They are making insane progress with the new Diagon Alley. I am crossing my fingers that it is open by May of next year.
Month: October 2013
Brent has recently updated his coding style to be the *right* way to use braces when coding.[^fn1]
[^fn1]: Of course, I am kidding that it is the only right. Though, his new style is my preferred way, as well.
My favorite app for writing long form pieces in Markdown, [Ulysses III](https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/ulysses-iii/id623795237?mt=12&at=10l5TL),[^fn1] has just been updated with some great new features.[^fn2] I highly recommend giving it a shot.
[^fn1]: Affiliate Link (as is the post link).
[^fn2]: My personal favorites are upgraded Microsoft Word export, global search, and auto-completing tags.
I am too bummed to post any Red Sox stuff today, so I might as well post a story that talks about my college’s QB having huge gambling debts. Awesome.
Though I will miss seeing Phil play as much as he has in the past, I am rooting for him to win the U.S. Open this year. I hope this schedule reduction helps him do that.
I was surprised to find an *Extended Edition* of *The Hobbit* is [now available in iTunes](https://itunes.apple.com/us/movie/hobbit-unexpected-journey/id709398213?at=10l5TL).[^fn1] I would have thought this would get more buzz.
[^fn1]: Affiliate Link (as is the post link).
Categories
Tweetbot 3 is Available Now
Tweetbot 3 is [now available in the App Store](https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/tweetbot-3-for-twitter-iphone/id722294701?mt=8)[^fn1]. It is a separate app from the previous version and costs $2.99.
[^fn1]: Affiliate Link (as is the post link)
It really does look like a beautiful resort.
If this movie is a 1/3 as good as the book, it is going to be awesome.
I prefer the rumor that says that Disney has already signed the deal. Sigh.
You’ve [seen the year’s worst pitches](http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/the-worst-of-the-best-the-seasons-wildest-pitches/), now it’s time for the worst swings.[^fn1]
[^fn1]: I just love these.
Categories
It’s still only one loss for Cardinals
A quick reminder that, even after last night’s win, the Red Sox still have a long way to go.[^fn1]
[^fn1]: And the path involves facing a guy who has been unhittable during the playoffs.
If you want to see how Lester was so dominating, take a view minutes to read this.
> “It was my call. I stayed with the foot too long is how I ended up getting in trouble. When I was coming up, all I could see was a hand coming out and a ball on the ground,” said [second base umpire Dana] DeMuth. “I was focused on the bag and used my peripheral vision to see the ball go in heel or hit the glove. When the ball hit the glove, then in my peripheral vision, I’m looking up and the ball was down. … I was saying that he was in the exchange and he was out right there. Then with our crew signals, I had crewmates that were giving me the signal that they were 100 percent sure … that they had it and I had the wrong call.”
> “He looks up,” explained crew chief and home plate ump John Hirschbeck, “and he knows by having several umpires standing around him that we want to — there’s something there. We want to get it right.”
I was all ready to go on a rant about horrible MLB’s umpires have been this year. Thankfully, they got together and made sure they got the call right. I wonder how much better things would be for MLB’s umps if they did things like that more often.
Categories
Lester is the Story of Game 1
> Lester was lights out, dominating the Cardinals through 7 2/3 innings, giving up five hits and striking out eight without allowing a run. In his second career World Series start — the first one coming in 2007 — Lester managed to keep his ERA a pristine 0.00 in the fall classic. He pitched 5 2/3 scoreless innings in 2007’s Game 4, the series clincher.
Yes, the Cardinals made a bunch of defensive mistakes, but none of that really when matter with Lester pitching like he was.
I love listening to basketball coaches diagraming plays. Now, I am going to be watching every Carolina game, looking to see if I can spot this one.
A little more light-hearted than some of the other previews I saw. My only real issue is I hope that Bogaerts turns out to win the third base battle.[^fn1]
[^fn1]: With Xander’s limited track record, though, I can see why it is listed as a push.
Categories
Summary of World Series Predictions
Jackson Alexander has a full summary over at *WEEI*. I particularly like his quote from Richard Justice though:
“[The Red Sox are] a team without a weakness, a team good enough to win an ALCS even when it doesn’t play well across the board. The Red Sox win because they hang in there, never back down and always think they’ll write the ending they choose to write. That’s what championship teams have done throughout the years, and this Red Sox team has that kind of vibe around it.”
I, obviously, hope he right.
A teaser trailer for tomorrow’s release of the real trailer.[^fn1]
[^fn1]: Why is this a thing? Seriously. It is ridiculous.
Categories
Over the Monster’s World Series Preview
Ben Buchanan:
> In the end, this World Series is likely going to come down to how well the Red Sox can adjust to what just happened against Detroit. If the Cardinals can execute the same game plan the Tigers did on the mound, and the Red Sox can’t make the changes necessary to avoid striking out 10+ times every game, then it’s hard to see a path to victory. Particularly when presented with the prospect of three games without the DH.
> If, however, the Red Sox can make the necessary changes, or if the Cardinals just don’t quite have the arms to pull it off–it’s not exactly shameful to be second-best to Detroit’s madness–then the Red Sox could have their offense back to being what it was in the regular season, particularly with Xander Bogaerts now starting games at third. And with a solid backing from a rotation of Lester – Lackey – Buchholz – Peavy, that’s going to be tough to beat.
In the later games of the Detroit series, it seemed like the Sox finally figured out the right mix between grinding out at-bats and jumping on pitches they thought were going to be strikes. I hope that continues tonight.