Random Thoughts That Don't Deserve Their Own Thread Go Here

[Ksyrup]

And it's also destroyed rec ball. Caitlin picked up pitching relatively late (10 years old) so I put her in our local rec ball spring league to get some practice before trying to find a summer travel team for her, and the talent level was so low I instructed her to never throw a ball directly at a girl when playing catch. I was afraid she'd seriously injure someone because none of the girls had any basic skills to play the game. She'd usually strike out 7 or 8 girls an inning with half of them reaching by passed ball. God forbid someone got a bat on the ball, it was almost always an automatic little league HR.

[Lathum]

Originally Posted by Ksyrup

I don't envy you. As Caitlin was just getting out of HS into college, recruiting stuff really exploded and the costs went through the roof. Not that it was cheap before but we could go to recruiting showcases for less than $2K fees, we could find our own hotels and not have to pay 2-3 times the cost because we were forced to book through the tournament, etc. It was never what a neutral observer would call "sane," but it started to go nuts right around 2016-17 as our girls were graduating HS. That last year or so, we were all pissed at the hoops we had to jump through and the extra money we were shelling out for nothing but enriching the extra hands that saw a financial opportunity to hold parents hostage.

yeah. We are super blessed my wife makes an insanely good living so money is no issue.

I am more worried about it effecting our life and being super disruptive but she really loves it, as I am sure Caitin did. Syd is also a beast with a ton of natural talent. She is 11 and already 5-4/ 110 without an ounce of fat on her. She is bigger than most of the 14U kids and she is in 10U.

My biggest concern is burn out and disruption. Both of which are probably inevitable.

[Lathum]

Originally Posted by Ksyrup

And it's also destroyed rec ball. Caitlin picked up pitching relatively late (10 years old) so I put her in our local rec ball spring league to get some practice before trying to find a summer travel team for her, and the talent level was so low I instructed her to never throw a ball directly at a girl when playing catch. I was afraid she'd seriously injure someone because none of the girls had any basic skills to play the game. She'd usually strike out 7 or 8 girls an inning with half of them reaching by passed ball. God forbid someone got a bat on the ball, it was almost always an automatic little league HR.

My town is a bit of a sports factory, Syd got accepted with 2 other girls from our all star team that won regionals. Our starting pitcher, first baseman, and Syd who is catcher and they hit 2-3-4. We outscored our opponents 81-19, so we have players.

That being said I for sure see a divide between the talent levels. Just tonight at her practice for rec fall ball I had to tell her to ease up her throws and she was coaching another kid how to catch because they need her to pitch so someone else needs to catch. When she hits the other teams coaches always tell the kids to back up so they don't get hurt

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by Ksyrup

And it's also destroyed rec ball. Caitlin picked up pitching relatively late (10 years old) so I put her in our local rec ball spring league to get some practice before trying to find a summer travel team for her, and the talent level was so low I instructed her to never throw a ball directly at a girl when playing catch. I was afraid she'd seriously injure someone because none of the girls had any basic skills to play the game. She'd usually strike out 7 or 8 girls an inning with half of them reaching by passed ball. God forbid someone got a bat on the ball, it was almost always an automatic little league HR.

You also just described at least half the HS softball in Georgia most likely.

The shift to "travel teams" has definitely impacted a number of sports at least that far up the ladder at this point.

I ain't even attempting to judge that as good or bad, just simply making an observation about the range of impact.

[Lathum]

Originally Posted by JonInMiddleGA

You also just described at least half the HS softball in Georgia most likely.

The shift to "travel teams" has definitely impacted a number of sports at least that far up the ladder at this point.

I ain't even attempting to judge that as good or bad, just simply making an observation about the range of impact.

Syds academy encourages them to play HS ball. Rec is probably going to be gone though.

[Ksyrup]

Originally Posted by Lathum

yeah. We are super blessed my wife makes an insanely good living so money is no issue.

I am more worried about it effecting our life and being super disruptive but she really loves it, as I am sure Caitin did. Syd is also a beast with a ton of natural talent. She is 11 and already 5-4/ 110 without an ounce of fat on her. She is bigger than most of the 14U kids and she is in 10U.

