I know where you are coming from on that. Even though this is currently a one-shot deal, I am hoping that they decide to give a try for something more. I live about an hour and a half outside of New York City, which is the closest they will come to where I am. I am due some vacation time, so if anything like that were to happen, I would take a couple of days off for a concert - one for the concert itself, and another to recover. Probably would have to take another day off before that just to try and get tickets. ;-)

I am hopeful, but also realistic. I am not going to hold my breath...

--Joseph

I can't believe that no one has posted this yet. ;-)

All I can say is that I hope that they find out that Dave and Roger can get along and decide "Hey, maybe we should try cutting an album again." Who knows? I've seen the band after Waters left (too young to see them when they were still together), Waters solo, and Gilmour solo. I'll admit, I am a big Gilmour fan - and I like the post-Waters stuff (some of it more than the earlier stuff).

I had tickets to see them in Vegas for the Division Bell tour. Waited on hold with Ticketmaster for six hours. Called in at two in the morning and asked to be put in the queue for the concert. Eight o'clock rolls around, and I am on of the first dozen people to buy tickets, from what I am told. Four tickets about ten rows back and dead center. Of course, I knew it was too good to be true. Two weeks before the show, they cancel it to add another date in California.

Enough rambling... Here ya go:
Pink Floyd to Reunite for Live 8

Also, BBC is reporting that Bob Geldof personally brokered this. He is a great person, which goes without saying for his humanitarian efforts, and also a great performer.

--Joseph

Bob -

Glad to see you are getting out and about (at least to the boards). ;-) It is incredible how the board slows down when the person with the most posts is not around for a while...

--Joseph

"If you are reading this, there is something you need to know about me that I was never able to tell you myself..."

Most people don't know about it. I've actually been pretty bitter about it and have only recently found that it does not bother me as much. I had gotten my advance at the time, so I was happy about that. Too bad I didn't see any of the money from the buyout, though. ;-)

And it has been a blast being around here. It is nice to not have to compete to be heard here, much like the other boards around the Net. People here seem to be a little more responsible and less inclined to pick a cyber fight. ;-)

--Joseph

I've been around for a while (Member No. 3, woohoo!), but I still haven't introduced myself.

I am working with Bob and Jim on the super-secret next generation online tools. A quick note on that is that you all are going to not be able to figure out how you lived without them before. Yes, it is going to be that good. ;-)

As for me... I primarily collect baseball, both cards and autographs. There is a little hockey mixed in, as well as some non-sports. Over the past year, I have just started getting back into the hobby after a long absence. My team preferences for baseball are (in order) the Yankees and the Pirates. For hockey, it is the Pens.

In real life, I am a software developer who has the luck to be able to telecommute, so I am in my home office most of the time. I work for a company that develops software for Hedge Fund companies - ya know, the things that Warren Buffet says will lead to the next stock market crash. ;-) Work is hectic enough, but add to it that this is my first exposure to the stock market industry and that means that you can usually find me chasing my tail at any given time.

When I am not working, I actually like to code in my spare time. I like to read. Mostly non-fiction, but with Stephen King and Douglas Adams mixed in for variety. I'll occasionally pick up a classic that I haven't read in a long time, too. I like a lot of different types of music, with the noticable exception of most country and rap. Currently, I am on a Gothic and Progressive Metal kick, although my playlist changes daily. I also enjoy video games (never too old for them).

Most interesting thing that people don't usually know about me is that I signed a book deal with McMillan to develop a software book about seven years ago. The book was in direct competition with a title that Microsoft was also having written. I was about 70% complete when Microsoft Press bought out the rights to my book. I haven't considered writing again since then. ;-)

Enough about me...

--Joseph

I see how it is... Give a little tease and then keep everyone in suspense. You are such a tease! ;-)

--Joseph

I think it takes a lot of moxie to be a pro athelete and admit that you aren't a perfect person.

I like A-Rod, but hope that he can find some sort of therapy to help his defense. ;-)

--Joseph

Okay, who had Bob in the pool to be the first to talk? ;-)

--Joseph

I have all three systems from this generation, so I don't consider myself biased.

First off. I think that Sony and Microsoft are both blowing smoke when they say how many times better their next generation systems will be. The only PS3 footage was pre-rendered video and the Xbox 360 graphics only look marginally better than this generation. I appreciate Nintendo's more realistic "two to three times more powerful", because I don't feel like I am being lied to. I could care less about tech specs, which is all that the big two are pushing, because neither of them can deliver to the specs potential - as it has been show in this generation.

Of all of the news that came out about all three of the systems, I am most intrigued (read likely to buy) the Nintendo Revolution. Primary selling point would be the library of downloadable games spanning the twenty year history of Nintendo's consoles. The other reason that I am going along with Nintendo's direction is that I find myself playing my Gamecube more than my PS2 or Xbox. Part of it is exclusive titles. I couldn't care less about the type of games that are on either of the other systems. The PS2, I primarily use to play Square-Enix games, and the Xbox is used as a paperweight to keep an unabridged dictionary from flying away. ;-) Seriously, I do not like the entire presentation of the Xbox. Too many games run at 30FPS, max. It gives me the feeling of playing a game on a computer, and if I want that, I can just sit here. :-)

I will keep an open mind going into the next generation, but for me, that is the only "must have".

