The OCD, Random Walk Post of the Year

I'm basically a pretty simple man; my thoughts, when not of wife, son, family, or job, tend to wander towards politics, sports (mostly baseball), travel, and numbers.

This random walk ties at least of few of those together.

We recently returned from a trip to Hawaii and California, which was my home state for most of my adult life.  Our rental car had the California licence plate 6YSE842.  Not terribly interesting. At least to the real "99 per cent" of people.

But it got me to thinking.

California, like many states, issues its licence plates in alpha-numeric order.  Very soon, the state will exhaust its supply of plates of "6" series (i.e., 6ABC123), and roll into the "7" series.  I am not sure when the final allocation - 6ZZZ999 - will be stamped and issued from Sacramento, but if it hasn't, it will in all certainty be in 2012.

Also, like many combinations - and area codes come to mind - there is a finite number of number/letter combinations.  For six digit plates, that's 26**3 (for the ABC portion) x 1000 (for the 123 portion).  That's approximately 17.5 million combinations, though I suspect some embarrassing three-letter combinations are not made.

When I was born, California had just reached the end of its famous "black plate" run (yellow letters/numbers stamped on a black, steel base).  ZZZ-999 was issued in late 1969:

Sample California "Black Plate" from 1969

These plates are considered highly collectible to classic car owners, largely because in 1970, when the next series was issued, the state no longer required owners to surrender their plates to register.  Hence, a car that had been purchased during its run (1963-1969) and has remained in the Golden State, will likely still sport its California bona fides to prove it's truly a "California car." 

In 1969/1970, with all 17.5 million combinations issued, the state swapped the order from ABC-123 to 123-ABC, and issued its iconic blue and gold set:

The Plate that Made California Famous

Incidentally, this is the format/colour that the licence plates took when I was a small child living in Southern California.

This change bought Sacramento some time, but by 1982, the California DMV had again reached its limit, and faced a formatting challenge.

The solution was to revert back to the ABC-123 formats used between 1956 and 1969, but with a twist.  A seventh place-holder was introduced at the start, and the 1ABC234 format was born.  The base plate of gold on blue was kept, but the state had crossed the seven-digit rubicon.

The Plate that Saved Sacramento

This numbering format has been in place ever since.

So, between 1956 and 1969, California used an ABC-123 scheme.  Approximately 13 years.

From 1969 to 1982, a 123-ABC scheme sufficed. Again, about 13 years.

The state, needless to say, has continued to add people, and thus, drivers.

The '1' series (basically, an entire ABC-123 run) was exhausted by 1988.  Six years.

The '2' series concluded with 2ZZZ999 in 1992.  Four years.

My first car was registered in February 1993, 3BXE321.  I purchased another vehicle and registered it in October 1995; its plate was 3TSR355.  I rolled a "4" series plate (4DNT473) in June of 2000, and a 5 (5EXE236) in November 2003.

My Very First Car Had This Rather Boring Format

I've done some quick calculations, and the state basically is exhausting its runs every 3.7 years or so.  Put another way, in just about 11 years from now, the final seven digit plate - 9ZZZ999 - is going to be stamped.

I may be alone in being curious to see what scheme the DMV are going to try.

I Read the News Today; Oh Boy!

The president has sponsored a web site - I suppose to foster support for his re-election - depicting the imagined life of a CGI-generated person.  The hypothetical person is dubbed "Julia" in the spot.

It's perfect, really.  A made-up person, created to win four more years for a Walter Mitty president, using make-believe accomplishments as evidence.

Aside from the general creepiness of the ostensible cradle-to-grave socialism ("the government" enables utter bliss for "Julia" at each step of the way) and flat-out twisting of reality ("Julia" remains as a student on her parents' medical insurance - part of the "reform" forced on us - until she is 26.  Yes; there are PLENTY of people who spend EIGHT YEARS in college.  Like Senator Blutarksy.  But then, Bluto only had "seven years of college down the drain.") is the choice of name for the fake person.

The Future Senator, Who Now Can
Remain on his Parents' Insurance

"Julia" is the name of a Beatles song, written by John Lennon about his mother.  The opening line, "Half of what I say is meaningless."

Who said Mr Obama has no sense of irony?

