The Cubs and the new iPhone 4s

(Please click on the thumbnail above.)

You guys have seen this commercial, right?
Shows people walking around asking their iPhone 4s questions like, "What's my day like?" and it answers both verbally and with a page of information.
It's amazing.
I immediately took advantage of this commercial with my old, normal iPhone.
You can, too.
Even if you don't have the new iPhone, go into any public place and talk to your phone.
Trust me, you're cool.
In a crowded elevator, pull out your phone and just say, "What time is my meeting?"
Or even better, be specific yet vague with, "What time is my meeting with the President?"
Impressive?
You bet!

Couple weeks ago, my wife says, "Our phone contract is up, wanna get a new iPhone?"
Uh, YEAH!

Seriously, it's amazing.
Right now, I'm in New York.
The hotel I'm at charges $9 for a bottle of water, I don't even want to find out how much breakfast is.
So I got out my new iPhone and asked Siri, "Is there a McDonald's near me?"
Siri says, "I found 17 restaurants matching McDonald's. 14 of them are fairly close to you."
Like, a block away.
I swear, it's the coolest thing.

Then I'm back in my room and this idea (of the gif) pops into my head.
I pull out my phone and ask Siri: "Will the Cubs ever win the World Series?"
She (it's a woman's voice) responds, "Timothy, I don't understand "When will the Cubs win the World Series."
Which is correct, of course.

I don't understand it either.

Submitted by CubbyBlue on Wed, 11/16/2011 - 10:34am

Comments

Submitted by The Real Neal
on Wed, 11/16/2011 - 10:48am

The other funny thing about that commercial, if memory serves, is that the boy asks if it is going to snow, and the phone says yes, but the current temperature, and the high temperature for the day are both above freezing (like 34 and 39?). (and yes, I understand that the temperature could be falling, but it still looks like the phone is wrong)

Submitted by big_lowitzki
on Wed, 11/16/2011 - 11:51am

Ummm... it doesn't have to be below 32 degrees for it to snow.

Submitted by The Real Neal
on Wed, 11/16/2011 - 12:17pm

Technically, it does have to be 32 degrees or below for snow to form. That's the temperature water freezes at, and snow is just crystals of frozen water that group together.

Sometimes there will be some snow when "ground temperature" is warmer but it's not very likely, and the snow most likely would quickly, melt, so it's probably not what an eight year old boy is interested in. What he probably wants is a lot of snow, at least enough to play in, if not enough to get out of school, and for that you're going to want to be close to freezing, but below it.

In your proposed situation that 1. It is not snowing 2. That the temperature is 34 degrees and rising, snow is very unlikely. What happens when snow gets above 32 degrees is that it melts and becomes what we call "rain".

Here's some reading material for you.
http://ww2010.atmos.uiuc.edu/%28Gh%29/guides/...

Submitted by Jace
on Wed, 11/16/2011 - 12:22pm

WOW!!! TRN is BLATANTLY WRONG about something, yet refuses to acknowledge it...
The world just keep spinning...
Leave it to someone who lives in Houston to proclaim himself the authority on snow.
Snow forms way up the air, where it is often below freezing. However, once formed the snow tends to fall to elevations where it is NOT below freezing. This happens many times a year here in Denver. I am not just talking about the ground temperature. Perhaps you should stick to something with which you have at least some experience....

Submitted by The Real Neal
on Wed, 11/16/2011 - 12:31pm

It's really amazing that I spent years of time in preparation seeding the internet with all of this false information to win future arguments on TCR. I am TCR's version of God, creating "old bones" to lead the evolutionists into years hell. Just imagine all the money I am spending to keep all of these random internet sites running.

What did I say that was wrong, by the way?

This a flat out lie: "this happens many times a year here in Denver." There may be one or two times a year when you get accumulation with ground temperatures at 33 or above. Maybe.

Submitted by Ryno
on Wed, 11/16/2011 - 12:48pm

Water freezes at 32 degrees, yes. I think anyone who's passed 6th grade science could tell you that. It can snow when it is warmer. Usually has to be at most 36 degrees, but it's not a magical number or anything. I saw it snowing when it was 40 degrees one time. Of course, 40 degree snow will melt as soon as it lands on something, but it can happen.