My biggest concern is burn out and disruption. Both of which are probably inevitable.

Caitlin was 5-7/130 at 10. She was a monster. I'll never forget when I took her to an EKU camp and the players were asking her what she wanted to major in at college and she was only in 7th grade. They thought she was a junior or senior.

I can tell you it disrupted our lives for a solid decade, especially once Mack got old enough to start playing. We spent most of our summers and falls apart on the weekends. I traveled with Caitlin and my wife with Mack. We took 1 non-sports-related vacation in 9 years.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by Lathum

Syds academy encourages them to play HS ball.

Varies by state I'm sure. Georgia went to a split kinda deal a few years back. They do fast-pitch in fall (like, now) and then retained slow-pitch as a spring sport. Only 33 slow-pitch schools (out of nearly 500 possible) left but they're trying to keep it alive as long as they can I guess.

The fast-pitch has quite a few absolute dregs, quite few that can't even find non-region games, and a few powers (those who manage to get the travel kids to still play HS)

[Ksyrup]

Georgia actually plays HS SB in the fall so they can do the travel ball thing all spring. That's how much the tail wags the dog in that state. There are only a couple states that do it that way.

For us, we usually had to recruit extra players to play in a huge 1st June weekend recruiting tournament in Chattanooga because our HS playoffs were still going on. And then we had dead period end of June into early July where HS coaches couldn't have any contact with their players which was another pain in the ass to navigate.

[Lathum]

We are definitely planning for a divide and conquer strategy. My goal is to not let it disrupt our usual 2 week Nantucket trip, but I get it is going to be a moving target.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by Ksyrup

Georgia actually plays HS SB in the fall so they can do the travel ball thing all spring. That's how much the tail wags the dog in that state. There are only a couple states that do it that way.

Thanks, I couldn't remember the details of how that all came about.

[Lathum]

I’m already sick of hearing about diddy.

[Critch]

I've just watched the GeoGuessr World Cup Grand Final on youtube. That was more tense and exciting than it had any right to be. Top class Geoguessing on show.

[GrantDawg]

Originally Posted by Lathum

I’m already sick of hearing about diddy.

He is not one of those guys I would have guessed to be involved in something like this, but then it is not exactly Bill Cosby/Matt Lauer level of shock either.

[Atocep]

Originally Posted by GrantDawg

He is not one of those guys I would have guessed to be involved in something like this, but then it is not exactly Bill Cosby/Matt Lauer level of shock either.

Rumors have been out there for years. 50 cent has mentioned his parties is why he has stayed away from Diddy during his career and advised everyone else to as well.

[GrantDawg]

Originally Posted by Atocep

Rumors have been out there for years. 50 cent has mentioned his parties is why he has stayed away from Diddy during his career and advised everyone else to as well.

Rumors about hip-hop stars are not exactly something i am well versed in. Behind the scenes TV rumors? Maybe.

[Edward64]

Articles I've read said he had lots of videos. If I was him, I'd be worried about being Epsteined.

[thesloppy]

Originally Posted by GrantDawg

Rumors about hip-hop stars are not exactly something i am well versed in. Behind the scenes TV rumors? Maybe.

Well he did have a TV show(s?) that was intertwined with many of these rumors, FWIW

[Ksyrup]

Here's an article about the couple of discontinued Coke flavors plus a rumor that Coke Spiced is also on the way out.

I actually like Spiced but I can't say I know anyone else who does.

Coke Is Definitely Discontinuing 2 Flavors (and Maybe a 3rd)

[GrantDawg]

[Lathum]

Just went down a rabbit hole on the site Cameo. It is really interesting to see who is on there and what they charge.

[flere-imsaho]

It has been 16 years since I have been alone in my own home for more than 8 hours.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by flere-imsaho

It has been 16 years since I have been alone in my own home for more than 8 hours.

Jesus.

Dude, send those folks away for a weekend somewhere. Snap your own leg before a hiking/camping trip. Something.

[Edward64]

Discuss ...

https://grandpajoescandyshop.com/pro...v=0b3b97fa6688

This soda has the amazing flavor of the water the hot dogs stayed warm in! Doesn’t that sound amazing! You will defiantly want to give this one a try. I am from New York and the street vendors always had the hot dogs, and we called them “dirty water dogs”. You can’t go wrong with street food flavors!

