THE WEISS CHRONICLES

Sunday, May 30, 2010

Carrot Eating Varmint Invades

I found some of my plants damaged the other day. These were plants in a raised garden protected by fencing and also protected by having deer/rabbit repellent sprayed around it.

I placed another fence around the existing fence to plug up a hole. Then, on 5-28, just before eating, I saw a rabbit go under the new fence and over a break in the old fence.

So today I placed yet another fence.

I know how Elmer Fudd must have felt but I think using firearms would get me in trouble with my neighbors and maybe also the county.

posted by Martin Weiss # 6:32 PM

Another Maryland Touring Event

Ann and I went to Cunningham Falls today (the image is from the internet - courtesy of Allan Eckert photography).

This is the highest waterfall in Maryland (about 72 feet). The walk to the bottom of the falls is only a bit more than a half a mile from the parking area (which is park of a Maryland State park and also allows access to a large (40+ acres) fresh water lake.

The park is only about a one hour drive from our house (about 20 miles north of Frederick). The base of the falls is at about 1200' above sea level and the path is in an oak-hickory forest so it is a cool walk on a hot day.

posted by Martin Weiss # 5:29 PM

Two Perfect Games This Month

Up until this year, there had never been two perfect games pitched in a single season (Stanley Cohen did research on this and I checked it on the wikipedia entry on perfect games).

This year, there were two perfect games thrown in May. One was by Dallas Braden of Oakland vs Tampa (May 9) and the other by Ray Halladay of Philadelphia vs Florida yesterday (May 29).

Stanley has also done some correlation analysis. During the 1960s all three pitchers who pitched perfect games have since made the hall of fame (Jim Bunning, Catfish Hunter and Sandy Koufax). However, since that time none of the three pitchers in the 1980s nor any of the four pitchers of the 1990s who threw a perfect game has made the hall of fame (there were no perfect games thrown in the 70s). Randy Johnson, who threw a perfect game in 2004 looks to be a certain bet to make the hall of fame but hasn't yet.

The image (from the wikipedia site) is of a score card of the first perfect game recorded by Lee Richmond of Worchester (Massachusetts) vs Cleveland (OH). It was in 1880.

posted by Martin Weiss # 5:02 PM

Angels Destroy Their Savior

That should have been the title of the reports when, after hitting a 10th inning game ending home grand slam (all they needed was a single) and being mobbed by his team as he reached home plate, Kendry Morales suffered what may be a season ending injury (thats him on the ground in the image).

Morales was leading the Angels in batting average, home runs and RBIs as of the day of the injury.

As of 5-30, it is not completely clear if the injury was because Morales leaped up high as he approached home plate and injured himself falling or if the mobbing caused or contributed to the injury.

La Times blog article here.

posted by Martin Weiss # 9:10 AM

Sunday, May 23, 2010

M and A in Havre de Grace

Ann and I spent much of the day (5-23) in Havre de Grace, Maryland with our friend Sue Meyers (she took the images). One great thing about the drive is that it is as far north as you can go on I-95 in Maryland without paying the toll.

The images are of the Concord Light House which operated continuously from 1827 to 1975. This is the longest continuous light house operation in the US. The lighthouse is about at the confluence of the Susquehanna River and the Chesapeake Bay.

posted by Martin Weiss # 7:36 PM

Friday, May 21, 2010

A Surprise on the Kosher Aisle

I buy groceries at Shoppers Food Store frequently.

One day I was in the Kosher products aisle and I saw all the different noodle products they had. Typically made by companies that have, for many years, manufactured kosher products (e.g., Manishevitz, Kedem).

Among the kosher noodles was the house brand of pasta products (made by Richfood). Of course these products cost only about 60% as much as some of the others.

I notice that Richfood also makes bagels and frozen french fried potatoes that have a kosher symbol on them.

Its too bad for the customer (but fortunate for the Kosher grocery store down the block) that they (Richfood) don't make kosher chicken, turkey and beef.

posted by Martin Weiss # 1:10 PM

I have a dream

During a long nap (on May 20), I had a dream that someone in the White House called me up and asked me to act as a consultant to the President. I thought it had something to do with highways. The person who called me told me to be available for a flight on Air Force One. I got to the plane and was brought to where the President was.

However, he didn't want my advice about highways. He wanted my advice on what to buy his wife to make up for some difficulty he was having. I think at some point earlier that week I had been reading about marriage troubles between the Obamas.

I woke up before I gave him my advice.

posted by Martin Weiss # 7:03 AM

Sunday, May 16, 2010

The Two Store
Phone Call

I suppose it is no big deal to have a cell phone call from overseas.

However, we had an interesting one on May 16.

Beth called Ann's cell phone from Israel while Ann and I were in Target getting clothes, etc.

We continued the conversation during the end of our shopping there.

Then we continued the conversation as we drove to Shoppers to shop for food.

Then we continued the conversation while shopping for food.

.

.

posted by Martin Weiss # 10:53 AM

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Mr. Connery,
I'm glad you are moving here

Ann and I are visiting Ann's mom this week in Atlanta. She lives in the Lenbrook, a retirement place (minimum age is 65 I think).

One day in one of the common areas, a woman spoke to me implying that she thought I was Sean Connery.

I presume she was kidding.

The image is Sean Connery at 70.