Whale

Spectator on Aaron Barbosa - the Template

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Q. Hey, I like Jim's articles better than yours. People check in because of the lead author's legendary name which is the stuff of legend, but atually stay because of the writings of everybody OTHER than him. What's up with that?

A. Hey, it works for every other blog in Seattle. Why reinvent the wheel?

Kidding!

Aside from Spec being more interested in the minors than most, and aside from his being a very acute fellow, and aside from his all-around greatness ... he has a secret.

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Q. That being?

A. He stays laser-focused on the strike zone.

Then, he comes up with 9,000 ways to organize stats around that. Strike zone always at the center. You're going to see things that others don't, if you keep noodling around that way. Barbosa being a neat example...

As the founding father put it, "Baseball is about the strike zone." It's why Spec was first to the Aaron Barbosa rookie-card trough (see his sparkling article here). Others will feed later, but they're already far too late. Spec will proudly wear the Barbosa jersey to the 2018 ALCS. Anybody else daring to do so will be laughed out of town.

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Hapuku Lodge

For couples that want a unique place to stay while exploring the wonders of New Zealand, spend a week at the amazing Hapuku Lodge. This lodge is set 30 feet above the ground and your room will be a wooden construction placed among the tree line. The views of the forests and nearby mountains are spectacular. Use this great lodge as a home base from which to see this wonderful region of the country. Go dolphin or whale watching or take a swim with seals. Relax on the beach or get some time

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Excellence Punta Cana

For a great resort vacation in the Dominican Republic, consider staying at Excellence Punta Cana. This stylish resort is located on the northeast side of the island and makes for the perfect romantic getaway spot. You can just lay around all day on the beach, gazing out to the Caribbean Sea, or relax at the spa, in the Jacuzzis or the pools, or at the bars. Enjoy fine dining at one of eight restaurants. There is so much at this resort th

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Christchurch, New Zealand

Also referred to as The Garden City, Christchurch is the second largest city in all of New Zealand and could easily be considered one of the most beautiful cities in the world. The charming environment is a mixture of nature and the urban and is a perfect place to spend a romantic vacation. There are countless things to do in Christchurch, from skiing and golfing to bungee jumping, rafting, surfing and even whale watching. Or take a tour of the many wineries and gardens in th

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Grand Turk Inn

Located just off the coast of the Turks and Caicos Islands and just north of the more popular resort area of Haiti are a small island and the small Grand Turk Inn. Set in a converted historic building, this former oceanfront home now hosts five suites. The small island and the small inn make this into a perfect romantic and intimate vacation destination. You can lie on the beach and relax or head out on a boat and enjoy some scuba diving or snorkeling tours. It’s even a great place for whale watching, when the season is right. A

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Amangalla, Sri Lanka

The island of Sri Lanka, off the southern coast of India, is a place of much culture and history. The port of Galle is but one amazing city to visit and the Amangalla an excellent place to set up shop while exploring the island. This historic building was been restored to be as authentic as it was hundreds of years ago and is filled with period-styled décor. It’s just a short walk from the

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"World's ugliest animal" named

The Ugly Animal Preservation Society held an open vote for its new mascot, and the blobfish won by a landslide. It beat out the proboscis monkey, pubic lice, and an animal known as the "scrotum frog" for this top honor.

The campaign was humorous but intended to highlight a real issue: we tend to work harder to save cute species, like the blue whale and the giant panda. But ugly endangered species deserve to be saved, too!

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F-500 and 'Scapegoating'

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Q. Do the Mariners have a track record of scapegoating?

A. All big organizations "assign responsibility" for train wrecks. I'd say the Mariners are classier about it, more restrained about it, than most of the org's I ever worked for.

Like we say, multinational corporations look a lot different from the outside than the inside. It's a bit, um, naive to notice a little set of firings by these execs and have an "Aha!," moment, announce that we are seeing something sinister.

That said, this USSM article raises interesting exhibits. If anybody cares, I'll give my cornball boots-on-the-ground interpretation of what was probably happening in each situation.

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Q. Should Carmine Fusco have been fired over Josh Leuke, or who is to blame?

A. Who is to blame, is the media lynch mob in America.

When you have white-male-on-any-female potential crime (Leuke) or white-male-on-minority free speech transgression (John Rocker) you are going to get a lynching. All sense of proportion, and therefore any chance of justice, is out the window. The media wants the man made an example of.

Any F-500 company is going to have to comply with the media's demands, and that's what any F-500 company does. The sinister element here is present, but it's not with the company.

San Juan Islands

North of Seattle, just under four hours away, are the San Juan Islands. These bastions of natural beauty are an oft ignored Washington treasure that makes for an excellent romantic getaway. The beautiful islands are covered in forests and possessed of spectacular beaches. Enjoy some time out kayaking, whale watching or just hiking on the many trails. Or head back into civilization and partake of fine dining, wine tasting or peruse the art galleries. In addition, there are many events throughout the year to add ev

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Point Reyes National Seashore

A couple of hours down the coast and an hour away from the nearest big city is the Point Reyes National Seashore. With its amazing beaches and cliffs and the spectacular scenery, this is a great romantic spot for couples to take a weekend out. Enjoy some time hiking around the landscape or go whale watching when the season is right. See the local history, such as Native American sites, old lighthouses and, if you want to go under the water, the shipwrecks. Point Reyes is a great place to enjoy nature with the one that you lo

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