Double Sessions

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By on August 25, 2011

[This Commentary originally appeared in the August 23, 1990 issue of The Mendon-Honeoye Falls-Lima Sentinel.]

CarosaCommentaryNewLogo_259The early mornings of late August forebode the coming end of summer. A slight chill remains above the heavy wet grass until the sun gets high enough to melt the dew. Take a deep breath and you will notice the smell of the season has changed. The dry dustiness has been replaced by a soft gentle odor reminiscent of spring.

Late August mornings encourage us to Continue Reading “Double Sessions”

Posted in Memoir of a Real Life, The Compleat Carosa Commentaries Tagged , ,

Some Silly Thoughts…

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By on April 14, 2011

[This Commentary originally appeared in the April 12, 1990 issue of The Mendon-Honeoye Falls-Lima Sentinel.]

 

CarosaCommentaryNewLogo_259Yes, I’ve lived in Western New York all my life, but the crazy April snowstorms we get still strike me as silly. “April showers bring May flowers.” I can’t recall any lyrics dealing with April snowstorms.

Once silliness infiltrates my mind, it doesn’t require a whole lot of effort for other absurdities to encroach upon the various unemployed synapses and neurons. For material, one merely needs to review current events…  Continue Reading “Some Silly Thoughts…”

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The Greatest Game Ever… So Far!

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By on February 1, 2011

The game has come to define my life. You won’t find my name in any record books or even on many rosters, but the game flows through my very blood. Indeed, the Peter_Sports_Cover_300fact I don’t appear within any organized log tells you most of the story. But this, this is a different story.

Gary Trudeau once said we have become a nation of play-by-play announcers. We see life as a narrated live action event. It therefore doesn’t help things that, among the many paths I’ve taken, includes that of actually serving as a play-by-play announcer. But, rather than dwelling on a “voice of God” describing the action, what stands out in my memory remains the visions of modest, yet self-satisfying, glory. Picture not the booming baritone of NFL Films, but the dramatic slow-motion dénouement of a Hollywood picture.

It’s the littlest things I remember: The enormous body floating silently above me that Continue Reading “The Greatest Game Ever… So Far!”

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“Hey! You’re Not Supposed to Do That!”

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By on December 7, 2010

Screamed the older woman to the group of middle schoolers playing football in the middle of the astroturfed field house. The field house was the University of 585059_95438463_Robot_Football_stock_xchng_royalty_free_300Rochester’s Goergen Athletic Center. The tweens – both boys and girls – were members of various Lego robotics teams. The woman was a coach for one of the teams. Apparently, her concern involved something about the potential of a football crashing into someone’s fragile plastic robot – a potential never realized despite the footballers ignoring her plea.

But, think about the setting before you off-handedly flip the page.

Earlier in the day, at the morning coaches meeting, one of the coaches labeled the Continue Reading ““Hey! You’re Not Supposed to Do That!””

Posted in It's a Nerd's World Tagged , ,

Rediscovering the Fighter Jock

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By on September 7, 2010

The weatherman had threatened early snow unsuccessfully for more than a week now, so it comes as no surprise when the early morning rain turns to wet snow. Rediscovering_the_Fighter_Jock_300Still, the first snow always startles, and I pause in observance before entering my cherry red Z-28. I imagine slippery conditions as I pull from the Camaro from my driveway, but by the time I travel the more than twenty miles to the field, only a faint rain precipitates from the clouds.

The fullness of fall could only mean football, a ritualistic pastime beyond the understanding of most of those who play – and impossible to fathom for those who don’t.

*                              *                              *

I can’t remember when self-doubt originally entered my mind. Certainly, years of hard Continue Reading “Rediscovering the Fighter Jock”

Posted in Memoir of a Real Life Tagged , ,

Mary Anne was Wrong! The Truth Behind Character and Destiny

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By on June 21, 2010

Pondering the meaning of character one evening, I stumbled upon the much quoted citation from George Eliot (whose real name was Mary Anne Evans) in her 1176484_94344918_novel_character_royalty_free_stock_xchng_300masterpiece The Mill on the Floss (1860): “Character is Destiny.” Curiosity getting the better of me, and knowing the exertion would prove effortless, I dug deeper to discover the full context of the quote. It revealed a wonderful irony. It also led to a deeper mystery.

Here’s what Mary Anne wrote:

“Character,” says Novalis, in one of his questionable aphorisms – “Character is Destiny.”

