Reader's Notes - PN 2.6 - First Pitch

No Barcalounge Skipper for me on this year's All-Star Game -- I prefer a lower profile game and a more ordinary setting. But of all the coverage I've seen, I enjoyed Deadspin's presentation of the analyses of President Obama's work on the mound in throwing out the first pitch. Obama's an athletic guy (and a southpaw), and he certainly didn't embarrass himself, but his basketball roots clearly showed in his delivery.

Tommy Craggs's detailed Deadspin article is here, and don't neglect reading the comments.

Reader's Notes - PN 2.5 - Pareidolia

Over at Cracked.com I've gotten to like the commentary from Gladstone in his "Hate by Numbers" video blog, and today he tries to find something amusing to say about the mediaverse event of Michael Jackson's death. He happens upon a a story about a psychological phenomenon, cognitive bias, mental fallacy -- call it what you will -- named pareidolia, in which vague or random stimulus, particularly images or sounds, are interpreted as being significant. Do you remember the story of the Virgin Mary appearing on a grilled cheese sandwich? That's where we're going.

"Hate by Numbers" is a regular feature on Cracked.

Reader's Notes - PN 2.4 - Paul Gonsalves

On this date in 1920, the great tenor saxophonist Paul Gonsavles was born. When he died in 1974, Gonsalves was long associated with the composer and bandleader he played with for the better part of 24 years, Duke Ellington. Best known for the compelling 27 chorus solo he took during an Ellington number at the 1956 Newport Jazz Festival, he also had a fine touch with a ballad, and, in the decades after his death, has become to be seen as his own musician and not merely as a horn player with the Duke.

A more full biography of Gonsalves and a wide range of jazz coverage can be found at AllAboutJazz.com.