Submitted by Newport
on Wed, 11/16/2011 - 12:50pm

It happens in Chicago too. Also, the temperature occasionally fluctuates 3-5 degrees from what your iPhone says. Like yourself, weathermen are not god either. How do you know the fictional eight year old boy wants accumulation? Maybe he just wants to watch it from the window in which he is standing.

Submitted by Jace
on Wed, 11/16/2011 - 2:34pm

Right... The guy in Houston knows more about what happens outside my window than I do... Even to the point where he is willing to call me a liar. Enjoy your delusions, TRN!

Submitted by Old and Blue
on Wed, 11/16/2011 - 12:27pm

Screw you and your links, man! I wanna know what Cecil Adams has to say about this.

Submitted by big_lowitzki
on Wed, 11/16/2011 - 12:47pm

Technically, it does have to be 32 degrees or below for snow to form.

Yes, this is correct, but that has absolutely nothing to do with whether it can snow if the temperature is above 32 degrees, considering that the temperature that we are talking about is the ground temperature, not the cloud temperature.

Not very difficult to understand.

I could post about 50 links saying that it absolutely can snow if the temperature is above 32 degrees. Do I really need to do that?

Submitted by T-Dubs
on Wed, 11/16/2011 - 4:45pm

I like the helpful tip at the bottom of TRN's link:

Forecast Tip:
When forecasting precipitation type, if temperatures are expected to be above freezing, then rain is most likely. If temperatures are expected to be below freezing, then forecast for snow.

Glad to see those kids down at U of I are still getting the same great edumacation I enjoyed!

Submitted by Newport
on Wed, 11/16/2011 - 12:30pm

Jesus fucking Christ.

Submitted by Ryno
on Wed, 11/16/2011 - 12:50pm

Comment of the day?

Submitted by Rob G.
on Wed, 11/16/2011 - 12:45pm

that was awesome Tim...thanks for the laugh.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Wed, 11/16/2011 - 1:19pm

possibly the most absurd and pointless TCR conversation ever to occur.

carry on...

Submitted by navigator
on Wed, 11/16/2011 - 1:27pm

and yet it can hail in july

go figure

Submitted by The Real Neal
on Thu, 11/17/2011 - 9:59am

You can get two feet of snow on a July day, happens every year.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Wed, 11/16/2011 - 1:19pm

twitter link in the right sidebar says Francona not managing in 2012.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Wed, 11/16/2011 - 1:21pm

latest number is 8/200 is what it would take to sign him...

6/150 with 2 club option years that could automatically vest if he stays healthy would have me intrigued.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Wed, 11/16/2011 - 1:25pm

Gibson and Maddon win...must have lost the ballots with Q-Ball's name on them as he didn't even get a vote.

Submitted by Old and Blue
on Wed, 11/16/2011 - 2:00pm

I'm sure Q is happy for Gibby and Mads

Submitted by Rob G.
on Wed, 11/16/2011 - 1:58pm

Cardinal radio guy that had LaRussa retiring scoop claiming Pujols will resign with Cardinals, to be announced Friday.

https://twitter.com/stljccorcoran/status/1368...

Cards deny report though...

Submitted by jacos
on Wed, 11/16/2011 - 2:07pm

meh

Submitted by Rob Richardson
on Wed, 11/16/2011 - 2:46pm

http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/7242337/ter...

"Former Boston Red Sox skipper Terry Francona didn't completely rule out managing again in 2012, but he did pull himself out of the running for the Chicago Cubs job and said he would take a step back after not getting the St. Louis Cardinals position."

Submitted by Rob G.
on Wed, 11/16/2011 - 2:49pm

uh, is there another manager job out there for him in 2012 then? I guess he's talking about mid-season...

Submitted by Rob G.
on Wed, 11/16/2011 - 2:50pm

not worth linking to, but something about hearing that Maddux is going to pull his name from contention for Cubs job.

Submitted by crunch
on Wed, 11/16/2011 - 4:09pm

"Accoridng to the Chicago Sun-Times' Gordon Wittenmyer, the A's met Wednesday with Sidney Ponson's agent."

will someone check b.beane's coffee for painkillers and PCP?

