Oakland Athletics Team Report

INSIDE PITCH When Justin Duchscherer returns to the Oakland roster, it will be as a starting pitcher rather than in the bullpen, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. Manager Bob Geren told the newspaper that Duchscherer is being rehabbed as a starting pitcher as he recovers from March elbow surgery. Geren added that the team wants Duchscherer pitching in whatever role keeps him healthiest. That is why there had been some internal discussion about having Duchscherer return to the bullpen, where there might be less wear and tear. Duchscherer, an All-Star as both a starter and as a reliever, has been on the disabled list five times in the past four years. He had an arthroscopic procedure in late March to clean up his elbow. Duchscherer, who will be a free agent after the season, has been clear about the fact that he'd prefer starting to relief work. He told the Chronicle that he had figured he'd be starting based on his current throwing program. He said he is throwing long toss at a distance of 120 feet and he should start throwing off the mound soon. He told the paper that his arm "feels great" and that he believes he can return to the team right around when he is eligible to come off the 60-day disabled list on June 4.NOTES, QUOTESLHP Brett Anderson (blister) will start Saturday at Detroit if Dallas Braden is able to take his regular turn on Friday. Braden was hit by a line drive on his left hand on Sunday but he remained in the game. If Braden cannot go, Anderson is likely to take the mound Friday at Detroit if he has had no more blister problems on his left index finger.RHP Santiago Casilla pitched a perfect inning in a rehab appearance with Class A Stockton on Saturday night. Casilla, who is out with a right knee strain, will make a rehab appearance with Class AAA Sacramento on Tuesday before joining the A's in Detroit for Friday's game.BY THE NUMBERS: 100 Games since Oakland's last complete game, a franchise record for consecutive games without a complete game, topping the previous mark of 96 set from June 21, 1997, to April 10, 1998. Justin Duchscherer threw the team's last complete game on July 8.QUOTE TO NOTE: "It looked like a ball of cotton candy hanging from my wrist." LHP Dallas Braden, who continued to pitch with a severely swollen left hand on Sunday after being hit by a line drive by Vernon Wells.ROSTER REPORTC Kurt Suzuki has 25 hits in his last 67 at-bats with nine doubles, two homers and 14 RBI in his past 17 games. Suzuki is batting .234 against left-handers and .381 against right-handers, mimicking the team-wide trend that has left the A's 3-11 against left-handed starters this season. DH/1B Jason Giambi has 11 hits in his last 70 at-bats over 20 games after hitting .346 in the first seven games of the season. Giambi has 399 career homers, tied for 44th all-time. He has 190 homers with the A's, 10th most in franchise history.INF Bobby Crosby has 11 hits in his last 33 at-bats with eight walks in the past 11 games and he is playing regularly at third and at first base because of injuries to Eric Chavez and Nomar Garciaparra. Crosby has been the A's third-leading hitter much of the first five weeks, but it's unclear how much he'll play when Chavez and Garciaparra return from the disabled list in the next week.DH/OF Jack Cust has eight hits in his last 23 at-bats with a walk and just two strikeouts in the past six games. He's among the A.L. leaders in walks, with 20, and he is one of two A's players, along with SS Orlando Cabrera, to start all 29 games this year. MEDICAL WATCH: LHP Dallas Braden (left hand) was hit by a line drive May 10 but kept pitching and is not expected to miss a start. LHP Brett Anderson (blister on left index finger) left his April 28 and May 4 starts because of the ailment. He missed his May 9 start. 3B Eric Chavez (sore right forearm and elbow) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to April 25. He hopes to return May 15. RHP Santiago Casilla (sprained right knee) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to April 29. He began a rehab assignment with Class A Stockton on May 9, and he could be activated May 15. INF Nomar Garciaparra (strained right calf) went on the 15-day disabled list April 29. The injury had dogged him for weeks. 2B Mark Ellis (left calf strain) went on the 15-day disabled list April 29. He will miss four to six weeks. RHP Justin Duchscherer (arthroscopic elbow surgery in March 2009) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 27, and he was transferred to the 60-day DL on April 29. He could resume pitching in late May. There is a chance that when he is able to throw off the mound, he will be moved into the bullpen to try to safeguard his health. RHP Joey Devine (sore right elbow) went on the 60-day disabled list retroactive to March 31. He had Tommy John surgery April 21, and he is out for the season. ROTATION: LHP Dallas Braden RHP Trevor Cahill LHP Brett Anderson LHP Josh Outman RHP Sean Gallagher BULLPEN: RHP Brad Ziegler (closer) RHP Russ Springer RHP Michael Wuertz RHP Andrew Bailey RHP Kevin Cameron LHP Jerry Blevins RHP Dan Giese RHP Jeff Gray CATCHERS: Kurt Suzuki Landon Powell INFIELDERS: 1B Jason Giambi 2B Adam Kennedy SS Orlando Cabrera 3B Bobby Crosby INF Jack Hannahan OUTFIELDERS: LF Matt Holliday CF Ryan Sweeney RF Travis Buck DH Jack Cust OF Rajai Davis

