I like to watch sports on TV. In order of preference I like baseball http://mlb.mlb.com/home, NASCAR http://www.nascar.com/en_us/sprint-cup-series.html, basketball http://www.nba.com/, and football http://www.nfl.com/. Mostly, I prefer to watch teams that I like, such as Texas Tech http://www.texastech.com sports, Boston sports, the New York Yankees, and NASCAR in general, the Sprint Cup Series more so than the Infinity Series or the Truck races.
What I have figured out is that I have a hard time sitting down and watching TV. Just watching TV. Occasionally, I can do just that. But often, I need to be doing something else: computering, doing word puzzles, knitting, other tasks. So, I generally like the slower sports: baseball and NASCAR. You might think NASCAR is not a slow sport, but there are minutes upon minutes of round and round racing before something happens. Baseball has a rhythm with which I am comfortable.
So, the fast action sports are harder for me to watch. I enjoy them, but I want to be doing something else. Like tonight. The Boston Celtics were playing the Atlanta Haws in the play offs. The game was tied at the end of regulation play. I thought I could watch the second half of the game and knit, but it took the entire second half of the game, and overtime to get two rows of knitting correct. Basketball is too active a game to multi-task while watching.
What I did not mention is ice skating http://www.usfsa.org/. I also like to watch ice skating, but it requires my full attention.
Showing posts with label NASCAR. Show all posts
Showing posts with label NASCAR. Show all posts
Sunday, April 24, 2016
Sunday, September 6, 2015
NASCAR
There was a time in my life when I was a diehard NASCAR fan. I recorded races if I could not watch them live. I adjusted my schedule around NASCAR races, and I watched NASCAR racing shows when I could find them.
That has changed. In part, it changed because NASCAR changed. They took races away from some of the romantic short tracks like Hickory, and moved races to cookie-cutter tracks in Chicago, Las Vegas, Kansas. They raced on Mother's Day weekend which never happened before. They took the Southern 500 away from Darlington on Labor Day. They developed a "Chase" format in an attempt to make the championship more exciting. But they had to create their own hype to make the championship exciting. They did all kinds of things to make sure the winners were the eventual champion, when all they needed to do was give major points to each race winner. They could not figure that out! Duh! So simple. NASCAR became such a business they forgot their roots.
They are making some changes to get back to the sport they once were. They will never return to the NASCAR of old, but one change they made was to return the Southern 500 to Darlington, but on Labor Day http://www.foxnews.com/sports/2015/09/04/darlington-return-lady-in-black-back-on-labor-day/.
Maybe I can become a NASCAR fan again.
That has changed. In part, it changed because NASCAR changed. They took races away from some of the romantic short tracks like Hickory, and moved races to cookie-cutter tracks in Chicago, Las Vegas, Kansas. They raced on Mother's Day weekend which never happened before. They took the Southern 500 away from Darlington on Labor Day. They developed a "Chase" format in an attempt to make the championship more exciting. But they had to create their own hype to make the championship exciting. They did all kinds of things to make sure the winners were the eventual champion, when all they needed to do was give major points to each race winner. They could not figure that out! Duh! So simple. NASCAR became such a business they forgot their roots.
They are making some changes to get back to the sport they once were. They will never return to the NASCAR of old, but one change they made was to return the Southern 500 to Darlington, but on Labor Day http://www.foxnews.com/sports/2015/09/04/darlington-return-lady-in-black-back-on-labor-day/.
Maybe I can become a NASCAR fan again.
Sunday, July 5, 2015
NASCAR
I like NASCAR http://www.nascar.com/en_us/sprint-cup-series.html. I used to be a die hard NASCAR fan. Some of my heart died with the death of Dale Earnhardt Sr. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dale_Earnhardt.
Some of my heart died when NASCAR started changing things: racing on Mother's Day weekend, decreasing the Firecracker 600 to a 400 mile race, closing the races at the short tracks such as at North Wilkesboro and Hickory, adding a lot of " cookie cutter race tracks" that were the boring same run, week after week, and changing the championship formula. The change in the championship formula was the last straw: They "invented" The Chase to try to make the race for the championship more exciting. It did not do what they wanted. The formula before the first change was points for leading a lap, points for winning, and points for finishing place. The problem was that sometimes some driver could have a really, really good year, finish high in a lot of races, but not win any races. The answer was simple: increase the additional points for winning from 5 to 20. Make it substantial.
