STATS and FACTS for Monday, October 14, 2013

Boston Red Sox Team Motto: ``Find a Way!’’

Elias Sports Bureau: `` Teams with a 5+ run lead in a postseason game are 459-14 (.970).''

ESPN STATS: ``The [Boston] Red Sox win probability was as low as 3.8 percent with 1 out in the 8th.''

Predicted Headline in Monday's Boston newspapers: ``GRAND PAPI!''

ESPN Recap of Dramatic Game 2 of the ALCS

http://is.gd/4ayjv5  

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STATS of the Day:

• 91% of Americans own cell phones, 56% own a smartphone. There will be 100 to 150 million new high-end smartphone users annually over the next two years,

 

• There are 218.3 million monthly active users on Twitter.

 

• Almost three out of four U.S. adults (71%) watch local television news, 65% view network newscasts, and 38 % view cable TV news over the course of a month, according to Nielsen data from February 2013. About 38% of Americans access news online at home via a desktop or laptop computer.

 

• With output of more than 10 million barrels per day for the last two quarters, its highest in decades, the United States is set to become the largest non OPEC liquids producer by the second quarter of 2014, overtaking Russia.

 

• The U.S. holds about 30 % of the world's financial assets.

 

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Surveys/Polls

• Gallup Poll http://is.gd/BMvWqf : Amid the government shutdown, 60% of Americans say the Democratic and Republicans parties do such a poor job of representing the American people that a third major party is needed.

 

• Biggest Reasons Women Have Abortions? Financial reasons (40%); timing (36%), partner related reasons (31%), and the need to focus on other children (29%) Source: BMC Women's Health 2013 13:29 http://is.gd/rJkrF2

 

• Financial Conditions of U.S. Cities? A majority of city finance officers (72%) report that their cities are better able to meet financial needs in 2013 than in 2012, according to the National League of Cities: http://is.gd/403ocG

 

• Levada Centre Poll http://is.gd/rFYSVm  : Russians' attitude toward the United States is worsening. 71% feel the U.S. are ``hypocritically'' trying to make other countries observe the rules of international law, while they don't always obey them itself." 50 % of respondents have a negative view about the United States ‘role in the modern world in general.

 

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Controversy continues to hover around the word ``Redskins'' in Washington's football team, ever since President Obama in an interview with the Associated Press said if he were  the owner of the team, and knew the term (``redskins’’)was offending ``a sizeable group of people'' , he'd think about changing it.

Redskins owner Daniel Snyder, however, remained defiant, saying he will ``NEVER!'' change the name.

On NBC’s Sunday Night Football halftime show last night, Bob Costas fired a missile at the team name:

``Think for a moment about the term “Redskins,” and how it truly differs from all the others. Ask yourself what the equivalent would be if directed towards African Americans, Hispanics, Asians or any other ethnic group. When considered that way, “Redskins” can’t possibly honor a heritage or noble character trait, nor can it possibly be considered a neutral term. It’s an insult, a slur, no matter how benign the present day intent.’’ 

So what's the origin of the word ``redskin''?  Has it always been considered a racial slur?

 

Ives Goddard, Senior Linguist in the Department of Anthropology, National Museum of Natural History argues the following points in a 2005 journal article. http://is.gd/Y6ym5N

 

• The quotation "I am a Red-Skin" in the title is from a speech made by the Santee chief French Crow in a formal council with President James Madison in the President's House in Washington on August 22, 1812, as interpreted by John A. Cameron and officially recorded.

 

• The same expression was used by the Potawatomi chiefs Topinabee and Metea at a treaty conference in Chicago in August, 1821, as interpreted by Whitmore Knaggs and recorded by Henry Rowe Schoolcraft.]

 

• The word redskins reflects a genuine Native American idiom that was used in several languages, where it grew out of an earlier established and more widespread use of ``red'' and ``white'' as racial labels.

 

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Halloween Costumes, 2013

 

What's Trending?

 

• At Beyond Costumes in Yonkers, N.Y http://is.gd/rSvgo3  : ``With the release with The Great Gatsby, all of the 1920 looks are trending; also ``The Fox'' has been huge since the music video. Some of the creative costumes are those looking to recreate the Edward Gorey illustrations, a dark Victorian look. Movies like Wizard of Oz and Alice in Wonderland and other fairy-tale characters are still very popular along with superheros pirates and gladiators.''

 

• At the Garment District in Cambridge, MA http://is.gd/1jI4fO  : ``Among all of the classic costumes, some of this year’s trends so far have been Breaking Bad, Miley Cyrus, and Game of Thrones.  We have a giant section of pre-owned costume elements, so a lot of customers have been piecing together their own costumes in order to have a totally unique costume (as well as save some money!). One of my favorite customer costume ideas so far this year has been a mother and her young son – she got a costume for Daenerys from Game of Thrones, and got a dragon costume for her son.''

 

• At Mallatt's Pharmacy and Costumes in Madison. WI  http://is.gd/sinIAc  : ``Cannot keep enough fox ears and tails as well as fox colored makeup on the shelf. The most requested look for men is "Heisenberg" persona of Walter White from the TV show "Breaking Bad", especially the facial hair and glasses. The second favorite looks are the boys from "Duck Dynasty." Women are sticking with the classics like zombies and other dead and undead creatures, these looks are easily created with stage quality makeup and a trip to goodwill, followed by renaissance/medieval dresses reminiscent of the "Game of Thrones." Katniss Everdeen from the "Hunger Games" also remains popular.''

 

• At Ricky's NYC in Manhattan: http://is.gd/AShX83  : Adults-Women: Wonder Woman, Flapper, Wizard of oz, Ninjas, Sexy superhero/Men: Prisoners/Jailbirds, Superman, Spider-Man, Kenny Powers, Mad hatter.

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Today in History:

10 Year Anniversary

October 14, 2003: In the 8th inning of the NLCS between the Chicago Cubs and Florida Marlins at Wrigley Field with the Cubs staked to a 3-0 lead, a 3 games to 2 lead in the best of 7 series and just five outs away from winning their first NL pennant since 1945, Marlins second baseman Luis Castillo lifts a fly ball down the left field line. A star-crossed fan, Steve Bartman, lunged for the ball, preventing Cubs left fielder Moisés Alou from catching it. The Marlins ended up scoring 8 runs in that nightmare of an inning, beating the Cubs 8-3. They beat the Cubs (9-6) again the following night to secure the pennant and advance to the World Series against the New York Yankees.

                See video of the infamous catch: http://is.gd/YejW6M

 

 

Word Origin

``Sticking to your guns’’ (refusing to compromise); Originally a military phrase, when in the field of battle: ``sticking to your guns’’ meant remaining at your post despite being under constant siege.

 

Looking For a Good Quote?

``Always forgive your enemies-but never forget their names.''

-Robert F. Kennedy

 

 

  -Bill Lucey

 October 14, 2013

 WPLucey@gmail.com

Comments

[Bob Daniels]

Nice job with the blog, Bill.