Productivity Tools for Poor Typists

Confession time: I'm a two-finger typist - pretty fast for two fingers, but still. I learned touch typing back in high school, lost the skill, never got it back. (Yes, I know I could teach myself again; that's on the someday/maybe list.)Here are two ways I've become more productive on the computer:1. I turned off the caps lock key.I was always hitting that darn key by mistake. Back on my old PC, I just removed the key from my keyboard, as in the photo above. But on my Mac, I simply learned how to disable the caps lock key. You can also do this on a PC, but I'm no expert there; I'll let you google for solutions. (I also got a giggle from the Caps Lock Trainer Key, found via Unplggd.][photo of keyboard with caps lock removed by tlianza / Tom Lianza, licensed under Creative Commons]2. I bought a text expansion tool.This is what Mark Hurst calls a "bit lever", and he's the one who introduced me to the idea. My choice is Typinator (a Mac-only product), but there are plenty of other options for both PCs and Macs; Guy Kawasaki uses TextExpander. Typinator lets me define a whole series of simple abbreviations that I can type in any program. When I enter one of those abbreviations, it gets replaced with a chunk of text - in my case, that's often multiple paragraphs. I use it for long phrases I type with some regularity (such as National Association of Professional Organizers - San Francisco Bay Area Chapter), some standard e-mail replies I send as a Freecycle moderator, and much more.Highly recommended for all - not just the two-finger typists!

GM gives $1.5B jolt to online advertising

From Media Buyer/Planner: GM, in what could signal a no-look-back shift to digital marketing, will dedicate half of its $3 billion budget to digital and one-to-one marketing in the next three years. As the countrys third largest advertiser, GMs switch may be the online marketing shot heard round the automotive world. The news is not good for traditional media and may be exacerbated by a directive from GMs Brent Dewar, vp-field sales, service and parts in North America. Dewar told Ad Age late last year that the auto maker will try to persuade its regional dealer ad groups to shift their focus to digital vs. spot TV starting this spring after the dealer co-ops, which spend $500 million annually, are revamped. Other car makers are also upping online buys; Hyundai will double its online spending in 2008 over 2007. Auto dealers are increasingly shifting their spend to online, with a particular focus on customer ratings and reviews and online video. 59 percent of dealers say they plan to use video on their own websites within the next 12 months, up from the current 33 percent.

