61*

On a cold, windy night, warmth in the form of a lovely meal -- papaya, avocado, and scallop salad; duck spring rolls with green mango sauce; New Zealand lamb chops; and seafood gumbo.

Yum. San Francisco cuisine.

For BNET, I investigated blogging in China. Click on the title of this post if you are interested in that piece.

It's a good time for another ring on the tree. I'm watching the fastest human being on the planet, Eugenio Velez, one of the baby Giants in the post-Bonds era, run the bases, and hoping to see the unknown rookie slugger, John Bowker, before this game is over.

All Bowker did was hit two home runs into the right field pavilion (Barry's old territory) and drive in seven runs in two games this weekend.

You don't have to be a baseball fan to appreciate the gifts and dreams of youth on display in China Basin this season.

Finally, as a birthday present, my fantasy teams both maintained their hold on first place tonight.

-30-

* - "61" is a baseball movie about Roger Maris and Mickey Mantle in 1961, when Maris broke Babe Ruth's all-time home run record. It's also my new age.