Well, the Yankees are still hanging in there… August 3, 2009
Posted by shortfinals in NY Yankees, United States, baseball.Tags: 'a good thing', AL East, Brian Cashman, catcher, Coors Field East, Derek Jeter, first base, foodcourt, Francisco Cervelli, free-agent pitcher, Gold Glove, Gold Glove winner, Jason Giambi, Jorge Posada, Leon Trost, Mark Teixeira, Martha Stewart, Monument Cave, museum, New York, New York Yankees, NY Yankees, Phil the Franchise, post trade deadline, Red Sox, right field, Sabrematricians, Sergio Mitre, Shaun Chacon, Stadium, the Captain, White Sox, Yankee Stadium
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Here we are , 
past the half-way mark of the season and accelerating down the stretch. At this point in time, it would be best to take stock of what has happened so far this season. As of Monday, August 3rd, the Yankees are hanging onto a half game lead in the AL East, following an uninspiring 1-3 series against the White Sox. The loss of Wang has caused the need for an extra starter, but Sergio Mitre is NOT the answer. Should Phil the Franchise be ’stretched out’ again, and removed from his set-up role, or should Brian Cashman try for a low-cost miracle, like Shaun Chacon? Let’s see what is out there, post-trade deadline, I say.
The new Stadium has huge public spaces, a fabulous ‘foodcourt crossed with museum’ feel – and a terrible reputation as a home run launching pad. ‘Coors Field East’ will have to be tweaked in the off season; someone has to persuade Leon Trost that the fences can be a little higher in right field, and that the Yankees can stand the loss of income from the removal of three or four rows of seats in this area, too. Either that, or no elite free-agent pitcher will ever sign with the Yankees again. It would be nice to think that something would be done about ‘Monument Cave’ as well.
Three bright spots from this season, so far. Francisco Cervelli has shown himself to be the Yankees ‘catcher-in-waiting’, when Jorge Posada finally hangs up ‘the tools of ignorance’. A young man who is a solid receiver of the ball, and who has great fire and enthusiasm – a real find. Another ‘good thing’, as Martha Stewart would say, is the return to form of the Captain. Derek Jeter may be on the wrong side of the performance graphs of the Sabrematricians, but he has obviously worked exceptionally hard in the off-season to improve his range and his play in general….a re-vitalised Jeter is a VERY dangerous player. Finally, someone is going to have to start mentioning Mark Teixeira as the 2009 AL Gold Glove Award Winner. His play at first base hasn’t just been spectacular (the vertical leaping catch off the ex-Yankee, Dioner Navarro, this weekend, was incredible) it has been a revelation. Now we know just how truly awful Jason Giambi was in the field.
Well, that’s enough of a re-cap for now. Soon, it will be time for a series against the Red Sox at the Stadium – and that should sort a few things out!
Newark Liberty International May 22, 2009
Posted by shortfinals in Aviation, New York, United States, aircraft.Tags: air conditioning, Air Train, aircraft, Amtrak, Continental Airlines, Empire State Building, Manhattan, monorail, New York, Newark, NJ, PATH, Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, rapid transit, Statute of Liberty, terminal buildings
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Newark Liberty International - Air Train
Operated by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey since the 1940s under a lease arrangement, and one of the busiest airports in the Greater New York area, Newark Liberty International serves as a hub for Continental Airlines and many other carriers. One of the more interesting features of the airport is the ‘Air Train’, a free rapid transit monorail system which runs between Terminals A, B and C. This is easily accessed via a series of interlocked safety doors on the upper level of each terminal. It also travels to the Airport’s own rail station where Amtrak and NJ Transit passengers alight.
Here we see a set of Air Train cars, making the smooth transit between terminals. Be warned, however; the cars are NOT air conditioned, and on a warm day in May, the passengers were already feeling the heat.
Just over the Hudson River from Manhattan, it is easy for passengers to reach hotels in the city (the airport is about 16 miles from mid-town Manhattan). Both approaches to, and departures from, this airport offer spectacular views of the New York skyline, and such features as the Statue of Liberty and the Empire State building can be clearly seen. Please choose your seat assignments carefully!