First, let’s get to the beautiful piece of irony. Ol’ Mary Anne apparently didn’t even like Continue Reading “Mary Anne was Wrong! The Truth Behind Character and Destiny”

Posted in Gray Matter Musings Tagged , , , , ,

The Moment That at Once Created and Destroyed Johnny Unitas – a Book Review of The Best Game Ever by Mark Bowden

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By on February 3, 2010

The_Best_Game_Ever_250In an America long ago, boys, after faithfully completing their homework and their chores, once gathered in sandlots across the countryside. As leaves gently fell in the damp autumn air, they’d pick teams – always as even as possible to make it fair – and stake off a field with imaginary (or sometimes natural) markers. They’d then huddle around a spare spot of dusty dirt a few yards behind a well weathered football, draw up a play, break, snap, run, jump and laugh. This repeated endlessly, or at least someone’s mother called “Dinnertime!”

Electronics had yet to invade our youthful agenda. Except for an occasional coonskin cap, the only media (and this one was on paper) that universally influenced young boys dealt with the witty way Tom Sawyer got his friends to whitewash that fence. Even popular shows like “Howdy Doody” pointed children to outdoor activities.

That was then. Now, you sit on the edge of your seat, anxious and excited at the same time. It’s a ritual being played out all throughout the land. In living rooms, bars and just about any place capable of holding a large screen TV and a tableful of crunchy snacks, we share this national experience – the Superbowl – fanatics and neophytes alike.

Why? What fascinates us about this game? Why have television networks, advertisers and promotional campaigns paid so much to affiliate themselves with this singular event?

Continue Reading “The Moment That at Once Created and Destroyed Johnny Unitas – a Book Review of The Best Game Ever by Mark Bowden”

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Day 16 – November 29, 2009 (Sun): Post a Discussion Tweet

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By on November 30, 2009

Start of Day Twitter Stats: Follow: 98 Followers: 86 Listed: 5

Missed yesterday? Go here to read what happened on Day 15 – November 28, 2009 (Sat): Post a Link Tweet

twitter_power_joel_comm_150Wow. I blocked my first follower today. I don’t get it. Why do these types of spammers spam? I could understand legitimate businesses. For instance, I must have made a comment on video games on Friday because I got a bunch of gamer followers as a result (as well as @Santaclaus_2012). I’ve heard from others Twitter needs to control spam or face extinction. Hey! That’s a great discussion! I’ll tweet it right now…

(Hours later.) @leedrake was the only response. He brought up a great point. While e-mail is permission based, Twitter is not. In other words, caveat emptor. I’m still not sure what that means in the end for Twitter, because sometimes buyers prefer to embrace laziness. They don’t want to take the time to “beware” and often prefer some middle-man take care of all the nasty stuff.

I did get into an interesting back and forth about Einstein with @susanbeebe. But, that was the extent of my discussions. I guess too many people spent the day watching football. I got a little of the same in (along with some male bonding with my son), but the bulk of the day saw me writing the script for the AstronomyTop100.com official Top Ten Countdown Awards Show scheduled for this coming Friday night.

I’ve now passed the half-way point in this experiment and I can tell you one early conclusion: I possess no desire to fritter my life on Twitter.

How many followers do you think I’ll have after 30 days? Click here to enter your guess on my Survey Monkey survey “Chris Carosa’s 30-Day Plan to Dominate Twitter Experiment.” There’s no prize, but the fan who guesses the closest correct number the earliest will “win” and I’ll mention you if you want me to.

Find out today’s results on Find out today’s results on Day 17 – November 30, 2009 (Mon): Post an Action Tweet

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Day 9 – November 22, 2009 (Sun): Ask a Question

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By on November 22, 2009

Start of Day Twitter Stats: Follow: 44 Followers: 35 Listed: 0

Missed yesterday? Go here to read what happened on Day 8 – November 21, 2009 (Sat): Add More Followers

twitter_power_joel_comm_150As luck would have it, the Buffalo Bills played Jacksonville today. With a new coach and some free time during the game, I figured this would be a great topic to ask a question.

OK, I tried asking a question:

ChrisCarosa @thurmanthomas Watcha know about Parrish’s sudden appearance?

41 minutes ago from web in reply to thurmanthomas

I waited a while and watched a little more of the Bills game. When I returned, I found I got nothing, so I tried this one:

Continue Reading “Day 9 – November 22, 2009 (Sun): Ask a Question”

Posted in 30-Days to Dominate Twitter Experiment Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
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