[Ksyrup]

I will "defiantly" not be trying that. Most defiantly.

[NobodyHere]

Two 12oz bottles for $9.00!!!

I could just buy some good hot dogs (plus buns) and make my own fresh hot dog water for that price!

[Ksyrup]

Since switching to YouTube TV and getting Roku, I have been increasingly watching Roku's Live TV channels, especially at night. Many of these channels are available on other free streaming services but there are so many that are great for casual watching, nostalgia, or just as background noise that I continually find myself defaulting to surfing those channels when I don't have any sports or specific shows to watch on "regular" TV.

I've been going into the office one day a week for the last few months, and on those days, I'm up at 5am. So last night I needed to get to bed slightly earlier than normal (I was aiming for 11pm instead of 11:30ish). After we stopped watching the 10pm news, I started surfing the Roku Live Channels and landed on the FailArmy channel around 10:45. It's basically 30 minute themed episodes of home videos of people doing stupid and/or hurtful things to themselves and others. It's like a speed-dating version of America's Funniest Home Videos without annoying/stupid hosts and voiceovers.

45 minutes later, after the wife and I have been laughing/crying at multiple ball shots and people filming themselves working out or doing whatever only to capture an embarrassing/humiliating moment on camera, I force myself to go to bed. Except, I am wide awake - the effects of watching that show were similar to watching a close/tense sporting event and trying to go to sleep immediately after it ends. It never happens. And sure enough, I didn't get to sleep until some time after 12:30. I guess I was just too wound up. Despite 4 cups of tea this morning, I'm already feeling it.

So, note to self - no FailArmy viewing late at night.

[stevew]

How are orange juice prices so crazy? The bs orange juice gallon was almost $9 which seems way high.

[dubb93]

Anyone know if there will be a sale on Intel 14th gen CPUs when the 15th comes out? I’m looking to buy one by the end of the year to refresh my build. I see 13th gen is basically the same price as 14th right now so I wasn’t sure if places even discount the old models when the new ones come out. Anyone know what they have done in the past?

[RainMaker]

Originally Posted by stevew

How are orange juice prices so crazy? The bs orange juice gallon was almost $9 which seems way high.

Orange production is way down because of bad weather and a disease that harms citrus trees in Brazil. It sucks because I love oranges.

[Honolulu_Blue]

Originally Posted by flere-imsaho

It has been 16 years since I have been alone in my own home for more than 8 hours.

Wow.

That would drive me insane. I don’t have a ton of my length alone time here, but my wife and kids are heading to Hilton Head next week for three nights. I love them and will miss them, but I can’t wait. I’ll stay up late. I’ll make bad choices on what to eat. I’ll play video games, watch my stories, likely fire up a horror movie or two. It will be good times!

[Ksyrup]

When I worked in a law firm and couldn't take more than 2 weeks of vacation a year (and those weeks would almost always involve holidays, so I wouldn't need to take a full week of actual work off), my wife would take the kids to visit her parents for 7-10 days a year during the summer. That was about the only time I was alone in my home for damn near 20 years.

[Edward64]

Originally Posted by dubb93

Anyone know if there will be a sale on Intel 14th gen CPUs when the 15th comes out? I’m looking to buy one by the end of the year to refresh my build. I see 13th gen is basically the same price as 14th right now so I wasn’t sure if places even discount the old models when the new ones come out. Anyone know what they have done in the past?

I'm pretty sure there'll be a sale on the last gen CPU when the new one comes out, the question is when. I've read that Arrow Lake is supposed to come out late Oct so you may find some good sales for BF/Cyber Monday?

Best I can tell you is setup an alert for the CPU you want at Slickdeals: Searching for "14700k"

[dubb93]

Originally Posted by Edward64

I'm pretty sure there'll be a sale on the last gen CPU when the new one comes out, the question is when. I've read that Arrow Lake is supposed to come out late Oct so you may find some good sales for BF/Cyber Monday?

Best I can tell you is setup an alert for the CPU you want at Slickdeals: Searching for "14700k"

Thanks will do.