Central Park, Clinton – not so much passive, as passive-aggressive? March 28, 2009
Posted by shortfinals in New England, United States, baseball, textiles.Tags: architectural design, ball playing, baseball, baseball diamond, bicycles, Boston, carpet, Central Park, churches, Clinton, dogs, football, fountain, frisbee, Fuller Field, golf, housing stock, littering, MA, Massachusetts, metal detecting, New England, New York, ointment, oldest baseball field in the world, park, prohibitions, public buildings, rollerblading, skateboard, soccer, statuary, swimming, textile industry, textiles, Town Hall, United States, Victorian, wading, Worcester County
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Sign, Central Park, Clinton, MA
Clinton is a small city, in Worcester County in the western portion of Massachusetts, which was incorporated in 1850. It is about 42 miles from Boston, and therefore 30 miles from where I live. A visit to Clinton is usually most enjoyable, if you appreciate architectural design, as the prosperity of the 19th century caused by its booming textile industry (especially carpets), allowed the town to erect many impressive public buildings. Also, the housing stock contains fine examples of homes in the New England Victorian style. As an aside, it also is home to the oldest baseball diamond in continuous use in the world (dating from 1878), Fuller Field.
At the core of the town is Central Park, a fine public space with paths, seats, statuary and a fountain, which has many mature trees. The park is surrounded on three sides by a variety of notable homes, churches, the Town Hall and other buildings. Like its much bigger and more famous counterpart in New York, Central Park should be a haven of rest, relaxation and recreation.
There is, however, one fly in the ointment. As you can see from the above notice, Central Park has been designated a ‘passive park for the enjoyment of all’, with the authorities banning virtually ALL forms of activity. No dogs allowed, no ball playing, no frisbee, no football, no soccer, no golf, no skateboards, no rollerblading, no bicycles, no swimming, no wading, no metal detectors, no littering. A couple of these are fairly standard (and useful) prohibitions, but the main aim of the city seems to be to forbid almost anything that makes a park a park! Not so much ‘passive’ as ‘passive-aggressive’, in my opinion.
Perhaps, on my next visit, I should enquire at the Town Hall to see if I can go into the park and breathe a little?
Beautiful Blue John jewellery February 7, 2009
Posted by shortfinals in British Isles, Derbyshire, England, Great Britain, Museums, Peak District.Tags: aqueduct, Blue John, bride, bridesmaid, candelabra, Castleton, caverns, Christies, credit card, Cross Street, Derbyshire, dynamite, England, flourspar, Frogmore House, gemstone, George III, House of Windsor, jewellers, jewellery, lead, Mam Tor, matron-of-honour, Matthew Boulton, metal, mineral, mines, museum, New York, Peak District National Park, Peveril Castle, Pompeii, Romans, Royal collection, semi-precious, vase, Victorian, wedding, white marble, Winnat's Pass
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Blue John jewellery
This is what Castleton is all about…not the brooding Peveril Castle, the staggering Winnat’s Pass, the hulking Mam Tor, but the caverns where the world’s only supply of a certain form of flourspar, called Blue John, is found. This striking gemstone was prized by the Romans, who mined this area for lead – one of their most treasured metals, used in their aqueducts, roofing amd much more – and found this sparkling semi-precious gemstone. Two vases of Blue John were supposedly found in the ruins of Pompeii.
Unfortunately, the Victorians mined it using dynamite, and huge spoil heaps were caused, underground. The largest Blue John pieces, including vases and tables, date from this period; indeed, what gemstone is being utilised by the modern jewellery workshops in town is, in the main, extracted from the Victorian spoil heaps.
There are two private museums featuring the mineral in Castelton, as well as other examples in collections around the country - it is interesting to note that Blue John pieces can command staggering prices. A pair of George III white marble and Blue John candelabra by Matthew Boulton, and dating from 1771 (similar to a pair in the Royal collection at Frogmore House) were sold by Christies in New York for $385,000. It is known that other pieces are held by the House of Windsor.
Here you can see a typical display case inside one of the stores on Cross Street, Castleton, Derbyshire. Although there are some malachite pieces, the vast majority of jewellery features Blue John stones, with its delightful random patterns of purple, royal blue, white, violet and yellow bands. It is customary amongst many Derbyshire families to give Blue John to the bride, matron-of-honour and bridesmaids at a wedding.