Strictly by the Numbers (Almost)

The first month of the baseball season (plus one game) is in the books.  The Blue Jays ended April at 12-11, with a 4-1 loss to the Texas Rangers and their Japanese-Iranian (how often do you get to say that?) phenom Yu Darvish.  The Rangers paid more than one hundred million dollars to get Yu, who has thus far impressed.  Toronto had been in the running for his services, but as it turned out, nine figures, US, was a bit too spendy.

Anyhow, the Jays are now 13-11 after last night's improbable come-from-behind win that featured another blown save by Francisco Cordero, three home runs - of which two hit the top of the wall before exiting the SkyDome, and four (4) GIDPs.

The Jays have muddled through 24 games, a couple of games ahead of where they were last year, (11-13) at this stage.

With the four double plays (and it could have been five had the Rangers brought any semblance of a defence to the game), Toronto now leads the majors in GIDPs, with 27 in 24 games.  Only two other teams (KC and Florida, er, Miami) have more than one GIDP per game.

The bullpen has converted only four saves in 10 opportunities.  Only one other team - Anaheim - has as many games wasted by the bullpen.  I wonder if the GM has Tom Henke's number?  Can The Terminator still pitch despite pushing 60?

For those un-initiated in the confluence of small sample sizes and high variance, the Jays have at this point largely done a 180 degree turn from last season.  In the first week of May 2011, the team could not win a day game, playing 3-13 under the natural light of the sun.  This year, they are 8-2.  Under the lights, in May 2011, Toronto was 12-6.  With last night's win, they are now 5-9.  Pretty close to a total reversal.

It's a long season, and with the Yankees starting to show some age, Boston appearing close to a civil war in the clubhouse, and the addition of an extra playoff spot, who knows?

If the 3-4 hitters (Bautista and Lind) can get their collective batting average above the Mendoza line, and the bullpen can be convinced that they are not out there to throw BP, this may be the year.

How Old in Dog Years

Two nights ago, Colorado Rockies' pitcher Jamie Moyer pitched seven strong innings in defeating the San Diego Padres 5-2.

Moyer at 49 years of age (he will be 50 in November) thus became the oldest man ever to win a major league baseball game, breaking an 80 year old record.  For the curious, that record was set by Jack Quinn, of the Brooklyn Dodgers.

It's truly a remarkable feat.

Jamie Moyer made his major league debut in 1986, facing off and defeating the Philadelphia Phillies.  His opposing pitcher that day?  Steve Carlton.

To put it in perspective, six of the players on the San Diego roster were not even born when Moyer made his debut.  The Rockies themselves did not start play for nearly another decade.

Here is the box score for the June, 1986 game:

Batting	AB	R	H	RBI	SO
Tom Foley PH-SS	1	0	0	0	0
Ron Roenicke CF	4	1	3	0	0
Greg Gross PH-LF	0	0	0	0	0
Mike Schmidt 1B	5	1	1	1	1
Von Hayes LF-1B	3	1	2	1	0
Juan Samuel 2B	4	1	2	1	0
Rick Schu 3B	4	1	1	0	0
Darren Daulton PH-C	1	0	0	0	0
Jeff Stone PH	1	0	0	0	0
Glenn Wilson RF	5	0	1	0	1
John Russell C	2	0	0	0	1
Steve Jeltz SS	3	0	0	1	0
Steve Carlton P	2	0	0	0	0
Don Carman P	0	0	0	0	0
Tom Hume P	0	0	0	0	0
Kent Tekulve P	0	0	0	0	0
Team Totals	35	5	10	4	3

Pitching	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO
Steve Carlton, L (4-8)	3.2	6	4	4	4	2
Tom Hume	1.1	3	2	2	0	2
Kent Tekulve	2	1	1	1	1	1
Don Carman	1	0	0	0	0	1
Team Totals	8	10	7	7	5	6

Batting	AB	R	H	RBI
Davey Lopes 3B	2	1	0	1
Shawon Dunston SS	5	0	1	2
Ryne Sandberg 2B	4	0	2	1
Keith Moreland RF	4	2	2	0
Gary Matthews LF	4	0	2	0
Jay Baller P	0	0	0	0
Jody Davis C	0	0	0	0
Leon Durham 1B	4	1	1	2
Jerry Mumphrey CF-LF	4	1	2	1
Steve Lake C	3	1	0	0
Lee Smith P	0	0	0	0
Jamie Moyer P	2	1	0	0
Dave Martinez CF	1	0	0	0
Team Totals	33	7	10	7