[stevew]

If I get a chance, I’ll see if I can grab some of that hotdog soda so I can take one for the team. I drive by that grandpa Joe’s probably 25 times a day

[Edward64]

Originally Posted by stevew

If I get a chance, I’ll see if I can grab some of that hotdog soda so I can take one for the team. I drive by that grandpa Joe’s probably 25 times a day

Thanks! Let us know your thoughts

[flere-imsaho]

Our youngest is in 8th grade, so I figure in about 5 years time there will come a day (or days, hopefully) when both are in college and my wife takes a work trip and it's just me & the dog (if he's still alive) home alone for a few days. I'll probably be retired by then too. Gonna be bliss.

At the rate things are going, that's roughly the time when she'll take her long-delayed multi-week trip to India with her best friend (which is a trip we have long established I have no interest in). I can't even imagine what that'll be like.

[GrantDawg]

Just to add to disaster-palooza, my father-in-law is under a mandatory evacuation because a local chemical plant has caught fire yet again. This is the third or fourth time this has happened in the last ten years or so, and it will release acidic smoke that is bad enough to strip paint of cars.

[GrantDawg]

Now we are in a state of emergency, because this happened after the fire was supposed to be "contained."

Chemical biolab plant explodes after catching fire in Conyers, Georgia.

pic.twitter.com/YHM37zwyo3

— Oli London (@OliLondonTV) September 29, 2024

[NobodyHere]

Originally Posted by GrantDawg

Now we are in a state of emergency, because this happened after the fire was supposed to be "contained."

Try not to breathe...

[GrantDawg]

Originally Posted by NobodyHere

Try not to breathe...

Luckily the smoke is mostly moving north of us, but still sitting here 10 miles away I can smell chemicals.

[cuervo72]

Man, good thing these companies are self accountable!

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by GrantDawg

Just to add to disaster-palooza, my father-in-law is under a mandatory evacuation because a local chemical plant has caught fire yet again. This is the third or fourth time this has happened in the last ten years or so, and it will release acidic smoke that is bad enough to strip paint of cars.

It's like the Olympics, happening previously in 2020 and 2016.

There was also a 2004 one that, IIRC, looked scarier than it actually turned out to be.

[Ksyrup]

I feel like we should have a separate thread for new pop/soda flavors.

This one makes way more sense than hot dog water. 7Up Shirley Temple hits shelves October 15.

7UP Is Releasing a New First-Of-Its-Kind Soda That Has Everyone Talking

[dubb93]

What sort of chemicals are we talking about in that fire?

[GrantDawg]

It is pool chemicals. Chlorine mostly, but some other fun stuff.

Sent from my SM-S916U using Tapatalk

[GrantDawg]

As of now, the entire city of Conyers is under an evacuation order and the county of Rockdale is still in a shelter in place. They are asking all businesses in the shelter in place area to close. My daughter works in town, but she hadn't heard for certain as of last night what her office is going to do. The interstate is still closed in both direction going into the county, though it sounds like that might change this morning. I have to go through there for work this morning, but I'm going to try to skirt through the south side of the county.

Sent from my SM-S916U using Tapatalk

[Edward64]

Originally Posted by Ksyrup

I feel like we should have a separate thread for new pop/soda flavors.

This one makes way more sense than hot dog water. 7Up Shirley Temple hits shelves October 15.

7UP Is Releasing a New First-Of-Its-Kind Soda That Has Everyone Talking

Thanks for the heads up, that does sound interesting (and yes, better than the hot dog flavored one).

I vote for a Food & Beverage thread.

[Edward64]

Originally Posted by GrantDawg

It is pool chemicals. Chlorine mostly, but some other fun stuff.

Sent from my SM-S916U using Tapatalk

I hope daughter is able to leave okay.

[dubb93]

Microcenter's bundle on the new AMD 7600x3D CPU with a Asus mobo and 32gb of name brand DDR5 for $450 is an amazing deal. At newegg prices that's a $200 mobo and $100 in RAM. It's basically getting the CPU for half price.

I think I've finally decided what I'm upgrading to.

[Lathum]

Anyone else having trouble embedding videos from X?