No, NASCAR did all these other machinations to make the championship race more interesting. But, it did not succeed. So, now, instead of just worrying about points, they now also put some emphasis on winning. Get rid of "the chase." Go back to the points system, with large number of points for winning. It will take care of the problem, and I will be more interested in NASCAR.
But not until they return to some traditions: no racing on Easter weekend (period, including Saturday.) No racing on Mother's Day weekend at all. More short tracks. Lower ticket prices.
NASCAR has done well to keep the drivers and pit crews accessible to fans. But that is probably the only thing they have maintained.
Some of my heart died when NASCAR started changing things: racing on Mother's Day weekend, decreasing the Firecracker 600 to a 400 mile race, closing the races at the short tracks such as at North Wilkesboro and Hickory, adding a lot of " cookie cutter race tracks" that were the boring same run, week after week, and changing the championship formula. The change in the championship formula was the last straw: They "invented" The Chase to try to make the race for the championship more exciting. It did not do what they wanted. The formula before the first change was points for leading a lap, points for winning, and points for finishing place. The problem was that sometimes some driver could have a really, really good year, finish high in a lot of races, but not win any races. The answer was simple: increase the additional points for winning from 5 to 20. Make it substantial.
No, NASCAR did all these other machinations to make the championship race more interesting. But, it did not succeed. So, now, instead of just worrying about points, they now also put some emphasis on winning. Get rid of "the chase." Go back to the points system, with large number of points for winning. It will take care of the problem, and I will be more interested in NASCAR.
But not until they return to some traditions: no racing on Easter weekend (period, including Saturday.) No racing on Mother's Day weekend at all. More short tracks. Lower ticket prices.
NASCAR has done well to keep the drivers and pit crews accessible to fans. But that is probably the only thing they have maintained.
Saturday, March 1, 2014
Temperature Difference
For the second time in the last 7 days, I have had occasion to travel to the northeast part of Lubbock County. To be a little more precise, about 14 miles north and 16 miles east of where I live. This is out in the country. Way out.
There were two things I noticed. The wind was more obvious. But of course, there is nothing to block it. I have long known that the effect of the wind inside the Loop of Lubbock really is minimized compared to the outlying country areas. And, this is truly amazing, when the winds are 40 MPH or more.
The other thing I noticed was the temperature difference. The first time I went out to this area of the county, I realized the difference in temperature was about 10°. While this surprised me a little bit, it made sense. The effect of the buildings decreasing the influence of the wind, and more importantly, the effect of the urban warming of buildings, concrete, and asphalt all influenced the temperature.
Today, when I went out to the country again, I noticed the temperature difference. It was striking. As I returned to town, I realized it was about 15 degrees, and of course the wind was stronger in the country.
Years ago, a friend of mine and I talked about the influence or effect of urban warming on the micro-atmosphere of the "urban area." Neither of us had heard about this as science, but we thought it made anecdotal sense: We would see weather fronts with moisture head toward the city of Lubbock, and as they arrived, the moisture, which was minimal, dissipated.
About the same time, a favorite NASCAR announcer talked about the "race track vortex effect." His theory was similar: The heat generated at a NASCAR track: from the paved track, the heat of the vehicles, and the fans, automobile traffic, and etc. created a heat vortex over the track which would dissipate minor rain storms.
Well, low and behold, science has proved these theories to be correct.
I noticed the temperature difference tonight. It is not a fluke.
There were two things I noticed. The wind was more obvious. But of course, there is nothing to block it. I have long known that the effect of the wind inside the Loop of Lubbock really is minimized compared to the outlying country areas. And, this is truly amazing, when the winds are 40 MPH or more.
The other thing I noticed was the temperature difference. The first time I went out to this area of the county, I realized the difference in temperature was about 10°. While this surprised me a little bit, it made sense. The effect of the buildings decreasing the influence of the wind, and more importantly, the effect of the urban warming of buildings, concrete, and asphalt all influenced the temperature.