Pitching	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO
Jamie Moyer, W (1-0)	6.1	8	5	4	3	2
Jay Baller, H (5)	1	1	0	0	2	0
Lee Smith, S (9)	1.2	1	0	0	0	1
Team Totals	9	10	5	4	5	3

Also on the Cubs' roster that day (though not playing) was Ron Cey.  Terry Francona was also on the Phillies at the time.  The losing pitcher (Carlton) began his career in 1965, in a game where Francona's father pinch hit. Carlton came on as a reliever for Bob Gibson.


In the nearly 26 years since, Moyer has pitched more than four thousand innings, and allowed 513 home runs, the most in the history of the game.

Moyer is a year younger than President Obama.  He's three years older than John F Kennedy was when Kennedy was murdered in 1963.

I'm 42 years old - seven years younger than Moyer.  I'm not a professional athlete to be fair, but I try to stay in some sort of shape.  I get a stiff neck from lifting my suitcases.

He doesn't look a day over 100.

100 Years - How Times Change

This past Saturday night/Sunday morning - the 14th and 15th of April - were the 100th anniversary of one of the most talked-about events of modern times.  No, not Snookie's impending maternity.

The calamity of the striking of an iceberg by the RMS Titanic and its subsequent sinking in the north Atlantic ocean in 1912.  The event, most recently "famous" from the James Cameron movie, occurred over several hours in the evening, the strike occurring just before midnight on the 14th, with the ship sinking about three hours later. Of course, as is well-known, about 1500 people perished, mostly succumbing to hypothermia in the cold water.

Setting aside Jack and Rose, my own memories of the ship centre on two things.

First, my father, who when I was a young child, had as a hobby, making small Revel models, mostly of WWI model planes.  Until my mother sold our home last year, I believe a model of Baron von Richtofen's red Fokker DR. I triplane, still hung from the ceiling of my brother James's room.  One of my dad's favourite models was a scale replica of the Titanic, and I remember him telling us many times the story of the ship.  Oddly, when discussing the sinking recently with my own six year old son, he asked the same question I remember asking my own father - when the people hit the water, why didn't they just climb out onto the iceberg?

Six year old logic remains somewhat constant, even if times do not.

The second is the Camp Hill Cemetery in my mother's home town of Halifax, in Nova Scotia, Canada.  Many of the bodies were not recovered in 1912, and in the cemetery is a large memorial to those lost at sea, Halifax being the closest city to the wreck site.  Walking from my mother's childhood home in Halifax to the Public Gardens adjacent to the cemetery, we would pause to look at the marker and listen to my father's stories about the ship.

At the centennial of the sinking, I am reminded how things have changed.  Compare the recent behaviour of the captain of the Italian cruise ship Costa Concordia, which recently ran aground in the Mediterranean Sea - who ran away as fast as he could, abandoning his ship - with Captain Edward Smith.  Or even better, those of passengers such as Mr and Mrs Isidor Straus, the owners of Macy's department stores.  Mr Straus, a first-class passenger, was offered a seat in one of the precious few lifeboats, but refused - the rules of the day dictating "women and children first."  His wife abandoned her own seat in the boats, commenting, "As we have lived, so shall we die.  Together."

To my mind's eye, the event is best summed up by Thomas Hardy's poem The Convergence of the Twain.

Well: while was fashioning 

This creature of cleaving wing,

The Immanent Will that stirs 

       and urges everything

Prepared a sinister mate

For her--so gaily great--

A Shape of Ice, for the time

          fat and dissociate.

And as the smart ship grew

In stature, grace, and hue

In shadowy silent distance

       grew the Iceberg too.

Alien they seemed to be:

No mortal eye could see

The intimate welding of

       their later history.

  

Or sign that they were bent

By paths coincident

On being anon twin halves

       of one August event,

Till the Spinner of the Years

Said "Now!" And each one hears,

And consummation comes,

       and jars two hemispheres.