Be warned gentlemen; don’t take your lady into one of these shops without being prepared to suffer ‘damage’ to your credit card! As night follows day, she will be entranced.
A Derbyshire ‘traitor’? February 4, 2009
Posted by shortfinals in British Isles, Derbyshire, England, London, Museums, New England, United States.Tags: 'Father of the American Industrial Revolution', apprentice, Belper, Blackstone River, Blackstone River National Heritage Corridor, carding, cotton, Cromford, Derbyshire, Derwent Mills World Heritage Site, factory system, indenture, Jedediah Strutt, London, Milford, Moses Brown, museum, New England, New York, Pawtucket, President Andrew Jackson, Quaker, Rhode Island, River Derwent, Samuel Slater, Sir Richard Arkwright, spinning, textiles, UNESCO, USA, water power, World Heritage Site
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- Slater Mill, Pawtucket, Rhode Island
When is a ‘traitor’ not a ‘traitor’? When he’s ‘The Father of the American Industrial Revolution’?
Stained glass window February 1, 2009
Posted by shortfinals in New England.Tags: artist, buttoned boots, computer terminal, Elizabeth, hospital, lead, lily, Louis Comfort Tiffany, medical library, New England, New York, stained glass, Tiffany, tinted glass
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- Stained glass window
If I look up from my computer terminal at work, and glance across the room, this is what I see. A memorial window to a young girl who died in 1898, it stood for many years in a children’s ward endowed by the family. Elizabeth is depicted wearing a white dress, black buttoned boots, and carrying a lily. Eventually, after many years in sortage, it ended up with us, in the Medical Library.
A view of London – from the London Eye January 14, 2009
Posted by shortfinals in England, London.Tags: Bay of Biscay, British Airways, Central Park, Charing Cross Station, Cleopatra, Cleopatra's Needle, Egypt, Hungerford Bridge, King's Reach, London, London Eye, New York, obelisk, River Thames, Thutmose III, tug, Victoria Embankment, Waterloo Bridge
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- London Eye capsule
I really enjoyed my ‘flight’ on the London Eye (British Airways, who operates the Eye, calls your ride a ‘flight’). High above the Thames you can see the north bank and the Victoria Embankment and King’s Reach. The nearer bridge is Hungerford Bridge, the railway bridge which leads into Charing Cross Station (it also has pedestrian capacity). The further bridge is Waterloo Bridge, with its graceful arches. If you look closely, you can just make out Cleopatra’s Needle on the Embankment. The Needle (and its twin in Central Park, New York) have NO connection with Cleopatra, they were commissioned by Thutmose III. After a dramatic sea journey from Egypt, including breaking free from its tug in the Bay of Biscay, the obelisk was finally erected on the Embankment in 1878. If you ever get a chance to ride the London Eye – do so!
The new Yankee Stadium January 8, 2009
Posted by shortfinals in NY Yankees, baseball.Tags: baseball, Chicago Cubs, New York, New York Yankees, sports, Yankee Stadium
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On April 3rd and 4th, the Chicago Cubs will be hosted by the NY Yankees in the first games ever played at the new Yankee Stadium, just across the road from their iconic former home. Undoubtedly, the offer of 1923 prices for many of the seats at these first exhibition games will ensure a full house, but people will also be lured by the many high-tech aspects of the new stadium. Video screens everywhere, a ‘batter’s eye’ restaurant behind one-way dark glass, wide concourses, and lots of other amenities. As well as the new signings made by the Yankees, there will be much to enjoy.
However, despite the enhanced revenue streams (no less than 51 ’sky boxes’ for example), there is something missing at the new stadium, in my humble opinion. A retractable roof! There was a simple decision made at the planning stage, I feel; less ‘bells and whistles’ and a roof (a la Seattle Mariners) or a high-tech stadium and all that the weather can bring to the mix. Many times, critical games have been ruined by the New York weather, not to mention a notoriously sun-affected outfield and home plate. Very well, I’ll concede that there would not have been that amazing grand slam by Jason Giambi against the Twins, in what was a virtual downpour, but I shall still yearn for the certainty that a roofed stadium would have brought.
NY Yankees January 7, 2009
Posted by shortfinals in NY Yankees, baseball.Tags: baseball, New York, NY Yankees, sports
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- New York Yankees
‘There can be only one….’