Submitted by Newport
on Wed, 11/16/2011 - 5:15pm

They met at Old Country Buffet.

Submitted by crunch
on Wed, 11/16/2011 - 5:20pm

...after downing a few bottles of liquor in the parking lot

Submitted by Rob G.
on Wed, 11/16/2011 - 5:20pm

most can be found in the sidebar, but here you go

- Cubs 1 of 7 teams listed as suitors for Grady Sizemore
- Alomar Jr. out of running for Red Sox job, said to be leaning towards Sveum.
- Rockies met with Milton Bradley's agent

Submitted by John Beasley
on Wed, 11/16/2011 - 5:32pm

1. Sign Sveum as manager.
2. Send to Boston as comp for Theo.

Submitted by crunch
on Wed, 11/16/2011 - 5:40pm

j.maddon just made some interesting comments on the clubhouse he inherited and his managerial style on MLB Network...it didn't paint a pretty picture of loupa's clubhouse culture (rather, the lack of it) and loupa's hands-off style. no names were named, btw...and maddon was timid to start while talking about it, but loosened up. there were no specific damning things mentioned.

that said, some people think maddon is a bit too hands-on in the clubhouse...it doesn't seem to come from players, though.

Submitted by Cubster
on Wed, 11/16/2011 - 7:46pm

Wittenmeyer tweets...

Cubs manager process nears finish. Ricketts has met with team's choice.

---
Supposedly Theo/Jed are out to dinner and are supposed to meet again with Chicago press this evening. Not sure what that means though.

Submitted by Cubster
on Wed, 11/16/2011 - 7:48pm

Nolan Ryan on Mike Maddux

http://muskat.mlblogs.com/2011/11/16/1116-nol...

Submitted by Cubster
on Wed, 11/16/2011 - 7:55pm

Muskat article on the managers status...and a video interview of Jed Hoyer:

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20111...

Submitted by Cubster
on Wed, 11/16/2011 - 10:05pm

Muskat tweets...

Mike Maddux most likely out of running for #Cubs job because of family matters

Submitted by Cubster
on Wed, 11/16/2011 - 10:07pm

Heyman tweets...

Signs point to Sveum going with cubs. He's the 1 guy they've interviewed twice in person. Process "moving along"

http://twitter.com/SI_JonHeyman/status/137014...

Submitted by Cubster
on Wed, 11/16/2011 - 10:13pm

and Boston may be looking at some new candidates, per Rob Bradford, WEII Boston:

When asked if Red Sox might widen managers search Lucchino said 'absolutely'

and Heyman tweets...

Redsox prez Lucchino says they're widening their search same day they saw Sveum. Another sign Sveum will go w/ cubs

Submitted by Cubster
on Wed, 11/16/2011 - 10:50pm

Heyman says Cubs have offered manager job to Sveum.

http://twitter.com/SI_Jonheyman

Cubs-red sox rivalry heats up with cubs winning sveum derby. Could be an act but #redsox don't seem heartbroken

edit, later...

cubs people arent commenting except to say process is "moving along.'' yes, it has moved right to sveum, who will be guy

Submitted by Cubster
on Wed, 11/16/2011 - 10:16pm

Rosenthal...

Source: Sveum offered job by Cubs, not RedSox.

http://twitter.com/Ken_Rosenthal/status/13701...

RedSox may widen search. Mackanin out, other candidates - Alomar, Lamont, Lovullo - still alive.

Submitted by Cubster
on Wed, 11/16/2011 - 10:26pm

Wittenmeyer...

Sveum appears to be Cubs choice. Maddux withdrew for family reasons. Sources also eliminate other candidates.

http://twitter.com/cst_cubs

Submitted by Cubster
on Wed, 11/16/2011 - 10:27pm

Muskat...

GM Jed Hoyer would only say late Wed that they are keeping talks "close to vest." Team would not confirm Sveum is front runner

Submitted by Cubster
on Wed, 11/16/2011 - 11:19pm

more WEII/Rob Bradford in an article...

