Coach who had autistic kid beaned imprisoned

As a parent of a child with Asperger's Syndrome, I'm very happy to see the judicial system punish these idiots.

I would love to throw a fastball at this guy's ear using the official Little League mound-to-home plate distance of 46 feet!

Cory Lidle

On my way home from work this afternoon, I heard the sad news that Yankees pitcher Cory Lidle was killed in the Manhattan plane crash. Since I've been home, all I've heard is how sad the situation is and how terrible it is for the family. This is all true, but I can't help but think that the outpouring from the media would be lessened if Lidle play for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays or any other team not located in New York. Apparently Major League Baseball was considering canceling this evening's playoff games.

Interesting how a player's "worth" and fame is related to where he plays.

Netflix quality control

I'm wondering if anyone else is having the same problem with Netflix.

Last night I was all set to watch a movie that I received over the weekend from Netflix. After waiting for my player to unsuccessfully read the disc, I ejected it and found a large crack in DVD.

This is not the first time this has happened to me.

I have returned three DVDs this year that were totally unplayable. This does not count the DVDs that skipped or froze, but were still somewhat viewable.

Netflix is always quick to send out a replacement DVD. That's not the issue. The issue is whether Netflix checks DVDs when they are returned or before they send them out again.

My sister has also experienced problems with her Netflix DVDs. Maybe they should start checking the DVDs before they go out. It must cost them a fortune just to ship out replacement movies.

I realize Netflix handles millions of DVD every year. I don't care. It's the DVDs I can't watch that annoy me.

Windows Live Writer

I just downloaded the Beta version of Windows Live Writer. The software is designed to be used with Windows Live Spaces, but it works with Wordpress.com blogs and I'm trying it with this Blogger blog. So far I like it very much.

There are several reviews of it available all over the web. Here's one and here's another.

Try Windows Live Writer for yourself.

President Bush assassinated in new TV movie

President George W. Bush is assassinated in a new TV movie that will be aired in Great Britain in October and at the Toronto Film Festival in September. British broadcaster Channel 4 portrays the Bush assassination during an anti-war rally in Chicago in October 2007. Apparently the investigation focuses on a Syrian-born man as the assassin.

No word from the White House on this bit of (I hope) fiction.

I can't imagine the public outcry if Jesse Jackson or Hillary Clinton were selected for elimination instead of President Bush.

The full story is here.