Thoughts on the Logistics

Recently I received a comment on the logistics of the trip and figured it might make a good topic. By the way, if any commenter wants to e-mail me on more specific questions, just post a comment starting with the line "Do not post" and you can build in your e-mail to the message. Comments are moderated, so I can read, reply to, and delete your comment, thus keeping your e-mail private. So, as far as planning, the first thing is you plan the date range. Depending on how big your window is, you can shop for fares accordingly. Summers are hot, humid, and wet, so do not plan for the summer in the North if you are not up for that (I was and the little guy was fine with it). A quick search on Qantas and United will tell you what the fare range is for your target date, but know that Qantas and Australia Tourism sometimes have deals. If it is close, Qantas has higher service levels. My son got more "kid stuff" on a domestic Economy flight on Qantas than upgraded to Business on United International. Then you've got to figure out where you're going to go. At first, I was going to do Adelaide to Cairns. Then it was Perth -Cairns. Then it was Darwin - Cairns (skipping the area with the greatest perceived combined risk of flooding and remoteness - western Queensland). Then I figured I'd do the whole thing. Had I missed the remote parts of Australia between Cairns and Perth (Via Darwin & Broome), I would have missed a big part of the soul of the country. However, I understand that few people have the time or the tolerance for long days and empty roads. Prices are high and it is not just the weak dollar. Australia's booming economy has had some inflation and Australians complain a little about it as well. One benchmark item that I like to use is a cup of your favorite espresso drink at Starbucks. I like a Grande Americano (Long Black). In '01 and '03, the US price was US$2.10 and the Australian price was A$2.10. With a US$.55 = A$1 exchange rate, that was a deal! This summer ... er, winter... this January it was US$2.25 in the States and A$4 in Oz. With US$.90 = A$1, that was pricey. Food and beverages were accordingly expensive - maybe 50% more than California. Whether eating fast food (in cities), diners, pre-packaged food, or restaurants, assume a premium of 30% to 100% over US prices at current exchange rates. Living on groceries in the car or at a property with a kitchenette, you can get by on $20 per day per adult. Eating out it is more like $50-75 per day per adult. The next bit of pre-planning is to book the rental car. There is a maximum charge for child seats, so whether you're there for a week or two months, the car seat is $50. Don't worry about driving on the left, you'll adjust fast (the drive from the airport to the hotel is harrowing, then you are fine). If you start in a more remote city, you can get started with fewer ...ummm... traffic opportunities. I am glad I started in Cairns and not Sydney on that count. Note, the car seats do not necessarily have the clip at chest level, so you may want to bring your own clip. Hertz was the least expensive option for me in Cairns, oddly enough, but price shopping here is important and attention to the fine print on unlimited mileage is essential. Gas (say "fuel" when you're there) was between A$1.22 and A$1.71 per liter (3.8 liters per gallon) with a weighted average of about A$1.35-1.40 when the world price was about US$90-100/ barrel. It is now US$135 and their taxes go up with price increases (US taxes are per gallon, not a percentage of price), so their increase should be greater. I booked the starting hotel in advance, but booked others as I went along (as I had a better sense of when I would arrive in various cities) and left the rest to chance. In most towns, I drove in and figured it out. The Information Centers in most towns have all the prices and someone to speak with. On only one occasion did I get "shut out" - Karratha had no rooms and I had to get on down the road to a roadhouse. If you are traveling in a high season, you may want to plan a little further ahead either online or at the Info Centers (they are generally very helpful even if they don't know the places 500-1000km down the road). Roadhouses, pubs, and cheap motels were no less than A$75. Roadhouses are fairly basic - a bed, a light, a cheap TV, and a functioning AC. Some have toilets in the room, some have a common bathroom. You can stay a couple nights in those places, but you want to shake things up with a nicer place here and there or the travel will become tiresome. Chain motels are generally a big step up in cleanliness & insulation from nature (Best Western is everywhere) and you can do that for the longer term typically for A$90-120. I stayed at three roadhouses and a pub - I recommend that you stay there for the experience a few times, but the chain motels were more comfortable. The resorts (when available) are sometimes not that much more than the chains (A$150+). Places that I would definitely stay at again if back in the neighborhood (and recommend) include the Cairns Hilton (location and staff are tops), Darwin Esplanade Holiday Inn, the Mangrove Resort Hotel in Broome, the Fortescue River Roadhouse south of Karratha (only if you talk with the guy who owns it, it truly is a Spartan property), Monkey Mia Dolphin Resort (memorable, but one day is enough if you're driving through), the Albany Best Western (good staff, nothing special about the property), the Conrad Jupiters on the Gold Coast, and the Brisbane Hilton. Those last two can be pricey. I used points for most of the Hiltons. I added extra days as I went a couple times - after one hour at the Darwin Holiday Inn I knew I wanted to stay two nights. In most of the bigger cities I scheduled 4-7 nights and I scheduled it a week or two out. There is something to be said for having a home base and taking day trips or taking it easy. I did this in Cairns, Perth, Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney, and Port Macquarie. The View for $75 (Fortescue River Roadhouse)The View for $130 (Darwin Esplanade Holiday Inn)The View for $220 (Cairns Hilton)As far as thinking about where you want to go, Google Earth and all the photos that exist of all the places you are considering is a great tool. Internet in the hotel room is simply outrageous for an American used to $10/day whether you're at Starbucks, the Best Western, or the Westin. It is A$30/night in most places. Plan accordingly. As for things to do with the kids, every town with three people or more has a playground. It was good to stop and play for 10-30 minutes and let him run around. They were interesting, well-maintained, and for public use (that is they are generally not school playgrounds). As for things to do in the car, Alex had several intricate toys that he liked to play with in the car seat (a card with holes and a string was his favorite). We also spoke quite a lot and we listened to his music every day. I had mommy's voice talking on a CD and he liked that sometimes as well. If you are traveling with mommy, that may not be necessary. Outside of Melbourne, we were not. Getting back to the commenter, I hope his wife goes for it. Australia is a developed first world country, so things should be fine as long as you take precautions. As far as persuading his wife, I wish him luck. Be aware of the risks and prepare accordingly - phone service, food, and water for remote areas, awareness of funnel web spiders in yards around Sydney, and of course caution for the more exotic wildlife in the jungles up north, etc. Be aware but don't overdo the description for your wife if she is like mine. You don't get many chances to do something big and memorable like this, so I strongly recommend it.