Multiple reports stated late Wednesday night that Dale Sveum, a finalist for the Red Sox’ manager job, had been offered the Cubs’ managerial position. FoxSports.com reported that the Red Sox had not made Sveum an offer at the time of Chicago’s offer. Cherington confirmed that Phillies bench coach Pete Mackanin was informed he is no longer a candidate for the Red Sox’ opening.

http://fullcount.weei.com/sports/boston/baseb...

Submitted by Cubster
on Wed, 11/16/2011 - 11:23pm

More Heyman tweets...

Asked theo if he has his manager. Answered, "we don't have a manager under contract." just a technicality.

One competing gm: redsox should interview sandberg. Me: that could be best way to get revenge on new rival cubs

Submitted by artskoe
on Wed, 11/16/2011 - 11:59pm

Looks like Prince is next...

Submitted by crunch
on Thu, 11/17/2011 - 12:29am

i could live with that...unless it's a 8-10 year deal or something...

i'm ready to get past this whole 2012 office/management rebuild and onto the 2012 player rebuild. i imagine almost all the coaches (maybe not the bench coach) will be sticking around.

Submitted by The Real Neal
on Thu, 11/17/2011 - 8:03am

Amen.

Submitted by Cubster
on Wed, 11/16/2011 - 11:27pm

CSN, Tony Andracki...

CSN's David Kaplan is reporting the veteran reliever will almost assuredly be back with the Cubs in 2012 and could even sign a two-year deal.

http://www.csnchicago.com/blog/cubs-talk/post...

Submitted by jacos
on Thu, 11/17/2011 - 7:12am

According to Espn radio MLB owners paying new Astro's owner $ 70 million to move to AL

Submitted by Pell Mell
on Thu, 11/17/2011 - 7:40am

Is that how much a DH costs?

/Aramis'd

:-(

Submitted by The Real Neal
on Thu, 11/17/2011 - 8:04am

It's being reported as a reduction in selling price by the Houston guys, which means part of it is probably due to shitty attendence at Astros games last year. (averaged about 5 thousand bodies the last couple months of the season).

Submitted by Cubster
on Thu, 11/17/2011 - 8:01am

random thought on the Astros moving to the AL...

Carlos Lee's status will be (somewhat) interesting to watch. He signed a 6/100 contract before the 2007 season so he becomes a free agent again in 2013. Just in time for the Astros to need a DH. Of course they need just about everything. Lee will be 36 next June. I wonder if any big market AL teams would be interested in him by the trading deadline next year.

According to MLB.com, the deal will pay Lee $11 million in 2007 (plus a $3 million signing bonus), $12 million in 2008, and $18.5 million for each of the last four seasons. The contract runs through the 2012 season.

Submitted by Cubster
on Thu, 11/17/2011 - 8:38am

Boston Globe, Nick Cafardo article updates the status of RedSox demands for "significant" compensation for Theo.
Discusses the history from requests for Garza and Castro, to next requests for McNutt. Also mentions Byrd or Marshall and speculates on Marmol, Colvin, Samardija, Carpenter, Cashner.

Send them Byrd. Done.

http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/...

Submitted by The Real Neal
on Thu, 11/17/2011 - 8:47am

Whatever we send them, we'll have to send something comparable to San Diego as well.

Remember, the Red Sox balked at trading Youkilis for Beane, so them asking for Castro is just laughable. If Selig brings the hammer down, precedent is not on the Sox's side.

Submitted by Cubster
on Thu, 11/17/2011 - 8:46am

Sun-Times article, "Sveum appears to be the Man"

http://www.suntimes.com/sports/baseball/cubs/...

---
Wrongway Rogers has a similar Tribune article up...

Yet he (Sveum) was nicknamed "Nuts'' during his career as a shortstop and No. 2 hitter.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball...

Submitted by Old and Blue
on Thu, 11/17/2011 - 8:46am

I wonder what the dynamic will be between those two, since Sveum was a hitting coach for the Brewers. Does anybody have an idea on his hitting philosophy? Is it it different than Rudy's in any fundamental ways?