Today, when I went out to the country again, I noticed the temperature difference. It was striking. As I returned to town, I realized it was about 15 degrees, and of course the wind was stronger in the country.
Years ago, a friend of mine and I talked about the influence or effect of urban warming on the micro-atmosphere of the "urban area." Neither of us had heard about this as science, but we thought it made anecdotal sense: We would see weather fronts with moisture head toward the city of Lubbock, and as they arrived, the moisture, which was minimal, dissipated.
About the same time, a favorite NASCAR announcer talked about the "race track vortex effect." His theory was similar: The heat generated at a NASCAR track: from the paved track, the heat of the vehicles, and the fans, automobile traffic, and etc. created a heat vortex over the track which would dissipate minor rain storms.
Well, low and behold, science has proved these theories to be correct.
I noticed the temperature difference tonight. It is not a fluke.
Saturday, February 15, 2014
NASCAR
I almost missed the fact that the NASCAR season is starting: It was not on any of the newspaper services I access online. I do not get a daily newspaper. And, the TV and Internet sports are overwhelmed by the Olympics. But, NASCAR starts http://www.nascar.com/en_us/sprint-cup-series.html with the Sprint Unlimited race this weekend. This is a non-points race but is a bragging rights race.
I am glad to be able to watch the race.
I am glad to be able to watch the race.
Saturday, February 16, 2013
My Other Job
I belong to the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) http://www.naswdc.org/. When I joined the local leadership was tightly held, almost secretive and closed. I was not happy about this, and because of my angry comments, I was included in the leadership circle. I started trying to work for the local branch, including trying to do recruiting activities.
But, then, I got on the committee that produced the yearly workshop. That was a niche I really liked. I have been engaged in that activity since the early 1990's. I have seen this committee morph over the years: We did workshops with other agencies in town. We did workshops with a large committee doing the planning . We did workshops with two or three of us doing the planning.
The last few years, two of us have done most of the work, except for contacting the speakers and getting their presentations approved. I have even helped with that, but only by default.
Some 10 or so years ago, I took over the job of sending out the monthly meeting announcements. These have morphed, over the years from a newsletter (before my tenure), to a postcard. I told the steering committee I could do the postcards, and not need labels, but print the addresses on the postcards. From their we started collecting emails and have converted to sending out emails about our meetings to those for whom we have emails addresses.
And from our monthly meetings, and annual workshops, we have collected email addresses, and added those to our email list. I now have an email list for members, non-members, and other interested professionals (marketers, non-social workers) depending upon what the message is.
We send out monthly meeting announcements, job openings, community resource information, and requests for help for clients by email. Usually, we do not send out political information, and marketing or fundraiser information. If something is questionable, I consult the steering committee, people who are thoughtful about what we should send out and how I should use my time. If there is a request from an NASW member outside of the usual, the steering committee helps to determine the appropriateness of the request.
I also review the licensure list once a year to find new names for our mailing list, for our annual workshop.
Keeping up with the email addresses, and mailing addresses of people is a lot of work. I do "group emails" sent bcc. Many get returned, sometimes because they are treated as SPAM, sometimes because I have entered the email incorrectly, sometimes because people change their emails. I tell new members to the list to add the email address I use for NASW: naswlbbnews@suddenlink.net to their contact list, so the group emails are not treated as SPAM. I try to keep up with who is being added and removed from the email list. Recently, my email provider has started suspending my email account, if I get too many returns, so I have to edit those right away.
This is all very time consuming. Added to that, I try to make sure that not only the people for whom we do not have emails are on the snail mail mailing list, and anyone for whom we do not have a valid email is also on the mailing list.
For most of the year, this takes a few hours every month. But in the beginning of the calendar year, things get busy. March is Social Work Month. We send out ballots to nominate people for Social Worker of the Year, Citizen of the Year, Agency of the Year, and Elected Official of the Year. We then send out a ballot to elect the nominees. And an invitation to the dinner we host to honor these people.
And, in the spring, we do our annual workshop. So, the brochure gets emailed to those folks for whom we have valid emails. And, this is the time of year I cull our snail mail addresses, add to them for those for whom the email address we have is invalid, and search the licensure list (if I have time.) And, then we print labels for brochures for the annual workshop.
