After the free concert in Central Park, I got on the New York Subway to Queens to check out Citi Field. The neighborhood around the stadium is pretty grim, but inside Citi Field is one of the nicest ballparks I’ve ever seen.

As you enter the main entrance you head up an escalator and at the top are giant baseball cards showing you the Mets starting lineup for the day. These are real cards, not a video projection, so someone has to physically change these every day. The cards pictured here are from the 2012 Topps set. I’m guessing they have new ones each year.

From left to right the cards are:
Kirk Nieuwenhuis
Daniel Murphy
David Wright
Lucas Duda
Ike Davis
Scott Hairston
Omar Quintanilla
Josh Thole
RA Dickey

The actual starting lineup ended up being different so I don’t know if there was a late change or if they just try to predict the starting lineup with the cards since they have to have it in place more than a couple hours before the game, and the real starting lineup isn’t usually announced until about an hour before the game.

Posted on July 29th, 2012 under Other. Tags: baseball, mets, new york, nikon d7000, Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8 Lens for Nikon. Comments Off on Today’s Topps Starting Lineup

Today’s photo was taken on my trip to Newport Beach, California back in April. I took it from the same location as this one about an hour and a half later.

Posted on July 28th, 2012 under Other. Tags: beach, california, laguna beach, night photography, nikon d7000, Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8 Lens for Nikon. Comments Off on Laguna Beach surf and stars

My Oakland A’s have been crazy good this past month, moving from playing under .500 baseball to the third best record in the American League. They have, by far, the best record in baseball during July. Last night their offense came to life in Toronto, beating the Blue Jays 16-0. Next Saturday I’m going to see them in Oakland against the very same Toronto Blue Jays. I can’t wait.

Today’s photo is of Josh Reddick, who has been one of the few bright spots in Oakland’s offense. I took this back in April in Anaheim. Reddick is currently slugging more than 50 points above his career average, which is saying a lot since he has moved from hitter-friendly Fenway Park to the pitching heaven of Oakland.

Posted on July 26th, 2012 under Other. Tags: AF-S NIKKOR 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II, baseball, nikon d7000, oakland. Comments Off on The A’s are on fire

It’s that time of year again. Travel Essentials is doing their annual photo contest, and I need to choose my entries. I have entered and made the cut each of the past four years but have yet to make it into the top two. I need your help. What two photos should I submit this year? A few of my favorites are below, but maybe you have seen one on this blog you like more. If so, let me know which one(s). In any event, rank the ones below by leaving a comment so I can get an idea which two will be the best to submit.

#1

#2

#3

#4

#5

#6

Posted on July 25th, 2012 under Other. Tags: nikon d7000, photography, Travel. Comments: 4

Tonight on “The Colbert Report” Mike Tyson was supposed to be the guest, but he bailed. In his place Stephen Colbert interviewed Vikram Gandhi who is the director and star of Kumaré, a movie about a fake religious guru done in sort of a Borat style. We happened to see this movie while in New York last month, at the IFC Center near Washington Square. After the movie, Vikram, a couple of the producers, and one of Kumare’s followers in the movie (the overweight, single mom) came out and fielded questions from the audience.

Unfortunately, you can’t see this movie at most movie theaters yet. Nor is it available on DVD. I really liked much of it even if some critics have not been so kind.

Posted on July 23rd, 2012 under Other. Tags: new york, nikon d7000, Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8 Lens for Nikon. Comments Off on Vikram Gandhi of “Kumare” movie fame on The Colbert Report