THE WEISS CHRONICLES

Thursday, September 29, 2005

Trip to W Md; G with cat

Ann and M were in Western Md Sept 26-28. Very pretty scenary. The Deep Creek Lake area is getting to look a lot like Aspen, CO or Park City, Utah with high end 2nd homes and retail and fancy 4 season sports. A whitewater park is being constructed near the ski areas and golf course at WISP for example.

I told G that he had done a good job with the 'shomrei' instructions on taking care of our cat, Soda. The cat hadn't been locked in the Florida room or in the basement. However, the 'zochor' instructions, e.g., timely feeding, etc. were being met.

posted by Martin Weiss # 2:04 AM

Friday, September 23, 2005

Undeserved compliment to M

I was at the National's game today; they fielded a mostly rookie team and beat the Giants 2-0 (Barry Bonds didn't play). The fellow sitting besides me was a retired sportswriter. He had worked mostly for the Knight-Ridder wire service and the Cleveland newspaper and mostly covering the Cleveland Indians. The first time Ryan Church was up he asked whether I had read the latest controversy. I hadn't. It turned out that Mr. Church (ironically named given the story) had what the fellow described as an "anti Jew comment" and that Tony Kornheiser (sportwriter for the Washington Post) had written about today. I said, "Well maybe if (I might have said "when") Church dies and goes to hell he can play for Marge Schotts's team (Ms. Schotts was former owner of the Cinnicinati Reds and a notorious bigot). He said, "Hey. Good comment. You should have been a sports writer".

I looked up the news when I got home. It turned out that the Washington Nationals chaplain, who is in the fellowship of Christian Athletes had been dating a Jewish girl. Mr. Church asked him, "isn't she damned". The Chaplain said, "I guess so." Then Mr. Church said, "Well shouldn't you have converted her or something."

So Ryan Church is just a somewhat clueless fellow and the Chaplain is snared between his theology and his humanity. No really anti Jewish stuff.

The WaPo article with Mr. Church's apology is at: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/09/20/AR2005092002093.html

posted by Martin Weiss # 1:44 AM

Sunday, September 18, 2005

Dreamt that I was investigating a cult

Interesting dream. I was investigating a cult that was collecting huge investments to build a spaceship. They were working off a drawing of an old rocket -- probably a Titan class. The cult leader had all sorts of goofy theories of space flight. The others in the ruling circle knew only a little more. Then I woke up and then I fell back asleep and I dreamt that I was talking to some of the people the cult had hired to put together the rocket and these people had come up with some neat gadgets for increasing thrust and splitting water into H and O.

posted by Martin Weiss # 10:16 AM

Saturday, September 17, 2005

M in NY, PA Visits Brewery

M was in the Corning-Elmira area Sept 13 and 14 and in the Pottsville - Frickville area the 15th and early the 16th. Saw the Yuengling Brewery. The founder, who was Juengling (means young man) in Germany had his name changed by an immigration official. The brewery started in 1829 then moved in 1831 to its present location. They survived prohibition by having their dark beer considered medicinal and available by prescription, by making ice cream and by making 3 types of near beer.

posted by Martin Weiss # 9:54 PM

Monday, September 12, 2005

Nine to Seven- Both Football and Baseball

Interesting coincidence. Both the Redskins and the Nationals played at home (first time ever). Both teams drew well. The Nationals drew about 30,000 and the Redskins drew about 70,000.

Both games ended with a 9-7 score. The Redskins won. The Nationals lost.

posted by Martin Weiss # 1:50 AM

Friday, September 09, 2005

Na Na Na Na Boo Boo

G had suggested I post more work stuff.

I got to do a "na na..." this morning. I called a person I know at the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO). They had been promising to pledge funding for a conference I'm co chairing. I had previously gotten a pledge from a very unlikely source, the Federal Transit Administration which almost never pledges for such conferences. Once I had the AASHTO guy on the phone I said,

"Na Na Na Na Boo Boo, FTA pledged money before you."

The AASHTO guy said,

"FTA pledged? Really?

I said, "Yep"

He said, "I better get with my management quick."

I also told him his management might get a call from a US Senator's office (the conference is in Arkansas and Senator Lincoln is very supportive).

posted by Martin Weiss # 7:02 PM

Friday, September 02, 2005

Getting G's Stuff in NY

We left the house about 940am for New York. We got back to DC about 800pm. G had filled the car with gas yesterday in College Park. I drove all the way to NYC and back to Delaware before getting gas again (got about 33mpg). Because companies are in the midst of big post-Katrina price increases gas prices are going up quickly but unevenly. I paid $3.19/gallon for premium; regular would have been $3.49/gallon. We got a free parking space fairly quickly. G gained entrance to the dorm quickly (without his ID which he had left at home) and within about 5 minutes we had someone unlock the storage area. We needed to moveable bins to get the stuff to the car. Round trip was about 490mi.

posted by Martin Weiss # 1:48 AM