So, this is my other job. I enjoy working on the computer. I enjoy having something to do as I watch TV. This is the beginning of NASCAR season, and it is too cold to be outside playing unless I am doing vigorous yard work. So, the fit is good, as I can watch the races and work on NASW activities.
This is my other job. I am not allowed to do this at work because of security reasons: concern about viruses and such. But the truth be known, if I did this on work time, it would severely impinge upon my work duties, as it is very time consuming. And, the truth be known, I do not mind doing this at home, in my comfortable clothes, in comfortable surroundings watching TV or listening to music.
.
But, then, I got on the committee that produced the yearly workshop. That was a niche I really liked. I have been engaged in that activity since the early 1990's. I have seen this committee morph over the years: We did workshops with other agencies in town. We did workshops with a large committee doing the planning . We did workshops with two or three of us doing the planning.
The last few years, two of us have done most of the work, except for contacting the speakers and getting their presentations approved. I have even helped with that, but only by default.
Some 10 or so years ago, I took over the job of sending out the monthly meeting announcements. These have morphed, over the years from a newsletter (before my tenure), to a postcard. I told the steering committee I could do the postcards, and not need labels, but print the addresses on the postcards. From their we started collecting emails and have converted to sending out emails about our meetings to those for whom we have emails addresses.
And from our monthly meetings, and annual workshops, we have collected email addresses, and added those to our email list. I now have an email list for members, non-members, and other interested professionals (marketers, non-social workers) depending upon what the message is.
We send out monthly meeting announcements, job openings, community resource information, and requests for help for clients by email. Usually, we do not send out political information, and marketing or fundraiser information. If something is questionable, I consult the steering committee, people who are thoughtful about what we should send out and how I should use my time. If there is a request from an NASW member outside of the usual, the steering committee helps to determine the appropriateness of the request.
I also review the licensure list once a year to find new names for our mailing list, for our annual workshop.
Keeping up with the email addresses, and mailing addresses of people is a lot of work. I do "group emails" sent bcc. Many get returned, sometimes because they are treated as SPAM, sometimes because I have entered the email incorrectly, sometimes because people change their emails. I tell new members to the list to add the email address I use for NASW: naswlbbnews@suddenlink.net to their contact list, so the group emails are not treated as SPAM. I try to keep up with who is being added and removed from the email list. Recently, my email provider has started suspending my email account, if I get too many returns, so I have to edit those right away.
This is all very time consuming. Added to that, I try to make sure that not only the people for whom we do not have emails are on the snail mail mailing list, and anyone for whom we do not have a valid email is also on the mailing list.
For most of the year, this takes a few hours every month. But in the beginning of the calendar year, things get busy. March is Social Work Month. We send out ballots to nominate people for Social Worker of the Year, Citizen of the Year, Agency of the Year, and Elected Official of the Year. We then send out a ballot to elect the nominees. And an invitation to the dinner we host to honor these people.
And, in the spring, we do our annual workshop. So, the brochure gets emailed to those folks for whom we have valid emails. And, this is the time of year I cull our snail mail addresses, add to them for those for whom the email address we have is invalid, and search the licensure list (if I have time.) And, then we print labels for brochures for the annual workshop.
So, this is my other job. I enjoy working on the computer. I enjoy having something to do as I watch TV. This is the beginning of NASCAR season, and it is too cold to be outside playing unless I am doing vigorous yard work. So, the fit is good, as I can watch the races and work on NASW activities.
This is my other job. I am not allowed to do this at work because of security reasons: concern about viruses and such. But the truth be known, if I did this on work time, it would severely impinge upon my work duties, as it is very time consuming. And, the truth be known, I do not mind doing this at home, in my comfortable clothes, in comfortable surroundings watching TV or listening to music.
.
Sunday, September 16, 2012
Passion
I used to be passionate about things in my life. Certainly, when my relationships started with my ex-husbands. But other interests, too: NASCAR racing; birdwatching; my dog Mack; even my job as a correctional social worker; Lady Raider basketball; rhyme and meter poetry.
I still have lots of interests: brass bands; reading; knitting; Lady Raider basketball; Yankee baseball; Red Sox baseball; Texas Tech football; NASCAR; birdwatching; kayaking.
