Yankees fall to 0-8 against Red Sox

What an enjoyable baseball season:

BOSTON — In what manager Joe Girardi himself called a must-win game, the Yankees completed their latest humiliation against their archrivals, allowing the Red Sox to rally on Thursday for a 4-3 victory at a rainy Fenway Park. The Yankees fell to 0-8 against the Red Sox this season.

The Yankees led 3-1 entering the eighth inning. But the Red Sox chipped away at starter CC Sabathia and the bullpen couldn’t stop the bleeding.

If only the Braves could avoid splitting a series with the Pirates.

Why Google Bothered to Appeal a $761 Small Claims Case (and Won)

The guy who sued Google and won, just lost his case on appeal. A giant loss for the little guy.

Haunted Travelers

A friend of a friend produced a pilot television show, “The Haunted Travelers,” that explores haunted houses. Click on the link to watch the first ten minutes.

Obama sets new tone in Mideast

Bob Barr, the former lawmaker who led the charge for Bill Clinton’s impeachment, has an interesting column in today’s Atlanta newspaper. He lauds President Obama’s shift in tone and gives him props for doing it without abandoning U.S. ideals:

If the Obama administration follows through on the president’s vision presented last week in the centuries-old mosque, then American influence in that troubled part of the world, which has fallen dramatically in recent years, is certain to increase.

Obama began his remarks with a noticeable omission – neglecting to thank or otherwise pay homage to his host, President Hosni Mubarak – whose nearly three-decade long tenure at Egypt’s helm, is widely criticized as making a mockery of the country’s claim of democratic rule. More important was the signal this sent that his speech was not directed to Egypt alone, but to a much broader audience.

Obama devoted much of his presentation to dramatically altering the fundamental tone of American policy from one constricted by blinders, to one of openness and understanding. Importantly, the president did this without jettisoning the fundamental planks underpinning long-standing American foreign policy. Thus, even as he spoke of a “new beginning” emphasizing understanding and respect for the Muslim world, Obama unequivocally reiterated our intolerance for terrorism and violence against civilians.

And, while reminding his Egyptian audience of American’s willingness to work in cooperation with Arab governments, he made clear this “new beginning” would not come at the expense of our long-standing, “unbreakable” ties with Israel. He similarly linked understanding of and support for the aspirations of the Palestinians for a state, without undercutting Israel’s legitimate claim to statehood.

An impressive endorsement, considering the source.

Back from Iraq, soldier surprises daughter

Get ready to cry.

Abandoned Pennsylvania Turnpike

I just learned about the Abandoned Pennsylvania Turnpike — 13 miles of road hidden in the middle of Pennsylvania.

More on Tiananmen

A former newspaper colleague worked with the photographer who took the “Tank Man” shot. Read his recollections here, including a Q&A with the photog. Watch for the expertly inserted reference to “MacGyver.”

Remembering Tiananmen Square

Twenty years ago today, Chinese troops opened fire on unarmed college students leaving hundreds dead in the Tiananmen Square massacre. Here is the BBC report from June 4, 1989:

Here’s a good article in the Christian Science Monitor about where China is twenty years later. The verdict: Richer, but no closer to democracy.

I prefer to remember Tiananmen via this picture:

No one knows what became of “Tank Man” but for a few moments he captivated the world with his courage. I remember seeing a Paul McCartney concert in 1991. Before the show, the giant TV screen showed a history of McCartney along with other historical events. When 1989 rolled around, the crowd watched the video of Tank Man stopping the lumbering Chinese tanks. I will never forget the feeling of 65,000 people cheering just for him — it was electric.

Conan O’Brien Goes West, With a Dash

Found this nugget tucked into the review of Conan O’Brien’s first night as host of The Tonight Show:

In another change to conform with “Tonight” show tradition, Mr. Ferrell remained on the couch after his guest spot. On “Late Night” each guest departed after their segment.

That’s awesome. I always missed Johnny Carson’s long couch and all those celebrities sitting there after their official appearance ended. Often the funniest bits occurred when they piped in during another interview. Ah, good times.

Johnny Cash is awesome

Here’s a great one from the Man in Black — sure to make you smile. May you rest in peace, Johnny. You brought so much joy to the world.