--Joseph

As I sit here with the game on, still working (16 hours today, so far), I am liking what I am seeing. I will like it much more once we are on top of the Red Sox... ;-)

--Joseph

As if horse racing isn't competitive enough already! That looks like a stiff field of qualifiers.

--Joseph

So, I finally saw the promo on TV for the remake of the film, starring Depp and directed by Burton. I dearly love the books and the original movie. But, this... This looks absolutely horrible.

I know that it is going to do a ton at the box office, partially from the hype and partially the Depp is in it - but I don't plan on seeing it. Willy Wonka looks downright disturbing in this movie, and completely not what I would have expected - that is just based on the books and not even from the original movie.

Oh, cruel, cruel world... What classic movie is Hollywood going to try to ruin next? They better never touch A Clockwork Orange... ;-)

Thanks for the read. I feel a little better now. :-)

--Joseph

Chad -



I send the index card along with a handwritten letter and SASE for each one. I am still pretty new to it. Everyone that I sent to, I am a fan of - so I am really writing a fan letter to start. I then tell them about my project to get signed index cards so that I can frame them along with a photograph for my office wall.

So far, I have sent out eight and gotten four back. No "Return to Sender" or "Refused" so far, so I am still holding out hope for the remaining four. This weekend, I think I am going to try for some of the Negro League players that I have addresses for.

The hardest part is choosing who to send to. :-)

--Joseph

Received 1/1 (Signed Index Card)
05.01.2005 - 05.09.2005 (8 Days)

Joseph

Sparky Anderson
PO Box 6415
Thousand Oaks, CA 91359-6415

Personally, I am only sending index cards at the moment - so I am sure that is not much help to you. ;-) I do know that there are some players who won't sign them, just like there are some players that will only sign them.

I've only been posting addresses that I know are valid. I can point you here, though, for some addresses.

If you have a glossy card, I have heard people say to put some baby powder on the surface and then wipe it down.

Hope that helps!

--Joseph

Everyone has brought up great points so far, but I would take Jim's idea of different kind of packs and take it one step further...

How about a pack of nothing but base cards? No chance of inserts at all. Maybe we could get back to something like the fifty card cello packs? The furthest back I can remember was getting the 1983 Topps cello packs for either 39 or 49 cents. I would bet dollars to donuts that if the manufacturers put together fifty card packs of nothing but base cards for two or three dollars, they would make the set builders happy and maybe bring more people back to set building. I used to build sets every year, but I wouldn't even think about it anymore.

Just my two cents, YMMV. :-)

--Joseph

That is one reason that I would be reluctant to stop working from home. ;-)

--Joseph

It is sick. This whole TTM thing is becoming an addiction. I sit there and watch out my office window for the mailman to get to our box every day now and I find myself getting anxious on the trip out, and disappointed or elated on the way back - depending on what is there. ;-)

I need to get some more requests out soon. The only ones that I have outstanding at the moment are: Sparky Anderson, Yogi Berra, Jim Bunning, Kevin Maas, and Phil Rizzuto.

Thinking about persuing Negro League players next. I have a few addresses to test out including Monte Irvin, Joe Siddel, and Buck O'Neil. As morbid as it sounds, I feel that some of my requests are about to become a race to attempt a player before he passes away.

Sorry about the general nothingness of substance in the post. Just looking to spur some conversation. ;-)

Joseph

Constantine was my favorite, as well. I feel robbed after watching the last show. Granted, it was not his best performance - he was just blah. At least he was in key, which is more than could have been said for Anthony and, especially, Scott. If the kind of performance that Scott turned in is good enough for the top 5, I need to just stop singing in the shower and start singing on TV. ;-)

It is just hard to believe that the person responsible for the best performance I have *ever* seen on the show (Bohemian Rhapsody, of course) is out so quickly. I think part of it has to do with song selection - personally, I hate current music. I would have loved to see him do something more epic that would have fit his style. The Journeyman from Iron Maiden comes to mind (beautifully haunting song).

Oh, well... Pray for the Soul of Betty has picked up a new fan. I plan on picking up their CD on the 10th. I still think that Constantine has the star power the winner's from previous years were missing. I would not be in the slightest bit suprised to see him/Betty become this biggest success out of the show, still.

What is even more sad, is that I can't believe how much I got into the show this season. I remember making fun of the people who watched it the first season. Oh, cruel world! ;-)

Joseph

I know... My E.S.P. needs a little work still. ;-)

Joseph

So I just get back from visiting some family and turn on the game... Yep. 12-3 going into the top of the 7th. That is just spooky. Not that I am complaining, mind you. ;-)

Joseph

Received 1/1 (Signed Index Card)
04.13.2005 - 04.26.2005 (13 Days)

Joseph

Going to go with the Yankees 12 - Angels 3. I am seeing a carryover of lively bats and good pitching from yesterday. ;-)

Joseph