FWIW, the Brewers were fifth in the league in OBP, second in OPS (a nice assist from Fielder there). Assuming of course Sveum accepts the offer. I really hope the Cubs don't offer Prince an 8 year deal now. Although, he is young and surprisingly durable given his body type.

Either way this is gonna be a fun off season. I was so not dialed in last year because I had no real interest in anything Hendry might do, and I considered the team too far gone to really give it much of my time.

Submitted by jacos
on Thu, 11/17/2011 - 9:12am

Does Sveum suggest roids?

Submitted by Cubster
on Thu, 11/17/2011 - 9:22am

Does Sveum suggest roids?
---
hemorrhoids

Submitted by Cubster
on Thu, 11/17/2011 - 8:56am

Quirky article in BP...11 Ballplayers who suffered unusual (career or life) demises.

#2 Jae Kuk Ryu

http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php...

Submitted by Cubster
on Thu, 11/17/2011 - 9:10am

Boston WEII article on Redsox status of managers as the GM meetings wind down:

According to an industry source, the Sox are not prepared to offer their managerial job to Sveum at this time. As such, the team expects that he will accept the job with the Cubs and that the search process will have to advance in the absence of the former Boston third base coach.

http://fullcount.weei.com/sports/boston/baseb...

Submitted by Cubster
on Thu, 11/17/2011 - 9:19am

XM radio's Kevin Kennedy and Jim Duquette are blasting the Red Sox this am. Called their manager search chaos on a parallel with the Orioles search for GM. Implied that Cherington presented Sveum as his choice for manager to owner Henry and the owner said no. Said Cherington had his pocket picked by being pre-empted by Theo (not sure that's true if Henry said no to Sveum). Kennedy said the Redsox should talk to Bobby Valentine (or Sandberg). Said Valentine's bad rap came from bad blood with Steve Phillips from Met days.

Submitted by The Real Neal
on Thu, 11/17/2011 - 9:28am

LOL!

I think I've got the Red Sox new theme song pegged.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H_bHp8-KI9Y

You would think they'd already ruled out Sandberg, since Theo had ruled him out and they seem to be working with similar criteria.

Submitted by Cubster
on Thu, 11/17/2011 - 10:05am

Boston Globe, Peter Abraham updates...

The Red Sox are prepared to open up their search for a new manager as the candidate they once seemed to favor, Dale Sveum, neared an agreement with Theo Epstein and the Chicago Cubs.

Team president Larry Lucchino said last night that the Sox could “absolutely’’ add more candidates to their list.

Sveum appeared to be the leading candidate yesterday afternoon when he met with Cherington, Henry, Lucchino, and Werner for lunch and a second interview.

Their meeting at Ward’s House of Prime in downtown Milwaukee lasted approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes.

“We had a nice lunch,’’ Werner said upon returning to Major League Baseball’s owners meetings at the Pfister Hotel. “That’s all I really have to say.’’

...and MacKanin has been scratched off the Boston list (Alomar Jr, Lamont and Lovullo are still being considered)

http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/...

Submitted by Cubster
on Thu, 11/17/2011 - 10:15am

and Ken Rosenthal takes his turn taking a whack at the Redsox...

The owners must not have liked what they heard, or at least not liked it enough; they declined to make Sveum an offer.

Epstein, the Cubs’ president, and Jed Hoyer, the team’s GM, also met with Sveum a second time Wednesday, and acted far more aggressively.

They made Sveum an offer, knowing they had competition from their old team. And unless the Red Sox respond with their own offer – and there is no indication that they will - this baby is over.

also KR says they blew their window to get Tim Wallach by dragging out this process

Says Sveum is a better fit for the Cubs because:

One of Sveum’s strengths is as an instructor, a quality that could prove valuable as Epstein rebuilds the Cubs. The Cubs also conduct spring training in Arizona, where Sveum resides in the offseason. He also is more familiar with the National League Central given his six seasons with the Brewers.

then he breaks out his paddle, implying the Redsox should have kept Francona:

See, this is what happens when an organization suffers a nervous breakdown. The Sox just had to find a scapegoat for their historic September collapse. They picked Francona, declining to exercise his options — and setting in motion a series of unfortunate events.

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/Boston-Red...

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