Nobody 815

Sunday, April 18, 2010

Nobody # 815

Nobody Asked Me But:

Now it can be told. A short nine years ago, after the tryout pictured above, I was offered a contract by the Los Angeles Dodgers. Although they would have paid me slightly more than my retirement check, I turned them down, telling them that it takes most of my free time to write these Nobodies.<<<

What really matters is: Pursing joy every day. (But not if you are married to someone other than Joy.)

Obviously, I take some getting used to. One of the things that Barb at first found strange about me is that every time I go somewhere that I am less than thrilled about, I like to soften the chore by having a treat along the way. For me, it brings a little joy that turns drudge to fun.

By the way - strange or not, my wife, being the great sport that she is, has learned to not only accept this quirk most of the time, but to enjoy it herself.

So forget the apple. A bit of joy a day keeps your troubles at bay.<<<

My joy for Monday was stopping on the way home from Barb having her teeth cleaned at an incredible gelato store on Tujunga. We had wanted to try the Gelato Bar, owned by Gail Silverton, sister of famous LA chef, Nancy Silverton, for months. Their affogato, Ecco Caffe poured over gelato with whipped cream and Valrhona cacao nibs was named the best in town by Internet food site, Chowhound. My wife insisted I try one – her treat. It was far beyond delicious. Incredible sounds about right. (I had mine with pistachio gelato, but many flavors would work.)

Because it was my first ever, I can’t testify that it is the best in town, but if you can point me to a better one I will give you a lifetime subscription to Nobody.

Gelato Bar 
4342 1/2 Tujunga Ave
, Studio City, CA 91604-2751
(818) 487-1717<<<

Here’s something I didn’t know. Gene Roddenberry, the creator of Star Trek, was a former LAPD officer and speechwriter for the department’s legendary chief William H. Parker. And it was the coldly cerebral Parker who served as Roddenberry’s model for Mr. Spock.<<<

I am sure you have heard of softball questions, i.e., ones that are very easy to answer. Well the LA Times threw one at its readers when it asked which team, between the Dodgers and the Angels, had the better owner.

91% of the respondents chose the angels Arte Moreno. My only question is how the other 9% could be so wrong?<<<

On the subject of polls, ESPN asked its on-line readers whom they wanted to win the U.S. Open. This was after Phil Mickelson’s commanding victory at the Master’s. Despite all the negatives thrown at Tiger by the media, and even though “Lefty” is deservedly popular, 56% chose Woods to 30% for Mickelson and 14% for “Other,” whoever that is.<<<

What’s in a name: Shouldn’t the Colt’s Jeff Saturday have changed his name to Sunday when he moved from college football to the NFL?<<<

A friend sent this to me. Some of you may already have seen it but it is worth reading again and again.

If you could create a village with 100 residents who proportionally represent all the world’s people:

6 would possess 59% of the wealth and they would all come from America,

80 would live in poverty,

70 would be illiterate,

50 would suffer from hunger and malnutrition,

1 would be dying,

1 would be being born,

1 would own a computer,

1 would have a university degree.<<<

It was Sunday evening, October 30, 1938. I was four years old. The Great Depression was still going on. In Europe, Hitler was on the move. The American people were nervous. On that night, Orson Wells and his Mercury theater group broadcast the H. G. Wells classic, “War Of The Worlds.” The presentation, done in the style of breaking news, was so realistic that many Americans who tuned in after the show started believed that Martians had actually invaded the United States. While some of tales of people running into the streets or, in some cases, killing themselves fall into the urban myth category, there were thousands of calls by frightened people to local government entities trying to determine the validity of the threat.

Thanks to the magic of the Internet, I finally listened to the entire broadcast last week, and I can see why some people took it seriously. It was very real and very scary.<<<

http://www.oldtimeradiofans.com/template.php?show_name=Mercury%20Theater

Last Wednesday began the spring signing period for basketball recruits. It was, as always, a time of hopes and disappointments and, again as always, a time for far too many college coaches to perfect their black art of cheating. Greg Hicks, who surveys recruits and recruiting in the West for Scout.com, said it well the other day: “As I said a few years ago, cheating in college basketball (and football) will continue until the NCAA changes the risk/reward ratio for coaches. Right now, the potential reward is simply too great compared to the risk if caught.”

Why doesn’t the NCAA change the ratio? Because basketball (and football) are cash cows that keep the organization’s coffers full. So they do just enough to maintain the appearance of running a clean show. Coaches who actually do run a clean show and win should be candidates for sainthood.<<<

“Horns” by Joe Hill

I just finished listening to a fascinating novel, “Horns,” by Joe Hill. It is the story of Iggy Parish who has been living on the edge since his girlfriend was raped and killed a year ago. One morning, after another night of drinking several cups of “bitterness,” Parrish awakes to find his head adorned with a set of horns. This gift, we presume from the Devil, although it could be from Hill’s God who is not above playing dirty, enables Ig to read people’s minds and memories. So off we go on a sometimes not so merry romp as Hill comments on good and evil and whether God or the Devil is really man’s best friend.<<<

One week from today we will be having our breakfast pastries at one of our favorite bakeries, Rustic Bakery, in Mill Valley. (pictured below)