not just the red slippers

"I love Hugh Hefner," said West. "I really do. Why? Because I think I
understand his ache. I think I understand his longing because I feel it
myself. There is this yearning, this ache, this longing we all have for
love, for union, for intimacy."
West said John Paul II took the sexual revolution an extra
step, outlining what he called the "Theology of the Body." The pope
emphasized how God made Adam and Eve naked and without shame, in his
own image. And told them to be fruitful and multiply.
In other words, according to the pope, from the very beginning, sexual love has been at the heart of God's plan for us.
"Catholicism, properly understood ... is one of the sexiest of
the world's religions," said West. "But what do we mean by that
statement? Catholicism is a very physical, very sensual religion. And
indeed the authentic soundtrack for Christianity is a small book in the
Old Testament called the Song of Songs. And what is it? It is glorious
erotic love poetry." (via Insight Scoop)Update: The Weight of Glory. Decoding the ABC.

Job-ful

Woohoo, it's been a long time since I updated my blog.So let's go thru a flash back of my happenings in my life1. Now in my job for the 2nd month :P2. I broke my bond in the most decent way 3. I found my inner peace with god and definitely in the quietest way.4. I am branded5. I went for BW6. Learning driving7. graduated!8. I went for F1!!!!!!! WOOHOO~ everyone must experience at least once.mind you, i was never a F1 fan but the true live scene is so good, makes me a fan!massa go go go! ferrari!!9. missing netherlands lots10. still in disbelief for the market situation never been drinking or clubbing (good or bad?)Back to my ex company and then I thought, "Will I regret?" because I am not creating more opportunities for my portfolio.But nah, I think I really like this industry, this job.It's fun and fulfiling.Every client is a real marketing case, we need to achieve for client's objective.be it sales, brand awareness and conveying a message.it sure bulli-hell train my communication skills.internally and externally.face it, media suppliers are NOT anymore superior.we have to chase after the money.so many competitors: outdoor, new media, moving media, BTL, ATL and the list goes on..Damn, I still love it. even though this industry have alot of assholes - yeaps, ASSHOLES who juz want to make life difficult because they want to or just so bulli inflexible.hello, newbie always get the shit.nvm, I will take the shit and turn it into a dough to stuff into those assholes' mouth! haha kiddingOk time for PIGTURES!F1 GALORE:"VRROOOMMMMM....."my fave foto along the f1 tracksferrari fans carrying the flags standing on the top cheering~~ and there were so many of them that some covered the mercedes flag :PKimi Räikkönen of Ferrarione thing I really enjoy is the guys are so suave! they came out to 'parade' :Pand the sound "VROOOM" makes me very high.will definitely go again!this time, at the pit stop. I wanna c the drivers upfront where they lost their grip and also feel their victory.whenever, there are crashes everyone stand upsadly, I am too short to see anythingadding to that, no binos!ok time to fight...

some swedish things

we got to stay with my uncle, who lives in Stockholm, when we visited Sweden. I love staying in someone's house rather than in a hotel when traveling, because you get to experience some everyday things that way, my favorite among them being shopping at supermarkets and getting a sense of regular local foods. the first would be blåbärssoppa, or blueberry soup. this is a bit of a national dish, I take it, and it is simply a sweetened and slightly thickened blueberry soup! it is really tasty. we also tried strawberry kråm, which is the same concept (fruit soup) but much thicker. these were good for breakfast, but after long walks around the city, they are especially rehydrating and refreshing. one pregan item I miss a lot, that Europe is an especially good place for, is keffir, which is a a thinner and drinkable yogurt. I found perhaps the best vegan version of keffir when I tried these little Oatly smoothies. They are so good and tangy!I can't speak very much Swedish at all, but I can work out that this label says "oats + chocolate = good!" and I wholeheartedly agree:Oatly's chocolate milk is one of the best I've ever tasted, with a subtle and not-too-sweet flavor and satisfying rich texture. I really wish that Oatly would start exporting all their products (like their oat cream, perfect for cooking and baking) to the U.S. already! Finally, one of my favorite things about the Swedish supermarkets I visited: behold an entire WALL of crispbreads! It's like crispbread heaven up there, I'm telling you. (you have to click on this photo to enlarge it. =)