Gas Prices
My good buddy Bill Kuhn, the “Tinkerman,” sent me this well thought out email:
“I checked on our Calif. state gas tax. It is a flat rate, the state gets
approx. $0.62 cents per gallon (which they spend frivolously like madmen).
Other states gas tax is far less, but I think most are a flat rate, meaning
the rise in price doesn’t affect a states revenue.
In fact rising fuel costs often decrease demand or usage, which lowers the
states tax revenue.
California’s state gas tax is about $0.20 cents higher on average vs. most
states. This is why our gas prices are so damn high out here. They were
supposed to spend that money on roads, but now they are borrowing against
future revenue to pay to the general fund. These California legislators are
like my ex-wife, they spend $2 for every $1 they receive.
What really bothers me is that Arnold’s original campaign promise was all
about “The Kids” & education. As of yesterday our state, which has the
eighth highest economy in the world, is currently 48th in the nation in
spending for education.
We started a lottery that was supposed to help fund the schools. Now they
want to expand the lottery and borrow against future earnings to use for the
general fund.
At what point do we say stop spending money we don’t have?
Please excuse this politica rant. At least it’s bipartisan.”
Oakland Athletics Injury Jinks Hits Ellis… Yet Again
Far and away, the most interesting franchise in Organized Baseball is Billy Beane’s Oakland A’s. They’re a team in a constant state of rebuilding. Not year to year. Not month to month. Literally, day to day. I’d love to see how it works out, but alas, I never will. Injuries [six players are currently on the disabled list] have once again ruined another season, at least from the standpoint of player evaluation. Second straight year. At the risk of repeating myself, will there ever be a better time for the team to dump their entire medical/training staff?
Only yesterday in a conversation with a friend, I questioned the validity of acquiring as many 2nd baseman as they have in the past few weeks. Today the team announced that Mark Ellis, who is pictured bellow, has a sore right shoulder [a horrible set back for Beane’s short term dealing] . My guess is Beane had an inkling.
Kittatinny Camp Mystery Bunk 1955
If you attended KLC n 1955 and you were 12 at the time, you may have been in this bunk. I found this picture on the internet. I suspect one of the campers was Richard Braunstein.
Billy [Beane] Ball
I woke to the news that Billy Beane, once again, pulled the trigger. Not only was he the first to recognize that the A’s can’t catch the Angels in this rebuilding year, but he was able to find a buyer for the soon to be disabled Rich Harden. Given Harden’s past medical history, impending disaster is a certainty. The Cubs are just looking for fifteen starts, ten wins from the lad, a pennant, and a Word Series victory. Given how long it’s been since the last one, they’re more than willing to roll the dice. Beane must have been like a kid in a candy store, going through the Cubs system. A Big League pitcher [Gallagher] here, an adequate outfielder [Murton] there, and a good young minor league catcher. Beane comes away [once again] a winner. He and the A’s are going to time it so they dominate Baseball just as the new stadium in Fremont is ready… The year? 20042, but what a year it will be!!
Here’s the slick toast of Oaktown with that “cat that swallowed the cannery” look:
Reality Laws
Debra Slay “laid down the law” in a recent email.
Law of Mechanical Repair
After your hands become coated with grease, your nose will begin to itch and you’ll have to pee.
Law of Gravity
Any tool, when dropped, will roll to the least accessible corner.
Law of Probability
The probability of being watched is directly proportional to the stupidity of your act.
Law of Random Numbers
If you dial a wrong number, you never get a busy signal and someone always answers.
Law of the Alibi
If you tell the boss you were late for work because you had a flat tire, the very next morning you will have a flat tire.
Variation Law
If you change lines (or traffic lanes), the one you were in will always move faster than the one you are in now (works every time).
Law of the Bath
When the body is fully immersed in water, the telephone rings.
Law of Close Encounters
The probability of meeting someone you know increases dramatically when you are with someone you don’t want to be seen with.
Law of the Result When you try to prove to someone that a machine won’t work, it will.
Law of Biomechanics
The severity of the itch is inversely proportional to the reach.
Law of the Theater
At any event, the people whose seats are furthest from the aisle arrive last.
The Starbucks Law
As soon as you sit down to a cup of hot coffee, your boss will ask you to do something which will last until the coffee is cold.
Murphy’s Law of Lockers
If there are only two people in a locker room, they will have adjacent lockers.
Law of Physical Surfaces
The chances of an open-faced jelly sandwich landing face down on a floor covering are directly correlated to the newness and cost of the carpet/rug.
Law of Logical Argument
Anything is possible if you don’t know what you are talking about.
Brown’s Law of Physical Appearance
If the shoe fits, it’s ugly.
Oliver’s Law of Public Speaking
A closed mouth gathers no feet.
Wilson’s Law of Commercial Marketing Strategy
As soon as you find a product that you really like, they will stop making it.
Doctors’ Law
If you don’t feel well, make an appointment to go to the doctor, by the time you get there you’ll feel better. Don’t make an appointment and you’ll stay sick.
Post Willie Mets Come Alive… Sort Of
Three weeks after the ill timed [3AM] firing of Willie Randolph, the Metropolitans are showing signs of life. There’s no doubt in my mind that both Billy Wagner’s and Carlos Delgado’s recent improvement is due to the shakeup. The season has a long way to go and the Mets are talented and very well compensated, thank you. Jerry Manuel comes out of the Sacramento baseball factory and the spark and enthusiasm he brings can’t be denied. He may someday be remembered for turning around the career of Jose Reyes. His “Hall Of Fame potential” needs to be actualized. I’m expecting a strong second half finish and if they can sneak into the playoffs, it then becomes a craps shoot. Lets Go Jerry Manuel, Lets Go Mets!!
Zig in The Zone with Ralph Zig Tyko 