Fantasy Baseball

In a few hours, our draft in the Champs of Summer fantasy baseball league starts. This is about the 18th year I've been playing, but I've never won a championship. I finished second once.

To win in this league (we have 12 teams this year), you have to draft players carefully. But I have not had the time or the energy to prepare this year, so I will draft according to the options Yahoo presents me, round by round.

I will probably finish near the bottom of the league but it will still be fun for me.

Such is playing the game!

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My Conservative Side

At yesterday's filming of KQED Newsroom, my favorite guest, Sean Walsh, a Republican consultant, commented on my new look, now I have short hair (courtesy of Laila), and no beard (courtesy of Peter).

"Slap a red tie on you and you could be a Republican!" said Sean.

I loved that.

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Like an Iceberg

There were three of us who were the principal founders of CIR -- Lowell Bergman, Dan Noyes and me. All men.

But Tamara Baltar also played a key role as our first administrator. In those days men got the credit while women did the grunt work.

Thank god the world has changed somewhat since then. I have always hoped my three daughters would every much the opportunities than my three sons have.

Dan, Tamara and I have been in touch this week about tributes to Lowell. As I told Dan: "We've reached the age when memories swamp any future expectations."

That's part of what it is to be old. The future is like the tip of an iceberg. Most of your life is below sea-level.

The past is a tricky thing. As I contemplate crafting my memoir, I have to resist any impulse to romanticize the past. Times were often difficult. The fact I was successful at times obscures what it took to be so.

I guess I'll have to figure out that balance...
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Tribute

To my old friend Lowell Bergman, who is retiring. Here is the video.

Pi Day

There aren't that many public tributes to math in our society but today, 3.14, is widely known as "Pi Day."

Since ancient times, scientists and mathematicians have recognized the unique nature of pi. At KQED and many other companies, employees are encouraged to bake pies and bring them to work on March 14th.

Today, I had a bit of berry and apple pies in celebration of pi.

And above is a special treat -- my grandson Luca reciting the first 21 digits of pi!

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Birthday Party Sunday

(Peter and Bettina Rose)

Today we gathered in San Jose for my daughter Sarah's birthday. We had Korean BBQ -- thin slices of meat cooked on an electric griddle. Delicious! All seven grandchildren were there and they play together so well it is a joy to see them. Cousins!

As Peter drove me, Claire and Bettina up and down the peninsula on 280, we kept encountering patches of rain sometimes light and sometimes heavy. The hills were so green. The cows were grazing. The sky was full of large clouds white and gray.

Bettina slept in her carseat.

As we re-entered the city late this afternoon, the rains ceased and the sun came out.

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