Baghdad-by-the-Zoo survived another Independence Day. It seems the populace has dissed the louder fireworks for the more professional "puttin' on a show" types. Sounds better until you consider these amateurs have no idea how high these things go (some seemed awfully low before explosion time) or how windy it might be.

I spent most of the day by my Dad's. Where we tore into some burgers, ribs, corn-on-the-cob, slaw, baked beans, watermelon, and his famous iced tea. Later on, my brother and niece stopped by for some root beer floats using that Duetto ice cream. That's good stuff.

Of course, a highlight on July 4th is always watching Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest, probably the grossest thing I see all year. This was an event that was mainly seen as a taped special on Discovery for many years. They never hesitated to show people getting ill, known as a "reversal". Maybe not graphically, but you knew what was happening.

Since the four-letter has carried it live the last several years, it is reaching a much wider audience. The color announcer on these broadcasts is hilarious. The guy kills me every year. They had a faith-based contestant he described as the "Billy Graham of Ham". He called the defending champ, Joey Chestnut, the "Clay Aiken of Bacon" and alternatively, the "Chikezie of Greasy". He also said "They attack those dogs like Lindsay Lohan attacks a mini-bar." And the graphics for each contestant are great. The old-timer in the competition once ate a gallon-and-a-half of chili in 10 minutes. Good God!

Although I thought Kobayashi won, they called it a tie. He probably couldn't argue because his mouth was full. Then, it seemed rules were made on the fly (A Dog Off?) and Chestnut won again. Then I realized it's only a Hot Dog Eating Contest and decided to enjoy the moment.

Quote from the on-site announcer: “Gas is 5 dollars. You can’t eat tomatoes. But the Mustard Belt will stay in America and that’s good enough for me”.

But my favorite Kobayashi moment is from the late, lamented series "Man Vs. Beast". Kobayashi takes on a bear in a hot dog eating contest, but it's Michael Buffer's intro from the "main scene of cuisine" that has stuck with me since the day I heard it. Remember, the bear "doesn't know he's in a competition".



Meal of Links

All is not great working for Google. Take the price of in-house day care as an example.

This guy says Starbucks is getting what it deserves.

Ruhlman talks about cast iron for cooking. I don't have any presently, but have been thinking of grabbing a skillet. I was watching that PBS show, America's Test Kitchen and they had these selections.

Exercise Yard

I thought the Indians version of the Stars and Stripes cap looked spiffy last night. Too bad they suck. BTW, it's not that Joe Borowski was a bad signing. He was a bad signing for two years. That noodle of his just wasn't cutting it this year. See David Delucci for other signings that were too lengthy. Toronto was not forced to wear a Stars and Stripes cap, because the Blue Jays cap had the Maple Leaf.






















This is what modern athletics has to face with the steroid issue. Dana Torres becomes the oldest swimmer ever in the Olympics and it only takes one to pee on the parade.

The Tour de France starts today. Google Maps with the route.

Visitor

Not sure what that was in today's PD. Certainly not a Saturday crossword. Oh, Saturday's solution was in, just not the actual puzzle, which forced me to go online.

13 Down: Joe, first A.L. catcher to win a batting title (2006) (5 letters) Answer: Mauer ("The Chairman")