Aluminum Bats

A couple weeks ago I was walking through Walmart when I spotted an aluminum t-ball bat that would be perfect for Charlie when he is 4. So I bought it. I don't think he would even be able to swing it yet.

Then I read this article just now. It's about aluminum bats and the fact that many want to ban them because you can hit a ball 10% harder with an aluminum bat than with a wooden bat. That makes life as a pitcher 10% scarier than it would be with wooden bats. I don't have to worry about things like this with Charlie or Max for at least another 9 or 10 years. But when it comes time, will I be a parent lobbying for wooden bats? I don't think so. I see a couple of problems with banning aluminum bats.

1. As a hitter it is so much more fun to hit a ball with an aluminum bat. I loved the sound and the extra distance when I was younger.
2. There's not much evidence that it would dramatically reduce injuries. It's actually not that often that a pitcher takes a line drive in the head, and even less frequent that it does lasting damage. Can we be sure that a wooden bat wouldn't also do damage? I suppose it would do 10% less damage than the aluminum bat, but that doesn't seem very compelling.
3. If you were to ban aluminum bats you would stiffle a pretty stable aluminum bat making industry. I suppose it would likewise revive an all but lost wooden bat making industry, so maybe the net effect would be positive. But I'm not a huge fan of disrupting an entire industry for changes that probably wouldn't amount to much at all.
4. The most compelling reason I can think of however to avoid banning aluminum bats is that it is completely unecessary. Why don't you just start making light-weight helmets for pitchers? If the parents or the pitchers are concered with safety, have the pitcher wear a helmet. Case closed. And if they started doing that we wouldn't be disrupting the bat making market, we would be creating a new market for pitchers helmets. It would be a win, win situation.

Side note: I was beaned in the face by a 12 year pitcher when I was in Little League. The fastball broke my nose. I was back playing again the next week with a helmet and face mask.

Living as a Minority

I went to the dentist the other day and in between fillings she asked me if I supported Obama or Clinton. I said, "Neither. I'm a Republican." Then she confessed, "Me too, but since I moved to the Bay Area I don't dare tell anyone that."

Tip Talk

I think I'm a generous tipper, but I hate feeling pressured into tipping when I don't feel like it's deserved. I have to imagine that at some point in time tips were conditional on the service rendered. Today, gratuities seem like they are simply service charges.

• The server tip: Everyone knows that paying less than 15% to your server in a restaurant is cheep and that 20% is the generally accepted decent tip. I don't mind this so much since I don't eat out too often and I feel that anyone working in a restaurant needs some extra cash.
• Taxi rides: I take taxis when I'm traveling and I always tip. However, I usually keep it between 10-15%. I've never been in a cab where I felt the service was spectactular, so I wonder why I tip at all for simply getting from point A to point B.
• House keeping: When traveling I never resent leaving 5 bucks for the cleaning lady after I leave my hotel room. Of all service people, someone who cleans up after you definitely deserves a little extra cash. Unfortunately, this is one area where people probably under-tip since you don't have to look the person in the eye if you stiff them.
• Bell hop: I rarely have a hotel bell hop carry or check my bags, but when they do I'm always uncomfortable with the sitation. What's the going rate for someone fetching your bags? If it's all the same, I'll just carry my own.
• Bathroom attendant: I'm not even sure what to call these people, but occassionally I'll visit a fancy place where the restrooms are staffed with someone ready to hand you a dry towel after you wash your hands. And then, as if it weren't already too obvious, there's a tip jar besides the sink. Do you really expect me to tip someone for handing me a towel that was already within my reach? I refuse to tip in rediculous situations like these.

What are your thoughts on tipping?

Like Kings

Last year I blogged about how I disliked Vegas. Then a couple weeks ago I blogged about how thoroughly unenjoyable work travel was. This week I am on a work trip to Vegas and enjoying it. What's gives?

• I'm with friends. Usually I travel alone to some distant land to meet with strangers. This week I get to spend the entire week with coworkers whom I consider close friends.
• I live like a king when I travel to Vegas. My room at the newly opend Palazzo has three flat screen TVs (one in the bathroom, one in the bedroom and one in the lounge). Enough said.
• Then there's the food. I've been here less than 12 hours and have had two phenomenal meals. Tonight's meal was at Bartolotta Ristorante di Mare at the Wynn Hotel. I couldn't bring myself to order the more expensive "main course" items on the menu (even though work was paying for it). Still, I'm pretty sure my portion of the bill totalled over $100.

My meal:

cappesante dorate con porcini (seared sea scallops with imported porcini mushrooms) - 24.00
These were the best part of the meal. These two juicy scallops were even better than they look in the picture.

coniglio con carciofini all’aceto balsamico tradizionale (loin of rabbit with crispy artichokes and balsamic vinegar from Reggio-Emilia) - 21.00

I've only had rabbit a couple of times in my life, but I don't imagine there are many hares that taste as good as the one I had tonight.

lasagnette con ragu di crostacei (“rags” of pasta, lobster, shrimp, langoustines, crab, white wine, tomato) - 26.00
Fabulous. Although I was still dreaming about my two starter scallops late in the meal, so this course wasn't as memorable.

Chocolate mousse - ????
Who doesn't love chocolate mousse? Not me.

Click here for a full copy of the menu.

The bill for 6 people approached $1000. The excess of Vegas always makes me uncomfortable, but I have to admit I enjoy the high life when it's a part of the job.

Men: Good for Something

Just visited a blog written by women, for women. The post I read was essentially a celebration of women's ability to do twice as much as a man around the home and with the family. Should I be offended? Not really. We all know women are better at running a tight ship than men are.

Disclaimer for feminists: I know that last statement about women was a broad generalization and not necessarily representative of all women. I understand there are many women completely capable of being just as unhelpful as men are when it comes to tidying the home, paying bills, getting kids to practice, etc.

Instead of refuting what we all know to be true (at least in the general sense), I thought I would offer up a few generalizations regarding what men are good for.

Men:

• Good for getting the toothpaste back to the top of the tube
• Good for pointing out that Star Wars and Star Trek are not the same thing
• Good for knowing how to hook the DVD player to the satellite receiver to the T.V.
• Good for getting twice as far as you thought they could after the "Fuel" light went on
• Good for conserving dish soap, laundry soap and bath soap
• Good for plunging the toilet
• Good for tossing children
• Good for getting things on the top shelf
  Good for opening stuff
• Good at winging things (Like sunday school lessons & church talks)
• Good at tossing dirty socks into the hamper
• Good at getting ready in less than five minutes
• Good at conserving cell phone minutes
• Good at making funny noises

The list goes on and on, but after a while you really start to see how the men add some real value around the home.

Finding Friends

There's something great about growing up in a small town. By the time I reached the third grade I had already met all of my closest friends. Sure I gained a few more good ones over the years, but from junior high to high school and then to college it was basically the same group. The one drawback? I've never really had to make new friends. I like making new friends, but I've never had to. Even today two of my closest friends live within 15 minutes of me. What happens when they move? That's gonna be wierd.

Gotta Go?

I find it fascinating that some people refuse to use public restrooms. I understand passing up the occasional Port-A-Potty, but I know a number of people (mostly women) who are willing to "hold it" for hours rather than use a restroom at work or even a friends house. I'm all for playing it safe when it comes to sanitation, but the cost vs. benefit of waiting is just not compelling enough for me. What about you?