Here, There, and Everywhere

Looks like Mark is heading out of town for the weekend. So in the mean time, if you have any censorship updates, send 'em to my kydem email and I'll post what I can, when I can (all emails will be confidential).

In the mean time, I'm getting back to updating regularly. It's the least I can do given that this is, hopefully, my last summer without watching The Daily Show. At least, I get Leno and Letterman back after the 28th. And I still have one more story arc of The Amazing Spider-Man to read and that's in The Other book located at bookstores around the nation. One of these days, probably after graduation next year, I'll probably buy as many books as I can. Okay, getting back to the subject.

Ted Turner, who is stepping down from the board of Time Warner, is writing a book named Call Me Ted: The Life and Times of Ted Turner to be published in the fall of 2008.

Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack was spotted in New Hampshire recently.

Ben Cardin outlines his plan for Iraq at his senate campaign site.

Apparently, Bill O'Reilly thinks that I am "stoned." Please let Mr. O'Reilly know that I have never been nor will ever be stoned in my lifetime. O'Reilly was responding to the following segment from June 13, 2006.

STEWART: Now, it's unclear whether the prisoners committed suicide as a political statement or simply because they'd lost the will to live. There is, however, a third explanation.

O'REILLY [clip]: Just hours after I left the prison at Gitmo last Friday, three detainees committed suicide.

[applause]

STEWART: I can't believe they lasted that long after an O'Reilly visit! Yes, apparently this weekend Bill O'Reilly took a visit to Guantánamo to see what all the fuss was about, even going so far as to talk with some of the inmates and to do a little research for his new book, The O'Reilly Factor for Kurds.

Yes, there was another war debate in the Senate.

In an effort to put Democrats on record before the November elections, Republican leaders forced a test vote on an amendment to demand a timetable to withdraw U.S. forces from Iraq. The measure failed 93-6. U.S. Sens. Richard Lugar, R-Ind., and Evan Bayh, D-Ind., voted to reject the amendment.

Yep, there's no doubt that Mark Warner is running for president but something tell's me that he'll run for the Senate seat instead.

Colin Cowgill of UK and Christian Friedrich of EKU have been invited to the 2006 USA Baseball National Team Trials.

A bit late but this press release was issued last Friday.

State Rep. Peter Sullivan today endorsed the congressional 95-10 Initiative.

The 95-10 Initiative is a package of legislative proposals aimed at reducing the number of abortions in America by 95% over the next ten years.

"Too often, the abortion debate generates more light than heat", said Sullivan. "It's time foir both sides to seek out common ground and search for ways to reduce the number of abortions in our country."

"The 95-10 Initiative is a valuable step forward in the abortion debate. It emphasizes counseling and prevention, provides pregnant women with the health and nutrition resources they need, and supports efforts to promote adoption as a viable option. This initiative deserves the support of everyone who values the dignity of human life, be they pro-life or pro-choice."

The 95-10 Initiative is sponsored in Congress by Rep. Tim Ryan (D-OH). Several prominent Democrats have endorsed the measure, including former 9-11 Commissioner Tim Roemer, U.S. Sen. Ben Nelson (D-NE) and U.S. Reps. Bart Stupak (D-MI), Colin Peterson (D-MN), and Bart Gordon (D-TN).

As much as I would like to see him as a starter for the Red Sox, I find myself in agreement with Bill Simmons of ESPN.

I've always believed closers are like girlfriends: You remember the great ones, you remember the awful ones and you vaguely remember everyone in between. (You could say the same about hockey goalies and field goal kickers.) Over the past 30 years, only three closers have stood out for my beloved Red Sox: two train wrecks (Mark Clear and Bob Stanley) and one postseason hero (Foulke). We haven't had anyone who remotely resembles young Paps. Over the past 12 weeks, what is most striking is not his confounding résumé -- through 66 games, he's allowed 23 baserunners in 34 1/3 innings and chalked up 34 K's and just four walks, with 22 saves in 23 chances and an outrageous 0.26 ERA -- but the way he carries himself, the body language of the batters and his stuff.

I hate the phrase "electric stuff" because it's overused and sounds like someone is describing a bag of marijuana. But Papelbon has electric stuff. Nobody hits him. He's strong enough to pitch two innings, talented enough to dominate the same opponent three times in a week, competitive enough to embrace the role, goofy enough to shave his hair into a Mohawk after winning a bet. Basically, he has Clemens' stuff, Rivera's composure and Ricky "Wild Thing" Vaughn's personality. He's the perfect closer. What's happening is not a fluke.

And he knows it. Papelbon's saves unfold the same way: strike after strike, some feeble swings, at least one punchout, a giddy fist pump when it's over. He invariably strikes out the last guy for dramatic effect. My favorite running subplot has been the postgame greeting between Papelbon and Jason Varitek, who jogs to the mound with an impressed smile, followed by an awkward high five and Tek's rubbing his head like a proud dad. (You can almost imagine him saying, "Well done, Jonathan," in a stern voice, like a rich dad congratulating his preppie son on a good report card.) He's failed only one time: the eighth inning of a potential four-out save at Fenway, when the Rangers' Hank Blalock slapped an RBI single on a 1-2 pitch. Of course, the Sox regained the lead, and a ticked-off Papelbon struck out the side for the victory. It was the kind of thing Rivera would have done.

And that's the right comparison: Mariano Rivera. We have watched dozens of quality relievers over the years, but only a few were dominant forces: Rivera, Goose Gossage, Bruce Sutter, Eric Gagné, K-Rod. That's about it. You can always overspend for Billy Wagner or call up someone like Chris Ray, but how far will that get you? Can we even quantify Rivera's worth compared with that of the average closer? Was there a more indispensable player over the past decade, a bigger disparity between the No. 1 and the No. 2 guys at any other position? We rarely consider closers as MVP candidates, but name another player who came through in the playoffs more times. With the way October baseball works in the 21st century -- three rounds and 19 possible games over four weeks -- an extraordinary reliever might be the single greatest asset for any team.

The Daily Show will spoof Berkeley Pit, whatever the heck that may be.

It looks like Natalie Portman may be cast in a new movie, The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay, as the part of Rosa. It deals with The Escapist as the main superhero created by two cousins. This looks like my type of film.

Comedian Dan Aykroyd turns 54 on July 1st, not the 64 that Political Gateway writes.

Dick Cheney is heading for Owensboro for Ron Lewis. There's no word yet whether he intends to go hunting.

In Maryland news, word has it that Montgomery County Executive Doug Duncan (D) will withdraw from the governor's race due to health issues. Baltimore Mayor Martin O'Malley should beat Erlich in this November's general election.

Here's an article on 2008 and domain names that is worth the read.

Sen. Evan Bayh (D-Ind.) owns evanbayh.com but does not own bayh.com, a site named for the acronym of “Buying All of Your Historicals.” The site owner is a librarian who collects historical papers “by OBSESSION — just ask my wife — the poor dear ...” the site says

Hotline reports on the latest move by All-America PAC.

The big news is that Kory Mitchell, a Dem fundraiser with extensive experience in Florida and the Midwest, will become the full time finance director. Nancy Jacobson, Bayh's finance architect, will become a "senior adviser" to the PAC and direct her focus to long-term strategy and managing relationships with donors.

Bad move on Roger Waters part as much as I enjoy Pink Floyd.

Finally, the latest poll numbers for the big Senate races in 2006.