Rotten Mac

Female Japanese knuckleball pitcher signs with American baseball team

Sometimes article ideas are right under my nose. I found this article at work last night in the break room. The San Francisco Examiner, torn, abused and missing many of its pages lie in front of me as I eat my peanut butter and jelly sandwich. At the bottom was a short article that read, “Female Japanese knuckleballer lands in America”.

Her name is Eri Yoshida and she is just 18 years old. She stands 5-foot, 114-lbs and became Japans first female professional baseball player last year for the Kobe Cruise 9 in the Kansai Independent League when she was drafted in the 7th round. Eri recently signed a deal with the Chico Outlaws of the Golden Baseball league here in Northern California after playing in the Arizona Winter League recently. She hopes to make her way to Major League Baseball here in the states or in Japan someday. Being that I was a pitcher in my prime and will always have the heart of a pitcher, I will certainly keep an eye on the career of this young talent.

To see the Chico Outlaws Baseball Club 2010 Schedule, click here the link below: http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/schedule/?t_id=1517

ESPN coverage of Eri Yoshida

YouTube video from Japan showcasing Eri Yoshida

Links to other articles about Eri Yoshida.
http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/?id=4006370

http://espn.go.com/sportsnation/post/_/id/4961290/

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/04/09/eri-yoshida-female-pitche_n_531452.html

Exit Through The Gift Shop | A must see movie by renowned graffiti artist: BANSKY

This movie gets FIVE MINDS.

“No matter what you are into, this movie is a must see!”

Mother’s Day 2010 was great. I bought my mom a card, a bouquet of flowers, and a nice broach that she liked. We went to breakfast at The Grove on Fillmore, an independent movie at the Embarcadero Theatre, and bowling in the Presidio. It all made my mom very happy and that is what Mother’s Day is all about. But the real highlight surprise for me was the movie my mom chose to see. It was called “Exit Through The Gift Shop” by world renowned graffiti artist BANSKY. My mom chose a graff movie!? Awesome!! After all those years of her disciplining me for sneaking out of the house in the morning or staying out late from bombing, and now she wants to see a graff movie. Go figure. My mom has really evolved and I love that about her.

In short the movie is about this savant/genius type frenchman by the name of Thierry Guetta who has always been obsessed with filming every moment of his life. He films his family, his friends, his work, everything. One day he travels back to France to visit family and discovers his cousin is a street artist by the name of “Space Invader”. He becomes passionate about filming his cousin doing art and winds up meeting many of the worlds underground street artists like Sheppard Fairey, SWOON, ZEVS, etc. He films them all. He goes on missions with them. He climbs buildings and billboards and even helps them carry their tools and install their art on walls. Basically he becomes the the unofficial filmmaker to the worlds street artists. He may even become one himself.

No matter what you are into, My Mind Spray recommends you watch “Exit Through The Gift Shop”. It’s a must see and we give it FIVE MINDS.

Below is the first five minutes of the movie for your viewing pleasure. If you don’t see this movie in your lifetime, I can’t do nothing else for you.

Use your turn signal and you won’t be considered a moron driver

Hello friends,

As a driver of an automobile, I take it very seriously. I want to share something I’m sure we all see and go through every day while driving our own vehicles. Its the use of turn signals. It seems most of us use our turn signals on a regular basis. But there are many who don’t, and it really chaps my hide! It’s a simple task really. If I want to change lanes, I flip on my turn signal. If I want to enter or exit a freeway I use my turn signal. If I’m slowing to look for parking, I flip on my turn signal. It’s purely a simple method of communicating with other drivers and pedestrians to make life a little less stressful for everyone. For example this morning after dropping my lady off at work, I’m driving home in the fast lane down the i280 from San Francisco to Daly City when a person changes into my lane. He does so because he was catching up on the person in front of him as I was closing in on his gap. Now I don’t mind this at all but he failed to use his turn signal as he cut in to my driving space. I didn’t have to hit my brakes but I did have to let off the gas pedal to not run into him. I’m sure this driver is a very nice person but at this moment I considered him a moron. More on this topic to come, I’m sure.

Driving a vehicle is not secondary | Keep your eyes (and brain) on the road!

To me, driving is not a right. Its a privilege. Unfortunately in the U.S.A. there’s a glitch in the system. A glitch that is giving thousands of unqualified drivers the privilege to drive everyday. What is it about getting behind the wheel of an automobile that makes people so stupid? Is driving that repetitive and tedious, that we put ourselves on what I call, “driving on auto pilot”? How are people passing their drivers-ed classes yet still driving like total morons? It makes me crazy and I can’t stand it anymore! But no matter how crazy people drive, while I’m behind the wheel, I won’t make driving secondary.

Today is a big day in your life. Today you will begin to learn to drive decisively always. Make driving the main priority right now and every time you get behind the wheel of an automobile. Stop thinking about your next phone call or email or text. Quit fiddling with your iPhone every five minutes, put your personal problems on hold and focus on what is in front of you while behind the wheel. “What is in front of me”? three or four of you morons might ask? I can think of three off the top of my head. 1. Thousands of other drivers who control their very own 2,000-5000 pound hunk of steel on wheels are in front of you. 2. Pedestrians (aka precious human lives) are in front of you. 3. Valuable street signals, signs and specially marked roads to get you from point A to point B without jeopardizing the lives of everyone else are in front of you.

Here’s a list to follow when driving a car.

• Adjust both side mirrors and rear view mirror.

• Adjust seat to straight up position and make sure you can see over the wheel.

• Drive with your hands on the 10 o’clock and 2 o’clock part of steering wheel.

• Use turn signals (hand signals are always good to).

• Communicate with other drivers and pedestrians.

• Scan 10-15 seconds ahead at all times.

• Maintain visibility down the road (ie: get out from behind those big trucks!).

• Know the dimensions of your own vehicle.

• Learn to parallel park.

• Don’t talk or text on your phone.

• Set mp3 player or radio before you take off.

• Learn to drive stick.

• Don’t drive slow in the fast lane.

• Respect cyclists and pedestrians.

• Keep your car in excellent shape.

• Know what “Yellow Zones”, “Green Zones”, “Red Zones”, “Blue Zones” mean

This is my my second article about driving. My first article is “How to find a parking spot | It never takes me more than 10 minutes”

American Masters: Sam Cooke “Crossing Over” | One of My Mind’s favorite singers of all time

Please take an hour of your time to visit the life and times of one of America’s favorite soul singers of all time. This man had everything to do with bringing people together. Sam Cooke was a pioneer in his industry. He was one of the first Gospel singers to crossover to pop, but he did it his way. He influenced the careers of so many people and opened the minds of so many others. Ever since I was a little kid in the 80′s, I’ve been listening to Sam Cooke thanks to my mother and I continue to learn more and more about this great man even today. This Documentary celebrates San Cooke’s life, his accomplishments and his hardships like no other has. I’m so thankful for the  man named Sam Cooke. He has influenced my life profoundly. I hope that he can do the same for yours.

American Masters: Sam Cooke – “Crossing Over” from The Smoking Section on Vimeo.