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Rules, we need rules…

I play in a coed softball league and the lack of professionalism of the umpires just gets me upset.
Our softball league is pretty relaxed.  For most of us, we want to go out there and have fun.  For the most part we follow general softball rules, but we have instituted a few of our own to help balance things out.

One of those rules caused me to have a disagreement with the umpire.  If you walk a male in our coed league, they get to go to second base.  Easy, right?

Well in this instance, the male walked and he went to second base.  But he did one thing that I think you are supposed to do, touch first base.  So once he went to first base, I had the pitcher appeal to first base to get the out.

Well the umpire didn’t see it that way.  He told me he was safe and that they player didn’t have to touch first base. WHAT!

Excuse me.  As you go around the bases, you are supposed to touch all the bases.  You don’t get to “skip one.  Well he wasn’t going for it and despite my arguing, he told me he would say that he is safe.

So, the umpires are lazy and don’t follow the rules.  Am I wrong to expect that the rules be followed?  It is not that hard to touch first base.

What are your thoughts?

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New York Times Explores the Secrecy of Apple and the Health of Steve Jobs

Talking Business – Apple’s Culture of Secrecy – NYTimes.com
This is a deceiving headline from the New York Times.  The story is more on the health of Steve Jobs and when should a company disclose information about the health of their CEO.

It is quite a dilema.  When should a company disclose that there CEO is sick?

A public company has the duty to disclose things that could provide information to its shareholers so they can make the right decision about their investment.

The article quotes a spokesman for the Securities and Exchange Commission who said that the law defined materiality as information that “the reasonable investor needs to know in order to make an informed decision about his investment.”

The issue of Jobs health came up in Apple’s Third Quarter Conference Call and an analyst asked the question.  But Apple just kinda blew it off saying it was a private matter.

Other companies have dealt with the issue, each in different ways.  Intel’s CEO was stricken with cancer.  He informed the board and management, but not the shareholders.  A McDonald’s CEO found out he had cancer and it was announced pretty quick.

Luckily for Intel’s CEO he survived, but the McDonald’s CEO resigned shortly thereafter and passed quickly after that.

To me, if Steve Jobs was sick and it would effect how he would do his job, then it would need to be disclosed.  But Apple blowing it off and saying nothing but that it is a private matter does no exude confidence in the shareholders of Apple.

The secrecy veil that Apple has cast over its company creates more problems than they should be having, but it adds to the mystique and allure of Apple.  It is the culture of Apple that everyone loves.

I just wish they and other companies would be more open about the health of their CEO’s so investors and shareholders would have more information to make the right investment decisions.

Someone just told me that you need to research and like the direction of the product, management, and marketing of a company. If you don’t, then don’t invest in it.

Right now, there are questions about management, especially Steve Jobs. Without Jobs, is there an Apple?  I would be interested in your thoughts.

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ExpressToll in Colorado will charge $7 to verify account holders

ExpressToll will charge $7 to verify account holders : Traffic : The Rocky Mountain News
I just want to say that this is the worst thing that I have ever heard of.  Charging people to verify that their license plate & vehicle is in the system.

I am paying to use the road and they keep an amount of cash in my account.  When I go through the toll booth, they deduct the toll.

Now if their (emphasis added) system does not pick up the transponder in my vehicle, they look at my license plate and see if it is registered in the system.  If it is, they deduct the amount from my account.  If not, they send out a ticket.

There have been several times where I have seen a VToll on my account. That means that my transponder failed to trigger the sensor and they had to verify it with my license plate.

If I get charged $7 for that, I will definitely be fighting it.  I think it is ridiculous to charge that additional fee.  Now if you don’t keep your account updated, that is another thing.

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Friend of a Farmer is friend of my taste buds

Friend of a Farmer is definitely a friend of my taste buds.  It was a really delicious dinner in the Gramercy Park neighborhood of New York City.
We needed to get out of midtown Manhatten yesterday for dinner and headed for Friend of a Farmer.  I had heard of this place from my sister in-law and my wife.  My sister in-law used to go here a lot and took my wife there before.

After a short walk from the subway at Union Square, we were there and sitting outside at the restaurant enjoying a cool evening breeze in New York, something that has been missing for most of our trip.

The service was prompt and friendly.  It was almost like visiting family for dinner.

I had the Tery Alan Chicken.  Was this delicious.  It is a chicken breast stuffed with granny smith apples and cheddar cheese served over lemon bread with citrus honey raisen sauce.  It is served also with mashed potatoes and mixed vegetables.

This was just one of the items that were on the menu, but I just loved this.  It was quite flavorful and enjoyable.  It all was washed down with a Witte beer from the Brewery Ommegang in Cooperstown, New York.  It was a Belgian Wheat beer that was quite smooth.

For desert I had the key lime pie, but the berry tart also looked good.

It is more known for their breakfast and brunches, but is also a wonderful place for dinner.

It is a wonderful place to get away from it all in New York.  It is a nice, quiet, and restful place in a big city.  If you want to get away from it for an hour or two, head to Friend of a Farmer.

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Filming Ugly Betty

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Filming Ugly Betty, originally uploaded by Peter S on Flickr.

Walking near Battery Park and came along the filming of a scene of Ugly Betty.

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Frankie & Johnnie’s a wonderful steakhouse in New York

We were looking for a place for dinner tonight, but didn’t want to go to far away from our hotel near Times Square.  I knew of a steakhouse near Rockefeller Center, but in doing some research I found one near our hotel, Frankie and Johnnie’s.
It is on 37th Street between 5th and 6th Avenues.  Walking down the street you wouldn’t think that a great steakhouse is there, but go inside and it is a wonderful place.

Downstairs is the bar and upstairs is the restaurant.  The hostess took us upstairs and we were greeted by the head waiter who promptly sat us and asked us if we would like to have anything to drink.

The service was wonderful and the Boddingtons was quite cold and tasty.

Now for the food. Continue reading “Frankie & Johnnie’s a wonderful steakhouse in New York”