The Brooklyn Trolley Blogger: October 2016

Monday, October 31, 2016

Salem: Happy Halloween 2016

SALEM

Massachusetts

October 2016

Salem Witch Museum

ROGER CONANT

(1592-1679)

First Settler of Salem ~ 1629

Witch Dungeon Museum

Gallow's Hill and The Witch Gaol

During the witchcraft persecution of 1692, many of the accused were imprisoned here.

One of them, the aged Giles Cory (b.1611), was pressed to death on these grounds.

The Burying Point

SALEM

Witch Trials Memorial

Among the 19 hanged in 1692

Sarah Good - July 19

John Proctor - Aug.19

Alice and Mary Parker - Sept. 22

Happy Halloween

Sunday, October 30, 2016

PIGSKIN 2016: Week Eight

PIGSKIN

FOOTBALL SUNDAY

Week Eight

RESULTS

Week One

Week Two

Week Three

Week Four
No Week Five
Week Six

Week Seven

Week Seven Record: 6-7

Overall Record: 35-48-1
Schmear of the Week: 2-4
BAGELS in the Basket: -18

Okay, I'm off to my worst start in years. I'm particularly getting hammered on my Schmears of the Week (worth 3 bagels each). I have a lot of cooking to do.

Too bad this week's schedule offers little help. Welcome to This Week in NFL Parity. Said another way ... this week's spreads suck.

1st and Ten:

Now that Tom Brady is back, it's like he never left. The Patriots lead the NFL with a 6-1 record, and are the only team with six victories. New England has allowed the least points in the AFC, and are tied for fourth least in the NFL. Unless Big Ben gets back on the field for Pittsburgh, who can challenge the Patriots? The AFC West?

2nd and Short:

When did the Jaguars achieve a level where they fire sacrificial lambs? Firing their offensive coordinator is laughable. They've taken positive steps forward. Easy on the shortsightedness and be consistent.

No Gain:

The Cleveland Browns remain the lone team without a victory (0-7).
Is it me ... or does Joe Flacco seem to be just going through the motions?

PUNT..!

Maybe it's time for Roger Goodell to step down as commissioner after all. Oh, wait. He does the owner's bidding. Riiight. Right.

WEEK EIGHT
Friday Line ~ NYDN

Jets -3 (BROWNS)
If the Jets do not play with a sense of desperation, and fail to defeat the Browns in convincing fashion, then(!), I'll start pointing a finger at Todd Bowles. Entering the season, this was supposed to (at least) be a well balanced wild card contender (considering they play in the same division as the Patriots). In that vain, they have done one thing very consistently this season, and that's embarrass themselves. A potential loss against the Browns can not be quietly tucked away into the ongoing growth process file. Failing to defeat the Browns should warrant nothing short of an indictment.
PUSH 31-28 Jets

Ryan Fitzpatrick's benching last week (in favor of Geno Smith, whom wound up injuring himself) revealed the Jets now have at least two weak minded quarterbacks on their hands, and a third unknown lurking in the wings. Fitzpatrick's rather frank assessment regarding his benching, and his perceived status among the Jets hierarchy proved more revealing in more ways than one.

And while we're at it ... it appears as if Geno Smith has indeed played his last game with the New York Jets. Besides burning more bridges than a combat engineer in WWII, he's just not good. Or, he just isn't good here.

Bengals -3 (D.C. Hogs)* London
I would be cool if London fans protested Washington, Daniel Snyder, or both.
Loss 27-27 TIE

FALCONS -3 (Packers)
Defense? I'm thinking Falcons pull ahead in a shootout.
Loss 33-32 Falcons

TEXANS -2 1/2 (Lions)
Well, it's better than a PUSH. I'm looking for Detroit doing something to blow this game, more than I'm counting on Houston.
WIN 20-13 Texans

SAINTS +3 (Seahawks)
The Saints can still light up the scoreboard at home ... just not like they used to. Their inconsistency will enjoy a good week.
WIN 25-20 Saints

Patriots -6 (BILLS)
Buffalo might be able to get their hands on Brady the statue from time to time. But I'm just not picking against the Pats anymore.
WIN 41-25 Patriots

Raiders PK (BUCS)
Oakland's success on the road this season is enough for me. Only Raiders mistakes will allow the Bucs to hang around.
WIN 30-24 Raiders

Chiefs -3 (COLTS)
Gotta respect what the Colts did to the Titans last week ... unless you're the AFC's third ranked defense > > > Chiefs.
WIN 30-14 Chiefs

BRONCOS -4 1/2 (Chargers)
I can see being high on the Chargers after last week. But I'll stick with Denver's defense keeping Rivers in check in Mile High.
WIN 27-19 Broncos

Cardinals +3 (PANTHERS)
This game obviously screams rematch! But last place Carolina is coming off a bye, and desperate to turn their season around. Cam Cam the super man doesn't like speaking to the media when things aren't going well, though. Guess we won't be hearing much from him this week either.
Loss 30-20 Panthers

Eagles +4 1/2 (COWBOYS)
Because I need the Eagles to muddle the NFC East situation so as to keep my flawed Giants team in the mix.
Loss 29-23 Cowboys

Schmear of the Week: (2-4)
Raiders PK
WIN

Good luck, and have a great Football Sunday everyone!

Guten Appetit:

Home made potato chips, w/french onion dip. Grilled panini sandwiches >> provolone, chopped scallions, celery, red and green pepper, tomato.

Skirt steak w/chimichurri, and (my) pickled tomatoes, served over white rice, covered with oven stewed red potatoes, zucchini, carrots, sprinkled with fried garlic/onions bits.

Post Game
Week Eight Record: 6-4-1
Overall Record: 41-52-2
Schmear of the Week: 3-4
BAGELS in the Basket: -14

Saturday, October 22, 2016

The 2016 Mid-Atlantic Vintage Base Ball Festival

2016

MAVBBL FESTIVAL

Mid Atlantic Vintage Base Ball League

PARTICIPATING CLUBS

Atlantic Base Ball Club of Brooklyn
Diamond State Base Ball Club of Delaware
Eclipse Base Ball Club of Elkton, Maryland

Eckfords of Brooklyn Base Ball Club
Mutual Base Ball Club of New York
Providence Grays Base Ball Club

1864 Rules Base Ball

Vintage Base Ball Association

Saturday, October 15, 2016

On no finer Autumn afternoon, upon sun-bathed fields of resilient green, the Gentlemen of Summer convened on Long Island's Old Bethpage Village Restoration grounds for the 2016 Mid-Atlantic Vintage Base Ball Festival for purposes of declaring this season's club champion.

As top seeds, the Brooklyn Eckfords and Elkton Eclipse earned spectator rights during the festival's first round that featured action between the Brooklyn Atlantics versus the New York Mutuals and Diamond State's match against the Providence Grays.

A commanding Atlantics victory over the Mutuals earned them a second round match against the number two seed Elkton Eclipse. Following a likewise convincing performance over Providence, Diamond State moved on to challenge the the top seeded Eckford club.

Holding true to their regular season standing, both Elkton and the Eckfords gained victory over their respective opponents, setting up a much anticipated championship contest between the season's top clubs.

ROUND ONE
GAME ONE
Brooklyn Atlantics vs. New York Mutuals