But I do not seem to have passions anymore. I am not sure why. Nothing stirs me for more than a few minutes. Many things stir me: patriotic music; sports; books; work; my cats. But the passion is gone. Is there something wrong with me?
I still have lots of interests: brass bands; reading; knitting; Lady Raider basketball; Yankee baseball; Red Sox baseball; Texas Tech football; NASCAR; birdwatching; kayaking.
But I do not seem to have passions anymore. I am not sure why. Nothing stirs me for more than a few minutes. Many things stir me: patriotic music; sports; books; work; my cats. But the passion is gone. Is there something wrong with me?
Saturday, July 14, 2012
What Did You Do Today?
I read. I used to make myself get up on a Saturday morning and do chores, including shopping, housework and laundry, yard work as needed before I allowed myself the pleasure of what I wanted to do.
That does not happen any more. Because of health constraints, I can not do a lot of physical work in one day. So, I have to spread chores out for several days.
But, I also do not rush into chores any more. Sometimes, on Saturday or Sunday I get up and do fun things instead of chores.
Today, though, after I read a while, I ran errands and did housework. Then I played on the computer and read. And read. And listened to music while I read. I finished one book and started and finished a second book. With some computer time in between for variation. And am shortly going to start a third book.
I like to read. Sometimes, I get so caught up in reading I forget to do other things. I hope that does not happen tomorrow, because I want to do other things, too.
The girls seem to like it when I read. I frequently play music while I read. But most of it is not jarring (I have some jarring music.) The girls seem to like music better than NASCAR racing. I think they probably have better taste than I do. They like to sit with me in the living room. All three of them. Especially when I am reading, and the TV is off. Even if I have a CD playing. Usually, when I am on the computer, Taki and Haiku will join me, but Sake infrequently does. Although, she has started to join us more and more. That is good. I really like having my three girls around me as I relax in my house.
That does not happen any more. Because of health constraints, I can not do a lot of physical work in one day. So, I have to spread chores out for several days.
But, I also do not rush into chores any more. Sometimes, on Saturday or Sunday I get up and do fun things instead of chores.
Today, though, after I read a while, I ran errands and did housework. Then I played on the computer and read. And read. And listened to music while I read. I finished one book and started and finished a second book. With some computer time in between for variation. And am shortly going to start a third book.
I like to read. Sometimes, I get so caught up in reading I forget to do other things. I hope that does not happen tomorrow, because I want to do other things, too.
The girls seem to like it when I read. I frequently play music while I read. But most of it is not jarring (I have some jarring music.) The girls seem to like music better than NASCAR racing. I think they probably have better taste than I do. They like to sit with me in the living room. All three of them. Especially when I am reading, and the TV is off. Even if I have a CD playing. Usually, when I am on the computer, Taki and Haiku will join me, but Sake infrequently does. Although, she has started to join us more and more. That is good. I really like having my three girls around me as I relax in my house.
Saturday, May 12, 2012
A Beautiful Day
Weather wise, this has been a beautiful day: the air is cool, the wind is mild, the sun is warm. We have had some clouds, but the sky is brilliantly blue.
Alas, I spend the day running errands and doing some serious housework. It would be a nice night to go kayaking but I am very tired, and my back and hip hurt. So, I am conserving myself.
I am flipping back and forth between NASCAR at Darlington and the Celtics - Sixers games in Boston. After the sports, maybe I will sit outside in my back yard and enjoy the fresh night air as I read, or listen to music or whatever.
Alas, I spend the day running errands and doing some serious housework. It would be a nice night to go kayaking but I am very tired, and my back and hip hurt. So, I am conserving myself.
I am flipping back and forth between NASCAR at Darlington and the Celtics - Sixers games in Boston. After the sports, maybe I will sit outside in my back yard and enjoy the fresh night air as I read, or listen to music or whatever.
Sunday, March 11, 2012
A Beautiful Day
I had planned to watch the NASCAR Sprint Cup race today. I ran some errands before the race, then turned it on to watch. But I was drawn to the outside and it was so pretty and warm, although windy, I stayed outside. It was glorious.
The sky was clear, and a sharp bright blue. The plants were vibrant in color: as is usually the case in the spring, and helped by the recent rain, which cleaned the dust off as well as hydrated all.
