiting I got all excited when I came across the book the history of signboards where it stated that bullrunning was practiced in Tamworth and Stamford. Yes just like the famous Pamplona bull running. This was a double discovery as bull running in England was a new one for me and that it had happened at Tamworth!!! Alas it was too good to be true, the book had mistaken Tutbury with Tamworth where a bull run was indeed practiced. Still the fact that bull running existed in England in towns like nearby Tutbury and Stamford is a great novelty fact to bring up in the conversation or maybe to think about when running like a demon down the slippery streets of Pamplona, Spain.
Getting all misty eyed and nostalgic about Valencia I went to look at the site of the old bull ring in Tamworth, with the resulting furtively taken photo below:
Incredibly and by accident the bull ring echoed through into the present in the form of the circular brick flooring and the metal posting nearby in the modern day crossroads. Ok maybe I'm reading too much into it and it's true if you're looking for coincidences you'll find them sooner or later. Whatever though enough of mundane explanations for me it opened up the thought that ancient sites maybe could echo through to the present day through modern architectural accidents. Almost like an unconscious effort on the part of the building developers to pay tribute to old places. Former sites bending the will of modern building developments to produce phantom echos of the past. Ok there's the idea now more proof in the Tamworth Timehikes area of what I'm thinking about:
Well how about Copes drive written about in this previous post.It's highly botched pot holed surface with pebbles showing through isn't the result of an impasse between local authorities and residents, no it's because it's ancientness is shining through the cracks, being one of the oldest routes in the Leyfields housing estate.
Below in an attempt to photograph the slight dip in the ground by a house next to the ladybank, Tamworth with the river in front of it. This dip just happens to roughly correspond to the Anglo Saxon ditch surrounding the town(see previous post). Coincidence, or an echo from the past?
Anymore examples out there?