Yeah Spring!
The sky was clear, and a sharp bright blue. The plants were vibrant in color: as is usually the case in the spring, and helped by the recent rain, which cleaned the dust off as well as hydrated all.
Yeah Spring!
Friday, February 24, 2012
A Stressful Week
I am not sure why this has been such a stressful week, but it has been. Part of it has to do with having an activity Monday and Tuesday night after work. But, on the other hand, I took Thursday afternoon off to watch the NASCAR Duel 150's Daytona 500 qualifying race event. And I enjoyed it very much. Maybe part of the reason I am so tired is that I still worked 40 hours this week.
And, I had a topsy turvy week. A meeting scheduled for Friday was moved up to Wednesday. A meeting scheduled for next Tuesday was moved up to Friday (today). I am pleased to say I work ahead and was fully prepared.
But, maybe that is why I am stressed.
The real reason I know I am stressed, is that I had been keeping up with being able to write a blog regularly for a while. I have been struggling for the last 10 days or so to write as regularly as I had been. Often, when I do not write, it is for a lack of ideas. I have had the ideas this week, I just have not been able to empty my mind enough to write about them.
And, I had a topsy turvy week. A meeting scheduled for Friday was moved up to Wednesday. A meeting scheduled for next Tuesday was moved up to Friday (today). I am pleased to say I work ahead and was fully prepared.
But, maybe that is why I am stressed.
The real reason I know I am stressed, is that I had been keeping up with being able to write a blog regularly for a while. I have been struggling for the last 10 days or so to write as regularly as I had been. Often, when I do not write, it is for a lack of ideas. I have had the ideas this week, I just have not been able to empty my mind enough to write about them.
Sunday, September 25, 2011
Continual Coverage
Having watched the Red Sox vs. Yankee game, I have now turned to the NASCAR race from Loudon, NH, on ESPN. They are providing continual coverage, or NASCAR NONSTOP. When they play an advertisement, it is on the screen in a box that takes up more than half of the screen. The race coverage is in a much smaller screen.
I wonder how ESPN convinced advertisers that this was to their advantage. I certainly think it is. I do not usually show preference to advertising, but all things being equal, if I otherwise do not have a preference, I will use a NASCAR sponsor.
I wonder how ESPN convinced advertisers that this was to their advantage. I certainly think it is. I do not usually show preference to advertising, but all things being equal, if I otherwise do not have a preference, I will use a NASCAR sponsor.
Friday, August 26, 2011
Night Racing At Bristol, Tennessee
When I first started watching NASCAR racing, just about the only night race was at Bristol, Tennessee. The flash of the cars in the lights was exhilarating. It was so exciting! And it still is.
Bristol Motor Speedway http://www.bristolmotorspeedway.com/ is set in the northeast corner of Tennessee. It is called the tri-state area, as it is near Virginia and Kentucky, and there is a twin city of Bristol, Virginia. The area is also called Thunder Valley. I have been to see the racetrack: it is impressive to see the expanded highways around the track to manage the traffic. This has to be a financial gold mine for the area.
The racetrack has a store where race memorabilia can be purchased. The racetrack looks like a high walled bowl. It is a half mile race track, so you can imagine how quickly the laps pass during these races. Sometimes, they get bogged down by too many cautions. But there is a lot of action. Cars can make up multiple lost laps. There is a lot of bumping and bagging. And the finishes very often are action packed and close. Good racing.
Bristol Motor Speedway http://www.bristolmotorspeedway.com/ is set in the northeast corner of Tennessee. It is called the tri-state area, as it is near Virginia and Kentucky, and there is a twin city of Bristol, Virginia. The area is also called Thunder Valley. I have been to see the racetrack: it is impressive to see the expanded highways around the track to manage the traffic. This has to be a financial gold mine for the area.
The racetrack has a store where race memorabilia can be purchased. The racetrack looks like a high walled bowl. It is a half mile race track, so you can imagine how quickly the laps pass during these races. Sometimes, they get bogged down by too many cautions. But there is a lot of action. Cars can make up multiple lost laps. There is a lot of bumping and bagging. And the finishes very often are action packed and close. Good racing.
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